Effects of sodium bicarbonate infusion on mortality in medical–surgical ICU patients with metabolic acidosis—A single-center propensity score matched analysis / Efectos de la infusión de bicarbonato de sodio sobre la mortalidad en pacientes de UCI médico-quirúrgica con acidosis metabólica: un análisis de puntuación de propensión en un solo Centro

Objective Metabolic acidosis is associated with high mortality. Despite theoretical benefits of sodium-bicarbonate (SB), current evidence remains controversial. We investigated SB-related effects on outcomes in ICU patients with metabolic acidosis. Design Retrospective analysis. Setting Academic medical center. Patients or participants 971 ICU patients with metabolic acidosis defined as arterial pH<7.3 and CO2<45mmHg treated between 2012 and 2016. A propensity score (PS) was estimated using logistic regression. Patients were matched in pairs using the PS. Interventions 441 patients were treated with SB 8.4% (SB-group) and n=530 patients were not (control group). Main variables of interest Primary outcome was all-cause mortality at ICU-discharge. Average Treatment Effect (ATE), Average Treatment effect in Treated (ATT), and estimated relative survival effects at 20 days were computed. Results In the full cohort, we observed considerable differences in pH, base excess, additional acidosis-related indices, and ICU mortality (controls 31% vs. SB-group 56%, p<.001) at baseline between the two groups. After PS-matching (n=174 in each group), no significant difference in ICU mortality was observed (controls 32% vs. SB-group 41%; p=.07). Odds ratios (OR) for ATE and ATT showed no association with ICU mortality (OR ATE: 1.08, 95%-CI 0.99–1.17; p=.08; OR ATT 1.09; 95%-CI 0.99–1.2; p=.09). Hazard ratios at 20-days (multivariable HR, matched sample n=348: 1.16, 95%-CI 0.86–1.56, p=.33) showed similar survival in the two study groups. Conclusions We did not observe effects of SB infusion on all-cause mortality in critically ill patients with metabolic acidosis (AU)

Objetivo La acidosis metabólica se asocia con una alta mortalidad. A pesar de los beneficios teóricos del bicarbonato de sodio (BS), la evidencia actual sigue siendo controvertida. Investigamos los efectos relacionados con el BS sobre los resultados en pacientes de la UCI con acidosis metabólica. Diseño Análisis retrospectivo. Ÿmbito Centro médico académico. Pacientes o participante Se incluyeron 971 pacientes de la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI) con acidosis metabólica (pH < 7,3, CO2 < 45 mmHg) tratados entre 2012 y 2016. Se calculó una puntuación de propensión (PS) mediante regresión logística. Los pacientes se emparejaron utilizando el PS. Variables de interés principales Intervenciones; 441 pacientes fueron tratados con BS 8,4% (grupo BS) y n = 530 pacientes no (grupo control). Resultados El resultado primario fue la mortalidad por todas las causas al alta de la UCI. Se calcularon el efecto promedio del tratamiento (ATE), el efecto promedio del tratamiento en los tratados (ATT) y los efectos de supervivencia relativa estimados a los 20 días. En la cohorte completa se observaron diferencias considerables en el pH, el exceso de bases y la mortalidad en la UCI (control 31% vs. grupo BS 56%, p < 0,001) al inicio del estudio entre los grupos. Después del emparejamiento de PS (n = 174 en cada grupo), no se observaron diferencias significativas en la mortalidad en la UCI (control 32% vs. grupo BS 41%; p = 0,07). Los odds ratios (OR) para ATE y ATT no mostraron asociación con la mortalidad en la UCI (OR ATE: 1,08, IC 95%; 0,99-1,17; p = 0,08; OR ATT 1,09; IC 95%; 0,99-1,2; p = 0,09). Los cocientes de riesgo a los 20 días (HR multivariable, muestra emparejada n = 348: 1,16, IC 95%; 0,86-1,56, p = 0,33) mostraron una supervivencia comparable. Conclusiones No observamos efectos de la infusión de BS sobre la mortalidad por todas las causas en pacientes con acidosis metabólica (AU)

