René Robert

High-Flow Oxygen through Nasal Cannula in Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure

BACKGROUND Whether noninvasive ventilation should be administered in patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure is debated. Therapy with high-flow oxygen through a nasal cannula may offer an alternative in patients with hypoxemia. METHODS We performed a multicenter, open-label trial in which we randomly assigned patients without hypercapnia who had acute hypoxemic respiratory failure and a ratio of the partial pressure of arterial oxygen to the fraction of inspired oxygen of 300 mm Hg or less to high-flow oxygen therapy, standard oxygen therapy delivered through a face mask, or noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients intubated at day 28; secondary outcomes included all-cause mortality in the intensive care unit and at 90 days and the number of ventilator-free days at day 28. RESULTS A total of 310 patients were included in the analyses. The intubation rate (primary outcome) was 38% (40 of 106 patients) in the high-flow-oxygen group, 47% (44 of 94) in the standard group, and 50% (55 of 110) in the noninvasive-ventilation group (P=0.18 for all comparisons). The number of ventilator-free days at day 28 was significantly higher in the high-flow-oxygen group (24±8 days, vs. 22±10 in the standard-oxygen group and 19±12 in the noninvasive-ventilation group; P=0.02 for all comparisons). The hazard ratio for death at 90 days was 2.01 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01 to 3.99) with standard oxygen versus high-flow oxygen (P=0.046) and 2.50 (95% CI, 1.31 to 4.78) with noninvasive ventilation versus high-flow oxygen (P=0.006). CONCLUSIONS In patients with nonhypercapnic acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, treatment with high-flow oxygen, standard oxygen, or noninvasive ventilation did not result in significantly different intubation rates. There was a significant difference in favor of high-flow oxygen in 90-day mortality. (Funded by the Programme Hospitalier de Recherche Clinique Interrégional 2010 of the French Ministry of Health; FLORALI ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01320384.).

Withholding and withdrawal of life support in intensive-care units in France: a prospective survey

BACKGROUND In France, there are no guidelines available on withholding and withdrawal of life-sustaining treatments, and information on the frequency of such decisions is scarce. METHODS We undertook a prospective 2-month survey in 113, of a total of 220, intensive-care units (ICUs) in France to study the frequency of, and processes leading to, decisions to withhold and withdraw life-sustaining treatments. FINDINGS Life-supporting therapies were withheld or withdrawn in 807 (11.0%) of 7309 patients (withholding in 336 [4.6%] and withdrawal in 471 [6.4%], preceded in 358 by withholding). Of 1175 deaths in ICU, 628 (53%) were preceded by a decision to limit life-supporting therapies. Futility and poor expected quality of life were the most frequently cited reasons. Decisions were strongly correlated with the simplified acute physiological score, but an independent centre effect persisted after adjustment for this score. Decisions were mostly taken by all the ICU medical staff, with (54%) or without (34%) the nursing staff; however, a single physician made decisions in 12% of cases. The patients family was involved in the decision-making process in 44% of cases. The patients willingness to limit his or her own care was known in only 8% of the cases; only 0.5% of the patients were involved in decisions. INTERPRETATION Withholding and withdrawal of life-support therapies are widely practised in French ICUs, despite their prohibition by the French legislation. The lack of an official statement from French scientific bodies may explain several limitations on the various steps of the decision-making process.

