Coralie Vigne

NOREPINEPHRINE: NOT TOO MUCH, TOO LONG.

ABSTRACT The study was designed to assess whether high dosages of norepinephrine are associated with increased death rate and to determine the dosage of norepinephrine associated with an intensive care unit (ICU) death rate greater than 90%. We conducted a retrospective, noninterventional, observational study in a single ICU (15 beds) of an academic hospital. From January 2009 to May 2013, data of all patients with a diagnosis of septic shock were extracted from our database. Data were collected at the time of the admission in ICU, at the onset of septic shock, and when the maximal posology of norepinephrine was reached. Mortality was assessed in ICU, in hospital, and at day 90. Among the 324 patients with septic shock, the death rate was 48%. The death rate reached 90% for the quantile of patients receiving more than 1 &mgr;g/kg per minute of norepinephrine. In our cohort, four independent factors associated with mortality were identified: age (odds ratio, 1.02 [95% confidence interval, 1.00–1.04]; P = 0.02), thrombocytopenia (odds ratio, 3.8 [95% confidence interval, 1.8–8.5]; P < 0.001), urine output less than 500 mL (odds ratio, 8.7 [95% confidence interval, 3.6–25]; P < 0.001), and dosage of norepinephrine greater than 1 &mgr;g/kg per minute (odds ratio, 9.7 [95% confidence interval, 4.5–23]; P < 0.001). However, because of the studys design, unmeasured confounding factors should be taken into account in our findings.

Implementation of lung ultrasound in polyvalent intensive care unit: Impact on irradiation and medical cost.

OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of implementing a daily lung ultrasound round on the number of chest radiographs and chest computed tomography (CT) scans in a polyvalent intensive care unit (ICU). STUDY DESIGN Retrospective study comparing two consecutive periods. PATIENTS All patients hospitalized for longer than 48 hours in a polyvalent ICU. METHODS Implementation of a daily lung ultrasound round after a short educational program. The number of chest radiographs and chest CT scans and the patient outcome were measured before (group PRE) and after (group POST) the implementation of a daily lung ultrasound round. RESULTS No demographic difference was found between the two groups, with the exception of a higher severity score in the group POST. For each ICU stay, the number of chest radiographs was 10.3 ± 12.4 in the group PRE and 7.7 ± 10.3 in the group POST, respectively (P<0.005) The number of chest CT scans was not reduced in the group POST, as compared with the group PRE (0.5 ± 0.7 CT scan/patient/ICU stay versus 0.4 ± 0.6 CT scan/patient/ICU stay, P=0.01). The ICU mortality was similar in both groups (21% versus 22%, P=0.75) CONCLUSION: The implementation of a daily lung ultrasound round was associated with a reduction in radiation exposure and medical cost without altering patient outcome.

Risk factors for death in septic shock A retrospective cohort study comparing trauma and non-trauma patients

Abstract The aim of this study was to compare septic shock directly associated-mortality between severe trauma patients and nontrauma patients to assess the role of comorbidities and age. We conducted a retrospective study in an intensive care unit (ICU) (15 beds) of a university hospital (928 beds). From January 2009 to May 2015, we reviewed 2 anonymized databases including severe trauma patients and nontrauma patients. We selected the patients with a septic shock episode. Among 385 patients (318 nontrauma patients and 67 severe trauma patients), the ICU death rate was 43%. Septic shock was directly responsible for death among 35% of our cohort, representing 123 (39%) nontrauma patients and 10 (15%) trauma patients (P < 0.0). A sequential organ failure assessment score above 12 (odds ratio [OR]: 6.8; 95% confident interval (CI) [1.3–37], P = 0.025) was independently associated with septic shock associated-mortality, whereas severe trauma was a protective factor (OR: 0.26; 95% CI [0.08–0.78], P = 0.01). From these independent risk factors, we determined the probability of septic shock associated-mortality. The receiver-operating characteristics curve has an area under the curve at 0.76 with sensitivity of 55% and specificity of 86%. Trauma appears as a protective factor, whereas the severity of organ failure has a major role in the mortality of septic shock. However, because of the studys design, unmeasured confounding factors should be taken into account in our findings.

