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Background: To observe the correlation of central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2), serum lactate, standard base excess (SBE), and anion gap (AG) in septic and septic shock patients resuscitated with early goal-directed therapy (EGDT). Materials and Methods: A review was made of 130 severe septic shock patients (15-65 years) according to the consensus conference criteria admitted in intensive care unit. Blood samples were obtained from arterial and central venous line for ScvO2, serum lactate, SBE, and AG on admission and after achieving all aims of EGDT i.e.; mean arterial pressure >65 mmHg, central venous pressure = 8-12 mmHg, ScvO2 >70%, and urine output >0.5 mL.kg-1.h-1, and on 12 and 24 h. The statistical analysis was done using SPSS for windows version 16 software. For comparison, Pearson test was used. A P < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: There were a positive correlation between ScvO2 and SBE, a negative correlation between ScvO2 and AG, a negative correlation between ScvO2 and lactate, a negative correlation between SBE and AG, a negative correlation between AG and lactate, and a negative correlation between SBE and lactate. The ScvO2 was initially low but was in an improving trend after a resuscitative period, SBE was initially low and correction of SBE was linear. AG was high in the beginning and goes on decreasing after resuscitation. Lactate level was also high initially and in decreasing trend after a resuscitative period. Conclusions: ScvO2 and SBE are correlated and can be used as a surrogate marker. ScvO2 and AG are related but not absolutely codependent. ScvO2 and lactate are correlated but they are not absolutely codependent. SBE and AG are correlated and can be used as a surrogate marker. AG and lactate are not related to each other. Hence, AG cannot be considered as a surrogate for lactate testing. SBE and lactate are related and can be used as a surrogate marker.
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Background and Aims: To compare the sedoanalgesic effects of dexmedetomidine alone or with combination of ketamine. Material and Methods: After getting ethical approval and informed patient consent, 60 adult surgical patients, were randomly divided into two groups. Group KD (n = 30); received dexmedotomidine 0.5 µg/kg/h mixed with ketamine 0.5 µg/kg/h and Group DEX (n = 30); received dexmedotomidine at 0.5 mg/kg/h infusion only. In both the groups, study drugs were titrated (dexmedetomidine- 0.2-0.7 µg/kg/h and ketamine 0.2-0.7 mg/kg/h) to achieve target sedation. Hemodynamic variables, pain scores, sedation scores, and patient satisfaction were recorded. Qualitative and Quantitative data were analyzed with Pearson Chi-squared test and analysis of variance test, respectively. All analyses were done by using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 16.0. Results: Pain scores were higher in group DEX than in group KD at 2 h and 4 h which was statistically significant (P < 0.05). At the end of 2 h, sedation scores were higher in group KD than in group DEX and was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Length of intensive care unit stay was almost comparable in both groups, and the time to tracheal extubation was lesser in ketamine-dexmedetomidine group as compared to the dexmedetomidine alone group. However the difference was statistically non-significant. Conclusions: By combining dexmedetomidine with ketamine we observed lower incidence of hypotension and bradycardia. Dexmedetomidine with ketamine combination therapy could be used safely and effectively as sedo-analgesic agent.
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BACKGROUND: Despite the advances in medical sciences, the morbidity and mortality due to sepsis in critically ill medical or surgical patients remains high, hence the need for an early and accurate diagnosis. In the current armamentarium, we have various biomarkers such as procalcitonin (PCT), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), CRP, and band cell percentage for an early clue. AIMS: This study explores the accuracy of these markers in distinguishing sepsis from systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and their correlation with sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scoring in critically ill patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After ethical committee approval and written informed consent from guardians, 180 consecutive patients, with clinically suspected infection from any source fulfilling at least two criteria of SIRS, were enrolled and 150 eligible patients were investigated and analyzed prospectively in one cohort, which was later subdivided into two different groups (Group A and Group B) based on microbiology reports, as having SIRS or sepsis, respectively. Samples for cultures (blood, tracheal, or urine as required), biomarkers such as PCT, hs-CRP, and CRP, and band cell percentage were sent from each patient on days 1, 2, 3, and 5 and whenever there were fever spikes. Clinical follow-up was done for 28 days, and demographics, ventilator days, duration of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and the survival rates were noted. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Receiver operating characteristics, area under curve (AUC-ROC) was used for each of the biomarker variables to decide the cutoff values and performance. Correlation coefficient was also seen for each of the biomarkers with SOFA scoring. RESULTS: Attributes of performance for all the biomarkers were satisfactory but was best for PCT (AUC-ROC of 0.987) followed by band cell percentage (0.881). SOFA scoring could also be used with good diagnostic accuracy (AUC-ROC of 0.920). SOFA score correlated best with PCT among the four biomarkers in diagnosing sepsis (Spearman's coefficient of + 0.734). Band cell percentage was significantly higher in the expired group of sepsis patients than survived patients (P = 0.02) and correlated well with ICU stay and 28-day mortality than rest (Spearman's coefficient of - 0.54). CONCLUSIONS: The addition of PCT to the standard workup of critically ill patients with suspected sepsis increases diagnostic certainty and generates improved patient management. Band cell percentage also provides a cost-effective alternative to PCT with an analogous diagnostic performance.
