•Self-poisoning is not a frequent reason for ICU admission.•Misuse of prescribed psychotropic medication has an increasing trend.•Prompt psychiatric consultation might reduce the repetition rate of ...self-harm attempts.
Self-poisoning accounts for between 3 and 17% of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions.
To display the misused substances, intention, and outcome of patients admitted to the ICU due to self-poisoning.
A retrospective review of ICU admissions using an electronic patient database was performed.
A total of 149 patients were admitted, accounting for 4.6% of ICU admissions.
Self-poisoning with self-harm was more frequent than without self-harm intent (62.4% vs. 37.6%). 64.4% of ingested substances were misused prescribed drugs. Females used antipsychotics (X2 = 15, p< 0.05) and benzodiazepines (X2 =11.52, p< 0.05), and males ingested antipsychotics (X2 = 12, p< 0.05) with a self-harm intent. Antipsychotics were always used with a self-harm intent. Illicit drugs (X2 =9.14, p< 0.05) and ethanol (X2 =7.34, p< 0.05) were mostly used without self-harm intent. 102 patients (68.5%) continued treatment in a psychiatric clinic, more often women (X2 (1,N = 145)=7.94, p< 0.005). The readmission rate was low. Mortality was 2.6%.
Self-poisoning is an infrequent cause of ICU admission. Prescribed psychotropic medications, including benzodiazepines, antipsychotics, and antidepressants were the most frequently misused substances. Psychiatric consultation before the ICU discharge and subsequent psychiatric treatment might lower the repetition and readmission rate.
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) either occurs in a congenital form caused by ADAMTS13 gene mutations or it is acquired and most often due to ADAMTS13 inhibitory autoantibodies. In ...congenital TTP siblings are often affected, while acquired TTP occurs sporadically and familial clustering has not been described so far. We report identical twin sisters suffering from acquired TTP due to immunoglobulin G (IgG) autoantibodies inactivating ADAMTS13, suggesting an important role of hitherto unidentified genetic determinants of ADAMTS13 inhibitor formation. These cases also demonstrate that familial clustering is not sufficient for unambiguously diagnosing hereditary ADAMTS13 deficiency and congenital TTP. (Blood. 2004;103:4195-4197)
•Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults (MIS-A) is rare complication of COVID-19.•MIS-A can present with acute liver injury.•MIS-A can present with severe cardiac dysfunction.•Liver injury in ...MIS-A is reversible.
Summary
Aims
To investigate the clinical benefit of routine procalcitonin (PCT) measurement in the medical intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary referral hospital.
Methods
Adult patients with ...suspected infections were included. White blood cells, C‑reactive protein (CRP), and PCT were measured.
Results
In this study 129 patients of median age 64 years (interquartile range 39–89 years) were prospectively included. The Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores were 21 ± 14 and 7 ± 6, respectively. Intensive care unit (ICU) mortality was 22.5%. Immunocompromised patients constituted 39.5%. A significant correlation was observed between PCT and APACHE II (Spearman’s rho 0.461,
p
< 0.01), PCT and SOFA (Spearman’s rho 0.494,
p
< 0.01) and PCT and CRP (Spearman’s rho 0.403,
p
< 0.01). Most patients (
n
= 83, 64.3%) received antibiotics before admission. No difference in PCT (1.56 ± 8 µg/L vs. 1.44 ± 13 µg/L,
p
= 0.6) was observed with respect to previous antibiotic therapy. Levels of PCT and CRP were significantly increased in patients with positive blood cultures, the infection caused by Gram-negative microorganism regardless of disease severity and pneumonia with complications. PCT did not differ among patients with positive vs negative urine culture (4.6 ± 16 µg/L vs. 1.76 ± 11.9 µg/L) or positive vs. negative endotracheal aspirate (1.93 ± 11.4 µg/L vs. 1.76 ± 1.11 µg/L). PCT-guided stewardship was applied in 36 patients (28%).
Conclusion
Increased initial PCT levels might point to the development of more severe disease caused by Gram-negative bacteria, regardless of previous antibiotic treatment. The results pertain to immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients. Implementation of PCT-guided stewardship in those patients is possible and relies on experience as well as knowledge of reference change value for a marker within the specific setting.
Decisions about limitations of life sustaining treatments (LST) are made for end-of-life patients in intensive care units (ICUs). The aim of this research was to explore the professional and ethical ...attitudes and experiences of medical professionals on treatment of end-of-life patients in ICUs in the Republic of Croatia.
A cross-sectional study was conducted among physicians and nurses working in surgical, medical, neurological, and multidisciplinary ICUs in the total of 9 hospitals throughout Croatia using a questionnaire with closed and open type questions. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to reduce data to a smaller set of summary variables. Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyse the differences between two groups and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to analyse the differences between more than two groups.
Less than third of participants (29.2%) stated they were included in the decision-making process, and physicians are much more included than nurses (p < 0.001). Sixty two percent of participants stated that the decision-making process took place between physicians. Eighteen percent of participants stated that 'do-not-attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitations' orders were frequently made in their ICUs. A decision to withdraw inotropes and antibiotics was frequently made as stated by 22.4% and 19.9% of participants, respectively. Withholding/withdrawing of LST were ethically acceptable to 64.2% of participants. Thirty seven percent of participants thought there was a significant difference between withholding and withdrawing LST from an ethical standpoint. Seventy-nine percent of participants stated that a verbal or written decision made by a capable patient should be respected. Physicians were more inclined to respect patient's wishes then nurses with high school education (p = 0.038). Nurses were more included in the decision-making process in neurological than in surgical, medical, or multidisciplinary ICUs (p < 0.001, p = 0.005, p = 0.023 respectively). Male participants in comparison to female (p = 0.002), and physicians in comparison to nurses with high school and college education (p < 0.001) displayed more liberal attitudes about LST limitation.
