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Jean-Louis Vincent

Publications and source records attributed to Jean-Louis Vincent.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Primer on medical management of severe brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: To review the current understanding of the medical management of severe brain injury. DATA SOURCE: The MEDLINE database, bibliographies of selected articles, and current English-language texts on the subject. STUDY SELECTION: Studies related to management of intracranial hypertension, traumatic brain injury, and brain edema. DATA EXTRACTION: All studies relevant to the subject under consideration were considered, with a focus on clinical studies in adults. DATA SYNTHESIS: Basic rules of resuscitation must apply, including adequate ventilation, appropriate fluid administration, and cardiovascular support. The control of intracranial pressure can be considered in three steps. The first step should be initial slight hyperventilation with a target PaCO2 of 35 mm Hg and cerebrospinal fluid drainage for intracranial pressure of >15-20 mm Hg. The second step should be mannitol or hypertonic saline and hyperventilation to target PaCO2 of 28-35 mm Hg. The third step should be barbiturate coma or decompressive craniectomy. Additional management issues, including seizure prophylaxis, sedation, nutritional support, use of hypothermia, and corticosteroids, are also discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Brain injury is frequently associated with the development of brain edema and the development of intracranial hypertension. However, with a coordinated, stepwise, and aggressive approach to management, focusing on control of intracranial pressure without adversely affecting cerebral perfusion pressure, outcomes can be good.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2005

Outcome measures for clinical research in sepsis: a report of the 2nd Cambridge Colloquium of the International Sepsis Forum.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Sepsis is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality for patients admitted to an intensive care unit. The evaluation of new therapies has been hampered by the underdevelopment of outcome measures used to detect biological activity and patient-centered benefit in a complex and highly heterogeneous patient population. We sought to evaluate existing approaches and to draw on insights from other disciplines to propose a comprehensive approach to outcome evaluation in sepsis clinical trials. METHODS: An expert colloquium organized by the International Sepsis Forum brought together sepsis researchers, clinical epidemiologists, and experts in the development and implementation of outcome measures in rheumatology, neurology, and oncology. RESULTS: The translation of an evolving understanding of the biology of sepsis into effective new therapies for critically ill patients requires a reevaluation of the end points used to determine response to intervention. These represent a continuum that measures biological activity against the target at one end and sustained improvement in survival or quality of life at the other. Early phase research should determine whether an intervention works in vivo, using measures that are responsive and informative to provide proof of principle, to aid in selecting optimal patient populations for study, and to gain insights into optimal dose and duration of therapy. After in vivo biology has been demonstrated and the possibility of efficacy inferred by plausible improvements in surrogate physiologic measures, definitive studies should seek robust evidence of benefit using end points that measure important, patient-centered benefit, including intermediate and longer term survival and health-related quality of life. Nonmortal measures of benefit assume particular importance for populations, such as children, whose mortality risk is low, or who have significant rates of comorbidities that independently limit survival. Composite measures that integrate morbidity and mortality effects may provide the most meaningful information about therapeutic efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: The development of explicit, hypothesis-driven, and iterative approaches to outcome measure development, patterned on approaches used in the fields of rheumatology and oncology, may improve the conduct of clinical studies in the critically ill.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMed2005

