Lior Zeller

Prior Statin Therapy Is Associated With a Decreased Rate of Severe Sepsis

Background—Statins have anti-inflammatory properties that are independent of their lipid-lowering abilities. We hypothesized that statin therapy before the onset of an acute bacterial infection may have a protective effect against severe sepsis. The aim of this study was to determine whether patients treated with statins develop severe sepsis less frequently. Methods and Results—In this prospective observational cohort study, consecutive patients admitted with presumed or documented acute bacterial infection were enrolled. The primary outcomes were the rate of severe sepsis and intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Of the 361 patients enrolled, 82 (22.7%) were treated with statins before their admission. Both groups had a similar severity of illness on admission. Severe sepsis developed in 19% of patients in the no-statin group and in only 2.4% of the statin group (P<0.001). Statin treatment was associated with a relative risk of developing severe sepsis of 0.13 (95% CI, 0.03 to 0.52) and an absolute risk reduction of 16.6%. The overall ICU admission rate was 10.2% (37/361): 12.2% of the no-statin group required ICU admission, whereas in the statin group only 3.7% were admitted to the ICU (P=0.025), reflecting a relative risk of ICU admission of 0.30 (95% CI, 0.1 to 0.95). Conclusions—Prior therapy with statins may be associated with a reduced rate of severe sepsis and ICU admission. If supported by prospective controlled trials, statins may have a role in the primary prevention of sepsis.

Exertional heatstroke: clinical characteristics, diagnostic and therapeutic considerations.

BACKGROUND Exertional heat stroke (EHS) is a life threatening disease characteristically affecting young adults involved in strenuous physical activity. Delay in diagnosis and management may adversely affect outcome. The aim of this study was to summarize our experience with this syndrome and to identify factors associated with poor outcome. METHODS In this retrospective cohort study we enrolled thirty two patients who met the case definition of exertional heat stroke. RESULTS Of the 32 patients, 27 (84%) were male and their median age was 19 years. 26 patients were residents of the northern parts of the country spending less than 10 days in the area. Only 10 patients (31%) were correctly diagnosed and treated in the prehospital setting. Those in whom treatment was delayed had higher rates of multi-organ failure and longer hospitalizations. In 7 patients protracted systemic inflammatory response (SIRS) was observed. Of the 14 patients that had moderate to severe disease requiring ICU admission, eight (25%) were mechanically ventilated, two (6.3%) were dead on arrival. The other half of the cohort had a mild disease managed by the general wards. CONCLUSIONS Exertional heat stroke is a life threatening disease. Early diagnosis and appropriate management may improve outcome. Protracted SIRS may complicate the course of EHS.

Comparison of Diabetic Ketoacidosis in Patients With Type-1 and Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background:Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) occurs most often in patients with type 1 diabetes, however patients with type 2 diabetes are also susceptible to DKA under stressful conditions. The aims of our study were to evaluate and compare the clinical and biochemical characteristics and outcomes of type 1 versus type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients with DKA. Methods:A retrospective cohort study of adult patients hospitalized with DKA between January 1, 2003, and January 1, 2010. The clinical and biochemical characteristics of DKA patients with type-1 DM were compared with those of patients with type-2 DM. The primary outcome was in-hospital all-cause mortality. Results:The study cohort included 201 consecutive patients for whom the admission diagnosis was DKA: 166 patients (82.6%) with type-1 DM and 35 patients (17.4%) with type-2 DM. The patients with DKA and type-2 DM were significantly older than patients with type-1 DM (64.3 versus 37.3, P < 0.001). Significantly more patients with severe forms of DKA were seen in the group with type-2 DM (25.7% versus 9.0%, P = 0.018). The total in-hospital mortality rate of patients with DKA was 4.5%. The primary outcome was significantly worse in the group of patients with type-2 DM. Conclusions:DKA in patients with type-2 DM is a more severe disease with worse outcomes compared with type-1 DM. Advanced age, mechanical ventilation and bed-ridden state were independent predictors of 30-day mortality.

New approaches to the use of insulin in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis.

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is one of the most common and serious acute complications of diabetes and is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. In the last decade the mortality rate from DKA has declined because of greater recognition and improvements in its management. The current available guidelines state that the most effective means of insulin delivery during DKA is a continuous infusion of regular insulin, usually referred to as continuous low-dose insulin infusion. However, the cost of this treatment is usually quite high, because patients are required to be admitted to an intensive care unit in order to be monitored closely. New analogs of human insulin that have a rapid onset of action have become available in the past decade and represent potential alternatives to the use of regular insulin in the treatment of DKA. In several trials it has been demonstrated that the use of subcutaneous rapid-acting insulin analogs represents a safe, cost-effective and technically simpler treatment that precludes intensive care unit admission without significant differences in outcome in the management of patients with mild to moderate, uncomplicated DKA. The long-acting insulin analog may have a role in facilitating the transition from continuous intravenous insulin infusion to subcutaneous maintenance therapy in patients with DKA. This avoids rebound hyperglycaemia and ketogenesis when intravenous insulin is stopped and may avoid excess length of stay.

Gender-related differences in clinical characteristics and outcomes in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis.

