CT evaluation of elbow congruity in dogs: radial incisure versus apical medial coronoid process fragmentation.

OBJECTIVES: To compare elbow congruity in two cohorts of Labrador retrievers affected with either radial incisure or apex fragmentation of the medial coronoid process. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dogs were included if they had elbow lameness and a CT diagnosis of a fissure or fragmentation of the medial coronoid process occurring either along the radial incisure or at the coronoid apex. Radioulnar joint space was measured incrementally from the lateral to the medial coronoid process on transverse slice images. Axial radioulnar congruency was also measured at the apex and mid-coronoid in the dorsal plane and at the base of the coronoid in the sagittal plane. RESULTS: We studied 99 elbows (in 66 dogs) of which 56 had a fissure or fragmentation along the radial incisure and 43 had an apical fragment. No difference was found between the two groups at the different measuring points - with the exception of a transverse plane radioulnar joint space measurement in the radial incisure group that was smaller adjacent to the lateral coronoid process. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Abnormal ulnar morphology in the radial incisure group could result in a fulcrum effect within the radioulnar joint, overloading the radial incisure and predisposing to osteochondral damage at this site.

Effect of lingual gauze swab placement on pulse oximeter readings in anaesthetised dogs and cats.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of lingual gauze swab placement on pulse oximeter readings in anaesthetised dogs and cats. Following anaesthetic induction, the following pulse oximeter probe configurations were performed: no gauze swab (control), placement of a gauze swab between the tongue and the probe, placement of different thicknesses of gauze swab, placement of red cotton fabric, placement of a sheet of white paper and placement of the probe and gauze swab on different locations on the tongue. Oxygen saturation (SpO2) and peripheral perfusion index (PI) were recorded. Placement of a gauze swab between the pulse oximeter probe and the tongue in anaesthetised dogs and cats resulted in significantly higher SpO2 values compared with the control group. In dogs, PI values were significantly higher than the control in all groups except the quarter thickness swab group. In cats, PI was significantly higher in the double thickness swab and white paper groups compared with the control. Cats had significantly higher SpO2 and lower PI values than dogs. The authors propose that increased contact pressure is responsible for significantly higher SpO2 and PI readings with the use of a lingual gauze swab resulting from changes in transmural pressure and arterial compliance.

[Effect of removing the ischaemia tourniquet on the transfusion needs of the patient undergoing primary knee arthroplasty]. / Efecto de la retirada del manguito de isquemia sobre las necesidades transfusionales en el paciente intervenido de artroplastia primaria de rodilla.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of the timing of the removal of the ischaemia tourniquet on the transfusion needs in primary knee arthroplasty and its influence on post-operative complications. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective analysis was performed on 201 primary knee arthroplasties. The patients were divided into 2 groups: group A (101 patients), where the tourniquet was removed before surgical closure, and group B (100 patients), where the tourniquet was removed after the surgical closure. A comparison was made of the blood transfusions (pools of red corpuscles) received by both groups, along with the surgical time, and the post-operative complications. RESULTS: The mean number of packed red cells transfused in group A was 0.62, while in the group B it was 0.61 (P=.831). The mean time in the surgery in group A was 111 min, and in group B it was 98 min (P<.05), with no significant difference between the surgical time and the number of packed cells transfused (P=.055). The post-operative complications in the group A were 8, and in the B were 10 (P=.79). DISCUSSION: There were no differences between removing the tourniquet before or after surgical closure or in the transfusion needs or in the post-operative complications. Traditionally, the greater blood loss due to the removal of the tourniquet before surgical closure has been explained as due to the longer surgery time required. However, in the present study, this fact was not associated with greater transfusion needs, or with more post-operative complications.

