Neurological outcome and modifiable events after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in patients managed in a tertiary cardiac centre: A ten years register / Desenlaces neurológicos y acontecimientos modificables tras parada cardíaca extrahospitalaria en pacientes tratados en un centro de atención cardíaca terciaria: registro de 10 años

OBJECTIVE: A study was made of the events occurring in the early post-resuscitation phase that may help to improve the outcomes at hospital discharge. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study (2007-2017) of a prospective Utstein type registry database was carried using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Pre- and post-hospital admission events were investigated. SETTING: A tertiary cardiac centre. PARTICIPANTS: Unconscious victims of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) with documented ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation. MAIN VARIABLES OF INTEREST: Events occurring before and within 72h after intensive care unit (ICU) admission were recorded. The variables were analyzed to determine their impact on hospital survival and poor neurological outcome. One-year follow-up survival was also considered. Results are presented as odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI). RESULTS: Of 245 patients admitted to our ICU after OHCA, 152 (62%) were alive and 131 (86.2%) presented good neurological outcomes (cerebral performance categories≤2) at hospital discharge. The one-year follow-up survival rate was 95.9%. Age >70 years (OR 2.0; 95%CI 1.1-4.1), previous myocardial infarction (OR 2.7; 95%CI 1.2-6.1), shock upon hospital admission (OR 2.9; 95%CI 1.3-6.2), time from call to return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) >25min (OR 3.1; 95%CI 1.6-6.0) and anticonvulsant therapy (OR 18.2; 95%CI 5.5-60) were independent predictors of poor neurological outcome. Immediate admission to the cardiac centre (OR 0.5; 95%CI 0.3-0.9) and lactate clearance reaching plasma levels <2.5mmol/l at 12h (OR 0.4; 95%CI 0.2-0.8) were associated with better outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Unconscious OHCA patients with documented ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation may benefit from direct admission to a reference cardiac centre. Initial haemodynamic support, urgent coronary angiography and targeted management in the cardiac ICU seem to increase the likelihood of good neurological outcomes

OBJETIVO: Llevar a cabo un estudio de los acontecimientos ocurridos en la fase inmediatamente posterior a la reanimación que puedan ayudar a mejorar los desenlaces en el momento del alta hospitalaria. DISEÑO: Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo (2007-2017) de cohorte de una base de datos de registro de tipo Utstein prospectivo mediante un análisis de regresión logística multivariable. Se investigaron los acontecimientos previos y posteriores al ingreso hospitalario. Ámbito: Un centro de atención cardíaca terciaria. PARTICIPANTES: Víctimas inconscientes de parada cardíaca extrahospitalaria (OHCA) con fibrilación o taquicardia ventricular documentada. VARIABLES PRINCIPALES DE INTERÉS: Se registraron los acontecimientos ocurridos antes y durante las 72h posteriores al ingreso en la unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI). Se analizaron las variables para determinar su impacto en la supervivencia hospitalaria y los malos desenlaces neurológicos. También se tuvo en consideración la supervivencia en el seguimiento a lo largo de un año. Los resultados se presentan con valores de oportunidad relativa (OR) e intervalo de confianza del 95% (IC del 95%). RESULTADOS: De los 245 pacientes ingresados en nuestra UCI tras una OHCA, 152 (62%) seguían vivos y 131 (86,2%) presentaban unos buenos desenlaces neurológicos (categorías de rendimiento cerebral≤2) en el momento del alta hospitalaria. La tasa de supervivencia en el seguimiento a lo largo de un año fue del 95,9%. La edad>70 años (OR: 2,0; IC del 95%: 1,1-4,1), los antecedentes de infarto de miocardio (OR: 2,7; IC del 95%: 1,2-6,1), el choque en el momento del ingreso hospitalario (OR: 2,9; IC del 95%: 1,3-6,2), el tiempo transcurrido entre la llamada y el regreso a la circulación espontánea (ROSC)>25min (OR: 3,1; IC del 95%: 1,6-6,0) y la administración de tratamiento anticonvulsivo (OR: 18,2; IC del 95%: 5,5-60) fueron factores predictivos independientes de un mal desenlace neurológico. El ingreso inmediato en un centro de cuidados cardíacos (OR: 0,5; IC del 95%: 0,3-0,9) y el hecho de que el aclaramiento de lactato alcanzase unos niveles plasmáticos<2,5mmol/l al cabo de 12h (OR: 0,4; IC del 95%: 0,2-0,8) se asociaron con unos mejores desenlaces. CONCLUSIONES: Los pacientes inconscientes tras OHCA y con fibrilación o taquicardia ventricular documentada podrían beneficiarse del ingreso directo en un centro cardíaco de referencia. El apoyo hemodinámico inicial, la angiografía coronaria urgente y el tratamiento dirigido en la UCI cardíaca parecen aumentar la probabilidad de obtener unos buenos desenlaces neurológicos

Neurological outcome and modifiable events after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in patients managed in a tertiary cardiac centre: A ten years register.

