Dynamics of brain natriuretic peptide in critically ill patients with severe sepsis and septic shock

Changes of B-type natriuretic peptide [BNP] in sepsis and its utility in predicting intensive care unit outcomes remains a conflicting issue. To investigate the changes in plasma levels of BNP in patients with severe sepsis/septic shock and to study the association of BNP levels with the severity of the disease and prognosis of those patients. Thirty patients with severe sepsis or septic shock were enrolled in our study. BNP measurements and echocardiography were carried out on admission and on 4[th] and 7[th] days. Blood concentrations of BNP were measured by commercially available assays [Abbott methods]. In-hospital mortality and length of stay were recorded multivariate analyses adjusted for acute physiology and chronic health evaluation score II [APACHE II score] was used for mortality prediction. Twenty patients admitted with the diagnosis of severe sepsis and 10 patients with septic shock. The in-hospital mortality was 23.3% [7 patients]. Admission BNP was significantly higher in the non-survivors 1123 +/- 236.08 versus 592.7 +/- 347.1 [P<0.001]. By doing multivariate logestic regression, the predicatable variables for mortality was APACHE II score, BNP, and then EF. BNP concentrations were increased in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock and poor outcome was associated with high BNP levels; thus, it may serve as a useful laboratory marker to predict survival in these patients

Reported survival with severe mixed acidosis and hyperlactemia after toluene poisoning

Lactic acidosis is a recognized complication of the inhalant abuse such as toluene, especially in patients with renal insufficiency. We report a case of severe metabolic acidosis and hyperlactemia due to toluene sniffing. The favorable outcome, despite extremely poor clinical symptoms, signs, laboratory and radiological findings, was unexpected. Specific aspects of the clinical course are addressed. Toluene sniffing should be considered in evaluating sever metabolic acidosis. Favorable outcome could be achieved with early diagnosis and proper interventions

Non invasive predictors for decision making in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [AECOPD]

Accurate prediction for prognosis is important for hospitalized patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [AECOPD] requiring mechanical ventilation [MV] and for proper assessment of decision making regarding plane of management and ongoing hospital morbidity and mortality. The present study was designed to determine the predictability of non invasive parameters including APACHE II score, arterial blood gases [ABGs] and bedside Echocardiography in management of critically ill patients with COPD exacerbation either invasively or conservatively. The study was conducted on 60 adult patients [50 male and 10 female] with AECOPD, with mean age 60.1 +/- 6.2 were admitted to intensive care unite [ICU]. All patients were subjected to arterial blood gases [ABGs], APACHE II score and bedside Echocardiography study. Patients were divided into two groups according to ventilatory requirement invasive or non invasive into group I [34 patients] with need of MV and group II [26 patients] with success of conservative treatment. We found that APACHE II score, had a high predictive value for MV necessity, it was 19.17 +/- 3.4 in the group I Vs 11.46 +/- 4.4 in the group II also Doppler evidence of pulmonary hypertension had high predictive value for MV necessity. The mean value of PASP was 48.95 +/- 12.44mmHg in group I, Vs 30.71 +/- 6.5mmHg in group II with significant p value. The mean value of PAPm was 42.08 +/- 6.89mmHg in group I Vs 31.50 +/- 7.71 mmHg in group II with significant p value. Increases in the APACHE II score, the mean pulmonary artery pressure [PAPm] and pulmonary artery systolic pressure [PASP] were significantly more in patients who died in comparison to survivors in the group I. APACHE II score, bedside Echocardiography and routine arterial blood gases could be used as a marker to identify patients at the time of admission who are likely to have a poor prognosis, so that such patients can be managed aggressively, either medical conservative treatment or mechanical ventilation [NIPPV or Invasive MV]

Post-traumatic refractory intracranial hypertension and decompressive craniectomy

Decompressive craniectomy [DC] removes the rigid confines of the bony skull, increasing the potential volume of the intracranial contents and circumventing the Monroe Kellie doctrine. To study the effect of early decompressive craniectomy [DC] <24 hours versus conservative treatment on the outcome of severe traumatic brain injury. Retrospective study, on 20 consecutive patients treated between 2005 2007 for severe intracranial hypertension without intracranial mass lesion, was done. In all patients, treatment included sedation, paralysis, aggressive temperature control, mild hyperventilation PCO2 35 40 mmHg, intracranial pressure [ICP] monitoring and head elevation 30 degrees. Early DC with early flap replacement was carried out in 9 patients [45%] where 11 patients were managed with non operative treatment, outcome was followed over 12 months by Glasgow outcome score [GOS]. 8 patients [89%] in the craniectomy group survived, one of them had persistent vegetative state [PVS]. On the other group, 7 patients survived [63%], two of them had PVS, ICP was significantly lower in the DC group P<0.05. Early decompressive craniectomy [DC] may be effective in reducing the mortality and prevention of early irreversible ischemic changes which may be effective in treatment of secondary deterioration that may lead to death or severe neurological deficit