[Endocarditis complicated by an aneurysm of the superior mesenteric artery]. / Endocardite infectieuse compliquée d'un anévrysme de l'artère mésentérique supérieure.

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a rare, polymorphic disease in children. Mycotic aneurysm is a rare condition that complicates about 2.5 to 10% of cases of endocarditis. It is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality [1,2]. Mycotic aneurysms are often asymptomatic, physical examination is poor, but the diagnosis should be considered with the triad including fever, abdominal pain, and abdominal mass beating. Abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography are the most useful for the identification of the aneurysmal mass. However, angiography is an interesting addition to confirm the diagnosis and implement a treatment procedure [3]. The treatment of SMA aneurysms is largely surgical. IE treatment is based on antibiotic therapy combined with surgical repair. We report the case of a 15-year-old patient, first operated for an SMA aneurysm complicating the course of IE, who secondarily underwent mitral valve repair. We review the epidemiology, diagnosis, and care principles of mycotic aneurysms of the SMA.

[Unusual complication of noninvasive ventilation: The œsogastric pneumatosis associated with a subcutaneous emphysema]. / Complication inhabituelle de la ventilation non invasive : la pneumatose œsogastrique associée à un emphysème sous-cutané

The non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is a technique of ventilator support to avoid endotracheal intubation and its potential complications. However, it has some complications that are usually harmless to type of erythema and/or cutaneous ulcerations, mouth or nose dryness, conjunctival irritation and rarely lesions of barotrauma, volotrauma or gastric insufflation with nausea and vomiting. We report the case of a patient who had an unusual complication of NIV: sub mucosa gastro-esophageal pneumatosis associated with subcutaneous emphysema occurring on the second day after one hepatectomy which was settled but complicated with a postoperative pulmonary aspiration syndrome.

[Paraspecificity of antivenins: example of severe envenomation by the Sahara horned viper (Cerastes cerastes) treated with non-specific antivenin]. / La paraspécificité des antivenins: exemple d'une envenimation grave par la vipère à cornes du Sahara (Cerastes cerastes) traitée par un antivenin polyvalent non spécifique.

Snake bites are a major public health problem in Morocco. Both morbidity and mortality of ophidian envenomation remain very high in this country. Antivenin immunotherapy, the only etiological treatment of this envenomation, is often unavailable in local hospitals. Moreover, when available, antivenins are not necessarily suitable for local ophidian species. This case report describes severe poisoning caused by a Sahara horned viper (Cerastes cerastes) in southern Morocco. In the absence of specific immunotherapy, FAV-Afrique®, a polyvalent antivenom serum, was administered. The favorable outcome suggests that this serum is paraspecific against the Sahara horned viper. The paraspecificity of antivenin immunotherapy could be a solution to ophidian envenomation in the absence of an antivenin adapted to local snake species.

[Systemic candidiasis in medical intensive care unit: analysis of risk factors and the contribution of colonization index]. / Les candidoses systémiques en réanimation médicale : analyse des facteurs de risque et intérêt de l'index de colonisation.

OBJECTIVES: Description of the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of the patients introducing risk factors of invasive candidiasis. Analysis of risk factors for candidiasis invasive and evaluation of the contribution of colonization index (CI) in the diagnosis of the systematic candidiasis in medical intensive care. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective observational study (October 2007 to October 2009). The selected patients present risk factors of system IC candidiasis with an infectious syndrome or clinical signs suggestive of Candida infection and hospitalized more than 48 hours in medical intensive care unit. Pittet's colonization index was calculated at admission and then once a week added to a blood culture. Patients were classified according to level of evidence of Candida infection and the degree of colonization (CI<0.5, CI ≥ 0.5). RESULTS: The study included 100 patients. Mean age of our patients was 55.8 ± 18.2 years with male prevalence. Neurological disease was the most frequent pathology in admission (48%). The most common risk factors were broad-spectrum antibiotics and foreign material. In the various mycology IC specimens, Candida albicans was the most frequent, followed by C. tropicalis, then C. glabrata. The CI was greater than or equal to 0.5 at 53% of the patients, and less than 0.5 in 47% of the cases. Among the patients, 15% developed an invasive candidiasis. In multivariate analysis, the corticosteroid therapy was associated with a high colonisation (IC ≥ 0.5) and neutropenia with a high risk of systemic candidiasis. The positive predictive value of CI was 26%. The negative predictive value was 98%, the sensitivity and specificity was 93% and 48% respectively. CONCLUSION: CI has the advantage to provide a quantified data of the patient's situation in relation to the colonization. But, it isn't helpful with patients having an invasive candidiasis in medical intensive care unit.