On the prediction of Hodgkin lymphoma treatment response

Purpose. The cure rate in Hodgkin lymphoma is high, but the response along with treatment is still unpredictable and highly variable among patients. Detecting those patients who do not respond to treatment at early stages could bring improvements in their treatment. This research tries to identify the main biological prognostic variables currently gathered at diagnosis and design a simple machine learning methodology to help physicians improve the treatment response assessment. Methods. We carried out a retrospective analysis of the response to treatment of a cohort of 263 Caucasians who were diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in Asturias (Spain). For that purpose, we used a list of 35 clinical and biological variables that are currently measured at diagnosis before any treatment begins. To establish the list of most discriminatory prognostic variables for treatment response, we designed a machine learning approach based on two different feature selection methods (Fisher’s ratio and maximum percentile distance) and backwards recursive feature elimination using a nearest-neighbor classifier (k-NN). The weights of the k-NN classifier were optimized using different terms of the confusion matrix (true- and false-positive rates) to minimize risk in the decisions. Results and conclusions. We found that the optimum strategy to predict treatment response in Hodgkin lymphoma consists in solving two different binary classification problems, discriminating first if the patient is in progressive disease; if not, then discerning among complete and partial remission. Serum ferritin turned to be the most discriminatory variable in predicting treatment response, followed by alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase. The importance of these prognostic variables suggests a close relationship between inflammation, iron overload, liver damage and the extension of the disease (AU)

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On the prediction of Hodgkin lymphoma treatment response.

PURPOSE: The cure rate in Hodgkin lymphoma is high, but the response along with treatment is still unpredictable and highly variable among patients. Detecting those patients who do not respond to treatment at early stages could bring improvements in their treatment. This research tries to identify the main biological prognostic variables currently gathered at diagnosis and design a simple machine learning methodology to help physicians improve the treatment response assessment. METHODS: We carried out a retrospective analysis of the response to treatment of a cohort of 263 Caucasians who were diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in Asturias (Spain). For that purpose, we used a list of 35 clinical and biological variables that are currently measured at diagnosis before any treatment begins. To establish the list of most discriminatory prognostic variables for treatment response, we designed a machine learning approach based on two different feature selection methods (Fisher's ratio and maximum percentile distance) and backwards recursive feature elimination using a nearest-neighbor classifier (k-NN). The weights of the k-NN classifier were optimized using different terms of the confusion matrix (true- and false-positive rates) to minimize risk in the decisions. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: We found that the optimum strategy to predict treatment response in Hodgkin lymphoma consists in solving two different binary classification problems, discriminating first if the patient is in progressive disease; if not, then discerning among complete and partial remission. Serum ferritin turned to be the most discriminatory variable in predicting treatment response, followed by alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase. The importance of these prognostic variables suggests a close relationship between inflammation, iron overload, liver damage and the extension of the disease.

Effects of medetomidine and medetomidine-butorphanol on transcranial color-coded duplex ultrasonography in healthy dogs.

The study was designed to determine the effects of two protocols of sedation, medetomidine and medetomidine-butorphanol, on cerebral blood flow (CBF) by transcranial color-coded Duplex ultrasonography in healthy dogs. Transcranial Doppler ultrasonographic examination was performed in 20 dogs before and 20 min after sedation with either medetomidine (group 1) or medetomidine-butorphanol (group 2). The left and right middle cerebral arteries (LMCA and RMCA) were evaluated using the temporal windows, and the basilar artery (BA) was studied through the suboccipital window. Peak systolic velocity (PSV), mean velocity (MV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), resistance index (RI), and pulsatility index (PI) were measured for each vessel. Blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were also recorded before and after sedation in both groups. Statistically significant differences were found for PSV, MV and EDV when RMCA and LMCA were interrogated before and after sedation. PSV, RI and PI were found to be statistically significantly different when the study was performed on the BA. These results should be taken in account when a transcranial Doppler is performed in dogs sedated with the mentioned protocols and it might suggest some degree of neuroprotection.

Tratamiento endovascular y trombólisis intraarterial en el ictus isquémico agudo / Endovascular treatment and intra-arterial thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke

Objetivo: Analizar la eficacia y la seguridad de la trombólisis intraarterial y el tratamiento endovascular en pacientes con ictus isquémico agudo. Diseño y ámbito: Estudio prospectivo observacional en una unidad de cuidados intensivos. Pacientes: Dieciséis pacientes recibieron tratamiento endovascular. Se recogieron datos epidemiológicos, localización de la oclusión arterial, tiempo desde el ictus al tratamiento, indicación del tratamiento, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale al ingreso y al alta hospitalaria, y complicaciones y evolución funcional por escala de Rankin modificada realizada mediante una encuesta telefónica. Resultados: Diez varones, con una edad media de 59 años (29-74) y una estancia media en la unidad de cuidados intensivos de 6 días (1-33). Siete pacientes requirieron ventilación mecánica. Indicación del tratamiento: 4 casos por fracaso de la trombólisis intravenosa, 5 por oclusión de gran vaso, 2 por estar fuera de la ventana terapéutica, 3 por oclusión de la circulación posterior, uno por estar fuera de la ventana terapéutica y tener, además, una oclusión de gran vaso y uno por contraindicación para la trombólisis intravenosa. Localización de la oclusión: 3 en la circulación posterior y 13 en el territorio carotídeo y sus ramas. El fibrinolítico utilizado fue uroquinasa en dosis de 100.000-600.000 UI. Cuatro pacientes requirieron embolectomía mecánica y 10, implantación de stent. Se obtuvo recanalización completa en 11 pacientes (69%) y parcial en 4 (25%). Tres pacientes evolucionaron a muerte encefálica. Seis pacientes (46%) tuvieron una buena recuperación (escala de Rankin modificada <2). Como complicación técnica destacó un seudoaneurisma de la arteria femoral. Conclusiones: El tratamiento intraarterial obtiene altas tasas de recanalización y buenos resultados funcionales con escasas complicaciones. Su uso estaría indicado en pacientes con afectación neurológica importante (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale >10) -tiempo de evolución de 3-6h-, y contraindicacio'n para la trombólisis intravenosa y la oclusión arterial proximal (AU)

Objective: Analysis of the safety and efficacy of intra-arterial thrombolysis therapy and endovascular treatment in acute ischemic stroke. Design and area: An observational prospective study in the Intensive Care Unit. Patients and methods: 16 patients had endovascular treatment. Epidemiological data, arterial occlusion site, time between stroke onset and treatment, treatment indication, NIHSS scale at admission and discharge from hospital, complications and functional outcome measured by modified Rankin scale (obtained by telephone survey) were collected. Results: Ten male patients with a mean age of 59 years (29-74) were included. The mean stay in the ICU was 6 days (1-33). Seven patients required mechanical ventilation. Treatment indications were: intravenous thrombolysis failure in 4 patients, major vessel occlusion in 5, outside of the therapeutic window in 2, posterior circulation occlusion in 3, outside of the therapeutic window plus major vessel occlusion in 1 and intravenous thrombolysis contraindication in 1. The occlusion site was on posterior circulation in 3 and on carotid territories and branches in 13. Thrombolytic treatment used was Urokinase at a dose of 100,000-600,000IU. Four patients required mechanical embolectomy and 10 stent implantation. Complete recanalization was observed in 11 (69%) and partial in 4 (25%). Three evolved to brain death. Six patients (46%) had a favorable outcome (modified Rankin scale score <2). Technical complication was 1 femoral artery pseudoaneurysm. Conclusions: With the intra-arterial treatment, high rates of recanalization and favorable outcome are obtained with few complications. It could be indicated in patients with severe neurological injury (NIHSS >10), evolution time between 3-6h, intravenous thrombolysis contraindication and proximal arterial occlusion (AU)

Induction of anaesthesia with alfaxalone or propofol before isoflurane maintenance in cats.

Thirty-nine healthy cats that were presented for ovariohysterectomy received intramuscular acepromazine (0.05 mg/kg) and subcutaneous meloxicam (0.3 mg/kg) as preanaesthetic medication. They were then randomly assigned to receive either propofol or alfaxalone by intravenous injection for induction of anaesthesia, administered to effect until tracheal intubation was possible. Anaesthesia was maintained with isoflurane in oxygen. Cardiorespiratory variables were measured before induction and every five minutes throughout anaesthesia. The recovery times and quality of recovery were also recorded. Data relating to one cat were omitted because it was found to be pregnant. The mean (sd) induction doses were 4.7 (1.2) mg/kg for alfaxalone and 7.5 (2.0) mg/kg for propofol. Postinduction apnoea was not observed. There were no significant differences in cardiorespiratory variables between the alfaxalone group (mean pulse rate [PR] 155 [18]) bpm, Doppler arterial blood pressure [DBP] 73 [6] mmHg, respiratory rate [RR] 31 [8] breaths/minute, end-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure [PECO(2)] 3.7 [0.8] kPa) and the propofol group (PR 147 [16] bpm, DBP 77 [12] mmHg, RR 32 [8] breaths/minute, PECO(2) 3.7 [0.5] kPa). Recovery times were very similar and the quality of recovery was considered fair or good in most cats in both groups. The induction of anaesthesia, the cardiorespiratory variables and the recovery were clinically acceptable and similar after induction with either alfaxalone or propofol.

