Bleeding may occur frequently during adult extracorporeal life support; however, there are no detailed investigations of bleeding events, red blood cell transfusion, and their impact on mortality. ...The purpose of our study was to characterize the incidence of bleeding and red blood cell transfusion during adult extracorporeal life support and examine the impact on mortality.
We performed a retrospective analysis of adult extracorporeal life support patients over approximately a 3-year period. The incidence of bleeding events and transfusions were recorded. Unadjusted and adjusted multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate the odds of inhospital mortality among patients with bleeding and for each red blood cell unit transfused. Ninety-day survival was compared between patients who bled and those who did not.
Serious bleeding events occurred in 74 of 132 patients (56.1%), and the rate of bleeding was 10 events per 100 days. The crude odds ratio for inhospital mortality in patients who bled was 2.22 (95% confidence interval CI: 1.00 to 4.94, p = 0.05); and for each unit of red blood cells transfused, it was 1.03 (95% CI: 1.01 to 1.04, p = 0.005). The adjusted odds ratios for bleeding and red blood cell transfusions were 0.90 (95% CI: 0.37 to 2.19, p = 0.82) and 1.03 (95% CI: 1.00 to 1.06, p = 0.04). There was a trend toward decreased 90-day survival among patients who bled compared with patients who did not (46.7% versus 64.9%, p = 0.08).
Bleeding and red blood cell transfusion occur frequently during adult extracorporeal life support, but only the amount of red blood cell transfusion is associated with inhospital mortality after controlling for confounding variables.
Study objective We derive a prediction rule to identify children at very low risk for intra-abdominal injuries undergoing acute intervention and for whom computed tomography (CT) could be obviated. ...Methods We prospectively enrolled children with blunt torso trauma in 20 emergency departments. We used binary recursive partitioning to create a prediction rule to identify children at very low risk of intra-abdominal injuries undergoing acute intervention (therapeutic laparotomy, angiographic embolization, blood transfusion for abdominal hemorrhage, or intravenous fluid for ≥2 nights for pancreatic/gastrointestinal injuries). We considered only historical and physical examination variables with acceptable interrater reliability. Results We enrolled 12,044 children with a median age of 11.1 years (interquartile range 5.8, 15.1 years). Of the 761 (6.3%) children with intra-abdominal injuries, 203 (26.7%) received acute interventions. The prediction rule consisted of (in descending order of importance) no evidence of abdominal wall trauma or seat belt sign, Glasgow Coma Scale score greater than 13, no abdominal tenderness, no evidence of thoracic wall trauma, no complaints of abdominal pain, no decreased breath sounds, and no vomiting. The rule had a negative predictive value of 5,028 of 5,034 (99.9%; 95% confidence interval CI 99.7% to 100%), sensitivity of 197 of 203 (97%; 95% CI 94% to 99%), specificity of 5,028 of 11,841 (42.5%; 95% CI 41.6% to 43.4%), and negative likelihood ratio of 0.07 (95% CI 0.03 to 0.15). Conclusion A prediction rule consisting of 7 patient history and physical examination findings, and without laboratory or ultrasonographic information, identifies children with blunt torso trauma who are at very low risk for intra-abdominal injury undergoing acute intervention. These findings require external validation before implementation.
Objective To determine the accuracy of complaints of abdominal pain and findings of abdominal tenderness for identifying children with intra-abdominal injury (IAI) stratified by Glasgow Coma Scale ...(GCS) score. Study design This was a prospective, multicenter observational study of children with blunt torso trauma and a GCS score ≥13. We calculated the sensitivity of abdominal findings for IAI with 95% CI stratified by GCS score. We examined the association of isolated abdominal pain or tenderness with IAI and that undergoing acute intervention (therapeutic laparotomy, angiographic embolization, blood transfusion, or ≥2 nights of intravenous fluid therapy). Results Among the 12 044 patients evaluated, 11 277 (94%) had a GCS score of ≥13 and were included in this analysis. Sensitivity of abdominal pain for IAI was 79% (95% CI, 76%-83%) for patients with a GCS score of 15, 51% (95% CI, 37%-65%) for patients with a GCS score of 14, and 32% (95% CI, 14%-55%) for patients with a GCS score of 13. Sensitivity of abdominal tenderness for IAI also decreased with decreasing GCS score: 79% (95% CI, 75%-82%) for a GCS score of 15, 57% (95% CI, 42%-70%) for a GCS score of 14, and 37% (95% CI, 19%-58%) for a GCS score of 13. Among patients with isolated abdominal pain and/or tenderness, the rate of IAI was 8% (95% CI, 6%-9%) and the rate of IAI undergoing acute intervention was 1% (95% CI, 1%-2%). Conclusion The sensitivity of abdominal findings for IAI decreases as GCS score decreases. Although abdominal computed tomography is not mandatory, the risk of IAI is sufficiently high that diagnostic evaluation is warranted in children with isolated abdominal pain or tenderness.