High versus Low Blood-Pressure Target in Patients with Septic Shock

BACKGROUND The Surviving Sepsis Campaign recommends targeting a mean arterial pressure of at least 65 mm Hg during initial resuscitation of patients with septic shock. However, whether this blood-pressure target is more or less effective than a higher target is unknown. METHODS In a multicenter, open-label trial, we randomly assigned 776 patients with septic shock to undergo resuscitation with a mean arterial pressure target of either 80 to 85 mm Hg (high-target group) or 65 to 70 mm Hg (low-target group). The primary end point was mortality at day 28. RESULTS At 28 days, there was no significant between-group difference in mortality, with deaths reported in 142 of 388 patients in the high-target group (36.6%) and 132 of 388 patients in the low-target group (34.0%) (hazard ratio in the high-target group, 1.07; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.84 to 1.38; P=0.57). There was also no significant difference in mortality at 90 days, with 170 deaths (43.8%) and 164 deaths (42.3%), respectively (hazard ratio, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.83 to 1.30; P=0.74). The occurrence of serious adverse events did not differ significantly between the two groups (74 events [19.1%] and 69 events [17.8%], respectively; P=0.64). However, the incidence of newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation was higher in the high-target group than in the low-target group. Among patients with chronic hypertension, those in the high-target group required less renal-replacement therapy than did those in the low-target group, but such therapy was not associated with a difference in mortality. CONCLUSIONS Targeting a mean arterial pressure of 80 to 85 mm Hg, as compared with 65 to 70 mm Hg, in patients with septic shock undergoing resuscitation did not result in significant differences in mortality at either 28 or 90 days. (Funded by the French Ministry of Health; SEPSISPAM ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01149278.).

Delivered dose of renal replacement therapy and mortality in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury

IntroductionThe optimal dialysis dose for the treatment of acute kidney injury (AKI) is controversial. We sought to evaluate the relationship between renal replacement therapy (RRT) dose and outcome.MethodsWe performed a prospective multicentre observational study in 30 intensive care units (ICUs) in eight countries from June 2005 to December 2007. Delivered RRT dose was calculated in patients treated exclusively with either continuous RRT (CRRT) or intermittent RRT (IRRT) during their ICU stay. Dose was categorised into more-intensive (CRRT ≥ 35 ml/kg/hour, IRRT ≥ 6 sessions/week) or less-intensive (CRRT < 35 ml/kg/hour, IRRT < 6 sessions/week). The main outcome measures were ICU mortality, ICU length of stay and duration of mechanical ventilation.ResultsOf 15,200 critically ill patients admitted during the study period, 553 AKI patients were treated with RRT, including 338 who received CRRT only and 87 who received IRRT only. For CRRT, the median delivered dose was 27.1 ml/kg/hour (interquartile range (IQR) = 22.1 to 33.9). For IRRT, the median dose was 7 sessions/week (IQR = 5 to 7). Only 22% of CRRT patients and 64% of IRRT patients received a more-intensive dose. Crude ICU mortality among CRRT patients were 60.8% vs. 52.5% (more-intensive vs. less-intensive groups, respectively). In IRRT, this was 23.6 vs. 19.4%, respectively. On multivariable analysis, there was no significant association between RRT dose and ICU mortality (Odds ratio (OR) more-intensive vs. less-intensive: CRRT OR = 1.21, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.66 to 2.21; IRRT OR = 1.50, 95% CI = 0.48 to 4.67). Among survivors, shorter ICU stay and duration of mechanical ventilation were observed in the more-intensive RRT groups (more-intensive vs. less-intensive for all: CRRT (median): 15 (IQR = 8 to 26) vs. 19.5 (IQR = 12 to 33.5) ICU days, P = 0.063; 7 (IQR = 4 to 17) vs. 14 (IQR = 5 to 24) ventilation days, P = 0.031; IRRT: 8 (IQR = 5.5 to 14) vs. 18 (IQR = 13 to 35) ICU days, P = 0.008; 2.5 (IQR = 0 to 10) vs. 12 (IQR = 3 to 24) ventilation days, P = 0.026).ConclusionsAfter adjustment for multiple variables, these data provide no evidence for a survival benefit afforded by higher dose RRT. However, more-intensive RRT was associated with a favourable effect on ICU stay and duration of mechanical ventilation among survivors. This result warrants further exploration.Trial RegistrationCochrane Renal Group (CRG110600093).