[Endovascular treatment and intra-arterial thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke]. / Tratamiento endovascular y trombólisis intraarterial en el ictus isquémico agudo.

OBJECTIVE: Analysis of the safety and efficacy of intra-arterial thrombolysis therapy and endovascular treatment in acute ischemic stroke. DESIGN AND AREA: An observational prospective study in the Intensive Care Unit. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 16 patients had endovascular treatment. Epidemiological data, arterial occlusion site, time between stroke onset and treatment, treatment indication, NIHSS scale at admission and discharge from hospital, complications and functional outcome measured by modified Rankin scale (obtained by telephone survey) were collected. RESULTS: Ten male patients with a mean age of 59 years (29-74) were included. The mean stay in the ICU was 6 days (1-33). Seven patients required mechanical ventilation. Treatment indications were: intravenous thrombolysis failure in 4 patients, major vessel occlusion in 5, outside of the therapeutic window in 2, posterior circulation occlusion in 3, outside of the therapeutic window plus major vessel occlusion in 1 and intravenous thrombolysis contraindication in 1. The occlusion site was on posterior circulation in 3 and on carotid territories and branches in 13. Thrombolytic treatment used was Urokinase at a dose of 100,000-600,000IU. Four patients required mechanical embolectomy and 10 stent implantation. Complete recanalization was observed in 11 (69%) and partial in 4 (25%). Three evolved to brain death. Six patients (46%) had a favorable outcome (modified Rankin scale score ≤ 2). Technical complication was 1 femoral artery pseudoaneurysm. CONCLUSIONS: With the intra-arterial treatment, high rates of recanalization and favorable outcome are obtained with few complications. It could be indicated in patients with severe neurological injury (NIHSS ≥ 10), evolution time between 3-6h, intravenous thrombolysis contraindication and proximal arterial occlusion.

Liver transplantation complications in the intensive care unit and at 6 months.

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to determine the factors that influence the 6-month outcomes of liver transplants. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred ninety-six variables (donor, recipient, operation, intensive care unit [ICU], evolution at 3 and 6 months) were collected from the first 74 consecutive liver transplantation performed from 2002 to 2004. The primary endpoint was patient survival at 6 months. The statistical analysis included a screening univariate analysis followed by a stepwise logistic regression with forward inclusion to test independent associations and finally generation of receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curves to evaluate predictive factors. RESULTS: Patient survival at 6 months was 86%, namely 10 deaths, including 4 intraoperatively and 6 postoperatively due to sepsis. Complications in the ICU were classified as reoperations due to biliary problems, vascular complications, and peritonitis. Late complications included 51% rejection episodes, 24% infections, 11% pleural effusions, and 16% diabetes mellitus. Logistic regression analysis showed independent negative predictors of survival were the number of packed red cells during transplantation, the number of fresh frozen plasma units administered in the ICU, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration in the ICU, and graft complications. The odds ratios of these variables were 10.2, 5.2, 42.1, and 36.9, respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) of the ROC was 0.99; the sensitivity was 94%; and the specificity was 100%. The independent predictors of surgical complications were the length of the operation, the need for pressor support, and the number of fresh frozen plasma units administered in the operating room, with odds ratios of 1.0, 7.7, and 1.1, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study revealed specific operative and ICU variables that correlated with the evolution of our patients.