Venovenous (V-V) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is used for respiratory failure that is suspected to be reversible (bridge to recovery), or as a bridge to lung transplantation. Patients ...with proximal airway obstruction due to endobronchial malignancy can develop acute respiratory failure, and may benefit from V-V ECMO as a bridge to airway intervention, further treatment, and eventual recovery. We describe a case of a superior sulcus tumor with tracheobronchial and superior vena cava invasion causing both respiratory failure and superior vena cava syndrome. This was treated successfully with V-V ECMO, bronchial stenting, and radiotherapy.
Objective The study objective was to create an adult extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) coagulopathic bleeding risk score. Design Secondary analysis was performed on an existing retrospective ...cohort. Pre-ECMO variables were tested for association with coagulopathic bleeding, and those with the strongest association were included in a multivariable model. Using this model, a risk stratification score was created. The score’s utility was validated by comparing bleeding and transfusion rates between score levels. Bleeding also was examined after stratifying by nadir platelet count and overanticoagulation. Predictive power of the score was compared against the risk score for major bleeding during anti-coagulation for atrial fibrillation (HAS-BLED). Setting Tertiary care academic medical center. Participants The study comprised patients who received venoarterial or venovenous ECMO over a 3-year period, excluding those with an identified source of surgical bleeding during exploration. Interventions None. Measurements and Main Results Fifty-three (47.3%) of 112 patients experienced coagulopathic bleeding. A 3-variable score— h ypertension, a ge greater than 65, and ECMO t ype (HAT)—had fair predictive value (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve AUC = 0.66) and was superior to HAS-BLED (AUC = 0.64). As the HAT score increased from 0 to 3, bleeding rates also increased as follows: 30.8%, 48.7%, 63.0%, and 71.4%, respectively. Platelet and fresh frozen plasma transfusion tended to increase with the HAT score, but red blood cell transfusion did not. Nadir platelet count less than 50×103 /µL and overanticoagulation during ECMO increased the AUC for the model to 0.73, suggesting additive risk. Conclusions The HAT score may allow for bleeding risk stratification in adult ECMO patients. Future studies in larger cohorts are necessary to confirm these findings.
High-volume crystalloid resuscitation is associated with increased length of stay, ICU and ventilator days, and organ failure and infection rates. Rapid evaluation of a hemodynamically unstable ...trauma patient is vital to diagnosis and treatment of the cause of shock. CT scanning should be used liberally in trauma patients to effect decreased mortality. Nonoperative management and catheter-based interventions are becoming the standard of care in appropriately selected patients with solid organ injuries.
Penetrating spinal cord injury: a “lost” injury Kweku, Josephine, MD, MPH; Stein, Deborah, MD, MPH; Menaker, Jay, MD ...
Journal of the American College of Surgeons,
September 2013, Letnik:
217, Številka:
3
Journal Article
Abstract Background Lemierre Syndrome (LS) is a highly aggressive rare disease process with a predilection for young, healthy adolescents. Often beginning with a primary cervicofacial infection, LS ...rapidly progresses to thrombophlebitis of the cerebral vasculature, metastatic infection, and septicemia. Untreated LS can be rapidly fatal. Thrombus within the cerebral vasculature can have devastating neurological effects. Advances in antibacterial therapy have resulted in a global decline in the incidence of LS, and clinicians may not consider LS early in the disease process. Although the mortality of LS has declined, the morbidity associated with the disease has increased, particularly the neurological sequelae. Objectives This report will provide readers with a better understanding of the etiology, clinical presentation, evaluation methods, and appropriate treatment of LS. Case Report We present an atypical case of LS secondary to community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection progressing to bilateral cavernous sinus and ophthalmic vein thromboses with resultant binocular vision loss secondary to optic nerve and retinal ischemia. Conclusion This case highlights the importance of early recognition of LS in the setting of a community-acquired MRSA infection as the unifying condition in a young patient with multiple acute neurologic impairments.
Abstract Background: “Cocaine-induced agitated delirium with associated hyperthermia” is a rare, almost uniformly fatal syndrome. The incidence of the disease is not known, however, it is believed to ...have markedly increased since the late 1980s with widespread popularity of crack cocaine. Objective: Recent literature is lacking regarding this rare syndrome. Although almost uniformly fatal, we present a neurologically intact survivor due to a multidisciplinary team approach. Case Report: We are reporting a 41-year-old African-American man who arrived at the trauma center with a rectal temperature of 42.6°C (108.6°F) and a toxicology screen positive for cocaine. The patient manifested many of the known complications of cocaine-induced agitated delirium with associated hyperthermia, including renal failure and coagulation panel abnormalities. With early application of cooling techniques, including ice pack, gastric lavage, and bilateral chest cavity lavage using multiple chest tubes, the patient's core temperature was quickly lowered. Conclusion: This case demonstrated how a multidisciplinary team approach, including emergency medicine and critical care specialists, and aggressive treatment of hyperthermia using bilateral tube thoracostomy and chest cavity lavage enabled our patient's core temperature to be effectively lowered. We were unable to find prior reports of using tube thoracostomy in this manner.