[Medication errors in anesthesia: a Moroccan university hospitals survey]. / Erreurs médicamenteuses en anesthésie : enquête prospective au niveau des CHU Marocains.

INTRODUCTION: Medication errors are a major public health problem because of their morbidity and financial costs. In anesthesia, few articles publications, mostly retrospective, have assessed its incidence and outcomes. By our prospective study, we intend to identify and describe the drug errors in anesthesia in four university hospitals in Morocco. MATERIAL AND METHODS: After approval of our ethics committee, a prospective study was conducted in nine hospitals affiliated to four university hospitals (Rabat, Casablanca, Fes and Marrakech) from October 2009 to June 2010. Data collection was carried out by an anesthesiologist at each hospital who was designated by the investigator. Informations were based on practitioner's statements. Medication errors were divided into distinct categories: substitution errors, omission errors, errors of the way of administration, dosage and dilution errors. The consequences were classified into four levels according to their severity. RESULTS: During the study period, 9199 anesthetic procedures were reported (mean response of 36%). General anesthesia was performed in 75% of patients. Sixteen cases of drug errors were reported (an incidence of 1/575 with 1/405 in a pediatric setting). The drugs involved were dominated by hypnotics (six cases/16) and morphine (four cases/16). Medication errors were mainly due to labeling mistakes (seven cases/16) and to attention deficit due to fatigue and stress (seven other cases) leading to substitution error in most of cases (10 cases/16. Errors were mainly made by the less experienced practitioners (14 cases/16). They occurred during the induction phase (seven cases/16) as well as during the interview process (nine cases/16), and also during emergent surgeries (seven errors/16) as well as during elective ones (nine errors/16). No errors caused death. Pulmonary edema (recognized as a grade III severity incident) was secondary to inappropriate administration of adrenaline. CONCLUSION: Our study helped us to set recommendations, which are approved by the Moroccan pharmacovigilance center, and in accordance with the international committees to prevent the occurrence of medication errors in our daily anesthetic practice.

[Impaired consciousness associated with a hysterical conversion after obstetrical epidural analgesia: a case report with literature review]. / Troubles de la conscience liés à une conversion hystérique après une analgésie péridurale obstétricale : un cas clinique avec revue de la littérature.

The occurrence of impaired consciousness after epidural analgesia is an alarming situation that requires urgent diagnostic and therapeutic approach. Various causes may be responsible for such a state. Hysterical conversion remains an outstanding issue. Through a clinical case of a hysterical conversion and a literature review the authors draw attention to the difficulty of diagnosing this entity after epidural analgesia.

[Peripheral intravenous access in the operating room: characteristics and predictors of difficulty]. / Accès veineux périphériques au bloc opératoire : caractéristiques et facteurs prédictifs de difficulté

