Antiplatelet therapies are associated with hematoma enlargement and increased mortality in intracranial hemorrhage

Objective: Antiplatelet therapy (AT) is increasingly used for treating or preventing vascular diseases, especially as a consequence of population aging. However, the risks may sometimes outweigh the benefits, mostly in relation to intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). Our aim was to determine whether AT is associated with hematoma enlargement and increased mortality in ICH. Design: A prospective, observational cohort study. Setting: The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Arrixaca University Hospital (Murcia, Spain). Patients: We studied 156 patients admitted with non-traumatic ICH between January 2006 and August 2008. Interventions: None. Main variables: Demographic data, medical history and clinical and laboratory parameters were recorded, along with hematoma volume upon admission and after 24h, and mortality. Results: A total of 37 patients (24%) received AT. These subjects were older (69±11 vs. 60±15 years, p=0.001) and more frequently diabetic (38% vs. 15%, p=0.003) than those without AT. We detected no difference in hematoma volume upon admission between the two groups, though the volume was significantly greater after 24h in the AT group (66.7 [IQR 42-110] vs. 27 [4.4-64.6]cm3, p=0.03), irrespective of surgical intervention. Moreover, hematoma volume increased by more than a third in AT-users (69% vs. 33%, p=0.002), and AT was the only significant predictor of hematoma enlargement. Patients on AT also had higher mortality during their ICU stay (78% vs. 45%, p<0.001). In addition, of the patients with hematoma enlargement, over one-third had higher overall mortality (62.5 vs. 28.8%, p=0.001). Independent risk factors for death were the Glasgow Coma Scale score, blood glucose upon admission, and AT. Conclusions: Our results show an association between AT and subsequent hematoma enlargement, as well as increased mortality in patients presenting with ICH who were receiving AT (AU)

Objetivo: Con el envejecimiento progresivo de la población cada es más frecuente la toma de fármacos antiagregantes para el tratamiento o la prevención de las enfermedades vasculares. El beneficio, en ocasiones, está contrarrestado por el riesgo de hemorragias, especialmente la hemorragia intracraneal (HIC). Nuestro objetivo fue determinar si el tratamiento antiagregante (TAG) provoca un aumento del tamaño del hematoma y de mortalidad en la HIC. Diseño: Estudio de cohortes prospectivo y observacional. Ámbito: Unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI) del Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca (Murcia). Pacientes: Estudiamos a 156 pacientes que ingresaron por HIC no traumática entre Enero de 2006 y Agosto de 2008. Intervenciones: Ninguna. Principales variables: Se recogieron datos demográficos, antecedentes personales, parámetros clínicos y analíticos, así como, el volumen del hematoma al ingreso y a las 24 horas, además de la mortalidad. Resultados: Entre los pacientes estudiados, 37 (24%) tomaban TAG. Los antiagregados eran de mayor edad (69±11 vs 60±15 años, p=0,001) y con mayor frecuencia diabéticos (38 vs 15%, p=0,003). No hubo diferencias en el volumen del hematoma al ingreso entre los dos grupos pero este fue significativamente mayor a las 24 horas en los antiagregados (66.7 [IQR 42-110] vs 27 [4.4-64.6] cm3, p=0.03), independientemente de si fueron intervenidos o no. Además, el volumen del hematoma creció en más de un 33% en los antiagregados (69 vs 33%, p=0,002) y el TAG fue el único predictor significativo del crecimiento (..) (AU)

