Sudha Kansal

Acute respiratory distress syndrome: Predictors of noninvasive ventilation failure and intensive care unit mortality in clinical practice☆☆☆

PURPOSE Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is used as an initial ventilatory support in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), but its utility is unclear, and persistence in those who do not improve may delay intubation and lead to adverse outcomes. Hence, it becomes imperative to have a clear understanding of selecting patients who will benefit from this modality. METHODS In this prospective observational study, we included all consecutive adults, over a 3-year period, who fulfilled criteria for ARDS by the Berlin definition. Basic demographics, ventilatory support, intensive care unit course, and outcome were recorded. RESULTS Of 170 patients, 96 (56.47%) were initially managed with NIV. Noninvasive ventilation failure was seen in 42 (43.75%) of 96, and low baseline PaO2/FIO2, shock, and ARDS severity were associated with NIV failure. Overall intensive care unit mortality was 63 (37.1%) of 170, and high Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, low PaO2/FIO2, shock, and ARDS severity were associated with increased mortality. Noninvasive ventilation failure and mortality were significantly higher in moderate and severe ARDS. CONCLUSIONS Noninvasive ventilation maybe useful in selected patients with mild ARDS but should be used with great caution in moderate and severe ARDS, as failure risk is high. In addition, low PaO2/FIO2 and shock are associated with NIV failure. Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, shock, low PaO2/FIO2, and ARDS severity are associated with increased mortality.

Chest Tube Placement

A chest tube placement (tube thoracostomy) is a method to insert a flexible, hollow tube into pleural space to extract air, fluid blood, or pus. It helps in maintaining negative intrapleural pressure and expansion of the lung.

Central Line Placement

A 55-year-old diabetic female patient was brought to the emergency department with history of fever with chills and rigors for the past 3 days. She also had altered sensorium for the past few hours. On arrival she was found to have tachycardia and hypotension.

An Unusual Case of Postpartum Thrombocytopenia

In a pregnant woman presenting with thrombocytopenia, the possibility of HELLP syndrome should always be considered by the treating clinician so as to initiate the therapy at the earliest to prevent the high perinatal mortality and postpartum morbidity. Here we report an unusual case of young Primigravida (postpartum) who presented at Indraprastha Apollo hospitals, New Delhi with altered sensorium, paraperesis, DIC and septic shock. On evaluation she was found to have HELLP syndrome for which Plasmapheresis was given and patient showed remarkable improvement.

Use of blood components in critically ill patients in the medical intensive care unit of a tertiary care hospital.

Background: The art of fluid administration and hemodynamic support is one of the most challenging aspects of treating critically ill patients. Transfusions of blood products continue to be an important technique for resuscitating patients in the intensive care settings. Concerns about the rate of inappropriate transfusion exist, particularly given the recognized risks of transfusions and the decreasing availability of donor blood. We investigated the current transfusion practice in the critically ill patients at our hospital. Materials and Methods: A total of 1817 consecutive critically ill patients admitted between January 2006 and December 2006 were included in this retrospective study. The blood request forms of the patients were analyzed, and their pretransfusion investigations, indications for transfusions, etc. were studied. Results: Nine hundred and eleven (50.1%) critically ill patients, comprising 71.6% males and 28.4% females, received blood/blood components. About 43.8% patients were administered packed red cells (PRC), 18.27% fresh frozen plasma (FFP) and 8.4% transfused platelets. Among those receiving PRC, 31.1% had a pretransfusion Hb below 7.5g%, 34.4% had Hb between 7.5 and 9g%, while 21.4% had Hb above 9g%. Among those receiving FFP, 14.5% had an international normalized ratio INR < 1.5, and 19% had a pretransfusion platelet count above 50,000/cumm. During the study, there were 7% of the patients who received red cells and FFP, 2% of the patients received red cells and platelets, 1% of the patients received platelets and FFP, and 5% of the patients had received all the three components, i.e., red cells, FFP and Platelets. The baseline investigations and/or clinical indications were not mentioned in 13.1% of patients receiving PRC, 57% receiving FFP and 49.7% receiving platelets. Conclusion: About 21.4% of PRC, 14.5% of FFP, and 19% of platelets were inappropriately indicated. Clinicians in our centre were conservative in keeping with recent transfusion guidelines. A significant number of blood request forms were still incomplete with baseline investigations not mentioned in the request forms.