PURPOSE: To investigate of predictor's factors of difficult venous access device in the operating room in elective surgery. METHODS: In a prospective study in central operating room, were included all patients scheduled for a surgical or diagnostic intervention. Were excluded all patients admitted with functional venous access. For each, were recorded patient's demographic characteristics (age, gender, ASA class, BMI), history (chemotherapy, prolonged ICU stay, hospitalization for more than five days), data from the clinical examination (presence of skin lesions, arteriovenous fistulas, burns, neurological deficits) and the type of operator (trainee, nurse, resident, senior). The difficulty was judged on the number of attempts required for successful venous access. Puncture was considered easier for a number of attempts to one to two and difficult if the number of attempts was greater than two. Predictor's factors were identified after univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: During one year (March 2008 to February 2009), form returns in 1500 were met, 1325 were usable. Venous catheterization was successful in 50.9% at the first attempt in 24.2% of patients at the second attempt and after three attempts in 18% of patients. Only 6.8% of patients required more than three attempts. A central venous catheter was required in seven patients. In multivariate analysis, chemotherapy (OR=4.54, 95% CI [2.92 to 7.03]; P<0.001), a nurse in training (OR=2.27, 95% CI [1.40 to 3.63]; P=0.001), a resident in training (OR=2.14, 95% CI [1.29 to 3.58]; P=0.003) and the presence of burns (OR=3.59, 95% CI [2.44 to 5.27]; P<0.001) were identified as independent predictors of difficulty of peripheral venous access. DISCUSSION: The optimization of venous access devices in the operating room through the search for predictors of difficulty.

[Unilateral bronchospasm during general anesthesia]. / Le bronchospasme unilatéral lors d'une anesthésie générale.

We report a case of unilateral bronchospasm encountered following an induction of anesthesia of healthy young man with no significant past medical or surgical history. The differential diagnosis and management are discussed. Unilateral bronchospasm was probably caused by topical lidocaine injected with a Laryngojet injector at the vocal cords.

[Acute negative pressure pulmonary edema: illustration from a unusual clinical case following a postoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy]. / L'œdème aigu du poumon à pression négative : illustration à partir d'un cas clinique inhabituel compliquant une paralysie récurrentielle postopératoire.

Acute postoperative negative pressure pulmonary edema (NPPE) is a respiratory complication due to upper airway obstruction occurring most commonly in the postoperative period. Pathophysiologically, NPPE is explained by the abrupt generation of highly negative intrathoracic pressure that lead to fluid transudation from the pulmonary capillaries. This observation reports an unusual case of a young patient who has undergone total thyroidectomy for multinodular goiter. The postoperative period was marked by the occurrence of bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy that was complicated by a NPPE. The outcome was favorable after mechanical ventilation with reversal of NPPE and recovery of the recurrent laryngeal nerve function. This article stresses the importance of prevention of recurrent nerve palsy during thyroid surgery. It also highlights a little known respiratory complication: the NPPE. Understanding the pathophysiology of NPPE, rapid diagnosis and appropriate therapeutic measures could prevent its potential lethal consequences.

[Not Available]. / Prise en charge d'un afflux massif de brûles lors d'une situation de catastrophe par incendie au Maroc.

Burn injuries are most commonly encountered during natural disasters or disasters related to human activity (accidental fires in public places, in time of war, or in terrorist attacks). The care and triage of a large number of burn patients is a difficult problem, which requires adequate planning and emergency preparedness in anticipation of such crises. The training and readiness of doctors and paramedics is of utmost importance. The challenges are many: burn treatment requires a large and qualified staff; evacuations should be prioritized according to the severity of the burn and associated injuries; stocks (especially in topical anti-infective and crystalloid) should be sufficient and appropriate; and hospital services in a military training hospital Mohammed V such as there is in Rabat must be able to be quickly adapted to accommodate and isolate these particular patients. The hypothesis of a fire disaster with a mass influx of burn patients at this hospital should leave no room for improvisation, or else the prompt and accurate prognosis of the patients could be severely hindered.

[Acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to influenza A (H1N1) infection: a report of a case]. / Le syndrome de détresse respiratoire aiguë secondaire à une infection par le virus de la grippe A (H1N1) : à propos d'un cas.

Through a clinical case of acute respiratory distress syndrome after infection with influenza virus H1N1 and a review of the literature the authors discuss treatment options, prognostic factors and the problems raised in support this pathology in Moroccan center.

[The Ogilvie syndrome in a severely burned patient]. / Le syndrome d'ogilvie chez le brule grave.