OBJECTIVE: A study was made of the events occurring in the early post-resuscitation phase that may help to improve the outcomes at hospital discharge. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study (2007-2017) of a prospective Utstein type registry database was carried using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Pre- and post-hospital admission events were investigated. SETTING: A tertiary cardiac centre. PARTICIPANTS: Unconscious victims of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) with documented ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation. MAIN VARIABLES OF INTEREST: Events occurring before and within 72h after intensive care unit (ICU) admission were recorded. The variables were analyzed to determine their impact on hospital survival and poor neurological outcome. One-year follow-up survival was also considered. Results are presented as odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI). RESULTS: Of 245 patients admitted to our ICU after OHCA, 152 (62%) were alive and 131 (86.2%) presented good neurological outcomes (cerebral performance categories≤2) at hospital discharge. The one-year follow-up survival rate was 95.9%. Age >70 years (OR 2.0; 95%CI 1.1-4.1), previous myocardial infarction (OR 2.7; 95%CI 1.2-6.1), shock upon hospital admission (OR 2.9; 95%CI 1.3-6.2), time from call to return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) >25min (OR 3.1; 95%CI 1.6-6.0) and anticonvulsant therapy (OR 18.2; 95%CI 5.5-60) were independent predictors of poor neurological outcome. Immediate admission to the cardiac centre (OR 0.5; 95%CI 0.3-0.9) and lactate clearance reaching plasma levels <2.5mmol/l at 12h (OR 0.4; 95%CI 0.2-0.8) were associated with better outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Unconscious OHCA patients with documented ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation may benefit from direct admission to a reference cardiac centre. Initial haemodynamic support, urgent coronary angiography and targeted management in the cardiac ICU seem to increase the likelihood of good neurological outcomes.

[Can the occupational health physician promote work as a health factor?]. / Il medico competente può essere promotore del lavoro come occasione di salute?

This report answers the question: "In carrying out his/her institutional tasks, can the Occupational Health Physician (MC--medico competente--in Italian) promote work as a health factor?" The answer is in the affirmative, with identification of the social and regulatory framework within which the occupational health physician operates, examples of professional activities directed towards this aim and stressing the fact that the physician requires clinical skills so that he/she can work actively in the process of diagnosis-treatment-rehabilitation of the sick worker. Furthermore technological and organizational knowledge of the enterprise is required together with knowledge of the "social safeguards", that are useful for both the worker and the enterprise that employs him/her. In the current social and regulatory context the occupational health physician can promote work as a health factor both through cooperation in the process of improvement of the workplace, and by actively participating in the most appropriate placement of "frail" workers' (elderly people, disease sufferers, the disabled). It is necessary for the occupational health physician to develop a close working cooperation with the business system to achieve these aims.

Continuous veno-venous hemofiltration with regional citrate anticoagulation: a four-year single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: Hemofiltration protocols using a citrate-buffered replacement solution offer the advantage of regional anticoagulation and a buffer effect. The role played by such fluids in clinical practice is not yet well established. The risk of electrolytic disorders, acid-base imbalance, or citrate accumulation should be clarified. We report on a renal therapy protocol based on a citrate isonatremic replacement solution. METHOD: We considered all patients needing renal replacement therapy admitted to our cardiovascular intensive care unit between January 2003 and June 2007. A citrate-buffered fluid was delivered in predilution mode to a post-filter ionized calcium target < or = 0.25 mmol/L. Extracorporeal blood flow was set at a constant of 140+/-10 ml/min. Blood calcemia was maintained by a 5% calcium-chloride solution infused into the patient. We recorded the patients' acid-base variables, ionized calcium, daily electrolytes, albumin, urea and filter life-span. RESULTS: We observed 101 consecutive patients out of 2,523; incidence 4%, overall mortality was 57% at ICU discharge. Mean replacement rate was 2,554+/-475 ml/h corresponding to 34+/-5 ml/kg/h. Mean patient ionized calcium level was 1.07+/-0.04 mmo/L, maintained by 13+/-2 ml/h of infused calcium-chloride. All other electrolytes remained in the normal range. The Stewart biophysical approach confirmed a strong anion gap of 3.1+/- 3 meq/L. Acid-base balance showed a buffer effect. Mean filter life-span was 52+/-11 h. CONCLUSION: Renal replacement therapy based on citrate-buffered fluid may be useful in clinical practice. This methodology presented an adequate metabolic control and allowed regional anticoagulation. A sufficient calcium supply was mandatory to avoid hypocalcemia. The small strong ion gap suggested a modest citrate accumulation.