Effects of sodium bicarbonate infusion on mortality in medical-surgical ICU patients with metabolic acidosis-A single-center propensity score matched analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Metabolic acidosis is associated with high mortality. Despite theoretical benefits of sodium-bicarbonate (SB), current evidence remains controversial. We investigated SB-related effects on outcomes in ICU patients with metabolic acidosis. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. SETTING: Academic medical center. PATIENTS OR PARTICIPANTS: 971 ICU patients with metabolic acidosis defined as arterial pH<7.3 and CO2<45mmHg treated between 2012 and 2016. A propensity score (PS) was estimated using logistic regression. Patients were matched in pairs using the PS. INTERVENTIONS: 441 patients were treated with SB 8.4% (SB-group) and n=530 patients were not (control group). MAIN VARIABLES OF INTEREST: Primary outcome was all-cause mortality at ICU-discharge. Average Treatment Effect (ATE), Average Treatment effect in Treated (ATT), and estimated relative survival effects at 20 days were computed. RESULTS: In the full cohort, we observed considerable differences in pH, base excess, additional acidosis-related indices, and ICU mortality (controls 31% vs. SB-group 56%, p<.001) at baseline between the two groups. After PS-matching (n=174 in each group), no significant difference in ICU mortality was observed (controls 32% vs. SB-group 41%; p=.07). Odds ratios (OR) for ATE and ATT showed no association with ICU mortality (OR ATE: 1.08, 95%-CI 0.99-1.17; p=.08; OR ATT 1.09; 95%-CI 0.99-1.2; p=.09). Hazard ratios at 20-days (multivariable HR, matched sample n=348: 1.16, 95%-CI 0.86-1.56, p=.33) showed similar survival in the two study groups. CONCLUSIONS: We did not observe effects of SB infusion on all-cause mortality in critically ill patients with metabolic acidosis.

qSOFA score not predictive of in-hospital mortality in emergency patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: Quick sequential organ failure assessement (qSOFA) has been validated for patients with presumed sepsis and the general emergency department (ED) population. However, it has not been validated in specific subgroups of ED patients with a high mortality. We aimed to investigate the prognostic performance of qSOFA with respect to in-hospital mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and length of hospitalisation in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis. Furthermore, we compared qSOFA to systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), model of end stage liver disease score (MELD), and Child-Pugh criteria and evaluated whether addition of sodium (Na+) levels to qSOFA increases its prognostic performance. METHODS: This observational study included patients admitted with the diagnosis of decompensated liver cirrhosis. All patients with a complete set of vital parameters were included in this study. RESULTS: A total of 186 patients were included. A positive qSOFA score was not associated with in-hospital mortality, ICU admission, or length of hospitalisation (all p > 0.15). MELD scores reliably predicted need for ICU admission and in-hospital mortality (both p < 0.01), but not the length of hospitalisation. qSOFA-Na+ only moderately increased the diagnostic performance of qSOFA with regard to need for ICU admission (AUCICU[qSOFA] = 0.504 vs. AUCICU[qSOFA-Na+] = 0.609, p = 0.03), but not for in-hospital mortality (AUCdeath[qSOFA] = 0.513 vs. AUCdeath[qSOFA-Na+] = 0.592, p = 0.054). CONCLUSION: qSOFA does not predict in-hospital mortality, ICU admission or length of hospitalisation in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis. Extension of qSOFA with a disease-specific component, the qSOFA-Na+, moderately increased the diagnostic ability of qSOFA.

Normal saline versus a balanced crystalloid for goal-directed perioperative fluid therapy in major abdominal surgery: a double-blind randomised controlled study.

