[Response of the intensive care unit of a French military teaching hospital to the 1st COVID-19 wave]. / Réponse du service de réanimation d'un Hôpital d'Instruction des Armées à la première vague de COVID-19.

In March 2020, the intensive care unit of the French military teaching hospital Bégin (Saint-Mandé) had to make profound changes to deal with the first COVID-19 epidemic wave. First, the twelve beds of the intensive care unit (ICU) were allocated to COVID-19 patients, among them four beds usually dedicated to postoperative care. Then, on the model of the military medical-surgical facilities rolled out in external operations, a new transient intensive care unit was set up in Bégin within four days. This strategy of increasing capacities had to address a crucial challenge: to ensure safe and quality health care with limited resources. Based on precise specifications and an essential strengthening of staff and supplies, 20 additional ICU care rooms were fully equipped in the cardiology department of the hospital. Eventually, 32 ICU beds were available from March 20, performing a 300% increase in bed capacities. During the whole epidemic wave, 113 patients were managed. The evacuation of 16 stable patients with medicalized trains toward less impacted French regions helped to avoid saturation. The service has also been involved in various research activities, including the DisCoVeRy European clinical trial evaluating the effectiveness of several antiviral treatments. Leaving the operating room and the post-interventional surveillance room partially functional made it possible to quickly resume the elective surgical activity after the crisis, while keeping the transient ICU available in case of an epidemic rebound, as happened in the autumn of 2020, then in the spring of 2021.

Microbiology of French military casualties repatriated from overseas for an open traumatic injury.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to describe the microbiological epidemiology of repatriated French soldiers with an open traumatic injury, and to measure the proportion of multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDRB). METHODS: Retrospective study including all French soldiers repatriated in 2011 and 2012 in Parisian military hospitals for open traumatic injury. Results of clinical samples and MDRB screening were collected. The antibiotic susceptibility was assessed using the agar disk diffusion method. Characterization of resistance mechanisms was performed using PCR. Genotyping of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) isolates was performed using rep-PCR. RESULTS: A total of 139 patients were included; 70% of them were repatriated from Afghanistan. At admission, 24/88 were positive for MDRB (28%), mainly ESBL-E but no carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium were identified. Forty-five patients had lesion sample collection, and 28/45 had a positive culture. The most frequently isolated pathogens were Enterobacter cloacae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli. For eight patients, a MDRB was isolated from the wound, mainly ESBL-E (7/8) but also one methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and one imipenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. Among ESBL-E, the PCR evidenced the high prevalence of CTX-M15 enzymes. Rep-PCR performed on the 23 ESBL-producing E. coli isolates highlighted numerous profiles. CONCLUSIONS: Controlling the spread of ESBL-E is currently challenging for French Armed Forces. Despite any evidence of an epidemic clone, a high-level compliance with hygiene precautions is required throughout the chain of care to avoid cross contamination.

Outbreak of CTX-M-15-producing Enterobacter cloacae associated with therapeutic beds and syphons in an intensive care unit.

An outbreak of extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing Enterobacter cloacae (ESBL-ECL) occurred in our intensive care unit (ICU) and involved 18 patients (8 infected and 10 colonized). The mean age of patients was 69 years, and all infected patients had underlying medical conditions. Within hours' recognition of the spread of ESBL-ECL, the infection control team requested for staff education, reinforcement of infection control measures, and environmental screening. New transmissions were observed in the institution after weeks of enhanced infection control measures. Microbial swabbing revealed bacterial contamination of some mattresses and syphons with epidemiologic links between environmental, screening, and clinical isolates. This outbreak resulted in the temporary closure of the ICU for complete biocleaning.

[Non-invasive evaluation of intracranial pressure: how and for whom?]. / Mesure de la pression intracrânienne sans capteur : comment et pour qui ?