Antiplatelet therapies are associated with hematoma enlargement and increased mortality in intracranial hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVE: Antiplatelet therapy (AT) is increasingly used for treating or preventing vascular diseases, especially as a consequence of population aging. However, the risks may sometimes outweigh the benefits, mostly in relation to intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). Our aim was to determine whether AT is associated with hematoma enlargement and increased mortality in ICH. DESIGN: A prospective, observational cohort study. SETTING: The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Arrixaca University Hospital (Murcia, Spain). PATIENTS: We studied 156 patients admitted with non-traumatic ICH between January 2006 and August 2008. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN VARIABLES: Demographic data, medical history and clinical and laboratory parameters were recorded, along with hematoma volume upon admission and after 24h, and mortality. RESULTS: A total of 37 patients (24%) received AT. These subjects were older (69 ± 11 vs. 60 ± 15 years, p=0.001) and more frequently diabetic (38% vs. 15%, p=0.003) than those without AT. We detected no difference in hematoma volume upon admission between the two groups, though the volume was significantly greater after 24h in the AT group (66.7 [IQR 42-110] vs. 27 [4.4-64.6]cm(3), p=0.03), irrespective of surgical intervention. Moreover, hematoma volume increased by more than a third in AT-users (69% vs. 33%, p=0.002), and AT was the only significant predictor of hematoma enlargement. Patients on AT also had higher mortality during their ICU stay (78% vs. 45%, p<0.001). In addition, of the patients with hematoma enlargement, over one-third had higher overall mortality (62.5 vs. 28.8%, p=0.001). Independent risk factors for death were the Glasgow Coma Scale score, blood glucose upon admission, and AT. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show an association between AT and subsequent hematoma enlargement, as well as increased mortality in patients presenting with ICH who were receiving AT.

[Artificial nutrition in liver failure]. / Nutrición artificial en la insuficiencia hepática.

Nutritional and metabolic support in patients with liver failure should be able to adequately provide the nutritional requirements and, at the same time, to contribute in patients' recovery by controlling or reverting the metabolic impairments observed. However, in spite of the pathophysiologic basis described by some authors considering amino acids unbalance as a triggering and maintaining factor for encephalopathy, there are no sufficient data to recommend the use of "specific" solutions (branched amino acids-enriched and low on aromatic amino acids) as part of the nutritional support of patients with acute liver failure. Its routinary use is neither recommended for preventing complications in patients submitted to liver transplantation. As with other critically ill patients, the nutrients administration route should be the enteral route, whenever possible. The use of "liver failure" specific diets is not recommended; on the contrary, nutrients composition must be adapted to the metabolic stress condition. In patients requiring parenteral nutrition, there is no contraindication to the use of lipid infusions. An increase in vitamins and micronutrients intake is recommended. In patients submitted to liver transplantation, nutrients intake should be started early in the postoperative period through a transpyloric route of access.

[Nutritional support in the patient with GI malignancy]. / Soporte nutricional en el paciente con neoplasia digestiva.

Hyponutrition is a common feature of patients with GI malignancy. When these patients reach a critical situation, such as the postoperative period of a tumor resection or after a surgery for the presence of complications, nutritional status further deteriorates. Nutritional intervention should be part of the therapeutic process, starting at the preoperative phase in malnourished patients. Enteral nutrition is the route of choice for nutrients supply, although insertion of enteral tubes during the surgical procedure may need to be considered many times. Enteral nutrition is a safe technique in these patients and may even represent some advantages in their clinical course as compared to parenteral nutrition. The use of pharmaco-nutrients-enriched diets brings beneficial effects (decrease of infectious complications and hospital stay) to patients, although a favorable effect on mortality cannot be demonstrated.

[Nutritional support in aids patients]. / Soporte nutricional en el paciente con SIDA.

Advances in HIV infected patients' treatment have modified their prognosis, making possible to consider their admission to the ICU for acute complications. HIV infected patients show nutritional impairments onto which changes due to acute disease are added. Thus, they are candidate to receive specialized nutritional support. The enteral route should be preferred for nutrients supply in case of necessary. With regards to nutritional support characteristics, it should be adapted to the metabolic situation, similarly to what is recommended for other diseases. It has not been demonstrated that the use of substrates with a pharmaco-nutrient capability (glutamine or arginine supplements or modifications in the lipidic component quality) will improve the immunological condition or the clinical curse of patients with HIV infection/AIDS.

