Fasciitis necrotisans - duplicitas casuum.

Necrotizing fasciitis is a dangerous bacterial infectious disease that is not commonplace in Czech society. On the other hand, neither is it so rare that the majority of surgeons should not come across it occasionally. In the early stages, pathological changes in fascia, subcutaneous tissue and even skin may run an inconspicuous course. However, this can rapidly deteriorate into shock and sepsis which may lead to multi-organ failure and an imminent life-threatening condition. The fatality rate of necrotizing fasciitis among high-risk groups (e.g. diabetics, patients who are immuno-compromised, obese and/or elderly, malnourished, or with a history of drug use), is particularly steep, reaching as high as 73%. Treatment for this condition consists of early, radical surgical intervention in conjunction with targeted antibiotherapy. Complex resuscitative and intensive care, including rehabilitation, are standard components of post-surgical management. Use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, if such an opportunity exists, is also recommended. Interdisciplinary collaboration is a vital prerequisite for successful treatment. This article describes two case-studies of necrotizing fasciitis that occurred in men of similar age during a three-year period. Both patients presented with very similar and complicated disease courses, and both were successfully treated by the same interdisciplinary team comprised of clinicians from various specialized departments. Key words: necrotizing fasciitis - radical necrectomy - antibiotherapy - hyperbaric oxygen therapy - complex resuscitative and intensive care.

[Serious sepsis treatment in intensive care departments in the Czech Republic -  EPOSS Project pilot results]. / Lécba tezké sepse na pracovistích intenzivní péce v Ceské republice -  pilotní výsledky projektu EPOSS.

INTRODUCTION: Severe sepsis is still associated with significant morbidity and mortality, which is however different, as well as its management, depending on the region. What is the situation in the Czech Republic and what is the character of patients with severe sepsis is currently not known. The aim of the project is to describe the processes of care, outcome and characteristics of patients with severe sepsis admitted to the intensive care department of the Czech Republic. METHODS: This is a multicentre and observational project with retrospective enrollment of patients who meet the criteria for severe sepsis before or within 24 hours after admission to selected intensive care units (ICU EPOSS). RESULTS: 394 patients were analyzed. Median age at admission was 66 (56- 76) years, males predominated (58.9%) and the median APACHE II score on admission was 25 (19- 32). Patients were predominantly medical (56.9%) and most were secondary admitted from other ICU (53.6%). Meeting the criteria of severe sepsis was most frequently within the period (± 4 hours) of admission the EPOSS ICU (77.6%). Median total fluid intake during the first 24 hours was 6,680 (4,840- 9,450) ml. Most patients required mechanical ventilation (58.4%). Compliance with the resuscitation bundle of severe sepsis in our group was very good and was associated with lower mortality of patients. Most frequently, the EPOSS ICU length of stay (LOS) was 7 (3- 15) days and median hospital LOS was 13 (8- 28) days. Hospital mortality in our cohort was 35.8%. CONCLUSION: Introducing the project, which in its first stage obtained valuable and internationally comparable data about patients with severe sepsis admitted to the involved ICU in the Czech Republic.

A 24-h work shift in intensive care personnel: biological pathways between work stress and ill health.

This study evaluated inflammatory, coagulation and microvascular responses to a continuous 24-h work day in 13 healthy intensive care physicians. Inflammatory markers (interleukin [IL]-2, IL-6, IL-10, tumour necrosis factor-α, matrix metalloproteinase [MMP]-9 and adiponectin), adhesion molecules (vascular cellular adhesion molecule-1 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 [ICAM-1]), coagulation parameters (thrombin-anti thrombin, von Willebrand factor and tissue factor) and sublingual micro circulation were assessed before and after a 24-h work shift. The 24-h work shift had no effect on inflammatory markers and ICAM-1. Direct visualization of micro-circulation did not reveal stress-related perfusion abnormalities. A 24-h work shift in the intensive care unit was associated with significantly increased plasma levels of tissue factor - a potentially important mechanism linking acute job strain, haemostasis and atherosclerosis. The long-term consequences warrant further evaluation.

