Nicolas Javaud

Erythromycin Infusion or Gastric Lavage for Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

STUDY OBJECTIVE The quality of endoscopy depends on the quality of upper gastrointestinal tract preparation. We determine whether in acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding the frequency of satisfactory stomach visualization was different after intravenous erythromycin, a nasogastric tube with gastric lavage, or both. METHODS We performed a prospective, randomized, multicenter (6 emergency departments) study in patients with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding presenting with hematemesis or melena. The patients were randomized into 3 groups: (1) intravenous erythromycin infusion without nasogastric tube placement (erythromycin group), (2) nasogastric tube placement without erythromycin (nasogastric group), and (3) intravenous erythromycin infusion combined with nasogastric tube placement (nasogastric-erythromycin group). The main outcome measure was the proportion of satisfactory stomach visualization. RESULTS Two hundred fifty-three patients (181 men, mean age 61 years [SD 15 years], 84 with cirrhosis) were randomized: 84 (erythromycin group), 85 (nasogastric group), and 84 (nasogastric-erythromycin group). Overall, there was 85% satisfactory stomach visualization; between-group differences were not significant: -4% (95% confidence interval [CI] -15% to 6%) for the erythromycin group and nasogastric-erythromycin group, 2% (95% CI -14% to 9%) for the erythromycin group and nasogastric group, and -6.5% (95% CI -17% to 4%) for the nasogastric group and nasogastric-erythromycin group. The duration of the endoscopic procedure, rebleeding frequency, the need for a second endoscopy, the number of transfused blood units, and mortality at days 2, 7, and 30 did not differ significantly between groups. CONCLUSION In acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding, administration of intravenous erythromycin provides satisfactory endoscopic conditions, without the need for a nasogastric tube and gastric lavage.

Renal granulomatoses : A retrospective study of 40 cases and review of the literature

Renal granulomatoses represent 0.5%-0.9% of nephropathies examined by renal biopsies. Granulomas can be isolated to the kidney or associated with other tissue involvement. We describe 40 consecutive patients with renal granulomatoses, associated with pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis in 2 patients and with vasculitis in another, seen in northeastern Paris hospitals between January 1991 and February 2004. The criterion for inclusion was the presence of 1 or more epithelioid granulomas in the renal interstitium. Our population of 25 men and 15 women had a median age of 53 years. All patients suffered from renal insufficiency with median creatininemia of 236.8 μmol/L (range, 124-805 μmol/L), associated with hypertension (25%), median proteinuria of 0.6 g/24 h (range, 0.08-3.00 g/24 h), microscopic hematuria (15%) and leukocyturia (22.5%). Histologic examination of extrarenal specimens detected granulomas in 82.4% of the bronchial biopsies taken, and in 100% of the 2 skin biopsies, the 2 lymph-node biopsies, and the liver and colon biopsies. The following etiologies were retained: sarcoidosis for 20 (50%) patients, drug-induced for 7 (17.5%), tuberculosis for 3 (7.5%), Wegener granulomatosis for 2 (5%), and leprosy, Mycobacterium avium infection, and Crohn disease for 1 (2.5%) patient each. No etiology could be identified for 5 (12.5%) patients. Treatment must be adapted to the etiology of each case. The renal outcome after treatment was generally favorable, with the estimated median creatinine clearance increasing from 26 mL/min (range, 5.4-80.0 mL/min) to 46.5 mL/min (range, 0-118 mL/min) after a median follow-up of 35.5 months (range, 3-158 mo). Nonetheless, 32 patients had persistent renal insufficiency; 1 required hemodialysis and another underwent renal transplantation. Sarcoidosis and medications are the most common causes of renal granulomatosis. Idiopathic and drug-induced forms do not relapse after treatment discontinuation, and remission persists at long-term follow-up.Abbreviations: AIN = acute interstitial nephritis; c-ANCA = antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies giving a diffuse immunofluorescence-labeling pattern of the cytoplasm; PRB = puncture renal biopsy; TINU = tubulointerstitial nephritis with uveitis; WG = Wegener granulomatosis.

