Microalbuminuria in systolic and diastolic chronic heart failure patients

Background: Microalbuminuria is considered a major risk factor predisposing to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Microalbuminuria levels in patients with or without diabetes have been associated with a higher risk of chronic heart failure (HF). However, there are limited data regarding prevalence of microalbuminuria in chronic heart failure and its prognostic value. The aim of this study was to assess the occurence of microalbuminuria in chronic heart failure patients as well as its association with clinical, echocardiographic, and body composition markers. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we included 72 chronic heart failure patients (NYHA I-III) on standard HF therapy. All patients had an echocardiogram and body composition by vector bioelectric impedance analysis (measured by Body Stat Quad Scan). Results: The studied population consisted of 64% men at mean age of 62.6 ± 15.1 years. Patients were divided into systolic and diastolic HF groups. Microalbuminuria was observed in 40% of diastolic and 24% systolic HF patients (p = 0.04). Microalbuminuria was present in more patients with volume overload (80 vs. 21.9%, p = 0.002), with a worse phase angle and lower serum albumin (4.7 vs. 5.9° and 3.5 vs. 4.0 mg/dl, p = 0.02) and higher pulmonary arterial pressure compared with patients without microalbuminuria in systolic HF patients. There was no significant association between frequency of microalbuminuria and ejection fraction. In the diastolic HF group, the presence of microalbuminuria was not associated with any known risk factor. Conclusions: Microalbuminuria was more frequent in diastolic than systolic HF patients. In systolic HF patients microalbuminuria was associated with factors known to be markers of worse prognosis. (Cardiol J 2008; 15: 143-149

Mechanical Ventilation in Neurocritical Patients

Patients under neurocritical care may require mechanical ventilation for airway protection; respiratory failure can occur simultaneously or be acquired during the ICU stay. In this chapter, we will address the ventilatory strategies, in particular the role of protective lung ventilation, and the potential increase in intracranial pressure as a result of permissive hypercapnia, high airway pressures during recruitment maneuvers, and/or prone position. We will also describe some strategies to achieve mechanical ventilation liberation, including evaluation for tracheostomy, timing of tracheostomy, mechanical ventilation modalities for weaning and extubation, or tracheostomy weaning for mechanical ventilation

Noninvasive ventilation : education and training. A narrative analysis and an international consensus document

Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is an increasingly used method of respiratory support. The use of NIV is expanding over the time and if properly applied, it can save patients’ lives and improve long-term prognosis. However, both knowledge and skills of its proper use as life support are paramount. This systematic review aimed to assess the importance of NIV education and training. Literature search was conducted (MEDLINE: 1990 to June, 2018) to identify randomized controlled studies and systematic reviews with the results analyzed by a team of experts across the world through e-mail based communications. Clinical trials examining the impact of education and training in NIV as the primary objective was not found. A few studies with indirect evidence, a simulation-based training study, and narrative reviews were identified. Currently organized training in NIV is implemented only in a few developed countries. Due to a lack of high-grade experimental evidence, an international consensus on NIV education and training based on opinions from 64 experts across the twenty-one different countries of the world was formulated. Education and training have the potential to increase knowledge and skills of the clinical staff who deliver medical care using NIV. There is a genuine need to develop structured, organized NIV education and training programs, especially for the developing countries

SOFA Score Plus Impedance Ratio Predicts Mortality in Critically Ill Patients Admitted to the Emergency Department: Retrospective Observational Study

Background: The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) is a scoring system used for the evaluation of disease severity and prognosis of critically ill patients. The impedance ratio (Imp-R) is a novel mortality predictor. Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the combination of the SOFA + Imp-R in the prediction of mortality in critically ill patients admitted to the Emergency Department (ED). Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed in adult patients with acute illness admitted to the ED of a tertiary-care referral center. Baseline SOFA score and bioelectrical impedance analysis to obtain the Imp-R were performed within the first 24 h after admission to the ED. A Cox regression analysis was performed to evaluate the mortality risk of the initial SOFA score plus the Imp-R. Harrell’s C-statistic and decision curve analyses (DCA) were performed. Results: Out of 325 patients, 240 were included for analysis. Overall mortality was 31.3%. Only 21.3% of non-surviving patients died after hospital discharge, and 78.4% died during their hospital stay. Of the latter, 40.6% died in the ED. The SOFA and Imp-R values were higher in non-survivors and were significantly associated with mortality in all models. The combination of the SOFA + Imp-R significantly predicted 30-day mortality, in-hospital mortality, and ED mortality with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.80 (95% CI: 74–0.86), 0.79 (95% CI: 0.74–0.86) and 0.75 (95% CI: 0.66–0.84), respectively. The DCA showed that combining the SOFA + Imp-R improved the prediction of mortality through the lower risk thresholds. Conclusions: The addition of the Imp-R to the baseline SOFA score on admission to the ED improves mortality prediction in severely acutely ill patients admitted to the ED

Continuous positive airway pressure in non-apneic asthma : a clinical review of the current evidence

The use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in the asthma has been a question of debate over the past several years. Various studies, including animal and human studies have attempted to understand the role and pathophysiology of CPAP in patients with either well controlled or poorly controlled asthma. The aim of this manuscript is to review the current available literature on the physiologic and clinical effects of CPAP in animal models of asthma and humans with stable asthma

Noninvasive ventilation: education and training. A narrative analysis and an international consensus document

Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is an increasingly used method of respiratory support. The use of NIV is expanding over the timeand if properly applied, it can save patients’ lives and improve long-term prognosis. However, both knowledge and skills of itsproper use as life support are paramount. This systematic review aimed to assess the importance of NIV education and training.Literature search was conducted (MEDLINE: 1990 to June, 2018) to identify randomized controlled studies and systematic reviewswith the results analyzed by a team of experts across the world through e-mail based communications.Clinical trials examining the impact of education and training in NIV as the primary objective was not found. A few studies withindirect evidence, a simulation-based training study, and narrative reviews were identified. Currently organized training in NIV is implementedonly in a few developed countries. Due to a lack of high-grade experimental evidence, an international consensus on NIVeducation and training based on opinions from 64 experts across the twenty-one different countries of the world was formulated.Education and training have the potential to increase knowledge and skills of the clinical staff who deliver medical care usingNIV. There is a genuine need to develop structured, organized NIV education and training programs, especially for the developingcountries