[Mortality and hospital stay adjusted for severity as indicators of effectiveness and efficiency of attention to intensive care unit patients]. / Mortalidad y estancia hospitalaria ajustada por gravedad como indicadores de efectividad y eficiencia de la atención de pacientes en Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate effectiveness and efficiency of ICU care using the APACHE III model customized for Spain. DESIGN: Prospective, observational, multi-centre cohort study. SETTING: Nine Spanish ICUs. PATIENTS: One thousand two hundred and eleven patients admitted consecutively. Patients under 16 years of age, patients admitted for less than 24 hours, patients admitted for definitive pacemaker implant and ICU readmissions within the same hospital stay were excluded. PRIMARY ENDPOINTS: All the necessary endpoints to calculate the APACHE III score and predicted mortality risk were collected. The Standardized Mortality Ratio (SMR) was calculated. The Actual Weighted Hospital Days (AWHD) was calculated according to the patient's status and patient's location (ward or ICU). The Weighted Hospital Days Predicted (WHDP) was calculated according to the multiple regression model that provided the best explanation of the hospital stay. Later, the Standardized Resource Use Performance Index (SRUPI), computed as AWHD/WHDP, was calculated for each hospital. RESULTS: The SMR was 0.9 (95% CI: 0.82-0.99), SRUPI was greater than 1 in 3 of 9 hospitals, According the SMR and SRUPI only one hospital was qualified as an outlier. CONCLUSIONS; In this study, no relationship was found between quality of care and use of resources. Moreover, this methodology may be a useful tool in order to detect deviations from the standard of care and use of resources, and in this way to lead to the analysis of different causes, the differences among hospitals being taken into account.

[Evaluation of the reproducibility of the data collection for the APACHE II, APACHE III adapted for Spain and the SAPS II in nine intensive care units in Spain]. / Evaluación de la reproducibilidad de la recogida de datos para el APACHE II, APACHE III adaptado para España y SAPS II en 9 Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos en España.

OBJECTIVE: To assess reproducibility in data collection and its influence on the calculation of the severity scoring and mortality risk in APACHE II, APACHE III adapted for Spain and SAPS II. DESIGN: Multicenter, prospective, observational cohort study. SETTING: Nine Spanish Intensive Care Units (ICUs). PATIENTS: 1,211 consecutive patients admitted during the study period were included. Those patients under 16 years of age, those with a stay in the ICU of less than 24 hours, those admitted for scheduled pacemaker implant and those readmitted to the ICU within the same hospital admission were excluded. INTERVENTION: None. ENDPOINTS OF INTEREST: The data needed to calculate the severity and mortality risk scores were collected. A total of 10% of the patients were chosen by simple random sampling and the same data were collected by an independent group of intensive care physicians. Finally, the data obtained by the two groups of intensivists were compared. RESULTS: Significant differences were detected in the acute physiology score (APS) and severity score used for the calculation of APACHE III and SAPS II, and the predicted risk of death calculated for SAPS II. The percentage of agreement on admission diagnosis to the ICU was 50% for both APACHE II and III models. Nonetheless, in most of the patients (76.58% for APACHE II and 79.82% for APACHE III), the difference in the predicted risk of death due to the different assignation of diagnoses on admission to the ICU was less than 10%. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, APS was the most influential factor on the reproducibility of severity scores and risk of death prediction. Admission diagnosis assignment had no significant impact on the reproducibility of the predicted mortality risk.

Mortalidad y estancia hospitalaria ajustada por gravedad como indicadores de efectividad y eficiencia de la atención de pacientes en Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos / Mortality and hospital stay adjusted for severity as indicators of effectiveness and efficiency of attention to Intensive Care Unit patients

Objetivo. Evaluar la efectividad y la eficiencia de la atención en Unidadesa de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI) mediante el índice APACHE III adaptado a España. Diseño. Estudio multicéntrico prospectivo observacional de cohortes. Ámbito. Nueve UCI en España. Pacientes. Mil doscientos once pacientes ingresados consecutivamente. Se excluyeron menores de 16 años, con estancia inferior a 24 horas, ingresados para implante definitivo de marcapasos y reingresados en UCI dentro del mismo ingreso hospitalario. Variables de interés principales. Se recogieron para cada paciente los datos de filiación y todas aquellas variables necesarias para calcular el índice APACHE III y su riesgo de mortalidad. Se calculó la razón estandarizada de mortalidad (REM). Se calculó la estancia hospitalaria ponderada observada (EHPO) adjudicando diferentes pesos a cada día de estancia, en función del tipo de paciente y del lugar de cada día de estancia. Se calculó la estancia hospitalaria ponderada predicha (EHPP) según el modelo de regresión múltiple que mejor explicaba la estancia hospitalaria. Posteriormente se calculó el índice de utilización de recursos (IUR) ­ EHPO/EHPP ­ para cada hospital. Resultados. La REM global fue de 0,9 (IC 95%: 0,82-0,99). El IUR fue mayor de 1 en tres de los 9 hospitales. Valorando el REM y el IUR conjuntamente sólo un hospital se salió del estándar marcado por los 9 hospitales del estudio. Conclusiones. En este estudio no se encontró relación entre la calidad de la asistencia a los pacientes y la utilización de recursos; sin embargo esta metodología puede ser una herramienta para detectar desviaciones del estándar por exceso de la mortalidad o de la utilización de recursos, y esto, conducir al análisis de posibles causas, teniendo en cuenta las diferencias entre los distintos hospitales y UCI

