Fluid balance, change in serum creatinine and urine output as markers of acute kidney injury post cardiac surgery: an observational study

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is defined as oliguria or rise in serum creatinine but oliguria alone as a diagnostic criterion may over-diagnose AKI. Objectives: Given the association between fluid overload and AKI, we aimed to determine if positive fluid balance can complement the known parameters in assessing outcomes of AKI. Design: Prospective observational study. Setting: Teaching hospital in Vancouver, Canada. Patients: 111 consecutive patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery from January to April 2012. Measurements: Outcomes of cardiac surgery intensive care unit (CSICU) and hospital length of stay (LOS) in relation to fluid balance, urine output and serum creatinine. Methods: All fluid input and output was recorded for 72 hours post-operatively. Positive fluid balance was defined as >6.5 cc/kg. Daily serum creatinine and hourly urine output were recorded and patients were defined as having AKI according to the AKIN criteria. Results: Of the patients who were oliguric, those with fluid overload trended towards longer LOS than those without fluid overload [CSICU LOS: 62 and 39 hours (unadjusted p-value 0.02, adjusted p-value 0.58); hospital LOS: 13 and 9 days (unadjusted p-value: 0.05, adjusted p-value: 0.16)]. Patients with oliguria who were fluid overloaded had similar LOS to patients with overt AKI (change in serum creatinine ≥ 26.5 µmol/L), [CSICU LOS: 62 and 69 hours (adjusted p value: 0.32) and hospital LOS: 13 and 14 days (adjusted p value: 0.19)]. Patients with oliguria regardless of fluid balance had longer CSICU LOS (adjusted p value: 0.001) and patients who were fluid overloaded in the absence of AKI had longer hospital LOS (adjusted p value: 0.02). Limitations: Single centre, small sample, LOS as outcome. Conclusions: Oliguria and positive fluid balance is associated with a trend towards longer LOS as compared to oliguria alone. Fluid balance may therefore be a useful marker of AKI, in addition to urine output and serum creatinine.Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Department ofMedicine, Department ofMedicine, Faculty ofNephrology, Division ofOther UBCReviewedFacult

Anthrax immune globulin improves hemodynamics and survival during B. anthracis toxin-induced shock in canines receiving titrated fluid and vasopressor support

Abstract Background Although anthrax immune globulin (AIG) improved survival in antibiotic-treated Bacillus anthracis-challenged animal models, whether it adds to the benefit of conventional hemodynamic support for B. anthracis toxin-associated shock is unknown. Methods We therefore tested AIG in sedated, mechanically ventilated canines challenged with 24-h B. anthracis lethal and edema toxin infusions and supported for 96 h with a previously demonstrated protective regimen of titrated normal saline and norepinephrine. Results Compared to controls, proportional survival (%) was increased with AIG treatment started 4 h before (33 vs. 100%, n = 6 each) or 2 h (17 vs. 86%, n = 6 and 7 respectively) or 5 h (0 vs. 67%, n = 3 each) after the start of toxin (p ≤ 0.05) and overall [3 survivors of 15 controls (20%) vs. 14 of 16 AIG animals (88%); p = 0.006]. Averaged across treatment times, AIG increased blood pressure at 48 h and decreased norepinephrine requirements at 72 h (p ≤ 0.02), increased left ventricular ejection fraction at 48 and 72 h (p ≤ 0.02), and increased urine output and decreased net fluid balance at 72 and 96 h (p ≤ 0.04). AIG also reduced acidosis and renal and hepatic injury markers between 24 and 96 h. Conclusions These findings further support AIG’s potential benefit for patients with B. anthracis infection and developing toxin-associated shock

Identity construction in a second language : A qualitative study about how adult Swedish for Immigrants students from Poland perceive their identities in Swedish

Desensitization protocol for anthrax immune globulin and intravenous immunoglobulin (control) showing the time and rate at which each escalating dilution of the treatments was administered. (DOCX 11 kb