Cecilia Loudet

Incidence and clinical effects of intra-abdominal hypertension in critically ill patients

Objective:The objective of this study was to determine the epidemiology and outcomes of intra-abdominal hypertension in a heterogeneous intensive care unit population. Design:This was a prospective cohort study. Setting:This study was conducted at a medical-surgical intensive care unit in a university hospital. Patients:Study patients included all those consecutively admitted during 9 months, staying >24 hrs, and requiring bladder catheterization. Measurements and Main Results:On admission, epidemiologic data and risk factors for intra-abdominal hypertension were studied; then, daily maximal and mean intra-abdominal pressures (IAPmax and IAPmean), abdominal perfusion pressure, fluid balances, filtration gradient, and sequential organ failure assessment score, were registered. IAPs were recorded through a bladder catheter every 6 hrs until death, discharge, or along 7 days. Intra-abdominal hypertension was defined as IAP ≥12 mm Hg. Abdominal compartment syndrome was defined as IAP ≥20 mm Hg plus ≥1 new organ failure. Main outcome measure was hospital mortality. Of 83 patients, considering IAPmax, 31% had intra-abdominal hypertension on admission and another 33% developed it after (23% and 31% with IAPmean). Main risk factors were mechanical ventilation, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and fluid resuscitation (relative risk, 5.26, 3.19, and 2.50, respectively). Patients with intra-abdominal hypertension were sicker, had higher mortality (53% vs. 27%, p = .02), and consistently showed higher total and renal sequential organ failure assessment score, daily and cumulative fluid balances, and lower filtration gradient. Nonsurvivors had higher IAPmax, IAPmean, and fluid balances and lower abdominal perfusion pressure. Abdominal compartment syndrome developed in 12%; 20% survived. Logistic regression identified IAPmax as an independent predictor of mortality (odds ratio, 1.17; 95% confidence interval, 1.05–1.30; p = .003) after adjusting with Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II and comorbidities (odds ratio, 1.15; 95% confidence interval, 1.06–1.25; p = .001; and odds ratio, 2.68; 95% confidence interval, 1.27–5.67; p = .013, respectively). Models with IAPmean and abdominal perfusion pressure also performed well. Areas under receiver operating characteristic curves were .81 and .83. Conclusions:Intra-abdominal hypertension, diagnosed either with IAPmax or IAPmean, was frequent and showed an independent association with mortality. Intra-abdominal hypertension was significantly associated with more severe organ failures, particularly renal and respiratory, and a prolonged intensive care unit stay.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Obstetric Patients Requiring ICU Admission

OBJECTIVES To review a series of critically ill obstetric patients admitted to our ICU to assess the spectrum of disease, required interventions, and fetal/maternal mortality, and to identify conditions associated with maternal death. DESIGN Retrospective cohort. SETTING Medical-surgical ICU in a university-affiliated hospital. PATIENTS Pregnant/postpartum admissions between January 1, 1998, and September 30, 2005. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS We studied 161 patients (age, 28 +/- 9 years; mean gestational age, 29 +/- 9 weeks) [mean +/- SD], constituting 10% of 1,571 hospital admissions. APACHE (acute physiology and chronic health evaluation) II score was 14 +/- 8, with 24% predicted mortality; sequential organ failure assessment score was 5 +/- 3; and therapeutic intervention scoring system at 24 h was 25 +/- 9. Forty-one percent of patients required mechanical ventilation (MV). ARDS, shock, and organ dysfunction were present in 19%, 25%, and 48% of patients, respectively. Most patients (63%) were admitted postpartum, and 74% of admissions were of obstetric cause. Hypertensive disease (40%), major hemorrhage (16%), septic abortion (12%), and nonobstetric sepsis (10%) were the principal diagnoses. Maternal mortality was 11%, with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (44%) and intracranial hemorrhage (39%) as main causes. There were no differences in death rate in patients admitted for obstetric and nonobstetric causes. Fetal mortality was 32%. Only 30% of patients received antenatal care, which was more frequent in survivors (33% vs 6% nonsurvivors, p = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS Although ARDS, organ failures, shock, and use of MV were extremely frequent in this population, maternal mortality remains within an acceptable range. APACHE II overpredicted mortality in these patients. Septic abortion is still an important modifiable cause of mortality. Efforts should concentrate in increasing antenatal care, which was clearly underprovided in these patients.

Critical care providers’ opinion on unsafe abortion in Argentina

To survey the opinion of critical care providers in Argentina about abortion.