Meningitis Due to Capnocytophaga canimorsus after Receipt of a Dog Bite: Case Report and Review of the Literature

We describe a case of meningitis due to Capnocytophaga canimorsus and review 18 cases with attention to risk factors, clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome. In most of the reported cases, contact with dogs and predisposing factors were found. Clinical manifestations and the findings of examinations of cerebrospinal fluid specimens were similar to those of classic bacterial meningitis; however, the mortality rate for C. canimorsus meningitis very low when compared with the rate for C. canimorsus septicemia (5% vs. 30%).

Refusal of Intensive Care Unit Admission Due to a Full Unit

RATIONALE Intensive care unit (ICU) beds are a scarce resource, and patients denied intensive care only because the unit is full may be at increased risk of death. OBJECTIVE To compare mortality after first ICU referral in admitted patients and in patients denied admission because the unit was full. METHODS Prospective observational multicenter cohort study of consecutive patients referred for ICU admission during two 45-day periods, conducted in 10 ICUs. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Of 1,762 patients, 430 were excluded from the study, 116 with previously denied admission to another ICU and 270 because they were deemed too sick or too well to benefit from ICU admission. Of the remaining 1,332 patients, 1,139 were admitted, and 193 were denied admission because the unit was full (65 were never admitted, 39 were admitted after bumping of another patient, and 89 were admitted on subsequent referral). Crude Day 28 and Day 60 mortality rates in the nonadmitted and admitted groups were 30.1 versus 24.3% (P = 0.07) and 33.3 versus 27.2% (P = 0.06), respectively. Day 28 mortality adjusted on age, previous disease, Glasgow scale score less than or equal to 8, shock, creatinine level greater than or equal to 250 μmol/L, and prothrombin time greater than or equal to 30 seconds was nonsignificantly higher in patients refused ICU admission only because of a full unit compared with patients admitted immediately. Patients admitted after subsequent referral had higher mortality rates on Day 28 (P = 0.05) and Day 60 (P = 0.04) compared with directly admitted patients. CONCLUSIONS Delayed ICU admission due to a full unit at first referral is associated with increased mortality.

Nosocomial sinusitis with isolation of anaerobic bacteria in ICU patients

Objective: To determine the frequency and the eventual clinical characteristics of nosocomial sinusitis with anaerobic bacteria isolation in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU).¶Design: Retrospective study.¶Setting: A 12-bed medical ICU in a teaching hospital.¶Patients: 30 adult patients with documented nosocomial maxillary sinusitis.¶Interventions: None.¶Measurements and results: Using appropriate microbiological techniques, 33 anaerobic bacterial strains were isolated in 18/30 patients (60 %) with nosocomial sinusitis. Anaerobic bacteria were associated with aerobic strains in 13 patients (72 %), whereas in 5 patients (28 %) only anaerobic strains were isolated in sinus puncture cultures. The most frequently isolated species were Prevotella sp. (n = 20, 60 %) and Fusobacterium nucleatum (n = 5, 15 %). The production of β -lactamase was demonstrated in 13/27 gram-negative anaerobic bacteria. All patients in whom anaerobic bacteria were isolated from transnasal punctures had had a nasogastric tube. Patients in whom anaerobic bacteria were isolated more frequently had neurological disorders upon admission (p < 0.02). Ten patients (30 %) had nosocomial pneumonia, 8 of whom had at least one identical strain in both lung and sinus cultures, including 2 patients with anaerobic bacteria isolation.¶Conclusions: Using appropriate microbiological techniques, anaerobic bacteria were frequently isolated in nosocomial sinusitis. If necessary, the empirical choice of antimicrobial therapy in patients with nosocomial sinusitis should take into account these results.

Endotoxin tolerance enhances interleukin-10 renal expression and decreases ischemia-reperfusion renal injury in rats.