BACKGROUND: This double-blind randomised controlled trial investigated whether normal saline or a balanced crystalloid has distinct effects on vasopressor use in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery. METHODS: Patients received either normal saline 0.9% or an acetate-buffered crystalloid for intraoperative volume replacement in a goal-directed fashion. The primary outcome was need for vasopressors; the secondary outcomes were the total dose of catecholamines, total perioperative fluid, and unplanned intensive care admissions. RESULTS: This study was terminated early for safety reasons. A total of 60 out of the planned 240 patients were randomized. Thirty patients received normal saline and 30 patients received the balanced crystalloid, with a total volume of 3427 (2732-4130) ml and 3144 (1673-4926), respectively. The normal-saline group developed hyperchloraemic metabolic acidosis. More patients needed vasopressors for circulatory support in the normal-saline group compared with the buffered crystalloid group (97% vs 67%, respectively; P=0.033). The median weight and anaesthesia duration-adjusted dose of norepinephrine were 0.11 (0.00-0.45) ng kg-1 min-1 and 0.00 (0.00-0.00) kg-1 min-1 in the normal-saline and balanced-crystalloid groups, respectively (P=0.003). Cox regression revealed that the need for vasopressors was related to a high volume of administered fluid, normal-saline resuscitation, and lower mean arterial blood pressure. There was no difference between the groups in total perioperative fluid and unplanned intensive-care-unit admissions. Between-group differences in the duration of anaesthesia did not influence the necessity for a vasopressor. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with patients receiving a balanced crystalloid, normal saline in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery was associated with an increased need for vasopressor support. This should be interpreted in view of the large volume of fluid resuscitation and the small sample size because of the preliminary termination of the study. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: EudraCT 2014-004867-19, NCT 02414555.

Aetiology of adult burns treated from 2000 to 2012 in a Swiss University Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Burns in Switzerland are frequent and lead to high economic and social costs. However, little is known about the aetiology of burns suffered by patients seeking treatment in hospital emergency departments. This knowledge could be used to develop preventive measures. METHODS: This retrospective analysis included all patients (≥16 years old) with acute thermal injuries of known cause admitted to the adult emergency department in Bern University Hospital (Switzerland, not a specialised burns unit) between 2000 and 2012. Clinical and sociodemographic data were extracted from medical records, i.e. the environment in which the burn occurred, as well as details of burn severity and aetiology. RESULTS: Seven hundred and one (701) patients with a mean age of 35.0±14.5 years (56% men) were included in the analysis. The winter season and the days around Christmas, turn of the year and Swiss National Day were identified as times with high risk of burns. Household (45%) and workplace (31%) were the most common locations/settings in which the burns occurred. Approximately every second burn was caused by scald, every fourth by flame and every seventh by hot objects. The analysis identified cooking, tar and electricity in workplace accidents, barbecues and the use of gasoline as aetiological factors in burns in leisure time, together with water in domestic thermal injuries. Burns occurred predominantly on non-protected skin on the hand and arms. The most severe burns were seen in electrical and flame burns. Men suffered more severe burns than women in all settings except psychopathology. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that the incidence and severity of burns in Switzerland could be reduced by preventive strategies and public campaigns, including education on fire protection systems, raising awareness about the times and locations where the risks of burns are greater, further improvement in workplace safety, particularly with cooking facilities and electrical equipment, and the development of innovative safety devices (i.e. machines, protective gloves). These findings have to be interpreted carefully, as this study includes only adult patients who presented in our ED and, in most cases, the burns covered less than 20% of the body surface.

Reducing fall risk in the elderly: risk factors and fall prevention, a systematic review.

Falls in the elderly are a major source of injury resulting in disability and hospitalization. They have a significant impact on individual basis (loss of quality of live, nursing home admissions) and social basis (healthcare costs). Even though falls in the elderly are common there are some well studied risk factors. Special emphasis should be put on sarcopenia/frailty, polypharmacy, multimorbidity, vitamin D status and home hazards. There are several well evaluated fall prevention approaches that either target a single fall risk factor or focus on multiple risk factors. It has to be kept in mind that not all fall prevention strategies are useful for all patients as for example dietary substitution of vitamin D is only recommended in people with increased risk for a vitamin D deficiency. Home hazard reduction strategies are more effective when combined with other fall prevention approaches such as for example exercise programs. In conclusion elderly patients should routinely be screened for relevant risk factors and if need an indiviudally targeted fall prevention program compiled.