The invasive monitoring of intracranial pressure is useful in circumstances associated with high-risk of raised intracranial pressure. However the placement of intracranial probe is not always possible and non-invasive assessment of intracranial pressure may be useful, particularly in case of emergencies. Transcranial Doppler measurements allow the estimation of perfusion pressure with the pulsatility index. Recently, new ultrasonographic methods of cerebral monitoring have been developed: the diameter of the optic nerve sheath diameter, a surrogate marker of raised intracranial pressure and the estimation of median shift line deviation.

Increase in optic nerve sheath diameter induced by epidural blood patch: a preliminary report.

BACKGROUND: Post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) might be related to cerebrospinal fluid hypotension. Studies in brain-injured patients have shown a good relationship between optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) measured by ocular sonography and invasively measured intracranial pressure (ICP). The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in ONSD after lumbar epidural blood patch (EBP). METHODS: Consecutive subjects receiving an EBP for PDPH were included. ONSD and pain measurements were performed before (T(0)), 10 min (M(10)), 2 h (H(2)), and 20 h (H(20)) after the EBP. RESULTS: Ten subjects were included. ONSD [median (inter-quartile range)] increased with time after EBP, from 4.8 mm (4.5-5.1) at T(0) to 5.2 mm (4.9-5.7) at M(10) (P=0.005 vs T(0)), 5.5 mm (5.1-6.0) at H(2) (P=0.007 vs T(0)), and 5.8 mm (5.2-6.3) at H(20) (P=0.02 vs T(0)). EBP was clinically successful in nine of 10 subjects. In subjects in whom EBP was successful, ONSD significantly increased at M(10) and T(2) compared with T(0) (P=0.004 and 0.008, respectively) but did not reach statistical significance at H(20) (P=0.06). In the subject in whom EBP failed, a small increase in ONSD was observed over time. CONCLUSIONS: In this preliminary report, EBP was followed by ONSD enlargement in subjects with successful EBP, but not in the subject with EBP failure. Since ONSD is a surrogate marker of ICP, this suggests that a sustained increase in ICP is associated with successful EBP.

[Anaesthesic management of vaginal delivery in a parturient with C1 esterase deficiency]. / Prise en charge anesthésique d'un accouchement chez une patiente atteinte d'un déficit en inhibiteur de C1 estérase.

Hereditary and acquired angioedema (HAE/AAE) are the clinical translation of a qualitative or a quantitative deficit of C1 esterase inhibitor (C1 INH). The frequency and severity of clinical manifestations vary greatly, ranging from a moderate swelling of the extremities to obstruction of upper airway. Anaesthesiologists and intensivists must be prepared to manage acute manifestations of this disease in case of life-threatening laryngeal edema. Surgery, physical trauma and labour are classical triggers of the disease. The anaesthesiologists should be aware of the drugs used as prophylaxis and treatment of acute attacks when considering labour and caesarean section. Androgens are contraindicated during pregnancy. If prophylaxis is required, tranexamic acid may be used with caution. The safest obstetric approach appears to be to administer a predelivery infusion of C1 INH concentrate. It is important to avoid manipulation of the airway as much as possible by relying on regional techniques. We report the case of a patient suffering from an HAE discovered during pregnancy. The management included administration of C1 INH during labor and early epidural analgesia for pain relief. A short review of the pathophysiology and therapeutic options follows.

Early localization and reoperation for persistent primary hyperparathyroidism.

BACKGROUND: Reoperation for persistent primary hyperparathyroidism is often performed after a delay of 4-6 months. Success can be expected in over 90 per cent of cases but exploration is technically difficult and there is the possibility of creating permanent hypoparathyroidism and vocal cord paralysis. This is a study of early localization and reoperation. METHODS: In a consecutive series of 273 patients who had surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism, three remained hypercalcaemic and in three the abnormal parathyroid was not found at initial exploration. They underwent early (6-48 h) single-tracer 99mTc Sestamibi scintigraphy with factor analysis of dynamic structures (FADS) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) followed by reoperation within 24-72 h. RESULTS: Scintigraphy with FADS and SPECT was helpful in all six patients, who were cured by reoperation with no morbidity or symptomatic hypocalcaemia. CONCLUSION: Reoperation for persistent primary hyperparathyroidism is possible and may be easier within days of an initially unsuccessful procedure. With the intact 1-84 parathyroid hormone measurement, the diagnosis is accurate. Single-tracer 99mTc Sestamibi scintigraphy with FADS and SPECT is non-invasive, easily and rapidly performed, and was accurate in these six patients.

