The first wave of COVID-19 in Intensive care

In December 2019, in Wuhan, a new human infectious pathology was born, COVID-19, consisting above all in pneumoniae, induced by the coronavirus named SARS-CoV-2 because of the respiratory distress it caused (SARS for severe acute respiratory syndrome, and CoV for Coronavirus). A real health and planetary crisis has appeared, much more substantial than that linked to SARS-CoV-1 in 2002-2004 and to MERS-CoV (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus) in 2012. In addition to respiratory damage that can be dramatic, this pathology is complicated by the frequency of cardiovascular, renal and coagulation diseases. Health care systems have had to adapt urgently, in the absence of hindsight from the patho- logy, and without effective therapeutic weapons. Through this review of the literature, we detail our local practices for the overall management of patients hospitalized in Intensive care

Incidence and risk factors for early renal dysfunction after liver transplantation.

peer reviewedAIM: To determine renal dysfunction post liver transplantation, its incidence and risk factors in patients from a Belgian University Hospital. METHODS: Orthotopic liver transplantations performed from January 2006 until September 2012 were retrospectively reviewed (n = 187). Patients with no renal replacement therapy (RRT) before transplantation were classified into four groups according to their highest creatinine plasma level during the first postoperative week. The first group had a peak creatinine level below 12 mg/L, the second group between 12 and 20 mg/L, the third group between 20 and 35 mg/L, and the fourth above 35 mg/L. In addition, patients who needed RRT during the first week after transplantation were also classified into the fourth group. Perioperative parameters were recorded as risk factors, namely age, sex, body mass index (BMI), length of preoperative hospital stay, prior bacterial infection within one month, preoperative ascites, preoperative treatment with beta-blocker, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, preoperative creatinine and bilirubin levels, donor status (cardiac death or brain death), postoperative lactate level, need for intraoperative vasopressive drugs, surgical revision, mechanical ventilation for more than 24 h, postoperative bilirubin and transaminase peak levels, postoperative hemoglobin level, amount of perioperative blood transfusions and type of immunosuppression. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed using logistic ordinal regression method. Post hoc analysis of the hemostatic agent used was also done. RESULTS: There were 78 patients in group 1 (41.7%), 46 in group 2 (24.6%), 38 in group 3 (20.3%) and 25 in group 4 (13.4%). Twenty patients required RRT: 13 (7%) during the first week after transplantation. Using univariate analysis, the severity of renal dysfunction was correlated with presence of ascites and prior bacterial infection, preoperative bilirubin, urea and creatinine level, need for surgical revision, use of vasopressor, postoperative mechanical ventilation, postoperative bilirubin and urea, aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), and hemoglobin levels and the need for transfusion. The multivariate analysis showed that BMI (OR = 1.1, P = 0.004), preoperative creatinine level (OR = 11.1, P < 0.0001), use of vasopressor (OR = 3.31, P = 0.0002), maximal postoperative bilirubin level (OR = 1.44, P = 0.044) and minimal postoperative hemoglobin level (OR = 0.059, P = 0.0005) were independent predictors of early post-liver transplantation renal dysfunction. Neither donor status nor ASAT levels had significant impact on early postoperative renal dysfunction in multivariate analysis. Absence of renal dysfunction (group 1) was also predicted by the intraoperative hemostatic agent used, independently of the extent of bleeding and of the preoperative creatinine level. CONCLUSION: More than half of receivers experienced some degree of early renal dysfunction after liver transplantation. Main predictors were preoperative renal dysfunction, postoperative anemia and vasopressor requirement

Nutritional support of critically ill patients with renal failure

Critically ill patients who have undergone gastrointestinal surgery have comparable nutritional needs to other critically ill patients. However, there are additional issues, particularly pertaining to feed delivery, and the presence of malignant disease, which warrant consideration. The nutritional requirements of patients who have had gastrointestinal surgery reflect their pre-morbid nutritional state, chronic health issues, the nature of their underlying gastrointestinal pathology, the mode of presentation, the type of surgery, and the severity and nature of their critical illness. This chapter discusses the nutritional management of such patients in the critical care setting, with particular reference to the type, timing, and route of nutritional support. Malnutrition is common in hospitalized patients, and especially so in patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery. Causes include decreased oral intake, particularly in the elderly, impaired absorption due to bowel obstruction, previous resections or inflammatory conditions, and the presence of malignant disease. Nearly half of patients undergoing surgery for gastrointestinal malignancies are malnourished and the proportion is even greater amongst those with upper gastrointestinal cancers. Malnutrition is associated with impaired immune function, reduced muscle function, and poor wound healing. This translates into an increased risk of post-operative complications, length of hospital stay, and mortality. However, even in the absence of malnutrition, patients undergoing surgery are exposed to a period of post-operative catabolism and immuno-suppression.SCOPUS: ch.binfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