Drotrecogin alfa (activated) treatment in severe sepsis from the global open-label trial ENHANCE: further evidence for survival and safety and implications for early treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To provide further evidence for the efficacy and safety of drotrecogin alfa (activated) treatment in severe sepsis. DESIGN: Single-arm, open-label, trial of drotrecogin alfa (activated) treatment in severe sepsis patients. Enrollment began in March 2001 and day-28 follow-up completed in January 2003. SETTING: ENHANCE took place in 25 countries at 361 sites. PATIENTS: Patients with known or suspected infection, three or four systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria, and one or more sepsis-induced organ dysfunctions. Of 2,434 adults entered, 2,378 received drotrecogin alfa (activated), and of these, 2,375 completed the protocol. INTERVENTIONS: Drotrecogin alfa (activated) was infused at a dose of 24 mug/kg/hr for 96 hrs. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The 28-day all-cause mortality approximated that observed in PROWESS (25.3% vs. 24.7%). Although patients in ENHANCE had increased serious bleeding rates compared with patients in the drotrecogin alfa (activated) arm of PROWESS (during infusion, 3.6% vs. 2.4%; postinfusion, 3.2% vs. 1.2%; 28-day, 6.5% vs. 3.5%), increased postinfusion bleeding suggested a higher background bleeding rate. Intracranial hemorrhage was more common in ENHANCE than PROWESS (during infusion, 0.6% vs. 0.2%; 28-day, 1.5% vs. 0.2%). The incidence of fatal intracranial hemorrhage was the same during infusion (0.2%) and higher at 28 days (0.5% vs. 0.2%). ENHANCE patients treated within 0-24 hrs from their first sepsis-induced organ dysfunction had lower observed mortality rate than those treated after 24 hrs (22.9% vs. 27.4%, p = .01). CONCLUSIONS: ENHANCE provides supportive evidence for the favorable benefit/risk ratio observed in PROWESS and suggests that more effective use of drotrecogin alfa (activated) might be obtained by initiating therapy earlier.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Early changes in organ function predict eventual survival in severe sepsis.

OBJECTIVE: Early identification and treatment of severe sepsis can significantly reduce mortality rate. We hypothesized that a risk prediction model based on early (baseline to day 1 of study) response to standard care should be significantly related to 28-day survival. DESIGN: Analysis of organ dysfunction data from two placebo-controlled severe sepsis trials (PROWESS and secretory phospholipase A2 inhibitor trials). SETTING: Research laboratory. PATIENTS: The placebo arms of two randomized, double-blind sepsis trials were combined (n = 1036). These patients met criteria for severe sepsis and received supportive standard intensive care and fluid resuscitation. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores were calculated daily using the most aberrant physiologic or laboratory variables. Baseline and post-baseline SOFA scores categorized as improved, unchanged, or worsened were used in regression analyses correlating organ dysfunction changes with 28-day mortality. Improvement in cardiovascular (p = .0010), renal (p < .0001), or respiratory (p = .0469) function from baseline to day 1 was significantly related to survival. Odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) associated with improved vs. worsened respiratory, cardiovascular, or renal function before start of day 1 were 0.56 (0.35-0.91), 0.33 (0.18-0.59), and 0.30 (0.17-0.52), respectively. Continued improvement in cardiovascular function before start of day 2 and start of day 3 was associated with further improvement in survival (p <. 0001), with odds ratios of 0.15 (0.06-0.39) and 0.11 (0.04-0.31) for patients who improved compared with those who worsened. No other organ system was retained in the model, and improvement beyond day 1 in any other organ function did not add to the model's predictive power. CONCLUSIONS: These analyses suggest that outcomes for patients with severe sepsis are closely related to early (baseline to day 1 here) improvement, or lack thereof, in organ function. Also, clinical improvement on subsequent days may have little additional impact on the likelihood of survival.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Relative adrenal insufficiency in patients with septic shock: comparison of low-dose and conventional corticotropin tests.

OBJECTIVE: To compare a low-dose (1 microg) corticotropin stimulation test with the more standard (250 microg) test for the diagnosis of relative adrenal insufficiency. DESIGN: Diagnostic study. SETTING: Thirty-one-bed mixed medico-surgical department of intensive care. PATIENTS: Forty-six consecutive patients with septic shock. INTERVENTIONS: Corticotropin stimulation tests (low-dose test, 1 microg, and standard 250-microg test), performed consecutively at an interval >4 hrs. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: In each test, serum cortisol levels were measured before (T0) and 30 (T30), 60 (T60), and 90 (T90) mins after corticotropin injection. The maximal increase in cortisol (Deltamax) was calculated as the difference between T0 and the highest cortisol value at T30, T60, or T90 and considered as adequate if >9 microg/dL (250 nmol/L). Nonresponders to the low-dose test had a lower survival rate than responders to both tests (27 vs. 47%, p = .06; Kaplan Meier curves). Interestingly, nonresponders to high-dose test received hydrocortisone treatment and had a similar survival to responders. Multivariable logistic regression disclosed that the response to the combined low-dose test and high-dose test was an independent predictor of survival (odds ratio 28.91, 95% confidence interval 1.81-462.70, p = .017), whereas basal or maximal cortisol levels in both tests were not. CONCLUSIONS: The low-dose test identified a subgroup of patients in septic shock with inadequate adrenal reserve who had a worse outcome and would have been missed by the high-dose test. These patients may also benefit from glucocorticoid replacement therapy.

