Resuscitation with low volume hydroxyethylstarch 130 kDa/0.4 is not associated with acute kidney injury.

INTRODUCTION: Acute kidney injury (AKI) in the ICU is associated with poorer prognosis. Hydroxyethylstarch (HES) solutions are fluid resuscitation colloids frequently used in the ICU with controversial nephrotoxic adverse effects. Our study objective was to evaluate HES impact on renal function and organ failures. METHODS: This observational retrospective study included 363 patients hospitalized for more than 72 hours in our ICU. A hundred and sixty eight patients received HES during their stay and 195 did not. We recorded patients' baseline characteristics on admission and type and volume of fluid resuscitation during the first 3 weeks of ICU stay. We also noted the evolution of urine output, the risk of renal dysfunction, injury to the kidney, failure of kidney function, loss of kidney function and end-stage kidney disease (RIFLE) classification and sepsis related organ failure assessment (SOFA) score over 3 weeks. RESULTS: Patients in the HES group were more severely ill on admission but AKI incidence was similar, as well as ICU mortality. The evolution of urine output (P = 0.74), RIFLE classification (P = 0.44) and SOFA score (P = 0.23) was not different. However, HES volumes administered were low (763+/-593 ml during the first 48 hours). CONCLUSIONS: Volume expansion with low volume HES 130 kDa/0.4 was not associated with AKI.

Vascular graft infections in the intensive care unit: clinical spectrum and prognostic factors.

OBJECTIVES: To report clinical characteristics and prognosis of vascular graft infections in Intensive Care Unit (ICU). METHODS: Thirty seven patients consecutively admitted in ICU for suspected or definite vascular graft infection between January 2006 and June 2009 were included. RESULTS: Staphylococcus species (n = 18) and enterobacteriae (n = 16) were the most frequent causative organisms. Twenty six patients (70%) needed mechanical ventilation. Further surgical procedures were performed in 7 patients (19%). In case of definite infection, mortality in ICU was 33%. In non survivors, shock (92% vs 42%, p = 0.01), age > 70 years (73% vs 27%, p = 0.04), POSSUM score > 45 (73% vs 27%, p = 0.04) and extra-anatomic bypass (45% vs 14%, p = 0.05) were more frequent, intra-operative volume of red cells transfusion (6 ± 3 vs 3 ± 2 units, p = 0.006) and of fresh frozen plasma (2.8 ± 2.8 vs 0.7 ± 1.2 units, p = 0.02), and SAPS II score (58 ± 26 vs 38 ± 17, p = 0.03) were higher. Proportion of adequate initial antibiotic therapy was similar in survivors and non survivors (91% vs 100%, p = 0.4). Proportion of patients treated with an aminoglycoside tended to be higher in survivors (59% vs 27%, p = 0.07). By multivariate analysis, only shock was associated with death in ICU (AOR: 16.3; 95% CI: 1.7-152.1; p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Vascular graft infection carries high morbidity and mortality rates in ICU. Extra-anatomic bypass might be associated with higher mortality. Early aminoglycoside prescription might be protective.

Epidemiology, prognosis, and evolution of management of septic shock in a French intensive care unit: a five years survey.

Purpose. To evaluate the epidemiology, prognosis, and management of septic shock patients hospitalized in our intensive care unit (ICU). Materiel and Methods. Five-year monocenter observational study including 320 patients. Results. ICU mortality was 54.4%. Independent mortality risk factors were mechanical ventilation (OR = 4.97), Simplify Acute Physiology Score (SAPS) II > 60 (OR = 4.28), chronic alcoholism (OR = 3.38), age >65 years (OR = 2.65), prothrombin ratio <40% (OR = 2.37), and PaO(2)/FiO(2) ratio <150 (OR = 1.91). These six mortality risk factors recovered allow screening immediately septic shock patients with a high mortality risk. Morbidity improved with time (diminution of septic shock complications, increase of the number of days alive free from mechanical ventilation and vasopressors on day 28), concomitant to an evolution of the management (earlier institution of all replacement and medical therapies and more initial volume expansion). There was no difference in mortality. Conclusion. Our study confirms a high mortality rate in septic shock patients despite a new approach of treatment.