Objective. To evaluate effectiveness and efficiency of ICU care using the APACHE III model customized for Spain. Desing. Prospective, observational, multi-centre cohort study. Setting. Nine Spanish ICUs. Patients. One thousand two hundred and eleven patients admitted consecutively. Patients under 16 years of age, patients admitted for less than 24 hours, patients admitted for definitive pacemaker implant and ICU readmissions within the same hospital stay were excluded. Primary endpoints. All the necessary endpoints to calculate the APACHE III score and predicted mortality risk were collected. The Standardized Mortality Ratio (SMR) was calculated. The Actual Weighted Hospital Days (AWHD) was calculated according to the patient's status and patient's location (ward or ICU). The Weighted Hospital Days Predicted (WHDP) was calculated according to the multiple regression model that provided the best explanation of the hospital stay. Later, the Standardized Resource Use Performance Index (SRUPI), computed as AWHD/WHDP, was calculated for each hospital. Results. The SMR was 0.9 (95% CI: 0.82-0.99), SRUPI was greater than 1 in 3 of 9 hospitals, According the SMR and SRUPI only one hospital was qualified as an outlier. Conclusions. In this study, no relationship was found between quality of care and use of resources. Moreover, this methodology may be a useful tool in order to detect deviations from the standard of care and use of resources, and in this way to lead to the analysis of different causes, the differences among hospitals being taken into account

Evaluación de la reproducibilidad de la recogida de datos para el APACHE II, APACHE III adaptado para España y SAPS II en 9 Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos en España / Evaluation of the reproducibility of the data collection for the APACHE II, APACHE III adapted for Spain and the SAPS II in nine Intensive Care Units in Spain

Objetivo. Evaluar la reproducibilidad en la recogida de datos y su influencia en el cálculo de la gravedad y del riesgo predicho de muerte para los modelos APACHE II, APACHE III adaptado para España y SAPS II. Diseño. Estudio multicéntrico, prospectivo y observacional de cohortes. Ámbito. Nueve Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI) en España. Pacientes. Inclusión consecutiva de los pacientes ingresados en el período de estudio. Se excluyeron los pacientes menores de 16 años, con estancia en UCI menor de 24 horas, los ingresados para implante programado de marcapasos y los reingresados en UCI dentro del mismo ingreso hospitalario. Intervención. Ninguna. Variables de interés principales. Se recogieron los datos necesarios para el cálculo de las puntuaciones de gravedad y del riesgo predicho de muerte. Se seleccionaron el 10% de los pacientes por muestreo aleatorio simple y se recogieron los mismos datos por un grupo independiente de intensivistas. Finalmente se compararon los datos recogidos por los dos grupos de intensivistas. Resultados. Se encontraron diferencias significativas en el APS (acute physiology score) y puntuación de gravedad calculados para el APACHE III y SAPS II, y en el riesgo de muerte predicho por SAPS II. El porcentaje de acuerdos en el diagnóstico de ingreso en UCI fue del 50% para los modelos APACHE II y III. En la mayoría de los pacientes (76,58% en el APACHE II y 79,82% en el APACHE III) la diferencia en el riesgo predicho de muerte debido a la diferente asignación del diagnóstico de ingreso en UCI fue menor del 10%. Conclusiones. En este estudio el APS se mostró como el factor más influyente en la reproducibilidad de los índices de gravedad y del cálculo del riesgo predicho de muerte. El diagnóstico de ingreso en UCI no mostró un impacto importante en la reproducibilidad del riesgo predicho de muerte

