Effectiveness of intensive insulin therapy in the management of acute necrotizing pancreatitis induced by very severe hypertriglyceridemia

Hypertriglyceridemia may be responsible for up to 4% of acute pancreatitis. Complicated pancreatitis is a serious medical condition and might be fatal. Therefore, treating the underlying cause along with supportive measures is crucial to prevent further deterioration and possible death. There have been reports where Insulin has been the mainstay of treatment for reducing triglyceride levels in patients with pancreatitis, however, there are no well-established guidelines. We present a forty-year-old female patient diagnosed with acute necrotizing pancreatitis. CT abdomen revealed acute necrotic pancreatitis [Balthazar E] with extensive peri-pancreatic and peritoneal fluid collections. The patient was managed in the ICU for 28 days. She continued to receive gemfibrozil and insulin infusion, initiated according to the ICU's Protocol - Algorithm 1 targeting glucose values of 4.4 mmol/L to 10 mmol/L along with heparin infusion. She was successfully treated and recovered. She was discharged on antidiabetic and lipid lowering medications

Mechanical post-conditioning in STEMI patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention

Although early myocardial reperfusion via primary percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI] allows the preservation of left ventricular function and improves outcome, the acute restoration of blood flow may contribute to the pathophysiology of infarction, a complex phenomenon called reperfusion injury. First described in animal models of coronary obstruction, mechanical post-conditioning, a sequence of repetitive interruption of coronary blood flow applied immediately after reopening of the occluded vessel, was able to reduce the infarct size. However, evidence of its real benefit remains controversial. This review describes the mechanisms of post-conditioning action and the different protocols employed focusing on its impact on primary PCI outcome

Evaluation of a new supraglottic airway device in ambulatory surgery: the I-gel[registered sign]

The I-gel[registered sign] is a new single-use supraglottic airway device with a non-inflatable cuff. It is composed of a thermoplastic elastomer and a soft gel-like cuff that adapts to the hypopharyngeal anatomy. Its tube is profiled to facilitate and stabilize its insertion. The aim of our study is to state the efficiency and the place of I-gel[registered sign] in airway management in adult anaesthetic practice. One hundred patients, ASA I-II, scheduled for shortduration elective surgery under general anaesthesia were included in this prospective study. Patients with neck pathology, previous or anticipated airway problems, increased risk of regurgitation or aspiration, ASA III and above and undergoing emergency surgery were not included in the study. We collected the following data: adequacy of the size recommended to the patient, ease in inserting the I-gel[registered sign], leak fraction, gastric leak, complications during insertion and removal, ease in inserting the gastric tube, haemodynamic and ventilatory parameters, stability during patient movement and satisfaction of the anaesthetists. The success rate of insertion and the use of the I-gel was respectively 99% and 96%. The device was inserted at the first attempt in 92% of cases. The introduction of the I-gel[registered sign] was rated easy in 99% of cases taking a median of 13 seconds. Complications of insertion were restricted to coughing in 5 patients and hiccups in 7 patients. There were no significant increase in heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure compared to pre-insertion values. An audible leak was recorded in 14.6% of cases. The need for additional manoeuvres was less than or equal to 2 in 96.9% of patients. The mean of the recorded peak airway pressure values was 18 cmH2O. After a fibreoptic exam via the airway tube, the glottis was completely seen in 74% of cases and partially seen in 14.6%. Two cases of gastric inflation were recorded. There was no case of regurgitation or hypoxemic episode during this trial. Post-operatively sore-throat was reported by one patient in recovery. After I-gel withdrawal, trace of blood was observed in 5 devices. One case of dental trauma was noted. 95% of the anaesthetists were satisfied with the use of the I-gel in their pratice. This study showed that I-gel[registered sign] can be used safely and effectively in patients undergoing short-duration elective surgery because the I-gel[registered sign] has a very good insertion success rate and few complications. The fibreoptic position of the device was correct and the ventilation was highly effective. These elements must be corroborated in larger series

Myocardial ischemic conditioning: physiological aspects and clinical applications in cardiac surgery