Prise en charge des angiœdèmes induits par les inhibiteurs de l’enzyme de conversion de l’angiotensine : recommandations du Centre de référence national des angiœdèmes

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor-related angioedema (AE) may be fatal in the absence of specific treatment. No consensus for this side effect currently exists. Also, the French national reference centre for angioedema (CREAK) decided to establish recommendations, developed by an expert group and proposed at a national meeting. A scientific committee conducted a comprehensive literature review and worked out with proposals. These proposals were submitted to a vote to the expert panel of CREAK at a national meeting. Proposals that had received the majority were retained. Diagnosis of ACE inhibitor-related AE is based on clinical events. Regarding the severity of the disease, this diagnosis has to be put forward in any patient currently treated with or who has been treated with ACE inhibitors in the previous 6 months. The diagnosis is important because AE does not respond to usual treatment of histamine-induced AE (antihistamines, corticosteroids, and epinephrine), but only to specific treatment of bradykinin-induced AE, as antagonists of bradykinin or concentrates of C1 inhibitor. The subsequent use of ACE is strictly contra-indicated. A report to pharmacovigilance centres of every case is essential. These recommendations should improve the standardization of the management of ACE inhibitor-related AE.

Effect of Systematic Intensive Care Unit Triage on Long-term Mortality Among Critically Ill Elderly Patients in France: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance The high mortality rate in critically ill elderly patients has led to questioning of the beneficial effect of intensive care unit (ICU) admission and to a variable ICU use among this population. Objective To determine whether a recommendation for systematic ICU admission in critically ill elderly patients reduces 6-month mortality compared with usual practice. Design, Setting, and Participants Multicenter, cluster-randomized clinical trial of 3037 critically ill patients aged 75 years or older, free of cancer, with preserved functional status (Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living ≥4) and nutritional status (absence of cachexia) who arrived at the emergency department of one of 24 hospitals in France between January 2012 and April 2015 and were followed up until November 2015. Interventions Centers were randomly assigned either to use a program to promote systematic ICU admission of patients (n=1519 participants) or to follow standard practice (n=1518 participants). Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was death at 6 months. Secondary outcomes included ICU admission rate, in-hospital death, functional status, and quality of life (12-Item Short Form Health Survey, ranging from 0 to 100, with higher score representing better self-reported health) at 6 months. Results One patient withdrew consent, leaving 3036 patients included in the trial (median age, 85 [interquartile range, 81-89] years; 1361 [45%] men). Patients in the systematic strategy group had an increased risk of death at 6 months (45% vs 39%; relative risk [RR], 1.16; 95% CI, 1.07-1.26) despite an increased ICU admission rate (61% vs 34%; RR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.66-1.95). After adjustments for baseline characteristics, patients in the systematic strategy group were more likely to be admitted to an ICU (RR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.54-1.82) and had a higher risk of in-hospital death (RR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.03-1.33) but had no significant increase in risk of death at 6 months (RR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.96-1.14). Functional status and physical quality of life at 6 months were not significantly different between groups. Conclusions and Relevance Among critically ill elderly patients in France, a program to promote systematic ICU admission increased ICU use but did not reduce 6-month mortality. Additional research is needed to understand the decision to admit elderly patients to the ICU. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01508819