Adrenal Insufficiency↗
PubMed2005

A pilot-controlled study of a polymyxin B-immobilized hemoperfusion cartridge in patients with severe sepsis secondary to intra-abdominal infection.

Endotoxin is an important pathogenic trigger for sepsis. The polymyxin B-immobilized endotoxin removal hemoperfusion cartridge, Toraymyxin (hereafter PMX), has been shown to remove endotoxin in preclinical and open-label clinical studies. In a multicenter, open-label, pilot, randomized, controlled study conducted in the intensive care unit in six academic medical centers in Europe, 36 postsurgical patients with severe sepsis or septic shock secondary to intra-abdominal infection were randomized to PMX treatment of 2 h (n = 17) or standard therapy (n = 19). PMX was well tolerated and showed no significant side effects. There were no statistically significant differences in the change in endotoxin levels from baseline to 6 to 8 h after treatment or to 24 h after treatment between the two groups. There was also no significant difference in the change in interleukin (IL)-6 levels from baseline to 6 to 8 h after treatment or to 24 h after treatment between the two groups. Patients treated with PMX demonstrated significant increases in cardiac index (CI; P = 0.012 and 0.032 at days 1 and 2, respectively), left ventricular stroke work index (LVSWI, P = 0.015 at day 2), and oxygen delivery index (DO2I, P = 0.007 at day 2) compared with the controls. The need for continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) after study entry was reduced in the PMX group (P = 0.043). There was no significant difference between the groups in organ dysfunction as assessed by the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores from day 0 (baseline) to day 6. Treatment using the PMX cartridge is safe and may improve cardiac and renal dysfunction due to sepsis or septic shock. Further studies are needed to prove this effectiveness.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Rapid alterations in transferrin sialylation during sepsis.

The inflammatory process is associated with alterations in iron metabolism. Transferrin, an acute-phase N-glycosylated glycoprotein, plays an important role in iron transport. Human serum transferrin contains two biantennary glycans, each consisting of 0 to 4 molecules of sialic acid (SA); its SA content is heterogeneous with high concentration of tetrasialotransferrin (4SA) and low amounts of disialo-, trisialo-, penta-, and hexasialotransferrin. The hepatic uptake of iron is greater for desialylated transferrin isoforms (disialotransferrin) than for the other forms. We hypothesized that serum levels of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT, disialotransferrin) may increase rapidly in septic patients. Blood samples were obtained from critically ill patients with (n = 15) and without (n = 14) documented sepsis and compared with healthy volunteers. The different forms of transferrin were studied by capillary zone electrophoresis; SA concentrations were measured by enzymatic colorimetric assay. There was a significant increase in the proportion of CDT in septic compared with nonseptic patients and volunteers (18.3% [1.3-30.5] vs. 0.7% [0.5-0.9]; P < 0.01 and 0.9% [0.5-1.1]; P < 0.05). Conversely, tri- and tetrasialotransferrin levels were lower in septic patients. Total and free SA concentrations were significantly higher in septic patients than in healthy volunteers. In a sheep model of septic shock secondary to peritonitis, serum free SA was already increased after 15 h. Sepsis is associated with decreased SA content on circulating transferrin and with an increase in blood free SA concentrations. In view of these rapid modifications and the long half-life of transferrin, the most likely explanation is degradation of transferrin by neuraminidase. Further studies including measurement of blood neuraminidase concentration and activity are needed to understand the process and exact role of SA decrease in septic patients.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2005

The following is the abstract of the article discussed in the subsequent letter:.