[Surgical treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism]. / Traitement chirurgical de l'hyperparathyroïdie primaire.

The authors report their experience with treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism in a series of 1496 patients (September 1991). The clinical profile of the disease has changed in the past few years, incomplete or even asymptomatic forms of the disease are now more common. The results of treatment have considerably improved (99% cure rate), progress is essentially due to two factors: surgeons have gained in experience and diagnostic errors have disappeared thanks to the reliability of laboratory tests and hormone level determination.

Short- and long-term efficacy of total parathyroidectomy with immediate autografting compared with subtotal parathyroidectomy in hemodialysis patients.

A retrospective study was performed in chronic hemodialysis patients comparing total parathyroidectomy (PTX) followed by immediate autografting (IA) (total PTX+IA) with subtotal parathyroidectomy (subtotal PTX). One hundred six patients with severe, uncontrolled hyperparathyroidism were referred to this center and underwent surgery during the period from 1980 to 1990. Long-term follow-up after PTX was available in 49 of them: 28 patients had total PTX+IA and 21 had subtotal PTX. The two surgical methods were evaluated with respect to preoperative severity of hyperparathyroidism, immediate postoperative results, and long-term parathyroid status, as evaluated by an RIA measuring intact immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (intact iPTH; normal values, 15 to 65 pg/mL). The initial degree of hyperparathyroidism was comparable in the two groups. An excellent short-term control of hyperparathyroidism was achieved in the great majority (95%) of patients with either surgical procedure. However, long-term normalization of parathyroid gland activity was achieved in only one third of patients whereas 33% had elevated intact iPTH levels (> 130 pg/mL; i.e., higher than twice the upper range of normal) and 32% had low intact iPTH levels (< 15 pg/mL), consistent with permanent hypoparathyroidism. No difference was found in the immediate failure rates: 0 of 28 cases after total PTX+IA compared with 2 of 21 cases after subtotal PTX. Similarly, long-term intact iPTH levels were comparable: 400 +/- 105 versus 212 +/- 82 pg/mL (mean +/- SE; P = not significant). Interestingly, long-term serum intact iPTH levels were higher in patients with nodular (N = 18) than with diffusely (N = 26) hyperplastic glands: 556 +/- 146 versus 126 +/- 52 pg/mL (P < 0.001) and recurrence of hyperparathyroidism was more frequent with nodular hyperplasia (11 of 18) than with diffuse hyperplasia (4 of 26) (P < 0.02). In conclusion, although excellent short-term results were obtained with both procedures, satisfactory long-term control of parathyroid gland function was achieved in only one third of the patients, the other two third remaining either hypoparathyroid or developing recurrent hyperparathyroidism. Last, the histological subtype of parathyroid glands was partially predictive of the recurrence of hyperparathyroidism.

[Anatomic localization of parathyroid adenomas. Experience of 1200 cases of primary hyperparathyroidism]. / Localizzazione anatomica degli adenomi paratiroidei. Esperienza di 1200 casi di iperparatiroidismo primario.

From 1969 to December 1988 1200 patients were successfully operated on for primary hyperparathyroidism. In 1086 cases the parathyroid lesion was an adenoma and in 252 cases (23.2%) we considered this adenoma in an unusual location. Analysis of the patient's records enables us to describe the operative difficulties for each of those locations, and to assess the value of complementary investigations in the patients whose adenomas are difficult to find.