Heura Llaquet Bayo

Measurement of lactic acid in multiple injury patients and its usefulness as a predictor of multiorgan failure and mortality

INTRODUCTION The use of lactic acid as marker of occult hyperfusion and its relationship with multiorgan failure (MOF) and/or mortality is a subject of debate. MATERIAL AND METHOD A prospective study was conducted on multiple injury patients over 16 years of age in critical care areas. The lactic acid was measured at the beginning and at 24 hours of the trauma and associating it with the patient morbidity and mortality. RESULTS A total of 342 patients, with a mean injury severity score of 24.1, were included. The patients who survived had an initial, and 24 hours after the trauma, lactic acid of 27.8 mg/dl and 17.9 mg/dl, respectively, (normal values less than 22 mg/dl), increasing to 36.5mg/dl and 40.2mg/dl, respectively, in those who died. There were no differences between the initial lactic acid in patients with and without MOF, being increased at 24 hours in those who had MOF (17.8 vs 26.7). The patients with a lactic acid that got worse or remained abnormal at 24 hours had a higher mortality than those in which it remained the same or improved (25% - 17.1% vs 6.3% - 0.8%), with the percentage of patients with MOF also increasing (40.6% - 32.8% vs 14.9% - 11.1%). In haemodynamically stable patients, there was also a higher mortality when the lactic acid got worse or remained abnormal in the first 24 hours (23.8% - 19.2% vs 8.8% - 0%), as well as a higher percentage of MOF (38.1% - 26.9% vs 10.9% - 7.6%). CONCLUSIONS The lactic acid results in the first 24 hours of the multiple injury patient are associated with mortality and MOF, even when the patient is haemodynamically stable.

Medición del ácido láctico en pacientes politraumatizados y su utilidad como factor predictor de mortalidad y fallo multiorgánico

INTRODUCTION The use of lactic acid as marker of occult hyperfusion and its relationship with multiorgan failure (MOF) and/or mortality is a subject of debate. MATERIAL AND METHOD A prospective study was conducted on multiple injury patients over 16 years of age in critical care areas. The lactic acid was measured at the beginning and at 24 hours of the trauma and associating it with the patient morbidity and mortality. RESULTS A total of 342 patients, with a mean injury severity score of 24.1, were included. The patients who survived had an initial, and 24 hours after the trauma, lactic acid of 27.8 mg/dl and 17.9 mg/dl, respectively, (normal values less than 22 mg/dl), increasing to 36.5mg/dl and 40.2mg/dl, respectively, in those who died. There were no differences between the initial lactic acid in patients with and without MOF, being increased at 24 hours in those who had MOF (17.8 vs 26.7). The patients with a lactic acid that got worse or remained abnormal at 24 hours had a higher mortality than those in which it remained the same or improved (25% - 17.1% vs 6.3% - 0.8%), with the percentage of patients with MOF also increasing (40.6% - 32.8% vs 14.9% - 11.1%). In haemodynamically stable patients, there was also a higher mortality when the lactic acid got worse or remained abnormal in the first 24 hours (23.8% - 19.2% vs 8.8% - 0%), as well as a higher percentage of MOF (38.1% - 26.9% vs 10.9% - 7.6%). CONCLUSIONS The lactic acid results in the first 24 hours of the multiple injury patient are associated with mortality and MOF, even when the patient is haemodynamically stable.

El uso de Gastrografin ® en el manejo del cuadro de oclusión intestinal adherencial

BACKGROUND Adhesions are the most important cause of intestinal obstruction. Approximately 25% of surgical admissions for acute abdominal conditions are due to intestinal obstruction. Better diagnostic and treatment methods of intestinal obstruction could potentially reduce mortality rate to 5-10%. Gastrografin(®) could contribute to this achieve this. AIM To present a protocol to treat adhesion intestinal obstruction with Gastrografin(®) that is safe, and allows shorter hospital stays and shorter time between admission and surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS All patients with adhesion intestinal obstruction without symptoms of strangulation were treated with Gastrografin(®), intravenous fluids and nasogastric tube. Those in whom contrast reach the colon in 8, 12 or 24hours were considered to have partial obstruction, and were fed orally. If Gastrografin(®) failed in the following 24hours, a laparotomy was performed. RESULTS Out of a total of 211 episodes (164 patients), 170 episodes received contrast and in 142 cases Gastrografin(®) reached the colon (104 episodes at 8h, 11 at 12h, and 27 at 24h). A laparotomy was required in 28 patients because of failed treatment, and in another 5 for other causes. CONCLUSIONS A management protocol for adhesion intestinal obstruction with Gastrografin(®) is safe, reduces morbidity and mortality, and leads to a shorter hospital stay.