BACKGROUND Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is 1 of the most common and serious complications of diabetes, and is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. There is a paucity of data regarding gender-related differences in clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients hospitalized for DKA. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to assess whether gender plays a role in clinical characteristics and outcome of DKA. METHODS We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients hospitalized with DKA between January 1, 2003 and January 1, 2010. The outcomes of male and female patients were compared. The primary outcome was in-hospital all-cause mortality. The secondary outcomes were 30-day all-cause mortality and rate of complications: sepsis, respiratory failure, multiple organ failure, stroke, and myocardial infarction. RESULTS Eighty-nine men and 131 women with DKA were included in the study. Male patients had higher rates of chronic renal failure compared with women (16.9% vs 3.1%; P = 0.001), whereas more women than men received oral hypoglycemic therapy (19.8% vs 9.0%; P = 0.046); women also had higher glycosated hemoglobin levels before admission (11.9% [1.7%] vs 9.9% [2.2%]; P = 0.025). The in-hospital mortality rate was not significantly different for both genders (4.5% in the male group vs 3.8% in the female group; P = 1.0). We did not find significant differences between the 2 groups in the 30-day mortality rate (4.5% vs 6.1%; P = 0.7) or the rate of complications (5.6% vs 6.9%; P = 0.9). Advanced age, mechanical ventilation, and bedridden state were independent predictors of 30-day mortality. CONCLUSIONS In our study we did not find statistically significant differences in the in-hospital mortality, 30-day all-cause mortality, or rate of complications between men and women hospitalized with DKA. However, women with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus receiving oral hypoglycemic therapy required particular attention and might benefit from earlier introduction and intensification of insulin therapy to avoid DKA.

Sudden death in a young soccer player with marked electrocardiographic repolarization abnormalities.

INTRODUCTION Young trained athletes may have abnormal 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) tracings without any evidence of structural cardiac disease. In this case, a sudden death of a young soccer player is reported. The soccer player presented with marked ECG repolarization abnormality. A succeeding echocardiographic examination was interpreted as being normal. According to the data presented in this case and the data presented in recent publications, we recommend that abnormal ECG findings should not be overlooked in preparticipation evaluation of athletes.

Effectiveness of Inferior Vena Cava Filters without Anticoagulation Therapy for Prophylaxis of Recurrent Pulmonary Embolism

Objective The optimal treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is anticoagulation therapy. Inferior vena cava filter (IVC) placement is another option for the prevention of pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients with deep vein thrombosis. This is used mostly in patients with a contraindication to anticoagulant therapy. The purpose of the present study was to compare the two options. Methods A retrospective cohort study of two groups of patients with DVT: patients who received an IVC filter and did not receive anticoagulation due to contraindications; and patients with DVT and similar burden of comorbidity treated with anticoagulation without IVC insertion. To adjust for a potential misbalance in baseline characteristics between the two groups, we performed matching for age, gender, and Charlson’s index, which is used to compute the burden of comorbid conditions. The primary outcome was an occurrence of a PE. Results We studied 1,742 patients hospitalized with the diagnosis of DVT in our hospital;93 patients from this population received IVC filters. Charlson’s score index was significantly higher in the IVC filter group compared with the anticoagulation group. After matching of the groups of patients according to Charlson’s score index there were no significant differences in primary outcomes. Conclusion Inferior vena cava filter without anticoagulation may be an alternative option for prevention of PE in patients with contraindications to anticoagulant therapy.

Ethical issues in medical cannabis use

The increasing use of medical cannabis (MC) in the past decade raises several ethical considerations for the clinician. Regulatory issues stem from a gap between MC registration and certification in each country. Professional issues derive from the lack of sufficient knowledge of MC characteristics and the intersection between the physician, the patient and commercial interests. Finally, there are medical and psychological implications which are related to the use of MC regimens. We will discuss these issues in the light of the current era, in which policy has rapidly shifted toward legalization of cannabis, which influences the decisions of both clinicians and patients.

Commotio Cordis in a Professional Soccer Player: Value of MRI in Unraveling Myocardial Damage

A 35-year-old male premier league soccer player was admitted to the intensive coronary care unit after aborted cardiac sudden death. A routine echocardiogram performed 2 years earlier was entirely normal. The player was struck along the left anterior chest wall by a direct blow from a soccer ball during a practice game. He reported a prodrome of dizziness for several minutes before collapsing on the field. An emergency medical team documented monomorphic ventricular tachycardia, which rapidly deteriorated to ventricular fibrillation. Four electric shocks were delivered with the restoration of sinus rhythm and immediate full neurological recovery. Initial workup revealed elevated high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T of 283 ng/L (normal range, 0–14 ng/L) and creatine kinase levels of 12 480 U/L (normal range, 20–200 U/L). The 12-lead ECG showed biphasic T waves in the precordial leads, with a normal QTc interval. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed mild biventricular dysfunction (Movie I in the Data Supplement). Coronary angiography showed normal coronary arteries (Movie II in the Data Supplement). Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) study with a 3T scanner (Ingenia, Philips Medical Systems, Best, The Netherlands) was performed on day 4 after …