Organizational Issues, Structure, and Processes of Care in 257 Icus in Latin America: A Study From the Latin America Intensive Care Network

Objective: Latin America bears an important burden of critical care disease, yet the information about it is scarce. Our objective was to describe structure, organization, processes of care, and research activities in Latin-American ICUs. Design: Web-based survey submitted to ICU directors. Settings: ICUs located in nine Latin-American countries. Subjects: Individual ICUs. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: Two hundred fifty-seven of 498 (52%) of submitted surveys responded: 51% from Brazil, 17% Chile, 13% Argentina, 6% Ecuador, 5% Uruguay, 3% Colombia, and 5% between Mexico, Peru, and Paraguay. Seventy-nine percent of participating hospitals had less than 500 beds; most were public (59%) and academic (66%). ICUs were mainly medical-surgical (75%); number of beds was evenly distributed in the entire cohort; 77% had 24/7 intensivists; 46% had a physician-to-patient ratio between 1:4 and 7; and 69% had a nurse-to-patient ratio of 1 ≥ 2.1. The 24/7 presence of other specialists was deficient. Protocols in use averaged 9 ± 3. Brazil (vs the rest) had larger hospitals and ICUs and more quality, surveillance, and prevention committees, but fewer 24/7 intensivists and poorer nurse-to-patient ratio. Although standard monitoring, laboratory, and imaging practices were almost universal, more complex measurements and treatments and portable equipment were scarce after standard working hours, and in public hospitals. Mortality was 17.8%, without differences between countries. Conclusions: This multinational study shows major concerns in the delivery of critical care across Latin America, particularly in human resources. Technology was suboptimal, especially in public hospitals. A 24/7 availability of supporting specialists and of key procedures was inadequate. Mortality was high in comparison to high-income countries.

Health insurance status and outcomes of critically ill obstetric patients: A prospective cohort study in Argentina

PURPOSE In Argentina, uninsured patients receive public health care, and the insured receive private health care. Our aim was to compare different outcomes between critically ill obstetric patients from both sectors. METHODS This is a prospective cohort, including pregnant/postpartum patients requiring admission to 1 intensive care unit in the public sector (uninsured) and 1 in the private (insured) from January 1, 2008, to September 30, 2011. RESULTS A total of 151 patients were included in the study. In uninsured (n = 63) vs insured (n = 88) patients, Acute Physiology and Chronic Evaluation II (APACHE II) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores were 11 ± 6.5 vs 8 ± 4 and 3 (2-7) vs 1 (0-2), respectively, and 84% vs 100% received prenatal care (P = .001 for all). Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) was present in 32 (54%) uninsured vs 9 (10%) insured patients (P = .001), and acute respiratory distress syndrome developed in 18 (30.5%) of 59 vs 2(2%) of 88 (P = .001). Neonatal survival was 80% vs 96% (P = .003). Variables independently associated with the development of MODS were APACHE II (odds ratio, 1.30 [1.13-1.49]), referral from another hospital (odds ratio, 11.43 [1.86-70.20]), lack of health insurance (odds ratio 6.75 [2.17-20.09]), and shock (odds ratio 4.82 [1.54-15.06]). Three patients died, all uninsured. CONCLUSIONS Uninsured critically ill obstetric patients (public sector) were more severely ill on admission and experienced worse outcomes than insured patients (private sector). Variables independently associated with MODS were APACHE II, shock, referral from another hospital, and lack of insurance.

Hypertensive disease of pregnancy in the ICU: a multicenter study

Abstract Objective: To describe characteristics, outcomes and clinical presentations for hypertensive disease of pregnancy (HDP) in patients admitted to three ICUs in Argentina. Methods: Case-series multicenter study. Results: There were 184 patients with HDP. Mean age 26 ± 8; 90% did not present comorbidity; APACHEII 9[6–14]; SOFA24 2[1–4]; ICU-LOS 3[2–6] days and hospital-LOS 8[5–12] days. Gestational age 34 ± 5 weeks; 46% (85) nulliparous and 71% received routine prenatal care. Maternal mortality 3.3% (6) – 50% attributed to intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). Neonatal mortality 13.6%. Diagnostic categories: eclampsia (64; 35%), severe preeclampsia (60; 32.6%), HELLP (33; 17.9%), eclampsia-HELLP (18; 9.8%) and other (chronic/gestational-hypertension) (9: 4.7%). Severe hypertension in 46%, multiple organ dysfunction in 23%, acute respiratory distress in 8.7% and acute renal failure in 8%. Variables independently associated with eclampsia: maternal age (OR 1.07 [1.02–1.13], gestational age (OR 1.14 [1.04–1.24]) and nulliparity (OR 2.40 [1.19–4.85]). Conclusions: Although patients were young and the majority received appropriate prenatal care, they spent considerable time in hospital and presented severe morbidity. Maternal mortality was 3.3% and in half of these cases it was attributed to ICH. Eclampsia and severe preeclampsia represented two thirds of the diagnostic categories. Variables independently associated with eclampsia were maternal and gestational ages and nulliparity.

