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P Haji-Michael

Publications and source records attributed to P Haji-Michael.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. Is it possible to predict outcome?

AIM: Mortality after ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) remains high. Hardman et al. suggested that the following factors predict perioperative death: age >76 years, loss of consciousness, ECG confirmed ischemia, creatinine over 180 micromol/l and hemoglobin below 9 g/dl. A score of 3 or more had 100% mortality. A retrospective study was performed to validate this and determine if modification is required. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of the 5 Hardman Index factors along with preoperative systolic blood pressure at presentation, after resuscitation and during surgery was performed. RESULTS: A total of 137 cases were reviewed with overall mortality of 56.2%. Of Hardman's criteria: age, ECG ischemic changes, creatinine and hemoglobin levels were significant in predicting outcome (p=0.0007, 0.0152, 0.0001 and 0.0213, respectively). Loss of consciousness was not significant (p=0.9054). Hardman scores of 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 scored mortality percentages of 40.4%, 46.4%, 76.7%, 91.7% and 100%, respectively. Systolic blood pressure was significantly predictive at 100 mmHg and 120 mmHg on presentation (p=0.0008 and 0.0017, respectively) and 100 mmHg and 120 mmHg after resuscitation (p=0.0001 and 0.0510, respectively). A modified score replaced loss of consciousness with systolic blood pressure below 100 mmHg with scores of 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 had mortality of 22.2%, 46.8%, 66.7%, 83.9% and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our data supports the effectiveness of the Hardman Index in predicting successful surgery. However loss of consciousness was not a significant predictor. We proposed review of predictive indices, but resources should be channelled into screening to prevent rAAA.

Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal↗

Strong vasopressor support may be futile in the intensive care unit patient with multiple organ failure.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the prognosis in patients who needed norepinephrine treatment in our institution in relation to the degree of organ failure and the evolution of the disease process. DESIGN: Retrospective case note analysis of outcome of those patients who needed norepinephrine according to our institutional regimen. PATIENTS: A total of 100 consecutive patients admitted to our 31-bed medical-surgical intensive care unit (ICU) who were treated with norepinephrine for severe hypotension and evidence of end-organ hypoperfusion unresponsive to both fluid resuscitation and dopamine treatment at 20 microg/kg/min. MEASUREMENTS: The degree of organ dysfunction at the time of starting norepinephrine treatment was assessed by the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score. The time before starting norepinephrine treatment was defined as the time elapsed between ICU admission and that of starting norepinephrine administration. The patients were defined as survivors or nonsurvivors according to their ICU outcome. RESULTS: There were relationships between mortality and the degree of organ dysfunction and mortality and the duration of ICU stay before starting norepinephrine treatment. The mortality rate was 100% in the 30 patients with a total SOFA score of >12 and a delay before starting norepinephrine treatment of >1 day. The mortality rate of the other patients was 63%. The lowest mortality was seen in patients with lower SOFA scores and early norepinephrine administration after admission. CONCLUSIONS: Both the time of starting norepinephrine treatment after admission to the ICU and the degree of organ dysfunction have an important bearing on subsequent outcome. Although norepinephrine may be a lifesaving catecholamine in some cases, its administration to patients who have already developed multiple organ failure during their stay in the ICU is associated with a poor outcome.

Adolescent↗