Sublingual and intestinal mucosal blood flow and Pco(2) were studied in a canine model of endotoxin-induced circulatory shock and resuscitation. Sublingual Pco(2) (Ps(CO(2))) was measured by using a novel fluorescent optrode-based technique and compared with lingual measurements obtained by using a Stowe-Severinghaus electrode [lingual Pco(2) (Pl(CO(2)))]. Endotoxin caused parallel changes in cardiac output, and in portal, intestinal mucosal, and sublingual blood flow (Q(s)). Different blood flow patterns were observed during resuscitation: intestinal mucosal blood flow returned to near baseline levels postfluid resuscitation and decreased by 21% after vasopressor resuscitation, whereas Q(s) rose to twice that of the preshock level and was maintained throughout the resuscitation period. Electrochemical and fluorescent Pco(2) measurements showed similar changes throughout the experiments. The shock-induced increases in Ps(CO(2)) and Pl(CO(2)) were nearly reversed after fluid resuscitation, despite persistent systemic arterial hypotension. Vasopressor administration induced a rebound of Ps(CO(2)) and Pl(CO(2)) to shock levels, despite higher cardiac output and Q(s), possibly due to blood flow redistribution and shunting. Changes in Pl(CO(2)) and Ps(CO(2)) paralleled gastric and intestinal Pco(2) changes during shock but not during resuscitation. We found that the lingual, splanchnic, and systemic circulations follow a similar pattern of blood flow variations in response to endotoxin shock, although discrepancies were observed during resuscitation. Restoration of systemic, splanchnic, and lingual perfusion can be accompanied by persistent tissue hypercarbia, mainly lingual and intestinal, more so when a vasopressor agent is used to normalize systemic hemodynamic variables.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Use of the pulmonary artery catheter is not associated with worse outcome in the ICU.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In critically ill patients, the impact of pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) use on outcome is debatable. We investigated the epidemiology of PAC use in European ICUs and its relation to outcome. DESIGN: International cohort, observational study. SETTING: One hundred ninety-eight European ICUs participating in the Sepsis Occurrence in Acutely Ill Patients Study. PATIENTS: All 3,147 adult patients admitted to one of the participating ICUs between May 1, 2002, and May 15, 2002. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Patients were classified according to whether or not they had a PAC at any time during their ICU stay, and were followed up until death, hospital discharge, or for 60 days. Propensity score case matching was performed, and matched pairs were examined for baseline characteristics and outcome. Of 3,147 patients, 481 patients (15.3%) had a PAC. Patients with a PAC were older, had a higher incidence of heart failure, a lower incidence of cancer, and were more commonly surgical admissions. Fluid balance was comparable between the two groups. ICU and hospital mortality rates were higher in patients with a PAC (28.1% vs 16.8% and 32.5% vs 22.5%, respectively; p < 0.001). However, PAC use was not an independent risk factor for 60-day mortality in multivariate analysis, and in 453 propensity-matched pairs ICU and hospital mortality rates were comparable between groups (26.7% vs 26.3% and 31.4% vs 32.8%, p = not significant). Survival to 60 days was similar between the two matched groups (log rank = 0.02; p = 0.894). CONCLUSIONS: This observational study suggests that PAC use is not associated with increased mortality in this heterogeneous population.