Symptom burden and health-related quality of life among intensive care unit survivors in Argentina: A prospective cohort study☆☆☆★

PURPOSE Our goal was to describe the evolution of selected physical and psychologic symptoms and identify the determinants of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) after intensive care unit (ICU) discharge. METHODS The study is a prospective cohort of consecutive adult patients admitted to a mixed ICU in a university-affiliated hospital, mechanically ventilated for more than 48 hours. During ICU stay, epidemiological data and events probably associated to worsening outcomes were recorded. After discharge, patients were interviewed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. Health-related quality of life was assessed with EuroQoL Questionnaire-5 Dimensions, which includes the EQ-index and EQ-Visual Analogue Scale. RESULTS One hundred twelve patients were followed up, aged 33 [24-49] years, 68% male, 76% previously healthy, and cranial trauma was the main diagnosis. Physical and psychologic symptoms and moderate/severe problems according to the EQ index progressively decreased after discharge, yet were still highly prevalent after 1 year. EQ index improved from 0.22 [0.01-0.69] to 0.52 [0.08-0.81], 0.66 [0.17-0.79], and 0.68 [0.26-0.86] (P < .001, for all vs month 1). EQ-Visual Analogue Scale remained stable, within acceptable values. Independent determinants of EQ-index were time, duration of mechanical ventilation, shock, weakness, and return to study/work. CONCLUSIONS Determinants of HRQOL after ICU discharge were both related to late sequelae of critical illness and to some events occurring in the ICU. Notwithstanding the high symptom burden, patients still perceived their HRQOL as good.

OS024. Characteristics and outcomes of critically ill obstetric patientswith hypertensive disease of pregnancy in argentina: Multicenter study

INTRODUCTION Worldwide, hypertensive disease of pregnancy is one of the most frequent causes of admission of obstetric patients to the ICU. Maternal mortality risk related to Hypertension during pregnancy in Latin America is significantly higher than in developed countries. OBJECTIVES To describe the characteristics and outcomes of pregnant-postpartum patients with hypertensive disease of pregnancy admitted to ICU METHODS: DESIGN Multicenter case series study. POPULATION pregnant-postpartum (<42days) patients with hypertensive disease of pregnancy admitted to ICU. SETTING 3 ICUs in Argentina, 2 from the Public (P1) and 1 from the Private Health Sector (P2). STATISTICS Continuous data are presented as mean±SD or median [IQR], and categorical data as number (%). Comparisons among continuous data were performed with unpaired t test or Mann-Whitney U test. Categorical variables were analyzed by Chi-square test or Fisher exact test as appropriate. A two-sided α<0.05 was considered as significant. SPSS version 15 was used. RESULTS One hundred and eighty four patients were included, 161(87.5%) from P1. General characteristics are shown in the Table. Gestational age was 34±5 weeks. Risk factors for preeclampsia not included in Charlson score were chronic hypertension (22;12%), Obesity (6;3%) and preeclampsia in previous pregnancy (5;3%). ICU admission was postpartum in 80%(145). Causes of admission were eclampsia (63;34%), severe preeclampsia (61;33%), HELLP (33;18%), Eclampsia-HELLP (18;10%), Chronic Hypertension (5;3%) and Gestational Hypertension (4;2%). Predictive mortality according with APACHEII was 14%. Antenatal care was present in 115/142(81%) patients; 97/124(78%) in P1 vs 18/18 (100%) in P2; p0.024. Antenatal care was appropriate in 77/108(71.3%) of patients; 59/90(65.5%) in P1 vs 18/18(100%) in P2; p0.001. Maternal deaths (6) occurred in the Public sector and none of the patients had received antenatal care. Causes of mortality were hemorrhagic stroke (3) and multiple organ dysfunction (3) Table 1. CONCLUSION Most patients were from the public health sector and the majority did not have any comorbidity according with the Charlson score. Nevertheless, 18% presented risk factors for preeclampsia, not included in the mentioned score. Two-thirds of patients were admitted with eclampsia and severe preeclampsia. APACHEII overpredicted mortality. Half of deaths were related with hemorrhagic stroke, complication almost eradicated from developed countries. None of the patients who died had received antenatal care.