Cuidados generales en el manejo del traumatismo craneoencefálico grave: consenso latinoamericano / General care in the management of severe traumatic brain injury: Latin American consensus

El traumatismo craneoencefálico grave (TCEg) continúa siendo prevalente en la población adulta joven. Lejos de descender, su incidencia se mantiene elevada. Uno de los pilares en los que se asienta su tratamiento es evitar, detectar y corregir complicaciones secundarias de origen sistémico que agravan la lesión primaria. Gran parte de este objetivo se logra manteniendo un microambiente fisiológico adecuado que permita la recuperación del tejido cerebral lesionado. Las medidas de cuidados generales son acciones inespecíficas destinadas a cumplir dicho objetivo. Las guías disponibles de manejo del TCEg no han incluido la mayoría de los tópicos motivo de este consenso. Para ello, hemos reunido un grupo de profesionales miembros del Consorcio latinoamericano de Injuria Cerebral (LABIC), involucrados en los diferentes aspectos del manejo agudo del TCEg (neurocirujanos, intensivistas, anestesiólogos, neurólogos, enfermeros, fisioterapeutas). Se efectuó una búsqueda bibliográfica en las bases de datos LILACS, PubMed, Embasse, Scopus, Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials y Web of Science de los tópicos seleccionados. Para establecer recomendaciones o sugerencias con su respectiva fortaleza o debilidad, fue aplicada la metodología Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). Adicionalmente, ciertas recomendaciones (incluidas en material complementario) no fueron valoradas por GRADE, por ser las mismas un conjunto de acciones terapéuticas de cumplimento efectivo, en las que no fue posible aplicar dicha metodología. Fueron establecidas 32 recomendaciones; 16 fuertes y 16 débiles, con su respectivo nivel de evidencia. El presente consenso intenta homogeneizar y establecer medidas de cuidados generales básicas en esta población de individuos

Severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) remains prevalent in the young adult population. Indeed, far from descending, the incidence of sTBI remains high. One of the key bases of treatment is to avoid, detect and correct secondary injuries of systemic origin, which aggravate the primary lesion. Much of this can be achieved by maintaining an adequate physiological microenvironment allowing recovery of the damaged brain tissue. General care measures are nonspecific actions designed to meet that objective. The available guidelines on the management of sTBI have not included the topics contemplated in this consensus. In this regard, a group of members of the Latin American Brain Injury Consortium (LABIC), involved in the different aspects of the acute management of sTBI (neurosurgeons, intensivists, anesthesiologists, neurologists, nurses and physiotherapists) were gathered. An exhaustive literature search was made of selected topics in the LILACS, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials and Web of Science databases. To establish recommendations or suggestions with their respective strength or weakness, the GRADE methodology (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) was applied. Additionally, certain recommendations (included in complementary material) were not assessed by GRADE, because they constitute a set of therapeutic actions of effective compliance, in which it was not possible to apply the said methodology. Thirty-two recommendations were established, 16 strong and 16 weak, with their respective levels of evidence. This consensus attempts to standardize and establish basic general care measures in this particular patient population

General care in the management of severe traumatic brain injury: Latin American consensus. / Cuidados generales en el manejo del traumatismo craneoencefálico grave: consenso latinoamericano.

Severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) remains prevalent in the young adult population. Indeed, far from descending, the incidence of sTBI remains high. One of the key bases of treatment is to avoid, detect and correct secondary injuries of systemic origin, which aggravate the primary lesion. Much of this can be achieved by maintaining an adequate physiological microenvironment allowing recovery of the damaged brain tissue. General care measures are nonspecific actions designed to meet that objective. The available guidelines on the management of sTBI have not included the topics contemplated in this consensus. In this regard, a group of members of the Latin American Brain Injury Consortium (LABIC), involved in the different aspects of the acute management of sTBI (neurosurgeons, intensivists, anesthesiologists, neurologists, nurses and physiotherapists) were gathered. An exhaustive literature search was made of selected topics in the LILACS, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials and Web of Science databases. To establish recommendations or suggestions with their respective strength or weakness, the GRADE methodology (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) was applied. Additionally, certain recommendations (included in complementary material) were not assessed by GRADE, because they constitute a set of therapeutic actions of effective compliance, in which it was not possible to apply the said methodology. Thirty-two recommendations were established, 16 strong and 16 weak, with their respective levels of evidence. This consensus attempts to standardize and establish basic general care measures in this particular patient population.