Catheterization↗
PubMed2005

High tidal volume and positive fluid balance are associated with worse outcome in acute lung injury.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Recent data have suggested that ventilatory strategy could influence outcomes from acute lung injury (ALI) and ARDS. We tested the hypothesis that infection/sepsis and use of higher tidal volumes than those applied in the ARDS Network (ARDSnet) study (> 7.4 mL/kg of predicted body weight) would worsen outcome in patients with ALI/ARDS. DESIGN: International cohort, observational study. SETTING: One hundred ninety-eight European ICUs participating in the Sepsis Occurrence in Acutely Ill Patients study. PATIENTS OR PARTICIPANTS: All 3,147 adult patients admitted to one of the participating ICUs between May 1, 2002, and May 15, 2002. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Patients were followed up until death, hospital discharge, or for 60 days. Of the 3,147 patients, 393 patients (12.5%) had ALI/ARDS. ICU and hospital mortality was higher in patients with ALI/ARDS than those without ALI/ARDS (38.9% vs 15.6% and 45.5% vs 21.0%, respectively; p < 0.001). A multivariable logistic regression analysis with ICU outcome as the dependent factor showed that the independent risks for mortality were as follows: presence of cancer, use of tidal volumes higher than those used by the ARDSnet study, degree of multiorgan dysfunction, and higher mean fluid balance. Sepsis, septic shock, and oxygenation at the onset of ALI/ARDS were not independently associated with higher mortality rates. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to comorbidities and organ dysfunction, high tidal volumes and positive fluid balance are associated with a worse outcome from ALI/ARDS.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Ventriculostomy-related infections in critically ill patients: a 6-year experience.

OBJECT: The authors undertook a study to analyze the risk factors for ventriculostomy-related infections (VRIs) in critically ill patients and their relation with outcome. METHODS: Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and microbiological data were collected from all 638 consecutive adult patients in whom an external ventriculostomy catheter was placed for monitoring during a 6-year period; patients were treated in a 31-bed intensive care unit (ICU) of a teaching hospital. Of 3726 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture samples analyzed, 1348 (217 patients) showed bacterial growth; of these 97 (obtained in 58 patients [9%]) were considered to represent an infection, 106 (in 68 patients [11%]) colonization, and 145 (in 91 patients [14%]) contamination. Hence, a VRI was diagnosed in 58 (9%) of 638 patients. There were no significant differences in Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, Glasgow Coma Scale score, and mortality rate, but patients with a VRI stayed longer in the ICU than those without one (p = 0.02). The duration of ventriculostomy monitoring was longer in patients with VRI (median 15 and 9 days, respectively; p = 0.02). Although the daily drained volume of CSF was higher after onset of the infection than before infection in patients with VRI (124 +/- 36 and 85 +/- 14 ml/day, respectively), the need for ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement was no more common in those with VRI than in those without (12 and 15%, respectively; p = 0.2). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), craniotomy, and coinfection were risk factors for VRIs. CONCLUSIONS: In this large series of patients, VRI was associated with a longer ICU stay, but its presence did not influence survival. A longer duration of ventriculostomy catheter monitoring in patients with VRI might be due to an increased volume of drained CSF during infection. Risk factors associated with VRIs are SAH, IVH, craniotomy, and coinfection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

[Comparison of dobutamine under different fluids resuscitation for shock induced by ischemia/reperfusion].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of dobutamine under different fluids resuscitation for shock induced by intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rabbits. METHODS: Thirty-two anesthetized rabbits were randomized into four groups of eight animals each. The groups were followed as: (1) lactated Ringer's solution (LRS) resuscitation; (2) LRS+hydroxyethyl starch solution (HES) resuscitation; (3) LRS resuscitation+dobutamine treatment; (4) LRS+HES resuscitation+dobutamine treatment. All these rabbits underwent the intestinal I/R injury developed by occluding superior mesenteric artery (SMA) with a non-crushing vascular clamp for 60 minutes and then loosing the clamp for 300 minutes. The fluid resuscitation and drug treatment began at the same time of reperfusion. Hemodynamic parameters including mean artery pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), aortic velocity (AoV, as cardiac output) and SMA blood flow (Qsma) were measured. Tissue oxygenation was assessed indirectly by measuring the tonometric parameters of the gut, including difference between partial pressure of carbon dioxide in intestinal intramucosal and partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood (Pt-a CO2 gap), intestinal intramucosal pH (pHi), arterial blood lactate acid concentration and oxygen delivery (DO2). RESULTS: HR, AoV and Qsma as measured in two dobutamine groups were significantly higher in values than LRS and LRS+HES groups (all P<0.05). But MAP as measured in two dobutamine groups were significantly higher in values than only LRS (P<0.05), and in LRS+HES resuscitation+dobutamine treatment group was also significantly higher in values than LRS resuscitation+dobutamine treatment group (P<0.05). Dobutamine in LRS resuscitation+dobutamine treatment and LRS+HES resuscitation+dobutamine treatment group could greatly decrease lactate and Pt-aCO2 gap, significantly improve pHi and DO2 compared with other two resuscitation groups (all P<0.05). Dobutamine in LRS+HES resuscitation+dobutamine treatment group could also greatly decrease lactate and Pt-aCO2 gap, significantly improve pHi compared with LRS resuscitation+dobutamine treatment group (all P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Dobutamine could improve hemodynamic parameters and tissue oxygenation in shock induced by intestinal I/R injury in rabbits, being better used under the LRS+HES resuscitation.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Fever control in septic shock: beneficial or harmful?