[Research and formal demonstration of evidence of efficiency in occupational medicine]. / Ricerca e dimostrazione formale delle prove di efficacia in medicina del lavoro.

There is an increasing pressure on occupational health professionals to ensure that their practice is based on a quality standard and an evidence of appropriateness. The efficacy-effectiveness of their activity strictly depends on their intellectual and professional integrity, their technical and legal competence, but also on the quality of the relations with the company organisation they are able to establish. We asked to some occupational physician when they considered their interventions in the workplace to be efficacious. Then, accordingto our epexrience, we propose some effectiveness indicators, particular concerning health surveillance and health educttaon, that should be evaluated to verify the health professional agccvity agreement to quality standards.

[Good practices and quality in the practice of occupational physicians]. / Buona pratica e qualità nell'attività del medico del lavoro.

This contribution describes practice and tools which allow occupational physicians the realization of theirs tasks not only respecting law and ethical codes, but also in view of a continuous improvement of their activities and customers (companies) and consumers (workers) care.

[Health surveillance: from risk presumption to risk assessment]. / La sorveglianza sanitaria: dalla presunzione del rischio alla valutazione del rischio.

A working group of the Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene Association of Lombardy, the National Association of Occupational Health Physicians the National Society of Prevention Operators made a paper in order to rationalize the sanitary surveillance, observing the laws in force and following the European Directives. The authors, thinking that everyday experience not very useful health examinations are carried out and that the sanitary surveillance should be planned according to the real working risks, give methodological directives about the way to make the mandatory clinical examinations less frequent, to the firms, to the occupational health physician and to the public occupational health operators of the local health units that must supervise the sanitary surveillance.

[Application of article 35 of the DPR 303/56: experience of the competent physicians]. / Applicazione dell'art. 35 del DPR 303/56: esperienze dei medici competenti.

The "competent" doctor is much interested in the extensive application of the article 35 of DPR 303/56. As a matter of fact, that permits him a sanitary surveillance less concerned in formal performances and more related to work risk. The employers are often reluctant to require the derogation foreseen by the article 35 of DPR 303/56 because from such a request interventions on part the vigilance organ could derive causing instruction report report, notices and sanctions regarding situation independent from the risk which the derogation was requested. As a result, the modality for the derogation application has to be uniform all over the territory: an action at regional level is strictly necessary as well as check activity on part of the competent offices of the region.

[Competent occupational physicians: privileges from the UOOML]. / Medici competenti aziendali: privilegiati utenti delle UOOML.

The author analyzes the role of the workphysician in order to the new laws of prevention, safety and health promotion on the work-places. Especially, the author emphasizes the synergic actions and the collaborations between workphysicians and public health structures, as the Hospital Units for Occupational Medicine.

[Endophthalmitis and pseudophakia]. / Endophtalmite et pseudophaquie.

The authors describe seven cases of endophthalmitis following cataract surgery and intraocular lens implantation. The patients were treated with antibiotics together with mydriatics or with mydriatics and antiinflammatory medication only. Rapid healing of the endophthalmitis was observed in both series, with good restitution of visual acuity. According to various articles on this complication, approximately 75% of the aqueous humor samples taken are bacteriologically positive. The present authors therefore took samples of aqueous humor intraoperatively in randomly chosen cases, in order to establish whether there were any false-positive results due to external contamination. A brief review of the literature is presented.

Low-pH method for the enzymatic assay of D-glucaric acid in urine.

The enzymatic methods for measuring D-glucaric acid in urine are based on the conversion of D-glucaric acid into its 1,4-lactone and measurement of inhibition of 1,4-lactone against beta-glucuronidase at pH 5.0. All the enzymatic methods described suffer from the disadvantage of a procedure that is complicated and inherently inaccurate, because the nature of glucaric acid/1,4-lactone equilibrium has not been properly considered in the development of such methods. After elucidating the factors influencing glucaric acid/1,4 lactone equilibrium in more detail, a low-pH enzymatic method has been developed in which the 1,4-lactone is formed in the urine sample by acid boiling at pH 3.8 and assayed at the same pH using beta-glucuronidase from Limpets. This procedure allows the acid/lactone equilibrium to remain stable during both the lactonization step and the enzymatic assay. The coefficient of variation for the proposed method (within-run and between-day precision) was from 4.2 to 8.7. The analytical recovery varied from 92-108%.