Rational Clinical Pathology Assessment in the Intensive Care Unit.

Blood tests are ordered on a daily basis in intensive care units (ICU). There are no widely accepted guidelines for testing requirements. This study investigated the impact on ICU laboratory test costs of a multi-strategy change in practice involving routine blood testing. A single centre, prospective, interventional study using historical controls was undertaken to investigate the impact of ICU specialist authorisation of high-volume routine tests on ICU laboratory test costs. Prior to commencement of the study, ICU nursing and junior ICU doctors were able to order tests. During the six-month intervention period, the ICU specialists authorised routine blood tests. Adverse events related to not performing blood tests were also recorded. Overall ICU laboratory test costs decreased by 12.3% over the six months (P=0.0022 versus historical control) with a mean compliance of 51% with the test authorisation protocol. The costs of frequently ordered tests (classified as high-volume) decreased by 20% (P=0.0022 versus historical control). These accounted for an average of 54 ± 3% of the overall ICU blood test costs (blood gas analyses 17%, simple chemistry tests consisting of electrolytes, liver function, calcium, phosphate, magnesium 14%, coagulation 12% and full blood count 11%). Two protocol-related adverse events were recorded and judged as minor and were resolved by ordering tests during the day. No adverse patient outcomes resulted from these two events. Blood testing authorisation by an ICU specialist was associated with significant cost savings in ICU and no adverse patient outcomes.

Efficacy of Bacillus clausii strain UBBC-07 in the treatment of patients suffering from acute diarrhoea.

This study was conducted to evaluate the anti-diarrhoeal activity of Bacillus clausii strain UBBC 07 in patients suffering from acute diarrhoea. A total of 27 patients (average age of 35.44±8.08 years) with acute diarrhoea were included in a prospective, Phase II clinical study after informed consent and ethical committee approval. The criteria included for all subjects were ≥3 loose stool motions within 24 hours and for more than 7 days. All patients were assigned to receive one capsule of B. clausii strain UBBC-07 (containing 2×109 cfu) two times a day for a period of 10 days. Efficacy assessment of duration of diarrhoea, frequency of defecation, abdominal pain and stool consistency were tested on days 1, 3, 6 and 10. Safety was evaluated by assessing the incidence and type of adverse effects such as increase in blood pressure and pulse rate, physical examination and clinical laboratory tests, i.e. complete blood count, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, serum creatinine, and stool examination and microscopy, on day 1 and day 10. The results of this study clearly showed that the mean duration of diarrhoea decreased from 34.81±4.69 to 9.26±3.05 (P<0.0001) min per day, the frequency of defecation also decreased from 6.96±1.05 to 1.78±0.50 (P<0.0001) times per day, abdominal pain decreased from 3.22±0.93 (severe) to 0.74±0.71 (absent) (P<0.0001), and stool consistency improved from 3.93±0.38 (watery) to 1.22±0.42 (soft) (P<0.0001). No significant change in safety parameters were observed during treatment. This study shows that the B. clausii strain UBBC-07 can potentially be effective in alleviating the symptoms of diarrhoea without causing any adverse effects.

Oral consumption of potential probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii strain Unique 28 in patients with acute diarrhoea: a clinical report.

This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Saccharomyces boulardii strain Unique 28 in patients suffering from acute diarrhoea. A total of 25 patients (average age 30.72±4.38 years) with symptoms of acute diarrhoea (≥3 loose motion in last 24 hours for <7 days) were included upon informed consent and ethical committee approval. All subjects were assigned to consume S. boulardii strain Unique 28 (5×109 cfu/capsule) twice a day for a duration of 10 days. Primary outcome measures such as duration of diarrhoea, frequency of defaecation, abdominal pain and consistency of stool were analysed on day 1, 3, 6 and 10 of the study. Secondary outcome measures were evaluated by assessment of incidence and type of adverse events (blood pressure and pulse rate), physical examination and clinical laboratory tests (complete blood count, glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, serum creatinine, stool examination and microscopy and these tests were performed on day 1 and 10 of the study. The results of the present study indicate that the mean duration of diarrhoea decreased from 34.20±4.25 to 9.40±3.00 (P<0.0001) min per day, frequency of defaecation decreased from 7.04±0.84 to 1.76±0.52 (P<0.0001) times a day, abdominal pain decreased from 3.28±1.06 (severe) to 0.72±0.50 (absent) (P<0.0001) and consistency of stool improved from 3.80±0.50 (watery) to 1.32±0.47 (soft) (P<0.0001). In addition, no significant changes in safety parameters were observed during treatment. Therefore, the present study concludes that S. boulardii strain Unique-28 might be useful in alleviating the symptoms of diarrhoea without any adverse effects.

High protein intake during continuous hemodiafiltration: impact on amino acids and nitrogen balance.