ABSTRACT The potential implication of interleukin (IL) 6, tumor necrosis factor &agr; (TNF-&agr;), and IL-10 in the protective effect of low-dose lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration against renal ischemia-reperfusion injury was evaluated in a rat model. Eighteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected intravenously with either 0.5 mg/kg of LPS (tolerant group) or saline (control group) 2 days before surgery. Ischemic renal injury was induced by clamping the left renal artery for 60 min on rats immediately after right-side nephrectomy. Reperfusion was obtained by clamp removal and was studied at R0 (no reperfusion), 2H (R2), and 24H (R24) by renal tubular disorder characterization and by plasma creatinine as well as renal cytokine (IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-&agr;) studies. No differences were observed between the two groups as concerns the period immediately after renal ischemia (R0). The endotoxin-tolerant group was associated with a significantly lower creatinine level at R24 (231 ± 28 vs 315 ± 36 &mgr;mol/L; P = 0.007). Pretreatment with LPS significantly reduced the degree of proximal tubule necrosis and outer medulla congestion. In such tolerant animals, renal IL-6 production was decreased, whereas IL-10 production was significantly increased at R2 and R24. There were no differences in TNF-&agr; renal production. In this study, we demonstrated that administration of low doses of LPS to rats had a protective effect from renal reperfusion injury, and our data suggest that IL-10 might play a role in this phenomenon.

Short-term and long-term vital outcomes of cirrhotic patients admitted to an intensive care unit.

Objective To evaluate short-term and long-term vital outcomes of cirrhotic patients admitted to a general ICU, to evaluate the prognostic value of severity scores and to identify risk factors associated with death. Methods Observational retrospective single-center epidemiological study. All cirrhotic patients admitted to the ICU were eligible for the study. Clinical data, general ICU severity scores, and liver-specific severity scores were recorded. The mortality rate was analyzed during the stay in ICU, at day 28 and month 6 after admission. Risk factors for death were identified by univariate and multivariate analyses. Results During the study period, 86 cirrhotic patients were admitted to the ICU. The in-ICU, day-28 and month-6 mortality rates were 37, 48, and 60%, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, mechanical ventilation, the prothrombin time, and the plasma albumin level on admission were associated with the in-ICU mortality, whereas only the plasma albumin level was associated with the 6-month mortality [odds ratio 0.80; 95% confidence interval (0.70–0.92)]. The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score was more predictive than liver-specific scores for mortality in the ICU, but not at day 28 or month 6. Conclusion ICU admission should not be ruled out for patients with complicated cirrhosis. Although common in cirrhotic patients, low plasma albumin level was the only factor independently associated with short-term and long-term mortalities.

Cervical spinal epidural abscess and meningitis due to Prevotella oris and Peptostreptococcus micros after retropharyngeal surgery.

usually due to the contiguous spread of infection or can be related to hematogenous spread from a distant infection [1]. To our knowledge only four cases of epidural abscess due to anaerobic bacteria have previously been reported [2, 3, 4, 5]. In our case, since the isolated anaerobic bacteria could be part of the healthy oral flora they can be logically responsible for a contiguous spread of infection following retropharyngeal surgery [1]. Since anaerobic isolation requires specific methods, the involvement of anaerobic bacteria in epidural abscess associated with oropharyngeal infection can be underestimated. In our case Peptostreptococcus micros was isolated after inoculation of the CSF in a blood anaerobic bottle containing charcoal particles that neutralize antibiotics. Peptostreptococcus micros was not isolated from the epidural abscess at day 5, probably because of its high susceptibility to the antibiotics given to the patient. Conversely, Prevotella oris could be isolated in the epidural abscess because of its resistance to amoxicillin and ceftriaxone. The optimal treatment of epidural abscess due to anaerobic bacteria is poorly defined. Prompt surgical decompressive laminectomy and drainage in the presence of signs of spinal cord compression and antibiotics are suggested [2]. This case illustrates the possibility of benign surgery of a retropharyngeal lesion inducing a severe epidural complication. Since anaerobic bacteria are normally part of the oropharyngeal flora, they can be involved in such disease. Their isolation is difficult, requiring specific methods, and can be delayed. Empiric antibiotic therapy should consider anaerobic bacteria in these situations. References