Effect of Bag-Mask Ventilation vs Endotracheal Intubation During Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation on Neurological Outcome After Out-of-Hospital Cardiorespiratory Arrest: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance Bag-mask ventilation (BMV) is a less complex technique than endotracheal intubation (ETI) for airway management during the advanced cardiac life support phase of cardiopulmonary resuscitation of patients with out-of-hospital cardiorespiratory arrest. It has been reported as superior in terms of survival. Objectives To assess noninferiority of BMV vs ETI for advanced airway management with regard to survival with favorable neurological function at day 28. Design, Settings, and Participants Multicenter randomized clinical trial comparing BMV with ETI in 2043 patients with out-of-hospital cardiorespiratory arrest in France and Belgium. Enrollment occurred from March 9, 2015, to January 2, 2017, and follow-up ended January 26, 2017. Intervention Participants were randomized to initial airway management with BMV (n = 1020) or ETI (n = 1023). Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was favorable neurological outcome at 28 days defined as cerebral performance category 1 or 2. A noninferiority margin of 1% was chosen. Secondary end points included rate of survival to hospital admission, rate of survival at day 28, rate of return of spontaneous circulation, and ETI and BMV difficulty or failure. Results Among 2043 patients who were randomized (mean age, 64.7 years; 665 women [32%]), 2040 (99.8%) completed the trial. In the intention-to-treat population, favorable functional survival at day 28 was 44 of 1018 patients (4.3%) in the BMV group and 43 of 1022 patients (4.2%) in the ETI group (difference, 0.11% [1-sided 97.5% CI, −1.64% to infinity]; P for noninferiority = .11). Survival to hospital admission (294/1018 [28.9%] in the BMV group vs 333/1022 [32.6%] in the ETI group; difference, −3.7% [95% CI, −7.7% to 0.3%]) and global survival at day 28 (55/1018 [5.4%] in the BMV group vs 54/1022 [5.3%] in the ETI group; difference, 0.1% [95% CI, −1.8% to 2.1%]) were not significantly different. Complications included difficult airway management (186/1027 [18.1%] in the BMV group vs 134/996 [13.4%] in the ETI group; difference, 4.7% [95% CI, 1.5% to 7.9%]; P = .004), failure (69/1028 [6.7%] in the BMV group vs 21/996 [2.1%] in the ETI group; difference, 4.6% [95% CI, 2.8% to 6.4%]; P < .001), and regurgitation of gastric content (156/1027 [15.2%] in the BMV group vs 75/999 [7.5%] in the ETI group; difference, 7.7% [95% CI, 4.9% to 10.4%]; P < .001). Conclusions and Relevance Among patients with out-of-hospital cardiorespiratory arrest, the use of BMV compared with ETI failed to demonstrate noninferiority or inferiority for survival with favorable 28-day neurological function, an inconclusive result. A determination of equivalence or superiority between these techniques requires further research. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT02327026

Tuberculous cerebral vasculitis: Retrospective study of 10 cases

BACKGROUND Tuberculous cerebral vasculitis is a complication of tuberculous meningitis. This study was undertaken to determine the epidemiological characteristics, context, diagnostic means and outcomes under treatment of tuberculous cerebral vasculitides. METHODS All consecutive patients diagnosed with tuberculous cerebral vasculitis were identified from the databases of three Internal Medicine, one Neurology and one Infectious Disease Departments in three suburban Parisian hospitals. RESULTS We describe 10 cases: five men and five women (median age 33.5 [range: 27-55] years). Two were infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. Nine patients had tuberculous meningitis, eight with extraneurological involvement. The following manifestations led to the diagnosis: motor deficit, acute confusional state, headaches, involvement, coma and/or seizures. The cerebral vasculitis revealed tuberculosis in three patients, but tuberculosis was already known when vasculitis was diagnosed for the seven others. The cerebral computed-tomography scan showed cerebral infarctions in five patients, hydrocephalus and tuberculomas in four, while magnetic resonance imaging detected infarctions and leptomeningitis in nine patients, pachymeningitis in one, hydrocephalus and tuberculomas in seven. Therapy combined antituberculous agents with oral corticosteroids for all patients, preceded by a methylprednisolone pulse for five patients. Outcome was favorable for nine patients. CONCLUSION We described the non-negligible frequency of tuberculous cerebral vasculitides, their clinical manifestations and their potential severity, and the diagnostic and monitoring contributions of magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography.

Family Presence during Resuscitation: A Qualitative Analysis from a National Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial

Background The themes of qualitative assessments that characterize the experience of family members offered the choice of observing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) of a loved one have not been formally identified. Methods and Findings In the context of a multicenter randomized clinical trial offering family members the choice of observing CPR of a patient with sudden cardiac arrest, a qualitative analysis, with a sequential explanatory design, was conducted. The aim of the study was to understand family members’ experience during CPR. All participants were interviewed by phone at home three months after cardiac arrest. Saturation was reached after analysis of 30 interviews of a randomly selected sample of 75 family members included in the trial. Four themes were identified: 1- choosing to be actively involved in the resuscitation; 2- communication between the relative and the emergency care team; 3- perception of the reality of the death, promoting acceptance of the loss; 4- experience and reactions of the relatives who did or did not witness the CPR, describing their feelings. Twelve sub-themes further defining these four themes were identified. Transferability of our findings should take into account the country-specific medical system. Conclusions Family presence can help to ameliorate the pain of the death, through the feeling of having helped to support the patient during the passage from life to death and of having participated in this important moment. Our results showed the central role of communication between the family and the emergency care team in facilitating the acceptance of the reality of death.

Angioedema Related to Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors: Attack Severity, Treatment, and Hospital Admission in a Prospective Multicenter Study.