Ischemia-reperfusion is a major determinant of myocardial impairment in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. The main goal of research in cardioprotection is to develop effective techniques to avoid ischemia-reperfusion lesions. Myocardial ischemic conditioning is a powerful endogenous cardioprotective phenomenon. First described in animals in 1986, myocardial ischemic conditioning consists of applying increased tolerance of the myocardium to sustained ischemia by exposing it to brief episodes of ischemia-reperfusion. Several studies have sought to demonstrate its effective cardioprotective action in humans and to understand its underlying mechanisms. Myocardial ischemic conditioning has two forms: ischemic preconditioning [IPC] when the conditioning stimulus is applied before the index ischemia and ischemic postconditioning when the conditioning stimulus is applied after it. The cardioprotective action of ischemic conditioning was reproduced by applying the ischemia-reperfusion stimulus to organs remote from the heart. This non-invasive manner of applying ischemic conditioning has led to its application in clinical settings. Clinical trials for the different forms of ischemic conditioning were mainly developed in cardiac surgery. Many studies suggest that this phenomenon can represent an interesting adjuvant to classical cardioprotection during on-pump cardiac surgery. Ischemic conditioning was also tested in interventional cardiology with interesting results. Finally, advances made in the understanding of mechanisms that underlie the cardioprotective action of ischemic conditioning have paved the way to a new form of myocardial conditioning which is pharmacological conditioning

Cocci gram positive infection: regain registry

The Gram positive coccus infections were always preoccupying. In Tunisia, the epidemiological, clinics, therapeutic data concerning these infections remain insufficient. The main objective of this national epidemiological investigation achieved in 13 hospital units in Tunisia is to identify the criteria of choice of antibiotherapy and the profile of patients hospitalized for an infection to Gram positive cocci. This study included 450 patients with an average of 45.35 +/- 21.23 years of which 299 [66.4%] of men and 316 [70.2%] hospitalized in care unit. Two hundred fifty eight patients [62.2%] had one or several medical antecedents, and 145 [32.2%] one or several surgical antecedents. The diabetes [18%] and the chronic renal insufficiency [13.2%] were the two most frequent comorbidities. Signs of gravity to the admission were noted at least 14% of the patients and about 20% of the patients had presented a severe sepsis or a septic shock. The staphylococci [65.4%] were the most frequently the Gram positive cocci isolated follow-up by the streptococci [24.7%]. The resistance of the Gram positive cocci to glycopeptides concerned only one stump cf negative coagulase staphylococcus. Staphylococcus aureus is more frequently responsible for infections of skin and the soft cloths, bone and joint infections and severe sepsis. The rate of success clinic is more elevated in the infectious illness services [84.2% vs 55.3% p<0.0001], whereas mortality is more elevated the services of resuscitation [19.3% vs 3% p<0.0001]. The factors of bad prognosis are age>60 years, in the septic shock, the arterial hypotension to the admission, a score of Glasgow<8 to the admission and an infection to Staphylococcus aureus

[Implementation of antimicrobial resistance surveillance and antibiotic consumption in an intensive care burn department]