Nutrición artificial en la insuficiencia hepática / Artificial nutrition in liver failure

El soporte nutricional y metabólico de los pacientes con insuficiencia hepática debería ser capaz de aportar adecuadamente los requerimientos nutricionales y, al mismo tiempo, contribuir a la recuperación de los pacientes mediante el control o la reversión de las alteraciones metabólicas apreciadas. No obstante, a pesar de la base fisiopatológica, clásicamente descrita por algunos autores, que considera al disbalance de aminoácidos un factor desencadenante y mantenedor de la encefalopatía, no existen datos suficientes para recomendar el empleo de soluciones específicas (enriquecidas en aminoácidos ramificados y pobres en aminoácidos aromáticos) como parte del soporte nutricional en los pacientes con insuficiencia hepática aguda. Tampoco se recomienda su empleo rutinario como prevención de complicaciones en los pacientes sometidos a trasplante hepático. Como en otros pacientes críticos, la vía de aporte de nutrientes debe ser la enteral, siempre que ello sea posible. No se recomienda el empleo de dietas específicas de insuficiencia hepática sino que la composición de nutrientes debe estar adaptada a la situación de estrés metabólico. En los pacientes que requieran nutrición parenteral, no existe contraindicación para el empleo de infusiones lipídicas. Se recomienda un incremento en el aporte de vitaminas y de oligoelementos. En los pacientes sometidos a trasplante hepático, el aporte de nutrientes debería iniciarse de manera precoz en el postoperatorio mediante una vía de acceso transpilórica (AU)

Nutritional and metabolic support in patients with liver failure should be able to adequately provide the nutritional requirements and, at the same time, to contribute in patients' recovery by controlling or reverting the metabolic impairments observed. However, in spite of the pathophysiologic basis described by some authors considering amino acids unbalance as a triggering and maintaining factor for encephalopathy, there are no sufficient data to recommend the use of specific solutions (branched amino acids-enriched and low on aromatic amino acids) as part of the nutritional support of patients with acute liver failure. Its routinary use is neither recommended for preventing complications in patients submitted to liver transplantation. As with other critically ill patients, the nutrients administration route should be the enteral route, whenever possible. The use of liver failure specific diets is not recommended; on the contrary, nutrients composition must be adapted to the metabolic stress condition. In patients requiring parenteral nutrition, there is no contraindication to the use of lipid infusions. An increase in vitamins and micronutrients intake is recommended. In patients submitted to liver transplantation, nutrients intake should be started early in the postoperative period through a transpyloric route of access (AU)

Soporte nutricional en el paciente con neoplasia digestiva / Nutritional support in the patient with gl malignancy

La desnutrición es una característica frecuente en los pacientes con neoplasia digestiva. Cuando estos pacientes se encuentran en situación crítica, como en el postoperatorio de la resección tumoral o tras la cirugía motivada por la presencia de complicaciones, el estado nutricional se deteriora aún más. La intervención nutricional debe formar parte del proceso terapéutico, iniciándose en la fase preoperatoria en los pacientes desnutridos. La nutrición enteral es la vía de elección para el aporte de nutrientes, aunque para ello es necesario considerar la inserción de sondas enterales durante el acto quirúrgico en muchas ocasiones. La nutrición enteral es una técnica segura en estos pacientes e incluso puede conllevar ventajas sobre el curso evolutivo de los mismos en comparación con la nutrición parenteral. El empleo de dietas enriquecidas en fármaconutrientes aporta efectos beneficiosos (disminución de complicaciones infecciosas y de estancia hospitalaria) a los pacientes, si bien no se puede constatar un efecto favorable sobre la mortalidad (AU)

