Is SAPS 3 better than APACHE II at predicting mortality in critically ill transplant patients?

OBJECTIVES: This study compared the accuracy of the Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3 with that of Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II at predicting hospital mortality in patients from a transplant intensive care unit. METHOD: A total of 501 patients were enrolled in the study (152 liver transplants, 271 kidney transplants, 54 lung transplants, 24 kidney-pancreas transplants) between May 2006 and January 2007. The Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3 was calculated using the global equation (customized for South America) and the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score; the scores were calculated within 24 hours of admission. A receiver-operating characteristic curve was generated, and the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve was calculated to identify the patients at the greatest risk of death according to Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3 and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores. The Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test was used for statistically significant results and indicated a difference in performance over deciles. The standardized mortality ratio was used to estimate the overall model performance. RESULTS: The ability of both scores to predict hospital mortality was poor in the liver and renal transplant groups and average in the lung transplant group (area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve = 0.696 for Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3 and 0.670 for Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II). The calibration of both scores was poor, even after customizing the Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3 score for South America. CONCLUSIONS: The low predictive accuracy of the Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3 and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores does not warrant the use of these scores in critically ill transplant patients

Pancreatite aguda grave em centro de terapia intensiva: análise de 10 anos

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate etiology, complications, treatment, hospital and intensive care unit stay and mortality in all patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre with acute pancreatitis, from January 1st, 1990 to December 31st, 1999. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a historical cohort study with 57 patients, 37% female and 63% male, with an age average of 48±17 years. Patients were classified in two groups – survivors (n=26, 45.6%) and non-survivors (n=31, 54.4%) – and compared considering hospital and intensive care unit stay, Ranson’s and modified Glasgow’s signs, APACHE II (acute physiology and chronic health evaluation), organ failure, surgery, parenteral nutrition and antibiotics.RESULTS: The most common causes of severe acute pancreatitis were alcohol (37%) and gallstones (31%). Mortality was 54.4 %. Hospital stays were longer for survivors than for non-survivors. Non-survivors presented more organ failures (respiratory, renaland cardiovascular failures) and more Ranson’s and modified Glasgow’s signs than survivors. Other parameters were similar in both groups.CONCLUSIONS: In order to better evaluate the reasons for the high rate of mortality identified in the present group in the studied period it would be necessary to perform a prospective study with stronger control of the interfering factors, including an evaluation of the cases of severe acute pancreatitis that are not admitted in the intensive care unit.OBJETIVO: Avaliar etiologia, complicações, tratamento, tempo de internação – hospitalar e em centro de terapia intensiva – e mortalidade de todos os pacientes internados por pancreatite aguda no centro de tratamento intensivo do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, no período de janeiro de 1990 a dezembro de 1999.MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Realizamos um estudo de coorte histórico, no qual foram avaliados 57 pacientes, 37% do sexo feminino e 63% do sexo masculino, com média de idade de 48 ± 17 anos. Os pacientes foram divididos em dois grupos – sobreviventes (n=26;45,6%) e não-sobreviventes (n=31;54,4%) –, e foram comparados quanto a tempo de internação, critérios de Ranson e de Glasgow modificados, APACHE II (acute physiology and chronic health evaluation), falências orgânicas, procedimentos cirúrgicos, nutrição parenteral e antibióticos recebidos.RESULTADOS: As etiologias mais freqüentes foram alcoólica (37%) e biliar (31%). A mortalidade foi de 54,4%. Os sobreviventes apresentaram maior tempo de internação que os não-sobreviventes (47 ± 36 dias contra 21 ± 20 dias). Os não-sobreviventes apresentaram maiores taxas de falências orgânicas (respiratória, renal e cardiovascular) e maior número de critérios de Ranson e de Glasgow modificados, quando comparados aos sobreviventes. Os parâmetros restantes foram semelhantes entre os dois grupos.CONCLUSÕES: Para melhor avaliar os motivos da alta taxa de mortalidade identificada neste grupo, neste período, seria necessário um trabalho prospectivo com melhor controle dos fatores interferentes e que incluísse ainda a avaliação dos casos de pancreatite aguda com critérios de gravidade que não são admitidos no centro de tratamento intensivo

Leptospirosis as a cause of acute respiratory failure: clinical features and outcome in 35 critical care patients

