Lenar Yessayan

Association of Hyperchloremia with Hospital Mortality in Critically Ill Septic Patients

Objectives:Hyperchloremia is frequently observed in critically ill patients in the ICU. Our study aimed to examine the association of serum chloride (Cl) levels with hospital mortality in septic ICU patients. Design:Retrospective cohort study. Setting:Urban academic medical center ICU. Patients:ICU adult patients with severe sepsis or septic shock who had Cl measured on ICU admission were included. Those with baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate less than 15 mL/min/1.73 m2 or chronic dialysis were excluded. Interventions:None. Measurements and Main Results:Of 1,940 patients included in the study, 615 patients (31.7%) had hyperchloremia (Cl ≥ 110 mEq/L) on ICU admission. All-cause hospital mortality was the dependent variable. Cl on ICU admission (Cl0), Cl at 72 hours (Cl72), and delta Cl (&Dgr;Cl = Cl72 – Cl0) were the independent variables. Those with Cl0 greater than or equal to 110 mEq/L were older and had higher cumulative fluid balance, base deficit, and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores. Multivariate analysis showed that higher Cl72 but not Cl0 was independently associated with hospital mortality in the subgroup of patients with hyperchloremia on ICU admission (adjusted odds ratio for Cl72 per 5 mEq/L increase = 1.27; 95% CI, 1.02–1.59; p = 0.03). For those who were hyperchloremic on ICU admission, every within-subject 5 mEq/L increment in Cl72 was independently associated with hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio for &Dgr;Cl 5 mEq/L = 1.37; 95% CI, 1.11–1.69; p = 0.003). Conclusions:In critically ill septic patients manifesting hyperchloremia (Cl ≥ 110 mEq/L) on ICU admission, higher Cl levels and within-subject worsening hyperchloremia at 72 hours of ICU stay were associated with all-cause hospital mortality. These associations were independent of base deficit, cumulative fluid balance, acute kidney injury, and other critical illness parameters.

Predischarge bundle for patients with acute exacerbations of COPD to reduce readmissions and ED visits: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND Hospital readmissions for acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPDs) pose burdens to the health-care system and patients. A current gap in knowledge is whether a predischarge screening and educational tool administered to patients with COPD reduces readmissions and ED visits. METHODS A single-center, randomized trial of admitted patients with AECOPDs was conducted at Henry Ford Hospital between February 2010 and April 2013. One hundred seventy-two patients were randomized to either the control (standard care) or the bundle group in which patients received smoking cessation counseling, screening for gastroesophageal reflux disease and depression or anxiety, standardized inhaler education, and a 48-h postdischarge telephone call. The primary end point was the difference in the composite risk of hospitalizations or ED visits for AECOPD between the two groups in the 30 days following discharge. A secondary end point was 90-day readmission rate. RESULTS Of the 172 patients, 18 of 79 in the control group (22.78%) and 18 of 93 in the bundle group (19.35%) were readmitted within 30 days. The risk of ED visits or hospitalizations within 30 days was not different between the groups (risk difference, -3.43%; 95% CI, -15.68% to 8.82%; P = .58). Overall, the time to readmission in 30 and 90 days was similar between groups (log-rank test P = .71 and .88, respectively). CONCLUSIONS A predischarge bundle intervention in AECOPD is not sufficient to reduce the 30-day risk of hospitalizations or ED visits. More resources may be needed to generate a measurable effect on readmission rates. TRIAL REGISTRY ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT02135744; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Intravenous Iron Dextran as a Component of Anemia Management in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Report of Safety and Efficacy

Objective. We aimed to demonstrate safety and efficacy of intravenous (IV) low molecular weight iron dextran (LMWID) during treatment of anemic stage 3 and 4 chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Methods. Efficacy data was obtained by retrospective chart review of 150 consecutively enrolled patients. Patients were assigned per protocol to oral or IV iron, with IV iron given to those with lower iron stores and/or hemoglobin. Iron and darbepoetin were administered to achieve and maintain hemoglobin at 10–12 g/dL. Efficacy endpoints were mean hemoglobin and change in iron indices approximately 30 and 60 days after enrollment. Safety data was obtained by retrospective review of reported adverse drug events (ADEs) following 1699 infusions of LMWID (0.5–1.0 g). Results. Mean hemoglobin, iron saturation, and ferritin increased significantly from baseline to 60 days in patients assigned to LMWID (hemoglobin: 11.3 versus 9.4 g/dL; iron saturation: 24% versus 12.9%; ferritin: 294.7 versus 134.7 ng/mL; all P  values < 0.0001). Iron stores and hemoglobin were maintained in the group assigned to oral iron. Of 1699 iron dextran infusions, three ADEs occurred. Conclusions. Treatment of anemia in CKD stages 3 and 4 with LMWID and darbepoetin is efficacious. The serious ADE rate was 0.06% per infusion.

Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy for the Management of Acid-Base and Electrolyte Imbalances in Acute Kidney Injury

Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is used to manage electrolyte and acid-base imbalances in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury. Although a standard solution and prescription is acceptable in most clinical circumstances, specific disorders may require a tailored approach such as adjusting fluid composition, regulating CRRT dose, and using separate intravenous infusions to mitigate and correct these disturbances. Errors in fluid prescription, compounding, or delivery can be rapidly fatal. This article provides an overview of the principles of acid-base and electrolyte management using CRRT.