"Fulminant" endocarditis due to Staphyloccocus aureus

peer reviewedWe report two cases of "fulminant" endocarditis due to Staphyloccoccus aureus. In both cases, the echocardiographic and bacteriologic diagnosis was esthablished in a clinical picture of severe sepsis and thrombocytopenia evolving after a fever of less than 3 days duration

INCIDENCE AND RISK FACTORS FOR EARLY RENAL DYSFUNCTION AFTER LIVER TRANSPLANTATION

INTRODUCTION. Renal dysfunction often occurred after liver transplantation. OBJECTIVES. The aim of the study was to determine its incidence and its risk factors in a clinical series at the University Hospital of Liege, Belgium. METHODS. Orthotopic liver transplantations performed from January 2006 until Sep- tember 2012 were retrospectively reviewed (n = 187). Patients, with no renal replacement therapy (RRT) before transplantation were classified in four groups according to their highest creatinine plasma level during the first postoperative week. First group had a cre- atinine level below 12 mg/l, the second group between 12 and 20 mg/l, the third group between 20 and 35 mg/l, and the fourth above 35 mg/l. In addition, patients who needed RRT during the first week after transplantation were also classified in the fourth group. Preoperative and perioperative parameters were tested as risk factors: age, sex, body mass index (BMI), length of hospital preoperative stay, prior bacterial infection within one month, preoperative ascites, preoperative treatment with ß-blocker, converting enzyme inhibitor, or non steroidal antiinflammatory drugs, preoperative creatinine and bilirubine level, postop- erative lactate level, need for postoperative vasopressive drugs, surgical revision, mechanical ventilation for more than 24 h, postoperative peaks in bilirubine and transam- inase levels, postoperative hemoglobin level, amount of perioperative blood transfusions, type of immunosuppression. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed using logistic ordinal regression method. RESULTS. There were 78 patients in group 1 (41.7 %), 46 in group 2 (24.6 %), 38 in group 3 (20.3 %) and 25 in group 4 (13.4 %). Eighteen patients required RRT: 13 (7 %) during the first week after transplantation (group 4), the 5 others after the first week after transplan- tation (2 in group 1 and 2, and 1 in group 3). There were 7 (3.7 %) early deaths within 28 days after transplantation. Using univariate analysis, the severity of renal dysfunction was correlated with presence of ascites and prior bacterial infection, preoperative bilirubin and creatinine level, need for surgical revision, use of vasopressor, postoperative mechanical ventilation, postoperative bilirubine, transaminase, and hemoglobin levels. The need for transfusion of each type of products also affected renal dysfunction. The ordinal logistic analysis pointed out the BMI (OR = 1.1, p = 0.004), preoperative creatinine level (OR = 11.1, p \ 0.0001), use of vasopressor (OR = 3.31, p = 0.0002), maximal postop- erative bilirubine level (OR = 1.44, p = 0.044) and minimal postoperative hemoglobin level (OR 0.059 p = 0.0005). CONCLUSIONS. More than half of liver transplanted patients experienced some degree of early renal dysfunction after transplantation. Risk factors are preoperative renal dysfunction, and mainly perioperative circulatory instability requiring the use of vasopressor and post- operative anemia

Diarrhoea in the critically ill

The purpose of this review is to update the knowledge on diarrhoea, a common problem in critically ill patients. Epidemiological data will be discussed, with special emphasis on diarrhoea in tube-fed patients and during antibiotic therapy. The possible preventive and therapeutic measures will be presented.SCOPUS: re.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Pseudomembranous colitis with Clostridium difficile during treatment by moxifloxacine (quinolone)

C. difficile is the most frequently pathogenic agent isolated in colitis associated with antibiotics and pseudomembranous colitis (PMC). C. difficile takes advantage of the disturbance of the intestinal flora to settle. We report a case of PMC appeared during treatment with moxifloxacine in a pulmonary infection in an emphysematous patient. The diarrhea is generally benign, but can be severe, with toxic megacolon or even the extreme case of colic perforation. The diagnosis is based on the research of toxins of C. difficile (A and/or B) in the intestinal stools or liquids (collected at the time of the endoscopic examination) to which is associated the anaerobic culture on selective agar. The reference method is the measurement of the cytotoxic effect of the B-toxin on a cell culture. Metronidazole or vancomycine constitutes the treatment. The prevention of relapses is very important, hygiene measures and probiotic agents must be associated to the antibiotic treatment