Hyponutrition is a common feature of patients with GI malignancy. When these patients reach a critical situation, such as the postoperative period of a tumor resection or after a surgery for the presence of complications, nutritional status further deteriorates. Nutritional intervention should be part of the therapeutic process, starting at the preoperative phase in malnourished patients. Enteral nutrition is the route of choice for nutrients supply, although insertion of enteral tubes during the surgical procedure may need to be considered many times. Enteral nutrition is a safe technique in these patients and may even represent some advantages in their clinical course as compared to parenteral nutrition. The use of pharmaco-nutrients-enriched diets brings beneficial effects (decrease of infectious complications and hospital stay) to patients, although a favorable effect on mortality cannot be demonstrated (AU)

Soporte nutricional en el paciente con SIDA / Nutritional support in aids patients

Los avances en el tratamiento de los pacientes con infección por HIV han modificado el pronóstico de los mismos, haciendo posible que la presencia de complicaciones agudas en estos pacientes haga considerar su ingreso en UCI. Los pacientes con infección por HIV muestran alteraciones nutricionales sobre las que se añaden los cambios derivados de la enfermedad aguda: por ello, son candidatos a recibir soporte nutricional especializado. La vía enteral deberá ser preferida para el aporte de nutrientes en los casos que lo precisen. Respecto a las características del soporte nutricional, éste deberá adaptarse a la situación metabólica de manera similar a lo recomendado para otras patologías. No se ha demostrado que el empleo de substratos con capacidad fármaconutriente (suplementos de glutamina o arginina o modificaciones en la calidad del componente lipídico) mejore la situación inmunológica ni el curso clínico de los pacientes con infección por HIV/SIDA (AU)

Advances in HIV infected patients' treatment have modified their prognosis, making possible to consider their admission to the ICU for acute complications. HIV infected patients show nutritional impairments onto which changes due to acute disease are added. Thus, they are candidate to receive specialized nutritional support. The enteral route should be preferred for nutrients supply in case of necessary. With regards to nutritional support characteristics, it should be adapted to the metabolic situation, similarly to what is recommended for other diseases. It has not been demonstrated that the use of substrates with a pharmaco-nutrient capability (glutamine or arginine supplements or modifications in the lipidic component quality) will improve the immunological condition or the clinical curse of patients with HIV infection/AIDS (AU)

Valoración del grado de conocimientos y experienciaen nutrición artificial entre los especialistasen medicina intensiva de la Región de Murcia / Evaluation of intensivit´s knowledge and experience in artificial nutrition in the Murcia region (Spain)

Objetivos. El conocimiento de la nutrición artificial es un apartado obligatorio en la formación de los especialistas en medicina intensiva por su importancia en el tratamiento del paciente crítico. En el presente estudio se pretende valorar la formación recibida y el grado de conocimientos adquiridos entre los intensivistas de nuestra área. Métodos. Se llevó a cabo una encuesta en tiempo real entre los intensivistas de cinco hospitales de nuestra región. La encuesta constaba de 29 ítems, divida en tres apartados: formación, conocimientos generales y conocimientos en el paciente crítico. Resultados. Se recogieron 52 encuestas (38 especialistas y 14 médicos residentes, o MIR).De ellos, un 83 por ciento había recibido formación sobre el tema durante el período MIR, pero el 66 por ciento la consideraba insuficiente. Esta opinión era significativamente mayor (p < 0,05) en el grupo MIR. Un 66 por ciento de los encuestados adecuaba las dietas a las características del paciente, pero sólo conocían y manejaban "toda" la gama de productos de cada tipo de nutrición un 25 por ciento en el caso de las dietas orales, un 22 por ciento en el de la nutrición enteral y un 36 por ciento en el de la nutrición parenteral. La nota media (desviación estándar [DE]) en el conocimiento de nutrición en el paciente crítico fue de 6,19 (1,80), significativamente mayor (p < 0,05) en los especialistas que en los MIR. Conclusiones. La formación en nutrición se recibe fundamentalmente en el período MIR, aunque en general se considera que es insuficiente. La mayoría de los profesionales utiliza correctamente las dietas existentes. Por último, el grado de conocimientos es medio, y es significativamente mayor en los profesionales con más experiencia (AU)