Integrating extended focused assessment with sonography for trauma (eFAST) in the initial assessment of severe trauma: Impact on the management of 756 patients

BACKGROUND Before total body computed tomography scan, an initial rapid imaging assessment should be conducted in the trauma bay. It generally includes a chest x-ray, pelvic x-ray, and an extended focused ultrasonography assessment for trauma. This initial imaging assessment has been poorly described since the increase in the use of ultrasound. Therefore, our study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic impact of this initial imaging work-up in severe trauma patients. A secondary aim was to assess the therapeutic impact of a chest x-ray according to the lung ultrasonography findings. METHODS Patients with severe trauma who were admitted directly to our level 1 trauma center were consecutively included in this retrospective single center study. The diagnostic accuracy, therapeutic impact, and appropriate decision rate were calculated according to the initial assessment results of the whole body computed tomography scan and surgery reports. RESULTS Among the 1315 trauma patients admitted, 756 were included in this research. Lung ultrasound showed a higher diagnostic accuracy for haemothorax and pneumothorax cases than the chest x-ray. Sensitivity and specificity of the abdominal ultrasound to detect intraperitoneal effusion were 70% and 96%, respectively. The initial assessment had a therapeutic impact in 76 (10%) of the patients, including 16 (2%) immediate laparotomies and 58 (7%) chest tube insertions. The pelvic x-ray had no therapeutic impact, and when the lung ultrasound was normal, the chest x-ray had a therapeutic impact of only 0.13%. Combining the chest x-ray and lung ultrasound allowed adequate management of all the pneumothorax and haemothorax cases. Only one of the 756 patients had initial management that was judged as inappropriate. This patient had a missed pelvic disjunction with active retroperitoneal bleeding, and underwent an inappropriate immediate laparotomy. CONCLUSIONS In our cohort, the initial imaging assessment allowed appropriate decisions in 755 of 756 patients, with a global therapeutic impact of 10%. The pelvic x-ray had a minimal therapeutic impact, and in the patients with normal lung ultrasounds, the chest x-ray marginally affected the management of our patients. The potential consequences of abandoning systematic chest and pelvic x-rays should be investigated in future randomized prospective studies.

Analytical interference during cefepime therapeutic drug monitoring in intensive care patient: About a case report

β-lactams therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) appears as an essential tool to ensure the achievement of pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic targets and prevent induced toxicity in intensive care unit patients. Indeed, those patients exhibit important pharmacokinetic variabilities that could lead to unpredictable plasma concentrations, potentially associated with poor clinical outcome, development of antibiotic resistance or increased side effects. Here, we report the case of a 48-year-old-patient admitted to intensive care unit and treated by cefepime using TDM. Due to inconsistency between observed cefepime plasma concentrations and patient clinical examination, investigations were started. After analytical tests, we highlighted an underlying analytical interference that overestimated cefepime plasma concentration with our in-house high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV) method. Only the inadequacy between plasmatic concentration and patient situation alerted pharmacologists and clinicians. As we found no previous case in literature, we believe this report must serve as an example of analytical limits that required pharmacologist awareness and expertise in TDM realization.

Implementation of an electronic checklist in the ICU: Association with improved outcomes

OBJECTIVE To assess the impact of an electronic checklist during the morning rounds on ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in the intensive care unit (ICU). PATIENTS AND METHODS We conducted a retrospective, before/after study in a single ICU of a university hospital. A systematic electronic checklist focusing on guidelines adherence was introduced in January 2012. From January 2008 to June 2014, we screened patients with ICU stay durations of at least 48hours. Propensity score-matched analysis with conditional logistic regression was used to compare the rate of VAP and number of days free of invasive devices before and after implementation of the electronic checklist. RESULTS We analysed 1711 patients (before group, n=761; after group, n=950). The rates of VAP were 21% and 11% in the before and after groups, respectively (p<0.001). In propensity-score matched analysis (n=742 in each group), VAP occurred in 151 patients (21%) during the before period compared with 72 patients (10%) during the after period (odds ratio [OR]=0.38; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.27-0.53). The after group showed increases in ICU-free days (OR=1.05; 95% CI=1.04-1.07) and mechanical ventilation-free days (OR=1.03; 95% CI=1.01-1.04). CONCLUSION In this matched before/after study, implementation of an electronic checklist was associated with positive effects on patient outcomes, especially on VAP. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these observations.