The Ogilvie syndrome is an acute colonic dilatation of the previously healthy colon, without any organic obstruction. Pathological circumstances such as burns and antipsychotic medication have been identified as predisposing elements. The incidence of this complication, in the reanimation of burn patients, varies between 0.5 to 1%. The purpose of our study is to draw attention to the Ogilvie symptom by describing a case with its clinical and paraclinical data, its physiopathological causes, and the therapeutic aspects. The clinical picture in our patient was characteristic: extensive abdominal meteorism. The abdominal scan showed massive colonic dilatation without any mechanical obstacles. The outcome was successful after colonoscopic exsufflation. The Ogilvie syndrome is a rare occurrence which without effective treatment may result in caecal perforation and a poor prognosis. It is therefore necessary to establish the diagnosis early and, in particular, to initiate close radiological follow-up after the establishment of medical treatment, in which colonoscopy plays an important part.

[Central venous catheter-related bacteraemia: prospective study in a Moroccan medical intensive care unit]. / Bactériémies liées aux cathéters veineux centraux : étude prospective dans une unité de réanimation médicale marocaine.

OBJECTIVE: to determine the incidence of catheter-related bacteremia (CRB) in a Moroccan medical intensive care unit, the microbiological profile of this infection and risk factors associated with its occurrence. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective observational study. METHODS: over a period of 8 months, patients who required central venous catheter (CVC) placement for a duration greater than 48 h were included in the study. The CRB has been defined by the criteria of the SRLF Consensus Conference. The proportions of colonization and CRB were expressed as incidence density (ID). Risk factors for colonization were studied in univariate analysis. RESULTS: one hundred and two CVC were inserted in 70 patients. The average age was 54 ± 20 years with an APACHE II of 28 ± 10. The ID of colonization and CRB were respectively 34 for 1000 days of CVC use and 8 for 1000 days of CVC use. The isolated microorganisms were Gram-negative bacilli in 73 %, Gram-positive cocci in 22 % and finally yeast in 5 %. A prolonged duration of catheterization and the absence of systemic antibiotic therapy before catheterization were the main risk factors for colonization. CONCLUSION: the incidence of CRB was high. These results impose a reflection of the care team to improve protocols for prevention of such nosocomial infections.

[Efficiency of bupivacaine wound subfasciale infiltration in reduction of postoperative pain after inguinal hernia surgery]. / Efficacité de l'infiltration cicatricielle subfasciale par la bupivacaïne dans la réduction de la douleur postopératoire des hernies inguinales.

INTRODUCTION: The reduction of postoperative pain after surgery of inguinal hernia is an objective of lot of studies. The subfasciale infiltration of the wound may be an efficient technique. METHODS: This study was designed as a randomized, double blind, prospective study, comparing two treatment groups: a group infiltrated by bupivacaine (Gr B), and second one infiltrated by a placebo (Gr P). A part of demographic parameters and ASA class, the postoperative pain intensity at rest and at coughing, the morphine consumption and the secondary effects were compared. Patient's satisfaction and postoperative chronic pain at 3 and 6 months were also analyzed. RESULTS: Concerning demographic parameters, ASA class and secondary effects, we didn't find any meaningful difference between the two groups. However, there was a significant reduction of postoperative pain in the bupivacaine group as well at rest as coughing. Gr P patients have more morphine consumption and they were unsatisfied and accused more chronic pain. DISCUSSION: Wound infiltration is still a simple and efficient technique in postoperative pain reduction. With this technique, hernia surgery may become ambulatory.

[Takayashu and pregnancy]. / Takayashu et grossesse.

Takayashu arteritis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the large arteries, usually affecting the aorta and its large branches and the pulmonary arteries, with a higher incidence during the childbearing years. We report the case of a 33-year-old patient, primigravida with Takayashu arteritis diagnosed three years ago. At 37 weeks of gestation, she was admitted for a pre-eclampsia and a left ventricular insufficiency. Elective caesarean section under general anesthesia after joint decision between the attending obstetrician and the medical and anesthetic consultants, and allowed the extraction of a hypotrophic baby. The association of pregnancy with Takayashu's arteritis is almost always uneventful. It is associated with high values of maternal blood pressure and severe intra-uterine growth retardation.