Neuromuscular disorders acquired in the ICU (multiple letters) [6]

A discussion about critical illness polyneuropathy and myopath

Paresis Following Mechanical Ventilation [2] (multiple letters)

A discussion about critical illness myopathy and neuropth

Extracorporeal life support for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome: report of a Consensus Conference

International audienceThe influenza H1N1 epidemics in 2009 led a substantial number of people to develop severe acute respiratory distress syndrome and refractory hypoxemia. In these patients, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was used as rescue oxygenation therapy. Several randomized clinical trials and observational studies suggested that extracorporeal membrane oxygenation associated with protective mechanical ventilation could improve outcome, but its efficacy remains uncertain. Organized by the Societe de Reanimation de Langue Francaise (SRLF) in conjunction with the Societe Francaise d'Anesthesie et de Reanimation (SFAR), the Societe de Pneumologie de Langue Francaise (SPLF), the Groupe Francophone de Reanimation et d'Urgences Pediatriques (GFRUP), the Societe Francaise de Perfusion (SOFRAPERF), the Societe Francaise de Chirurgie Thoracique et Cardiovasculaire (SFCTV) et the Sociedad Espanola de Medecina Intensiva Critica y Unidades Coronarias (SEMICYUC), a Consensus Conference was held in December 2013 and a jury of 13 members wrote 65 recommendations to answer the five following questions regarding the place of extracorporeal life support for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome: 1) What are the available techniques?; 2) Which patients could benefit from extracorporeal life support?; 3) How to perform extracorporeal life support?; 4) How and when to stop extracorporeal life support?; 5) Which organization should be recommended? To write the recommendations, evidence-based medicine (GRADE method), expert panel opinions, and shared decisions taken by all the thirteen members of the jury of the Consensus Conference were taken into account

Recommandations Formalisées d'Experts SRLF/SFMU : Prise en charge des états de mal épileptiques en préhospitalier, en structure d'urgence et en réanimation dans les 48 premières heures (A l'exclusion du nouveau-né et du nourrisson)

International audienceManagement of status epilepticus (SE) is subject to many difficulties: diagnosis, etiological investigation, non-specific and specific treatment. The French Society of Intensive Care and the French Society of Emergency Medicine, with the French Group for Pediatric Intensive Care and Emergencies, have developed guidelines to respond to the practical questions raised by SE management in the prehospital setting, in the emergency department and in the intensive care unit. Twenty-five experts analyzed the literature and formulated recommendations according to the Grade of Recommendation Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology. The experts agreed on 96 recommendations. Recommendations with the strongest level of evidence concern only generalized tonic convulsive SE. In this setting, first-line use of benzodiazepines (direct intravenous clonazepam or intramuscular midazolam) was recommended, with a second injection in the case of clinical persistence of SE five minutes after the first injection. In the case of persistence of SE five minutes after this second injection, the recommendation is to administer the second-line treatment: sodium valproate, (fos)phenytoin, phenobarbital or levetiracetam. The confirmed persistence of convulsions 30 min after the beginning of the administration of this second-line treatment defines refractory SE. At this stage, a coma should be rapidly induced by means of a third-line general anesthetic (midazolam and/or propofol). Additional specific recommendations focus on children (except newborns) and on other types of SE.La Société de réanimation de langue française et la Société française de médecine d’urgence ont décidé d’élaborer de nouvelles recommandations sur la prise en charge de l’état mal épileptique (EME) avec l’ambition de répondre le plus possible aux nombreuses questions pratiques que soulèvent les EME : diagnostic, enquête étiologique, traitement non spécifique et spécifique. Vingt-cinq experts ont analysé la littérature scientifique et formulé des recommandations selon la méthodologie GRADE. Les experts se sont accordés sur 96 recommandations. Les recommandations avec le niveau de preuve le plus fort ne concernent que l’EME tonico-clonique généralisé (EMTCG) : l’usage des benzodiazépines en première ligne (clonazépam en intraveineux direct ou midazolam en intramusculaire) est recommandé, répété 5 min après la première injection (à l’exception du midazolam) en cas de persistance clinique. En cas de persistance 5 min après cette seconde injection, il est proposé d’administrer la seconde ligne thérapeutique : valproate de sodium, (fos-)phénytoïne, phénobarbital ou lévétiracétam. La persistance avérée de convulsions 30 min après le début de l’administration du traitement de deuxième ligne signe l’EMETCG réfractaire. Il est alors proposé de recourir à un coma thérapeutique au moyen d’un agent anesthésique intraveineux de type midazolam ou propofol. Des recommandations spécifiques à l’enfant et aux autres EME sont aussi énoncées

Management of refractory status epilepticus in adults: still more questions than answers.

Refractory status epilepticus (RSE) is defined as status epilepticus that continues despite treatment with benzodiazepines and one antiepileptic drug. RSE should be treated promptly to prevent morbidity and mortality; however, scarce evidence is available to support the choice of specific treatments. Major independent outcome predictors are age (not modifiable) and cause (which should be actively targeted). Recent recommendations for adults suggest that the aggressiveness of treatment for RSE should be tailored to the clinical situation. To minimise intensive care unit-related complications, focal RSE without impairment of consciousness might initially be approached conservatively; conversely, early induction of pharmacological coma is advisable in generalised convulsive forms of the disorder. At this stage, midazolam, propofol, or barbiturates are the most commonly used drugs. Several other treatments, such as additional anaesthetics, other antiepileptic or immunomodulatory compounds, or non-pharmacological approaches (eg, electroconvulsive treatment or hypothermia), have been used in protracted RSE. Treatment lasting weeks or months can sometimes result in a good outcome, as in selected patients after encephalitis or autoimmune disorders. Well designed prospective studies of RSE are urgently needed

Treatment deviating from guidelines does not influence status epilepticus prognosis.

Status epilepticus (SE) prognosis is related to nonmodifiable factors (age, etiology), but the exact role of drug treatment is unclear. This study was undertaken to address the prognostic role of treatment adherence to guidelines (TAG). We prospectively studied over 26 months a cohort of adults with incident SE (excluding postanoxic). TAG was assessed in terms of drug doses (± 30 % of recommendations) and medication sequence; its prognostic impact on mortality and return to baseline conditions was adjusted for etiology, SE severity [Status Epilepticus Severity Score (STESS)], and comorbidities. Of 225 patients, 26 (12 %) died and 82 (36 %) were discharged with a new handicap; TAG was observed in 142 (63 %). On univariate analysis, age, etiology, SE severity, and comorbidities were significantly related to outcome, while TAG was associated with neither outcome nor likelihood of SE control. Logistic regression for mortality identified etiology [odds ratio (OR) 18.8, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 4.3-82.8] and SE severity (STESS ≥ 3; OR 1.7, 95 % CI 1.2-2.4) as independent predictors, and for lack of return to baseline, again etiology (OR 7.4, 95 % CI 3.9-14.0) and STESS ≥ 3 (OR 1.7, 95 % CI 1.4-2.2). Similar results were found for the subgroup of 116 patients with generalized-convulsive SE. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analyses confirmed that TAG did not improve outcome prediction. This study of a large SE cohort suggests that treatment adherence to recommendations using current medications seems to play a negligible prognostic role (class III), confirming the importance of the biological background. Awaiting further treatment trials, it appears mandatory to apply resources towards identification of new therapeutic approaches