Association of de novo Dipstick Albuminuria with Severe Acute Kidney Injury in Critically Ill Septic Patients

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs frequently in septic patients. Albuminuria may play a role as an early marker of septic AKI. The potential association between de novo dipstick albuminuria (DA) and septic AKI has not been examined. Methods: We conducted a single-center observational cohort study of 423 critically ill septic patients without chronic kidney disease (CKD) or prior positive DA within 3 months before admission. The association between de novo DA within the first 24 h of presentation and AKI at 72 h was examined. Results: AKI was identified in 268/423 (63%) patients and 20/423 (4.7%) required dialysis. De novo DA was associated with AKI (univariate OR 1.91; 95% CI 1.27-2.86, p = 0.002). The association persisted in a multivariate logistic regression model adjusted for demographics, baseline kidney function, comorbidities, critical illness parameters, and exposure to nephrotoxins (adjusted OR 1.87; 95% CI 1.21-2.89, p = 0.005). The association between de novo DA and AKI was stronger for severe AKI, i.e. Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) stage 3 (adjusted OR 2.99; 95% CI 1.52-5.85, p = 0.001) and AKIN stage 2 (adjusted OR 1.79; 95% CI 1.002-3.21, p = 0.049) but not AKIN stage 1 (adjusted OR 1.41; 95% CI 0.87-2.29, p = 0.16). Conclusions: De novo DA within the first 24 h of admission was independently associated with severe AKI in critically ill septic patients. Future studies are required to fully elucidate the utility of DA testing in the early detection and stratification of AKI.

Dipstick albuminuria and acute kidney injury recovery in critically ill septic patients.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent complication of sepsis, a pro‐inflammatory state that alters tubular handling of filtered albumin. We hypothesized that dipstick albuminuria (DA) is associated with a lower rate of AKI recovery in septic patients.

HIV infection presenting proliferation of CD8+ T lymphocyte and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is a rare hyperinflammatory disorder characterised by CD8+ T lymphocyte activation and hypercytokinemia. Autoimmune disorders including hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis have been described in HIV patients; however, it is a rare initial presentation of HIV infection. We present an unusual case of HIV infection presenting with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

Online Hemoglobin and Oxygen Saturation Sensing During Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy with Regional Citrate Anticoagulation.

Optical hemoglobin and oxygen saturation sensor (OHOS) monitor when used in combination with other hemodynamic tools may be useful for continuous hemodynamic monitoring during ultrafiltration. The stand-alone OHOS monitor can easily be deployed predialyzer into the extracorporeal circuit of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) systems. To maximize the accuracy of the OHOS in 24 hr CRRT systems, clotting in the optical blood chamber and the presensor dilution incurred by replacement fluid should be minimized. Sustained low-efficiency dialysis (SLED) with regional citrate anticoagulation is a therapy that incorporates an OHOS and maintains the overall reliability of hemoglobin (Hb) and saturation sensing. The system operates at a blood flow rate of 60 ml/min and a fixed acid citrate infusion rate of 150 ml/hr. The presensor dilution incurred by concentrated citrate infusion would result in a minimal Hb dilution (<0.7 g/dl) while minimizing optical blood chamber clotting during 24 hr SLED.

Treatment of Severe Metabolic Alkalosis with Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy: Bicarbonate Kinetic Equations of Clinical Value.

Concomitant severe metabolic alkalosis, hypernatremia, and kidney failure pose a therapeutic challenge. Hemodialysis to correct azotemia and abnormal electrolytes results in rapid correction of serum sodium, bicarbonate, and urea but presents a risk for dialysis disequilibrium and brain edema. We describe a patient with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome with persistent encephalopathy, severe metabolic alkalosis (highest bicarbonate 81 mEq/L), hypernatremia (sodium 157 mEq/L), and kidney failure despite 30 hours of intravenous crystalloids and proton pump inhibitor. We used continuous renal replacement therapy (RRT) with delivered hourly urea clearance of ~3 L/hour (24 hour sustained low efficiency dialysis with regional citrate anticoagulation protocol at blood flow rate 60 ml/min and dialysate flow rate 400 ml/min). To mitigate a pronounced decrease in plasma osmolality while removing urea from this hypernatremic patient, dialysate sodium was set to start at 155 mEq/L then at 150 mEq/L after 6 hours. Serum bicarbonate, urea, and sodium were slowly corrected over 26 hours. This case demonstrates how to regulate and predict the systemic bicarbonate level using single pool kinetic modeling during convective or diffusive RRT. Kinetic modeling provides a valuable tool for systemic blood pH control in future combined use of extracorporeal CO2 removal and continuous RRT systems.

Preliminary Analysis of a Modified Screening Tool to Increase the Frequency of Palliative Care Consults

Purpose: Palliative care interventions have been shown to improve patient quality of life but the benefit may be less if interventions occur late in the patient’s disease process. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether an objective screening tool could improve the frequency and timeliness of palliative care consultation. Methods: Using a quasi-experimental design with 2 geographically separate medical intensive care units (MICUs), the control MICU continued existing consultation practice and the intervention MICU implemented a screening tool with each new admission. Any item checked on the screening tool triggered a palliative care consult within 24 hours of admission to the MICU. Results: A total of 223 MICU admissions were evaluated: 156 patients in the control group and 67 patients in the intervention group. More consults were generated in the intervention group (22.39%) compared to the control group (7.05%; P < .001). The median time to consultation was lower in the intervention group compared to the control group (1 day vs 2 days; P < .01). Conclusion: Implementing a simple, objective screening tool increased palliative consultation rates and decreased median time to palliative consultation in our institution’s MICU.