DNACPR orders are not commonly made in Croatian ICUs, even though limitations of LST were found ethically acceptable by most of the participants. Attitudes of paternalistic and conservative nature were expected considering Croatia's geographical location in Southern Europe.
Osobe s teškim oblikom COVID-19 najčešće se prezentiraju respiracijskom insuficijencijom i razvojem akutnoga plućnog distres sindroma (ARDS), ali su moguće i razne izvanplućne komplikacije. Prikazali ...smo četrdesetdevetogodišnjeg bolesnika s ranije poznatom arterijskom hipertenzijom koji je razvio teški oblik infekcije COVID-19 komplicirane akutnim bubrežnim oštećenjem i kasnije nekontroliranom arterijskom hipertenzijom. Pacijent je hospitaliziran desetog dana bolesti zbog pogoršanja plućne funkcije koja je progredirala do globalne respiracijske insuficijencije i potrebe za orotrahealnom intubacijom. Bolesnik je ispunjavao kriterije ARDS-a. U ranom tijeku liječenja razvio je treći stupanj akutnoga bubrežnog oštećenja prema smjernicama KDIGO. Bilo je potrebno dugotrajno nadomještanje bubrežne funkcije. Uz oporavak diureze zabilježena je značajna proteinurija
uz arterijsku hipertenziju, zbog čega je učinjena imunološka obrada i biopsija bubrega. Biopsija bubrega pokazala je akutno tubularno oštećenje bez značajnih promjena glomerula. Rezultati imunoloških testova bili su neupadljivi. Unatoč redovitoj procjeni volumnog statusa i nadomještanja bubrežne funkcije u bolesnika je perzistirala nekontrolirana arterijska hipertenzija koja je zahtijevala uvođenje niza antihipertenziva. Bolest je dodatno komplicirana krvarenjima iz probavnog i dišnog trakta te sekundarnim bolničkim infekcijama. Četiri mjeseca nakon izlječenja akutne bolesti bolesnik ima sniženu glomerularnu filtraciju (e-GFR 55 ml/min/1,73m2 ) bez albuminurije koja se može svrstati u 3A stadij kronične bubrežne bolesti. Cilj ovog rada bio je prikazati razvoj teškog oblika COVID-19 komplicirane akutnim bubrežnim oštećenjem i razvojem nekontrolirane arterijske hipertenzije u kasnijem
tijeku liječenja. Navedeni poremećaji prezentirali su se u relativno mlađeg, prethodno zdravog pacijenta te također ostavili kronične posljedice na bubrežnu funkciju. Navedeno bi trebalo potaknuti kliničare na razmatranje i uvrštenje redovite evaluacije bubrežne funkcije i arterijske hipertenzije kao sastavnog dijela praćenja bolesnika nakon COVID-19.
Chromic acid is a strong metal acid and acute poisoning is very rare, but very serious with severe skin injury, renal and liver failure. The majority of published cases were suicide attempts with ...lethal outcomes. We describe the case of a 55-year-old man who had accidentally taken a sip of 20% chromic acid (estimated chromium intake: 2.3 g). Renal and liver failure were not present at presentation, but appeared later in the course of disease. He was treated with hemodialysis, no chelating agents or other methods for enhancing elimination were used. Liver and renal function improved over the next 30 days and the patient was discharged after 45 days of hospitalization with no need for dialysis. In the follow-up period of eight months his renal function remained depressed, but stable.
Adaptive rowing is rowing or sculling for rowers with a physical disability. It debuted at the Paralympic Games in 2008. In order to ensure an equitable playing field, rowers with similar levels of ...physical function and disability are classified into different sport classes for competition. Rowers with an inability to use a sliding seat and impaired trunk function resulting in an inability to perform trunk forward and backward lean via hip flexion/extension are assigned to the Arms and Shoulders (AS) class. AS rowers have to use a chest strap set immediately below the chest in order to localize any trunk movement in AS class. Conditions created by adaptations of rowing equipment and technique within the AS class create unique stresses on the upper thoracic region. The following case report demonstrates how etiology and management of a rib stress fracture in an AS rower differs in comparison to able-body rowers. Of significant importance were the limitations imposed on the rower's ability to maintain rowing-specific fitness, due to the nature of the rib stress fracture and requirement to decrease force transmission through the ribs for several weeks. The rower's gradual return to full training was further impacted by obligatory use of the chest strap, which directly applied pressure over the injured area. Protective orthosis for the chest was designed and applied in order to dissipate pressure of the chest strap over the thorax during rowing (most importantly at the catch position) both on the ergometer and in the boat.
Acute pancreatitis is a disease with various degrees of clinical manifestations. Mild and moderate severe acute pancreatitis is an illness characterized with chemical inflammation which, in general, ...passes without major complications. Clinical picture of severe acute pancreatitis other side is commonly complicated with functional deterioration of other organs, and frequently has characteristics of multiple organ dysfunction or failure syndrome with or without bacterial super infection. We studied 82 patients admitted to the intensive care unit with severe acute pancreatitis, 14 died. The mortality was in statistically significant correlation with the severity of clinical condition at admission assessed by APACHE II score, and higher Ranson's and Glasgow criteria by admission. Adequate volume supplementation, on time, as well as percutaneous drainage of infected pancreas collection reduces a risk of pure outcome.
PDF