OriginalRegistro prospectivo en politraumatismos graves. Análisis de 1.200 pacientesProspective registry of severe polytrauma. Analysis of 1200 patients

INTRODUCTION Polytrauma continues to be one of the main causes of death in the population between 10-40 years of age, and causes severe discapability in surviving patients. The aim of this study is to perform an analysis of the quality of care of the polytrauma patient using an epidemiological study. METHOD Prospective registry of all polytrauma patients treated at our hospital over 16 years of age, admitted to the critical care area or dead before admission. RESULTS From March 2006 to August 2014, we registered 1200 polytrauma patients. The majority were men (75%) with a median age of 45. The mean ISS was 20,9±15,8 and the most common mechanism of injury was blunt trauma (94% cases), The global mortality rate was 9.8% (117 cases), and neurological death was the most frequent cause (45.3%), followed by hypovolemic shock (29,1%). In 17 cases (14,5% of deaths) mortality was considered evitable or potentially evitable, A total of 327 patients (27.3%) needed emergency surgery and 106 patients (8,8%) needed emergency treatment using interventional radiology. 18,5% of patients (222) presented an inadverted injury, with a total of 318 inadverted injuries. CONCLUSION Trauma care at our centre is adequate. A prospective registry of the global care of polytrauma patients is necessary to evaluate the quality of care and improve results.Introduction Polytrauma continues to be one of the main causes of death in the population between 10-40 years of age, and causes severe discapability in surviving patients. The aim of this study is to perform an analysis of the quality of care of the polytrauma patient using an epidemiological study.

Registro prospectivo en politraumatismos graves. Análisis de 1.200 pacientes

INTRODUCTION Polytrauma continues to be one of the main causes of death in the population between 10-40 years of age, and causes severe discapability in surviving patients. The aim of this study is to perform an analysis of the quality of care of the polytrauma patient using an epidemiological study. METHOD Prospective registry of all polytrauma patients treated at our hospital over 16 years of age, admitted to the critical care area or dead before admission. RESULTS From March 2006 to August 2014, we registered 1200 polytrauma patients. The majority were men (75%) with a median age of 45. The mean ISS was 20,9±15,8 and the most common mechanism of injury was blunt trauma (94% cases), The global mortality rate was 9.8% (117 cases), and neurological death was the most frequent cause (45.3%), followed by hypovolemic shock (29,1%). In 17 cases (14,5% of deaths) mortality was considered evitable or potentially evitable, A total of 327 patients (27.3%) needed emergency surgery and 106 patients (8,8%) needed emergency treatment using interventional radiology. 18,5% of patients (222) presented an inadverted injury, with a total of 318 inadverted injuries. CONCLUSION Trauma care at our centre is adequate. A prospective registry of the global care of polytrauma patients is necessary to evaluate the quality of care and improve results.Introduction Polytrauma continues to be one of the main causes of death in the population between 10-40 years of age, and causes severe discapability in surviving patients. The aim of this study is to perform an analysis of the quality of care of the polytrauma patient using an epidemiological study.

Resultados del tratamiento conservador en pacientes con neumotórax oculto

INTRODUCTION An occult pneumothorax is found in 2-15% trauma patients. Observation (without tube thoracostomy) in these patients presents still some controversies in the clinical practice. The objective of the study is to evaluate the efficacy and the adverse effects when observation is performed. METHODS A retrospective observational study was undertaken in our center (university hospital level II). Data was obtained from a database with prospective registration. A total of 1087 trauma patients admitted in the intensive care unit from 2006 to 2013 were included. RESULTS In this period, 126 patients with occult pneumothorax were identified, 73 patients (58%) underwent immediate tube thoracostomy and 53 patients (42%) were observed. Nine patients (12%) failed observation and required tube thoracostomy for pneumothorax progression or hemothorax. No patient developed a tension pneumothorax or experienced another adverse event related to the absence of tube thoracostomy. Of the observed patients 16 were under positive pressure ventilation, in this group 3 patients (19%) failed observation. There were no differences in mortality, hospital length of stay or intensive care length of stay between the observed and non-observed group. CONCLUSION Observation is a safe treatment in occult pneumothorax, even in pressure positive ventilated patients.