Clinical outcomes of Clostridium difficile infection according to strain type. A prospective study in medical wards.

OBJECTIVES: To describe clinical characteristics and outcome of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) patients in Internal Medicine, to identify ribotypes (RTs); to evaluate the association between RT and patient clinical characteristics and report outcome. METHODS: One year prospective cohort study. Clinical data, Barthel Index (BI) and outcomes were collected for all inpatients suffering from CDI (n = 148) in hospital wards in Northern Italy. 84 fecal samples were analysed for molecular typing. RESULTS: 12 RTs were identified, predominantly RT018 (42.9%, n = 36/84) and RT356/607 (40.5%, n = 34/84). Patients with dementia were more frequent among those infected by RT018 [55.6% (n = 20/36) vs. 32.4% (n = 11/34), p = 0.05]. The median BI score of patients with RT018 was lower than BI score of patients with RT356/607 [10 (IQR 0-32) vs. 15 (IQR 5-50), p = 0.06]. RT018 infection was associated to higher levels of C-reactive protein [7.2 mg/dl (IQR 4.1-14.7) vs. 4.0 mg/dl (IQR 2.2-6.8), p = 0.01] and white blood cells ≥15,000/dl [33.3% (n = 12/36) vs. 14.7% (n = 5/34) of patients, p = 0.07]. Higher mortality was noted among RT018 infected patients. We found a continuous mortality increase according to the ATLAS score. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm that RT018 and RT356/607 are the two major RTs causing CDI in older patients with a high degree of disability in Northern Italy and RT018 is associated with more serious outcomes.

Clostridium difficile infection epidemiology and management: Comparison of results of a prospective study with a retrospective one in a reference teaching and research hospital in Northern Italy.

BACKGROUND: Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD) is the most common infectious antibiotic-associated diarrhea and is a growing health care problem. Prevention of Clostridium difficile infection focuses on clinical and epidemiologic infection control measures. METHODS: Between 2008 and 2009, we conducted a retrospective study that showed an incidence of CDAD among the highest reported in the literature. Subsequently, we developed a preventive protocol that was adopted in our hospital in 2010. We then conducted a prospective study to investigate prevalence, incidence, and mortality of CDAD and to compare the results with those of the retrospective study, evaluating adherence to preventive measures and their efficacy. RESULTS: In both studies, prevalence and incidence significantly increased in older patients. Crude prevalence was similar in the 2 studies. The incidence rate increased by 36%, with a significant increase only in the C and D wards. In-hospital mortality rose in both prevalent and incident cases. Regarding adhesion to hospital protocol, 77% of prevalent cases were treated with the required procedure. The highest percentage of isolated patients was achieved in C and D wards. In these wards we detected lower training hours per nurse. However, in 2013, we observed a significant decrease in incidence of CDAD and found a hospital prevalence of 0.33%. CONCLUSIONS: Health care personnel education could be more important than the possibility of isolating infected patients in single rooms.

Surgical site infections in oncologic orthopaedic prosthetics surgery.