The beneficial effects of interventions to control fever in sepsis are controversial. We investigated whether the use of acetaminophen and external cooling is beneficial to control fever in septic shock. We studied 24 fasted, anesthetized, invasively monitored, mechanically ventilated female sheep (27.0 +/- 4.6 kg) that received 0.5 g/kg body weight of feces into the abdominal cavity to induce sepsis. Ringer's lactate (RL) was titrated to maintain pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP) at baseline levels throughout the experimental period. During the 2 h after the surgical operation, animals were placed in the hypothermia group if their temperature fell below 36.0 degrees C; the other animals were randomized to three groups: high fever (T > 39.0 degrees C), mild fever (37.5 degrees C < T < 38.5 degrees C), and normothermia (36.0 degrees C < T < 37.0 degrees C). The administration of 25 mg/kg acetaminophen every 4 to 6 h combined with external cooling (ice pad) was used to control core temperature in these three groups. The PaO2/FiO2 ratio was higher and blood lactate concentration was lower in the high fever than in the other groups (P < 0.01 and 0.05, respectively). Survival time was longer in the high fever group (25.2 +/- 3.0 h) than in the mild fever (17.7 +/- 3.5 h), normothermia (16.0 +/- 1.9 h), and hypothermia (18.5 +/- 2.5 h) groups (P < 0.05 for all). Plasma heat shock protein (HSP) 70 levels were higher in the two fever groups than in the other groups (P < 0.05). In this clinically relevant septic shock model, the febrile response thus resulted in better respiratory function, lower blood lactate concentration, and prolonged survival time. Antipyretic interventions including acetaminophen and external cooling were associated with lower circulating HSP70 levels. These data challenge the temperature control practices often used routinely in acutely ill patients.

Acetaminophen↗
PubMed2004

Ethics roundtable debate: A patient dies from an ICU-acquired infection related to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus--how do you defend your case and your team?

An elderly patient dies from septic shock in the intensive care unit. This is perhaps not an unusual scenario, but in this case the sepsis happens to have been due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, possibly related to a catheter, and possibly transmitted from a patient in a neighbouring room by less than adequate compliance with infection control procedures. The family decides to sue. We present how experts from four different countries assess the medicolegal issues involved in this case.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Dynamic microsimulation to model multiple outcomes in cohorts of critically ill patients.