AbstractThe number of cases of acquired angioedema related to angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors induced (ACEI-AAE) is on the increase, with a potential concomitant increase in life-threatening attacks of laryngeal edema. Our objective was to determine the main characteristics of ACEI-AAE attacks and, in doing so, the factors associated with likelihood of hospital admission from the emergency department (ED) after a visit for an attack.A prospective, multicenter, observational study (April 2012–December 2014) was conducted in EDs of 4 French hospitals in collaboration with emergency services (SAMU 93) and a reference center for bradykinin-mediated angioedema. For each patient presenting with an attack, emergency physicians collected demographic and clinical presentation data, treatments, and clinical course. They recorded time intervals from symptom onset to ED arrival and to treatment decision, from ED arrival to specific treatment with plasma-derived C1-inhibitor (C1-INH) or icatibant, and from specific treatment to onset of symptom relief. Attacks requiring hospital admission were compared with those not requiring admission.Sixty-two eligible patients with ACEI-AAE (56% men, median age 63 years) were included. Symptom relief occurred significantly earlier in patients receiving specific treatment than in untreated patients (0.5 [0.5–1.0] versus 3.9 [2.5–7.0] hours; P < 0.0001). Even though icatibant was injected more promptly than plasma-derived C1-INH, there, however, was no significant difference in median time to onset of symptom relief between the 2 drugs (0.5 [0.5–1.3] versus 0.5 [0.4–1.0] hours for C1-INH and icatibant, respectively, P = 0.49). Of the 62 patients, 27 (44%) were admitted to hospital from the ED. In multivariate analysis, laryngeal involvement and progressive swelling at ED arrival were independently associated with admission (Odds ratio [95% confidence interval] = 6.2 [1.3–28.2] and 5.9 [1.3–26.5], respectively). A favorable course was observed in all patients. Three patients (5%) experienced a recurrence after angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor discontinuation after a median follow-up of 18 (11–30) months.Two severity criteria—laryngeal edema and the progression of the edema—were independent factors associated with likelihood of hospital admission. Appropriate specific treatments (plasma-derived C1-INH or icatibant) should be available in EDs to prevent possibly life-threatening complications.

Early invasive strategy in high-risk acute coronary syndrome without ST-segment elevation. The Sisca randomized trial.

BACKGROUND The optimal therapeutic strategy for patients with high-risk acute coronary syndrome without ST-segment elevation (NSTE-ACS) remains unclear. OBJECTIVE Our aim was to compare the effectiveness of an early invasive strategy and a delayed invasive strategy in the management of high-risk NSTE-ACS patients. METHODS This randomized clinical trial in a primarily pre-hospital setting enrolled patients with chest pain, electrocardiographic criteria for an NSTE-ACS, and at least one criterion of severity (ESC criterion or TIMI score >5). Patients were randomized to either an early invasive strategy (tirofiban infusion and coronary angiography within 6h) or delayed invasive strategy (as per guidelines and physician discretion; coronary angiography within 6h was not advised). The primary endpoint was the cumulative incidence of deaths, myocardial infarctions, or urgent revascularizations at 30days of follow-up. Secondary endpoints were failure of delayed management, length of hospital stay and long-term mortality. RESULTS Between January 2007 and February 2010, 170 patients were enrolled. The cumulative incidence of adverse outcomes was significantly lower for early invasive than delayed management (2% [95% CI 0-9] vs. 24% [95% CI 16-35], p<10(-4)). Delayed management failed in 24% of cases. The length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in patients undergoing angioplasty or treated with tirofiban within 6h (p=0.0003). Long-term mortality was 16% in both arms after a median follow-up of 4.1years. CONCLUSION An early invasive strategy reduced major adverse cardiac events in patients with high-risk NSTE-ACS. Early angiography or tirofiban (GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor) infusion proved necessary in a quarter of patients assigned to delayed management.

The early treatment of bradykinin angioedema, a challenge for emergency medicine.

Nicolas Javaud, Frédéric Lapostolle, David Sapir, Marie Dubrel, Frédéric Adnet and Olivier Fain, SAMU-SMUR 93, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Avicenne, Université Paris 13, 93000 Bobigny, Emergency Department, Department of Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, Associated Reference Center for Angioedema, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Jean Verdier, Université Paris 13, 93140 Bondy and SAMU-SMUR 91, Centre Hospitalier Sud Francilien, 91106 Corbeil-Essonnes Cedex