BACKGROUND: Literature reports an incidence of surgical site infections (SSIs) in oncological patients undergoing prosthetic replacement between 8% and 35% after first implantation and 43% after revision. The purpose of this retrospective study, conducted at the oncologic orthopaedic unit of G. Pini Orthopaedic Hospital in Milan, was to evaluate: - number of SSIs in oncological megaprosthetic reconstruction between 2008 and 2011, - possible risk factors associated with the onset of SSIs, - antibiotic prophylaxis applied. DESIGN AND METHODS: We reviewed medical records of patients who underwent megaprosthetic reconstruction and collected data on whole treatment and follow up after discharge, focusing on possible risk factors implied in the onset of SSIs such as patient characteristics, site of surgery, duration of surgery, number of persons in the operating room, size of resection, antibiotic prophylaxis. We recorded every SSI which met the criteria set by the Hospital in Europe Link for Infection Control through Surveillance (HELICS) protocol. RESULTS: One-hundred and eleven surgeries were evaluated. Administration of prophylaxis was generally recorded and continued postoperatively for an average of 18.89 days, often depending on the length of the post-surgical stay. Mean duration of surgery was 254 minutes with an average of 7 persons attending the operating room. We recorded 6 SSIs.

Hand and wrist surgery: study of efficacy about a new way for one-day low-complexity surgery.

BACKGROUND: In our Hand Micro-surgery Department surgery procedures identified by some regional legislation as "low-complexity care interventions" (BOCA) are carry out. For this reason, as pilot experience, it has been decided to apply Diagnostic Therapeutic Path (DTP) to this type of surgeries in order to improve the offered service. METHODS: From 2011 to 2012 we collected data about 410 BOCA procedures and we monitored a series of indicators. RESULTS: The patients were classified as ASA score 1-2 (99%) and they had a postoperative observation time less than 24h (95%). They reported a constant reduction of pain in the days after surgery (VAS ≤ 4). In 27 cases were found post-surgical complications. All patients evaluated positively this DTP. CONCLUSIONS: The obtained results were used to improve the activity in others Departments of our Institute.

From the risk analysis to the development of interventions and training for the prevention and control of healthcare associated infections. The experience of G. Pini Orthopedic Institute.

BACKGROUND: Health-care associated infections (HAIs) represents a phenomenon of central importance all over Europe. Every year 4,5 millions cases are detected in European Union, with 37.000 related deaths. Surgical-site infections (SSIs) are one of the most common HAIs, that are associated with an increased length of stay, re-operation rate, intensive care admissions rate, and higher mortality rate. METHODS: G. Pini Orthopedics Institute implemented in the last two years a multimodal strategy for controlling and preventing HAIs, in particular for SSIs. RESULTS: This paper describes the prevention's strategies adopted for prevention of HAIs, at G. Pini Orthopedic Institute. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that application of a multi modal promotion strategy was associated with an improvement in HAI prevention.

To measure, evaluate and improve: four years long health records self-control activity at G. Pini Orthopedics Institute.

BACKGROUND: A health record, when properly handled, can be considered in all respects as an important tool that tracks the course of hospitalization, clinical aspects and the commitment of resources employed in the execution of the episode itself. METHODS: Lombardy Region has established, since 2009, that each hospital carry out a self-assessment of their documentation. The objective of self-control is to monitor the completeness and accuracy of documentation and to highlight the congruence in order to implement corrective activities to reduce the inappropriateness. RESULTS: The four years of self-control activities carried out in our Institute show that following the implementation of a supervisory and monitoring system, it was possible to report a statistically significant difference between the percentage of records deemed to comply in the first survey year (2009) and the last year considered (2012). It passes, that is, from 2.9% of conforming clinical records to 68.8% that do not conform. CONCLUSIONS: This trend is suggestive in confirming, as a whole, the effectiveness of internal controls, structured and repeated over time, which evaluate the completeness of the documentation and generate the appropriate corrective actions.

Analysis of nosocomial acquired Clostridium difficile infection in an Italian research and teaching hospital.