The increasing consumption of antibiotics in hospitals and the economic implications of this increase lead to survey this consumption in the various hospital units. Our study proposes to measure the annual antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance in an intensive care Burn department in order to manage the control measures. The study was conducted during a 5 year period [1 January 2000 to 31 December 2004]. The average number of admissions was 204/ year and the mean number of hospitalization was 4036/year. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by disk diffusion method. Susceptibility testing data were stored in a laboratory data base using whonet 5.3 software. The consumption of following antibiotics: imipenem, ceftazidime, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, piperacillin-tazobactam was measured by antimicrobial density [AD] which takes into account the quantity of antibiotics in Grams converted to daily defined dose [DDD] and number of hospitalization days. The daily defined dose [DDD] was proposed by WHO. The calculation of the AD for each molecule was carried out according to the following formula: AD = Quantity consumed in grams for the particular antimicrobial X 1000 divided by DDD for that antimicrobial X number of days hospitalizptions. There was statistically significant relationship between increasing use of ceftazidime and ceftazidime resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae [rs =0.93; p=0.02] The use of ceftazidime was not significantly associated with resistance to this molecule in P.aeruginosa [rs =0.76; p=0.13].Concerning the fluoroquinolones, there was statistically significant relationship between increasing use of ciprofloxacin and rate ciprofloxacin resistant P.aeruginosa [rs=0.89,P=0.043]. Furthermore, the consumption of ciprofloxacin was significantly correlated to imipenem resistance in P.aeruginosa [rs = 0 .87, p= 0.05]. However, the consumption of imipenem was not significantly correlated to resistance of this drug in P.aeruginosa [rs=0.45; P=0,4]. The monitoring of both antibiotic consumption and antibiotic resistance is necessary to set up targeted policies and to control their effectiveness. Nevertheless this monitoring must be integrated into global policy of good use and control of antibiotics

[ distally based posterolateral thigh fasciocutaneous flap a study of 6 cases]

The authors report a series of six patients who underwent couverage by the posterolateral thigh fasciocutaneous flap for cutaneous defects of the posterior surface of the knee. The defects were of various origin: post-traumatic in one case, post-infectious after excision of a phlegmon in a second case, and secondary to a release of a post bum retraction of the popliteal fossa in 4 cases. The majority of patients were men with an average age of 22 years. The patients were examined again about 2 years and a half later on average with results considered to be stable and of excellent quality on the cutaneous and functional level

[Disarticulation of the shoulder due to a high voltage electrical burn about 2 cases]

The high-voltage electrical bums cause an exceedingly high rate of morbidity resulting from the massive necrosis of deeper structures often necessitating major limb amputations. The authors report two rare cases of high-voltage electrical burns occurring accidentally, with a 49 and 19-year-old men, after an indirect contact with a high-voltage line. These high-voltage electrical burus caused massive necrosis and extended necrosis in the upper limb requiring the recourse to a disarticulation the shoulder. The indications and the operative techniques used are discussed

[Evolution of antibiotic consumption in an intensive care burn department]

Background: The increasing consumption of antibiotics in hospitals and the economic implications of this increase lead to survey this consumption in the various hospital units

Aim: Our study proposes to measure the annual antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance in an intensive care Burn department in order to manage the control measure

Methods: The study was conducted during a 5 year period [1 January 2000 to 31 December 2004]. The average number of admissions was 204/ year and the mean number of hospitalization was 4036/year. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by disk diffusion method. Susceptibility testing data were stored in a laboratory data base using whonet 5.3 software. The consumption of following antibiotics: imipenem, ceftazidime, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, piperacillin-tazobactam was measured by antimicrobial density [AD] which takes into account the quantity of antibiotics in Grams converted to daily defined dose [DDD] and number of hospitalization days. The daily defined dose [DDD] was proposed by WHO. The calculation of the AD for each molecule was carried out according to the following formula: AD=Quantity consumed in grams for the particular antimicrobial X 1000/ DDD for that antimicrobial X number of days hospitalizations

Results: There was statistically significant relationship between increasing use of ceftazidime and ceftazidime resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae [rs = 0.93; p=0.02] The use of ceftazidime was not significantly associated with resistance to this molecule in P.aeruginosa [rs=0.76; p=0.13]. Concerning the fluoroquinolones, there was statistically significant relation ship between increasing use of ciprofloxacin and rate ciprofloxacin resistant P.aeruginosa [rs = =0.89, P=0.043]. Furthermore, the consumption of ciprofloxacin was significantly correlated to imipenem resistance in P.aeruginosa [rs = 0.87, p=0.05]. However, the consumption of imipenem was not significantly correlated to resistance of this drug in P.aeruginosa [rs==0.54; P=0.4]

Conclusion: The monitoring of both antibiotic consumption andantibiotic resistance is necessary to set up targeted policies and to control their effectiveness. Nevertheless this monitoring must be integrated into global policy of good use and control of antibiotics