AIMS: To study the effect of combined continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) and high (2.5 g/kg/day) parenteral amino acid supplementation on nitrogen balance, amino acid losses and azotemic control in a cohort of patients with severe acute renal failure (ARF). METHODS: We administered 2.5 grams/kg/day of amino acids intravenously to seven critically ill patients with ARF. We obtained paired blood and ultrafiltrate (UF) samples (n=20) and calculated amino acid clearances and losses, nitrogen balance, protein catabolic rate and total nitrogen losses. RESULTS: The median total serum amino acid concentration was high at 5.2 mmol/L with particularly high concentrations of ornithine, lysine, and phenylalanine, but a low level of histidine. The median overall amino acid clearance was 18.6 ml/min (range: 12 to 29 ml/min). UF losses as percentage of administered dose were high for tyrosine (53.6%) but low for methionine (3.0%) and arginine (2.3%). A positive nitrogen balance was achieved in 7 (35%) of the 20 study days with an overall median nitrogen balance of -1.8 g/day. Urea levels were maintained at a median of 26.6 mmol/L. CONCLUSIONS: High protein intake increases the serum concentrations of most amino acids. Such protein supplementation, when coupled with CVVHDF achieves a slightly negative overall nitrogen balance in extremely catabolic patients while still allowing adequate azotemic control.

Changing acute renal failure treatment from intermittent hemodialysis to continuous hemofiltration: impact on azotemic control.

BACKGROUND: Continuous renal replacement therapy is increasingly used in the management of acute renal failure in critically ill patients. The advantages of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) over intermittent hemodialysis (IHD), however, are not yet fully documented. In particular, it is unknown whether continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) provides better control of azotemia than IHD. OBJECTIVES: To study the effect on azotemic control of changing acute renal failure treatment from IHD to CVVHDF. SETTINGS: Tertiary intensive care unit. PATIENTS: Forty seven consecutive critically ill patients with multiorgan failure and acute renal failure treated with IHD and 47 similar patients treated with CVVHDF. METHODS: Analysis of daily morning urea and creatinine concentrations over the period of renal replacement therapy in the ICU. Statistical comparison of data. RESULTS: The two groups of patients were comparable for mean age (55 years for IHD vs. 60 years for CVVHDF; NS) and number of failing organs prior to therapy (mean of 4.2 for IHD vs. 3.7 for CVVHDF; NS). Severity of illness at admission as assessed by APACHE II score, however, was greater for patients receiving CVVHDF (29.4 vs 25.7; p<0.003). CVVHDF was associated with a significantly lower plasma urea (p < 0.0001) and serum creatinine (p < 0.01) level at 24 hours of treatment despite similar levels at the start of therapy Throughout the duration of therapy, mean urea levels (35.0 mmol/L for IHD vs 23.4 mmol/L for CVVHDF) and mean serum creatinine levels (513 micromoles/L for IHD and 263 micromoles/L for CVVHDF) showed significantly (p <0.0001) better control of uremia with CRRT. CONCLUSIONS: Changing the form of renal replacement therapy from intermittent hemodialysis to continuous hemofiltration is associated with improved control of azotemia. The superior adequacy of small solute clearance achieved during CVVHDF provides additional support for its preferential use in the management of acute renal failure in the ICU.

Out of hospital outcome and quality of life in survivors of combined acute multiple organ and renal failure treated with continuous venovenous hemofiltration/hemodiafiltration.

OBJECTIVE: To study the out-of-hospital quality of life and long-term survival of critically ill patients with combined multiple organ failure and acute renal failure treated with continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). DESIGN: Study based on responses to postal questionnaire and clinical information obtained during treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU). SETTING: ICUs of two tertiary institutions. PATIENTS: 85 survivors from a pool of 250 patients with combined acute multiple organ and renal failure who were treated with CRRT. METHOD AND RESULTS: Anonymous postal questionnaire based on an activity index, mental function index, and a simplified version of the Nottingham Health Profile. Of the 250 patients, 85 (34%) survived to be discharged from hospital: 57 males (67%) and 28 females (33%), mean age 56.9 years (range 13.4-81). Mean duration of ICU stay was 10.9 days (range 2-52), mean admission Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score was 24.2 (range 15-41), and mean duration of CRRT was 6.2 days (range 1-34). Mean follow-up time was 2.5 years (range 0.1-5.3). Thirty-three of the 85 patients (38.8%) did not reply to the questionnaire; 35 patients (41.7%) were alive at the time of response and 17 (20%) were deceased. Of the 35 responders, 68.5% were satisfied with their present state of health, despite 60.6% stating that their mobility had been affected, with 41.9% being unable to walk more than 200 metres. Most (94.5%) survivors, however, felt that their treatment had been worthwhile, and 91.2% said that they would undergo the same treatment again if necessary. The approximate cost for each year of survival was U.S. $ 50000. CONCLUSIONS: In the majority of patients who survived to be discharged from hospital after combined acute multiple organ and renal failure, the overall state of health and quality of life seemed acceptable. Most patients felt that their treatment was worthwhile and that they would undergo the same treatment again if necessary. Our findings suggest that the cost and effort associated with CRRT and ICU care in these patients are high but broadly comparable to those associated with the care of other serious illnesses. They are also seen as worthwhile by survivors, who consider their life to be of acceptable quality.