BACKGROUND: Existing intensive care unit (ICU) prediction tools forecast single outcomes, (e.g., risk of death) and do not provide information on timing. OBJECTIVE: To build a model that predicts the temporal patterns of multiple outcomes, such as survival, organ dysfunction, and ICU length of stay, from the profile of organ dysfunction observed on admission. DESIGN: Dynamic microsimulation of a cohort of ICU patients. SETTING: 49Forty-nine ICUs in 11 countries. PATIENTS: One thousand four hundred and forty-nine patients admitted to the ICU in May 1995. INTERVENTIONS: None. MODEL CONSTRUCTION: We developed the model on all patients (n=989) from 37 randomly-selected ICUs using daily Sequential Organ Function Assessment (SOFA) scores. We validated the model on all patients (n=460) from the remaining 12 ICUs, comparing predicted-to-actual ICU mortality, SOFA scores, and ICU length of stay (LOS). MAIN RESULTS: In the validation cohort, the predicted and actual mortality were 20.1% (95%CI: 16.2%-24.0%) and 19.9% at 30 days. The predicted and actual mean ICU LOS were 7.7 (7.0-8.3) and 8.1 (7.4-8.8) days, leading to a 5.5% underestimation of total ICU bed-days. The predicted and actual cumulative SOFA scores per patient were 45.2 (39.8-50.6) and 48.2 (41.6-54.8). Predicted and actual mean daily SOFA scores were close (5.1 vs 5.5, P=0.32). Several organ-organ interactions were significant. Cardiovascular dysfunction was most, and neurological dysfunction was least, linked to scores in other organ systems. CONCLUSIONS: Dynamic microsimulation can predict the time course of multiple short-term outcomes in cohorts of critical illness from the profile of organ dysfunction observed on admission. Such a technique may prove practical as a prediction tool that evaluates ICU performance on additional dimensions besides the risk of death.

Cohort Studies↗
PubMed2004

Post mortem examination in the intensive care unit: still useful?

OBJECTIVE: Post mortem examination rates have decreased worldwide and their usefulness has been challenged. The aim of this study was to compare ante- versus post mortem findings in a multidisciplinary ICU. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Thirty-one-bed, medico-surgical ICU. PATIENTS: All patients who died on the ICU and underwent an autopsy examination in 1999. MEASUREMENTS: Records from autopsies were compared with clinical records. A modified Goldman's criteria was used to categorize the post mortem diagnoses. Unexpected findings were evaluated according to the duration of hospitalization prior to death (fewer than or more than 10 days). RESULTS: Among 2,984 ICU admissions, there were 489 deaths; 222 autopsies were conducted (45.4% autopsy rate). Post mortem examination revealed unexpected findings in 50 patients (22.5%), including malignancy (22 [9.9%]), fungal infections (9 [4%]), pulmonary embolism (7 [3.2%]), nosocomial infections (3 [1.3%]), Hashimoto's disease (3 [1.3%]), mesenteric infarction (2 [0.9%]), Barrett's esophagus (2 [0.9%]), endocarditis (1 [0.5%]) and myocardial infarction (1 [0.5%]). These unexpected findings were considered as major (Class I/II) in 19 (8.5%), and minor (Class III) in 31 (14%) patients. In patients with a short ICU length of stay (<10 days), there were more major unexpected findings than minor, while after a prolonged stay (>10 days), minor unexpected findings were more common. CONCLUSIONS: After a short ICU stay (<10 days), autopsy revealed discrepancies primarily related to the cause of death associated with diseases whose diagnosis can be difficult. Following more prolonged ICU stays (>10 days), autopsy was more likely to reveal coexisting diseases unrelated to death.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Tissue capnometry: does the answer lie under the tongue?

Increases in tissue partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO(2)) can reflect an abnormal oxygen supply to the cells, so that monitoring tissue PCO(2) may help identify circulatory abnormalities and guide their correction. Gastric tonometry aims at monitoring regional PCO(2) in the stomach, an easily accessible organ that becomes ischemic quite early when the circulatory status is jeopardized. Despite substantial initial enthusiasm, this technique has never been widely implemented due to various technical problems and artifacts during measurement. Experimental studies have suggested that sublingual PCO(2 )(P(sl)CO(2)) is a reliable marker of tissue perfusion. Clinical studies have demonstrated that high P(sl)CO(2) values and, especially, high gradients between P(sl)CO(2) and arterial PCO(2) (DeltaP(sl-a)CO(2)) are associated with impaired microcirculatory blood flow and a worse prognosis in critically ill patients. Although some questions remain to be answered about sublingual capnometry and its utility, this technique could offer new hope for tissue PCO(2) monitoring in clinical practice.

Animals↗