Objective. To assess reproducibility in data collection and its influence on the calculation of the severity scoring and mortality risk in APACHE II, APACHE III adapted for Spain and SAPS II. Design. Multicenter, prospective, observational cohort study. Setting. Nine Spanish Intensive Care Units (ICUs). Patients. 1,211 consecutive patients admitted during the study period were included. Those patients under 16 years of age, those with a stay in the ICU of less than 24 hours, those admitted for scheduled pacemaker implant and those readmitted to the ICU within the same hospital admission were excluded. Intervention. None. Endpoints of interest. The data needed to calculate the severity and mortality risk scores were collected. A total of 10% of the patients were chosen by simple random sampling and the same data were collected by an independent group of intensive care physicians. Finally, the data obtained by the two groups of intensivists were compared. Results. Significant differences were detected in the acute physiology score (APS) and severity score used for the calculation of APACHE III and SAPS II, and the predicted risk of death calculated for SAPS II. The percentage of agreement on admission diagnosis to the ICU was 50% for both APACHE II and III models. Nonetheless, in most of the patients (76.58% for APACHE II and 79.82% for APACHE III), the difference in the predicted risk of death due to the different assignation of diagnoses on admission to the ICU was less than 10%. Conclusions. In this study, APS was the most influential factor on the reproducibility of severity scores and risk of death prediction. Admission diagnosis assignment had no significant impact on the reproducibility of the predicted mortality risk

[Diagnosis of brain death by multislice CT scan: angioCT scan and brain perfusion]. / Diagnóstico de muerte encefálica mediante tomografía computarizada multicorte: angio-TC y perfusión cerebral.

BD was diagnosed by clinical examination, electroencephalogram (EEG), Transcranial Doppler (TCD) and multislice CT of 64 detectors. Initially, a brain perfusion study was performed. This was followed by supra-aortic trunk and brain artery angiography with acquisition of images using 0.5 mm slices, from the origin of the aortic root to the vertex. In all the patients, BD diagnosis was verified by clinical examination, EEG and TCD. Brain perfusion never detected brain blood flow. The angioCT through internal carotid arteries and vertebral arteries demonstrated complete absence of intracranial circulation, observing circulation of the external carotid artery branches. Sensitivity and specificity of the method compared with clinical examination was 100%. These findings demonstrate that the study of brain perfusion and brain angiography by multislice CT scan is a rapid and minimally invasive technique, that is easily available and that shows the absence of brain blood flow through the four vascular trunks. This technique makes it possible to made the diagnosis of BD with high diagnostic safety. Its use has special interest in patients with clinical diagnostic difficulty due to treatment with sedative drugs and serious metabolic alterations.

Diagnóstico de muerte encefálica mediante tomografía computarizada multicorte: angio-TC y perfusión cerebral / Diagnosis of brain death by multislice CT scan: angioCT scan and brain perfusion

El objetivo del presente estudio fue valorar la perfusión cerebral y la angiografía cerebral mediante tomografía computarizada (TC) multicorte, como método diagnóstico de muerte encefálica (ME). Fueron analizados 6 pacientes ingresados en una Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos, con patología neurológica grave y posterior evolución a ME. El diagnóstico de ME se realizó mediante exploración clínica, electroencefalograma (EEG), doppler transcraneal (DTC) y TC multicorte de 64 detectores. Inicialmente se realizó un estudio de perfusión cerebral, seguido de angiografía de troncos supraaórticos y arterias cerebrales con adquisición de imágenes mediante cortes de 0,5 mm, desde el nacimiento de la raíz de aorta hasta el vértex. En todos los pacientes se confirmó el diagnóstico de ME mediante exploración clínica, EEG y DTC. En ningún caso la perfusión cerebral detectaba flujo sanguíneo cerebral. La angio-TC a través de arterias carótidas internas y arterias vertebrales demostraba una ausencia completa de circulación intracraneal visualizándose circulación en ramas de las arterias carótidas externas. La sensibilidad y especificidad del método comparada con la exploración clínica fue del 100%. Estos hallazgos demuestran que el estudio de perfusión cerebral y la angiografía cerebral mediante TC multicorte es una técnica rápida, mínimamente invasiva, de fácil disponibilidad y que demuestra la ausencia de flujo sanguíneo cerebral a través de los 4 troncos vasculares. Esta técnica permite realizar el diagnóstico de ME con una gran seguridad diagnóstica. Su uso tiene especial interés en pacientes con dificultad diagnóstica clínica por tratamiento con fármacos sedantes y graves alteraciones metabólicas