BACKGROUND: Clostridium difficile (Cd) infection is a nosocomial plague which is correlated with several clinical and medical factors such as antibiotics intake. It is known that prevention is possible through infection control measures both clinical and epidemiological. METHODS: We examined the data from a study about Cd infection in four internal medicine wards in a teaching and research hospital in the north part of Italy in a two years period. The wards are only slightly different in size, plan, structures, nursing staff and patient's characteristics but have a different room' organization, lay out and different level of continuous education programs for nursing personnel. RESULTS: We reported a high incidence of the infection and a non-significant difference between wards also looking to the different possibility-capacity of taking preventive measures and the different level of nursing staff continuous educational performance. CONCLUSION: The analysis of the data we obtained was the basis to write a protocol and to start a training course for the medical and nursing personnel of the four wards on the managing of patients infected with Cd infection. On March 2011 we started a one year longitudinal study about the Cd infections in the same wards with the purpose of evaluating the adherence to the protocol, monitoring the incidence of infection and studying the risk factors of the infected patients related to the proper use of the protocol on Cd.

Effects of positive end-expiratory pressure on intracranial pressure and cerebral perfusion pressure.

The effect of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) on intracranial pressure (ICP) and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) has been reported by several investigators, without any consensus being reached. Acute neurological and neurosurgical patients suffer intracranial hypertension and acute lung injury with hypoxemia. Since PEEP may improve hypoxemia but elevate ICP and decrease CPP, it is important to determine the influence of varying levels of PEEP on ICP and CPP. The aim of the study was to investigate the changes in ICP and CPP associated with different levels of PEEP. Twenty patients requiring ICP monitoring and mechanical ventilation were enrolled. Patients had severe head injury (n = 10), spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage (n = 5), and subarachnoid haemorrhage (n = 5). PEEP was raised from 5 (basal) to 15 cm H2O in steps of 5 cm H2O. After at least 10 minutes of each new PEEP setting, ICP and CPP were measured. PEEP at 10 and 15 cm H2O produced a significant (p < 0.05) increase in intracranial pressure 11.6 +/- 5.6 and 14.6 +/- 6.28 mm Hg, respectively; no significant (p = 0.819) change occurred in CPP.

[Myopericarditis due to enterovirus in association with rhabdomyolysis and renal failure]. / Miopericarditis por enterovirus asociada con rabdomiolisis e insuficiencia renal.

We present the case of a 49 year old man who was admitted with odynophagia, fever and abdominal pain. Later he developed dyspnea and polymialgias. Pericardial effusion was detected on the echocardiogram. Renal failure and rhabdomyolysis developed worsening the clinical picture. A pericardial surgical drainage was decided due to cardiac tamponade. All samples were negative for bacteria and fungi. The presence of enterovirus in pericardial fluid was confirmed.

Miopericarditis por enterovirus asociada con rabdomiolisis e insuficiencia renal. / [Myopericarditis due to enterovirus in association with rhabdomyolysis and renal failure]

We present the case of a 49 year old man who was admitted with odynophagia, fever and abdominal pain. Later he developed dyspnea and polymialgias. Pericardial effusion was detected on the echocardiogram. Renal failure and rhabdomyolysis developed worsening the clinical picture. A pericardial surgical drainage was decided due to cardiac tamponade. All samples were negative for bacteria and fungi. The presence of enterovirus in pericardial fluid was confirmed.

[Acute anemia in high digestive hemorrhage. Margins of security for their handling without transfusion of red globules]. / Anemia aguda en la hemorragia digestiva alta. Márgenes de seguridad para su manejo sin transfusiones de glóbulos rojos.

Red cells transfusion in the patient with acute hemorrhage, must be evaluated in a risk/benefit rate context. The present tendencies appoint that the use of the hematocrit "magic" number is unsafe and uncertain to decide a red cell transfusion. We have conducted a prospective randomized and controlled trial in 60 patients with acute digestive hemorrhage without haemodynamic failure. We realized two groups: 1) control group: the target of transfusion in these patients was the hematocrit value of > or = 28%. 2) treatment group: these patients were supported with normovolemic haemodilution with crystalloid solutions until a hematocrit value of 21%. All patients have endoscopic diagnosis and they went evaluated across the study with clinic and laboratory controls. Both groups were significative differences in the hematocrit value. We did not see differences between the groups in the hospital stay neither the rate of organs failure. We find difference between the groups in the amount of red cell units (0.61 +/- 0.87 vs. 2.14 +/- 1.10; treatment and control respectively, P < 0.001). The APACHE score was greater in the treatment group. This supports that the oldest patients, who probably have least physiologic reserve, could be treated without complications. Acute hemorrhage-normovolemic haemodilution-digestive hemorrhage transfusion.

