N-terminal Pro-Brain-type Natriuretic Peptide as a Prognostic Factor in Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock

PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate whether N-terminal pro-brain-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) could predict 28-day mortality in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. Patients' demographic data, comorbidities, blood test results (including NT-proBNP concentration), and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II scores were compared between 28-day survivors and nonsurvivors. NT-proBNP levels were categorized into quartiles by their concentration (6,000 pg/ml). Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was performed to identify the predictors of mortality during a 28-day follow-up period. RESULTS: Out of 349 patients, 117(33.5%) died. NT-proBNP concentrations were significantly higher in nonsurvivors compared to survivors (median 4,630 [IQR, 1,876-10,582] vs. 1,552 [IQR, 440-4,064] pg/ml, respectively, p6,000 pg/ml were 12.9%, 26.1%, 39.8%, and 51.1%, respectively. By Cox proportional hazards analysis, compared to patients with the lowest NT-proBNP levels (600 pg/ml (HR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.15-6.14). CONCLUSION: NT-proBNP is an independent prognostic factor for 28-day mortality in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock.

Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in renal-related conditions

DSA(Digital Subtractin Angiography) is a valuable diagnostic imaging method in many clinical fields, includingranal-related conditons. Sixty four renal DSA examinations were performed in 59 patients with renal-relateddiseases from Jan. 1984 to Dec. 1985. Summary of these were as follows: 1. Intraarterial (IA)-DSA is performed in6 cases, intravenous(IV)-DSA in 58 cases. In 58 Examinations of IV-DSA, diagnostic image quality is obtained in 51cases(88%). 2. In investigations of a possible renovascular etiology of hypertension, IV-DSA,is a safe, sensitiveand accurate method. On screening for evaluation of renovascular hypertension, RSP should be replaced with IV-DSA,because IV-DSA is moe sensitive and accurate and can detect not only anatomic change of renal arttery but alsofunctional hemodynamic change. 3. IV-DSA is valuable in diseases with morphologic changes of vessels. Incharacterization of a known renal mass, and evaluation of hematuria, suspected aneurym and renal trauma, IV-DSA isvery useful diagnostic imaging modality. 4. In evaluation of potential renal donors, IV-DSA is an accurate andsafe method with 82.4% of accuracy. IV-DSA also is useful in follow-up of allograft recipients. 5. Ininvestigation of diabetic nephropathy, glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis, IV-DSA is little helpful. 6. Theadvantages of DSA are well known, particularly post-procedure process using computer programs is helpful forobtaining informations of hemodynamic change or time-sequence-curve of density etc. More technical improvementwith this modality is required for improvement of the image quality and resolution. And more accumulation ofclinical experience is required in order to increase the diagnostic accuracy.

Ultrasonographic findings of empyema of gallbladder

Surgeons have been dependent mainly on the clinical findings in the diagnosis of the empyema of gallbladderrequiring a emergent surgical intervention. Ultrasonographic findings of empyema of gallbladder are similar tothose of acute cholecystitis, but several finding are more frequently seen in empyema than in acute cholecystitis.We reviewed the clinical and ultrasonographic pictures in 15 cases of surgically proven empyema of gallbladder.The results were as follows: 1. Empyema of GB shows relatively high frequency in male and elderly person, comparedwith acute cholecystitis. 2. Right upper abdominal pain with tenderness and leukocytosis are constant findings inempyema. 3. Ultrasonographic findings; (1) GB is distended in 80%. (2) GB wall is thickened all ill defined in80%. (3) Internal echo is seen in 93.3%-diffuse(53.3%), localized (20%) or layered(20%). (4) Gallstones arelocated in CBD causing dilatation proximally.