Mild hypothermia attenuates changes in respiratory system mechanics and modifies cytokine concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid during low lung volume ventilation.

Hypothermia was shown to attenuate ventilator-induced lung injury due to large tidal volumes. It is unclear if the protective effect of hypothermia is maintained under less injurious mechanical ventilation in animals without previous lung injury. Tracheostomized rats were randomly allocated to non-ventilated group (group C) or ventilated groups of normothermia (group N) and mild hypothermia (group H). After two hours of mechanical ventilation with inspiratory fraction of oxygen 1.0, respiratory rate 60 min(-1), tidal volume 10 ml x kg(-1), positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) 2 cm H2O or immediately after tracheostomy in non-ventilated animals inspiratory pressures were recorded, rats were sacrificed, pressure-volume (PV) curve of respiratory system constructed, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and aortic blood samples obtained. Group N animals exhibited a higher rise in peak inspiratory pressures in comparison to group H animals. Shift of the PV curve to right, higher total protein and interleukin-6 levels in BAL fluid were observed in normothermia animals in comparison with hypothermia animals and non-ventilated controls. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha was lower in the hypothermia group in comparison with normothermia and non-ventilated groups. Mild hypothermia attenuated changes in respiratory system mechanics and modified cytokine concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid during low lung volume ventilation in animals without previous lung injury.

The epidural postoperative analgesia after a major urological procedures--a comparison of trimecaine and morphine to bupivacaine and fentanyl.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the analgesic potency and side effects of epidural combination trimecaine with morphine and bupivacaine with fentanyl in postoperative analgesia after a major urological surgery. METHODS: We randomised 150 consecutive patients. In the trimecain/morphine group (n = 75) trimecaine 50 mg with 4 mg morphine was given epidurally in 8 hour intervals. In the bupivacain/fentanyl group (n = 75) the infusion of 0.25 % bupivacaine and fentanyl 2 microg/ml was administered at an infusion rate of 8 ml/h. RESULTS: The postoperative pain scores were lower in the trimecain/morphine group, the difference was significant during the first 6 hours after surgery, there was also a trend toward higher postoperative SpO2 values in this group, the difference was significant 36 hours after surgery. The total sum of postoperative complications and side effects was significantly higher in the bupivacian/fentanyl group (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: The combination of epidural trimecaine with morphine after a major urological surgery provides a superior analgesia with fewer side effects when compared to epidurally delivered bupivacaine with fentanyl (Tab. 2, Fig. 5, Ref. 17). Full Text (Free, PDF) www.bmj.sk.

[Withdrawing respiratory support in patients in intensive care]. / Ukoncování ventilacní podpory u nemocných v intenzivní péci.

BACKGROUND: End of life decisions have been considered as an important part of making decisions in terminally critically ill patients. Withdrawing mechanical ventilation (terminal weaning) represents one of the procedures limiting life support therapy. The aim of the study was to examine the clinical experiences of limiting ventilatory support at tertiary care hospital ICU in Czech Republic. METHODS AND RESULTS: A retrospective, descriptive study of all patients experienced terminal weaning (TW) in years 1999-2001 was conducted. Diagnosis, length of ICU stay (LOS) in days before decision of TW was made, duration of TW (TW time = time from starting TW to cardiac arrest in minutes), way of TW and difference in TW time between selected patients subgroups were also evaluated. Selected data are presented as mean or median, t-test or Mann-Whitney Rank Sum Test were used, p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The TW procedure was employed in 46 patients, stepwise reduction of ventilatory support was performed in 23 patients, ventilator withdrawal procedure in 23 patients. The mean TW time in all patients was 188 minutes. There was shorter TW time in patients with analgosedation comparing to those without (median 17, resp. 161 minutes, p = 0.002). Patients without respiratory activity showed shorter TW time comparing to patients with preserved respiratory activity (median 17, resp. 85 minutes, p = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: Terminal weaning represents an important part of processes of discontinuing life-sustaining therapies in terminally critically ill patients. There is medical, ethical and legal basis to employ this procedure at intensive care unit.