BD was diagnosed by clinical examination, electroencephalogram (EEG), Transcranial Doppler (TCD) and multislice CT of 64 detectors. Initially, a brain perfusion study was performed. This was followed by supra-aortic trunk and brain artery angiography with acquisition of images using 0.5 mm slices, from the origin of the aortic root to the vertex. In all the patients, BD diagnosis was verified by clinical examination, EEG and TCD. Brain perfusion never detected brain blood flow. The angioCT through internal carotid arteries and vertebral arteries demonstrated complete absence of intracranial circulation, observing circulation of the external carotid artery branches. Sensitivity and specificity of the method compared with clinical examination was 100%. These findings demonstrate that the study of brain perfusion and brain angiography by multislice CT scan is a rapid and minimally invasive technique, that is easily available and that shows the absence of brain blood flow through the four vascular trunks. This technique makes it possible to made the diagnosis of BD with high diagnostic safety. Its use has special interest in patients with clinical diagnostic difficulty due to treatment with sedative drugs and serious metabolic alterations

[Inflammatory response and apoptosis in acute pulmonary injury]. / Respuesta inflamatoria y apoptosis en la lesión pulmonar aguda.

One of the principal mechanisms of pulmonary injury in acute respiratory distress is due to the effects of the precipitated inflammatory response. The damage produced to the alveolar epithelium and underlying endothelium depends on the sequestration and activation of inflammatory cells, which in turn exert their actions through mediators. On the other hand, apoptosis is a mechanism responsible for epithelial damage and regulation of inflammation. Response of the lung tissue subjected to mechanical ventilation stimulus is added to the previous mechanisms. All these processes flow into a series of common pathways of cellular activation. Knowledge of these mechanisms could serve to identify which patients would benefit from a specific treatment before applying therapies that act indiscriminately in the inflammatory response.

Respuesta inflamatoria y apoptosis en la lesión pulmonar aguda / Up-date in Intensive Medicine: ARDS Inflammatory response and apoptosis in acute pulmonary injury

Uno de los principales mecanismos de lesión pulmonar en el distrés respiratorio agudo se debe a los efectos de la respuesta inflamatoria desencadenada. El daño producido al epitelio alveolar y al endotelio subyacente depende del secuestro y activación de células inflamatorias, que a su vez ejercen sus acciones a través de mediadores. Por otro lado, la apoptosis es un mecanismo responsable de daño epitelial y de regulación de la inflamación. A los anteriores mecanismos se añade la respuesta del tejido pulmonar sometido al estímulo de la ventilación mecánica. Todos estos procesos desembocan en una serie de vías comunes de activación celular. El conocimiento de estos mecanismos podría servir para identificar qué pacientes se beneficiarían de un tratamiento concreto, antes que aplicar terapias que actúan de manera indiscriminada en la respuesta inflamatoria

One of the principal mechanisms of pulmonary injury in acute respiratory distress is due to the effects of the precipitated inflammatory response. The damage produced to the alveolar epithelium and underlying endothelium depends on the sequestration and activation of inflammatory cells, which in turn exert their actions through mediators. On the other hand, apoptosis is a mechanism responsible for epithelial damage and regulation of inflammation. Response of the lung tissue subjected to mechanical ventilation stimulus is added to the previous mechanisms. All these processes flow into a series of common pathways of cellular activation. Knowledge of these mechanisms could serve to identify which patients would benefit from a specific treatment before applying therapies that act indiscriminately in the inflammatory response

[The eternal promise of high frequency ventilation]. / La eterna promesa de la ventilación de alta frecuencia.

High frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) is based on the application of continuous pressure in the respiratory system, which assures oxygenation, on which a small oscillation that permits ventilation is added. Although this ventilation form seems to comply with the requirements necessary to minimize the pulmonary lesion associated to mechanical ventilator-induced lung injury in acute lung injury, as several experimental studies suggest, its advantages in the clinical practice must still be demonstrated. Part of this lack of evidence is due to methodological problems of the studies published. However, the major limitation is that it has not been compared against a conventional ventilation strategy with low volumes/pressures. At present, it seems that high frequency ventilation is limited to cases refractory to conventional ventilation. A more extensive knowledge on how to optimize high frequency ventilation is needed before proposing clinical trials having greater scope.