Anemia aguda en la hemorragia digestiva alta. Márgenes de seguridad para su manejo sin transufiones de glóbulos rojo / Acute anemia in high digestive hemorrhage. Margins of securety for their bandling without transfusion of red globules

La transfusión de glóbulos rojos en el paciente con hemorragia aguda, debe siempre ser evaluada en el contexto de una ecuación riesgo beneficio. Las tendencias actuales parecen concluir que resulta inseguro y poco confiable, la utilización de un valor "mágico" de hemotocrito (Hto) para decidir realizar una transfusión de glóbulos rojos. Nosotros hemos realizado un estudio prospectivo, controlado y randomizado, en 60 pacientes con hemorragia digestiva alta aguda, sin deterioro hemodinámico y se los dividió en dos grupos: 1) control: En los que la transfusión se realizaba para mantener el Hito en valores > 28 por ciento. 2) tratamiento: en los que se intensificó hemodilución normovolémica, con soluciones cristaloides y se los montuvo sin transfusión hasta un valor de Hto de 21 por ciento. Todos poseían diagnostico endoscópico de ingreso y fueron evaluados durante el estudio con controles clínicos y de laboratorio. Ambos grupos difirieron significativamente en el valor de el Hto. y Hb. No se observaron diferencias entre los grupos en el número de días de internación requeridos, ni en el número de falla de órganos presentado. Sí hubo diferencia significativa entre los grupos en la cantidad de unidades de glóbulos utilizadas (0.61 + 0.87 vs. 2.14 + 1.10; tratamiento y control respectivamente p < 0.001). El Score APACHE difirió significativamente, siendo mayor en el grupo tratamiento. Ello sugiere que aún los pacientes con mayor edad y probablemente menor reserva fisiológica pueden ser manejados con una conducta transfusional restrictiva, sin complicaciones graves. (AU)

Anemia aguda en la hemorragia digestiva alta. Márgenes de seguridad para su manejo sin transufiones de glóbulos rojo / Acute anemia in high digestive hemorrhage. Margins of securety for their bandling without transfusion of red globules

La transfusión de glóbulos rojos en el paciente con hemorragia aguda, debe siempre ser evaluada en el contexto de una ecuación riesgo beneficio. Las tendencias actuales parecen concluir que resulta inseguro y poco confiable, la utilización de un valor "mágico" de hemotocrito (Hto) para decidir realizar una transfusión de glóbulos rojos. Nosotros hemos realizado un estudio prospectivo, controlado y randomizado, en 60 pacientes con hemorragia digestiva alta aguda, sin deterioro hemodinámico y se los dividió en dos grupos: 1) control: En los que la transfusión se realizaba para mantener el Hito en valores > 28 por ciento. 2) tratamiento: en los que se intensificó hemodilución normovolémica, con soluciones cristaloides y se los montuvo sin transfusión hasta un valor de Hto de 21 por ciento. Todos poseían diagnostico endoscópico de ingreso y fueron evaluados durante el estudio con controles clínicos y de laboratorio. Ambos grupos difirieron significativamente en el valor de el Hto. y Hb. No se observaron diferencias entre los grupos en el número de días de internación requeridos, ni en el número de falla de órganos presentado. Sí hubo diferencia significativa entre los grupos en la cantidad de unidades de glóbulos utilizadas (0.61 + 0.87 vs. 2.14 + 1.10; tratamiento y control respectivamente p < 0.001). El Score APACHE difirió significativamente, siendo mayor en el grupo tratamiento. Ello sugiere que aún los pacientes con mayor edad y probablemente menor reserva fisiológica pueden ser manejados con una conducta transfusional restrictiva, sin complicaciones graves.