Leptospirosis may have important complications, such as acute respiratory failure (ARF) associated or not with other organic dysfunction, with a high mortality rate. We report the characteristics and evolution of severe leptospirosis associated with ARF. During 10 years, 35 consecutive adult patients admitted in two general Intensive Care Units with severe leptospirosis and ARF, were followed up. Clinical characteristics, associated organic dysfunction and mortality were analyzed. Survivors were compared with non-survivors. The most frequent clinical manifestations were dyspnea, fever, myalgia, jaundice, hemoptysis and coughing. All patients presented ARF, needing mechanical ventilation, as well as other organic dysfunctions. The mortality rate was 51%. Non-survivors were older and had a higher incidence of organic dysfunction, mainly renal, cardiovascular and neurological failures, as well as a higher level of acidosis. In conclusion, leptospirosis should be considered as a cause of severe ARF and other associated organic dysfunctions

Pancreatite aguda grave em centro de terapia intensiva: análise de 10 anos

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate etiology, complications, treatment, hospital and intensive care unit stay and mortality in all patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre with acute pancreatitis, from January 1st, 1990 to December 31st, 1999. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a historical cohort study with 57 patients, 37% female and 63% male, with an age average of 48±17 years. Patients were classified in two groups – survivors (n=26, 45.6%) and non-survivors (n=31, 54.4%) – and compared considering hospital and intensive care unit stay, Ranson’s and modified Glasgow’s signs, APACHE II (acute physiology and chronic health evaluation), organ failure, surgery, parenteral nutrition and antibiotics.RESULTS: The most common causes of severe acute pancreatitis were alcohol (37%) and gallstones (31%). Mortality was 54.4 %. Hospital stays were longer for survivors than for non-survivors. Non-survivors presented more organ failures (respiratory, renaland cardiovascular failures) and more Ranson’s and modified Glasgow’s signs than survivors. Other parameters were similar in both groups.CONCLUSIONS: In order to better evaluate the reasons for the high rate of mortality identified in the present group in the studied period it would be necessary to perform a prospective study with stronger control of the interfering factors, including an evaluation of the cases of severe acute pancreatitis that are not admitted in the intensive care unit.OBJETIVO: Avaliar etiologia, complicações, tratamento, tempo de internação – hospitalar e em centro de terapia intensiva – e mortalidade de todos os pacientes internados por pancreatite aguda no centro de tratamento intensivo do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, no período de janeiro de 1990 a dezembro de 1999.MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Realizamos um estudo de coorte histórico, no qual foram avaliados 57 pacientes, 37% do sexo feminino e 63% do sexo masculino, com média de idade de 48 ± 17 anos. Os pacientes foram divididos em dois grupos – sobreviventes (n=26;45,6%) e não-sobreviventes (n=31;54,4%) –, e foram comparados quanto a tempo de internação, critérios de Ranson e de Glasgow modificados, APACHE II (acute physiology and chronic health evaluation), falências orgânicas, procedimentos cirúrgicos, nutrição parenteral e antibióticos recebidos.RESULTADOS: As etiologias mais freqüentes foram alcoólica (37%) e biliar (31%). A mortalidade foi de 54,4%. Os sobreviventes apresentaram maior tempo de internação que os não-sobreviventes (47 ± 36 dias contra 21 ± 20 dias). Os não-sobreviventes apresentaram maiores taxas de falências orgânicas (respiratória, renal e cardiovascular) e maior número de critérios de Ranson e de Glasgow modificados, quando comparados aos sobreviventes. Os parâmetros restantes foram semelhantes entre os dois grupos.CONCLUSÕES: Para melhor avaliar os motivos da alta taxa de mortalidade identificada neste grupo, neste período, seria necessário um trabalho prospectivo com melhor controle dos fatores interferentes e que incluísse ainda a avaliação dos casos de pancreatite aguda com critérios de gravidade que não são admitidos no centro de tratamento intensivo

Is SAPS 3 better than APACHE II at predicting mortality in critically ill transplant patients?

OBJECTIVES: This study compared the accuracy of the Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3 with that of Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II at predicting hospital mortality in patients from a transplant intensive care unit. METHOD: A total of 501 patients were enrolled in the study (152 liver transplants, 271 kidney transplants, 54 lung transplants, 24 kidney-pancreas transplants) between May 2006 and January 2007. The Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3 was calculated using the global equation (customized for South America) and the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score; the scores were calculated within 24 hours of admission. A receiver-operating characteristic curve was generated, and the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve was calculated to identify the patients at the greatest risk of death according to Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3 and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores. The Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test was used for statistically significant results and indicated a difference in performance over deciles. The standardized mortality ratio was used to estimate the overall model performance. RESULTS: The ability of both scores to predict hospital mortality was poor in the liver and renal transplant groups and average in the lung transplant group (area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve = 0.696 for Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3 and 0.670 for Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II). The calibration of both scores was poor, even after customizing the Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3 score for South America. CONCLUSIONS: The low predictive accuracy of the Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3 and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores does not warrant the use of these scores in critically ill transplant patients