2015 Publications
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Item International study on microcirculatory shock occurrence in acutely ill patients.(Wolters Kluwer, 2015-01-01) Martinelli, GiampaoloObjectives: Microcirculatory alterations are associated with adverse outcome in subsets of critically ill patients. The prevalence and significance of microcirculatory alterations in the general ICU population are unknown. We studied the prevalence of microcirculatory alterations in a heterogeneous ICU population and its predictive value in an integrative model of macro- and microcirculatory variables. Design: Multicenter observational point prevalence study. Setting: The Microcirculatory Shock Occurrence in Acutely ill Patients study was conducted in 36 ICUs worldwide. Patients: A heterogeneous ICU population consisting of 501 patients. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: Demographic, hemodynamic, and laboratory data were collected in all ICU patients who were 18 years old or older. Sublingual Sidestream Dark Field imaging was performed to determine the prevalence of an abnormal capillary microvascular flow index (< 2.6) and its additional value in predicting hospital mortality. In 501 patients with a median Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score of 15 (10–21), a Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score of 5 (2–8), and a hospital mortality of 28.4%, 17% exhibited an abnormal capillary microvascular flow index. Tachycardia (heart rate > 90 beats/min) (odds ratio, 2.71; 95% CI, 1.67–4.39; p < 0.001), mean arterial pressure (odds ratio, 0.979; 95% CI, 0.963–0.996; p = 0.013), vasopressor use (odds ratio, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.11–3.07; p = 0.019), and lactate level more than 1.5 mEq/L (odds ratio, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.28–3.62; p = 0.004) were independent risk factors for hospital mortality, but not abnormal microvascular flow index. In reference to microvascular flow index, a significant interaction was observed with tachycardia. In patients with tachycardia, the presence of an abnormal microvascular flow index was an independent, additive predictor for in-hospital mortality (odds ratio, 3.24; 95% CI, 1.30–8.06; p = 0.011). This was not true for nontachycardic patients nor for the total group of patients. Conclusions: In a heterogeneous ICU population, an abnormal microvascular flow index was present in 17% of patients. This was not associated with mortality. However, in patients with tachycardia, an abnormal microvascular flow index was independently associated with an increased risk of hospital death.Item The epidemiology of myasthenia gravis in Arab countries: a systematic review.(Wiley Online, 2015-01-01) Benamer, HaniNo abstract available.Item The role of point-of-care assessment of platelet function in predicting postoperative bleeding and transfusion requirements after coronary artery bypass grafting.(Wolters Kluwer, 2015-02-01) Fayaz, Khazi Mohammed; Gravenor, Mike; Lakshmanan, Suresh; Luckraz, Heyman; Mishra, Pankaj Kumar; Sahajanandan, Raj; Thekkudan, JoyceObjective: Objective platelet function assessment after cardiac surgery can predict postoperative blood loss, guide transfusion requirements and discriminate the need for surgical re-exploration. We conducted this study to assess the predictive value of point-of-care testing platelet function using the Multiplate® device. Methods: Patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting were prospectively recruited ( n = 84). Group A ( n = 42) patients were on anti-platelet therapy until surgery; patients in Group B ( n = 42) stopped anti-platelet treatment at least 5 days preoperatively. Multiplate® and thromboelastography (TEG) tests were performed in the perioperative period. Primary end-point was excessive bleeding (>2.5 ml/kg/h) within first 3 h postoperative. Secondary end-points included transfusion requirements, re-exploration rates, intensive care unit and in-hospital stays. Results: Patients in Group A had excessive bleeding (59% vs. 33%, P = 0.02), higher re-exploration rates (14% vs. 0%, P < 0.01) and higher rate of blood (41% vs. 14%, P < 0.01) and platelet (14% vs. 2%, P = 0.05) transfusions. On multivariate analysis, preoperative platelet function testing was the most significant predictor of excessive bleeding (odds ratio [OR]: 2.3, P = 0.08), need for blood (OR: 5.5, P < 0.01) and platelet transfusion (OR: 15.1, P < 0.01). Postoperative "ASPI test" best predicted the need for transfusion (sensitivity - 0.86) and excessive blood loss (sensitivity - 0.81). TEG results did not correlate well with any of these outcome measures. Conclusions: Peri-operative platelet functional assessment with Multiplate® was the strongest predictor for bleeding and transfusion requirements in patients on anti-platelet therapy until the time of surgery. Study registration: ISRCTN43298975 (http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN43298975/).Item Significant reduction in ventilator-associated pneumonia with the Venner-PneuX System in high-risk patients undergoing cardiac surgery: the Low Ventilator-Associated-Pneumonia study.(Oxford University Press, 2015-03-01) Bickerton, Shelagh; Giri, Ramesh; Gopal, Shameer; Jenkins, Donna; Luckraz, Heyman; Muhammed, Israr; Reid, MatthewOBJECTIVES This study assessed whether the Venner-PneuX endotracheal tube (ET) system, which has sub-glottic suction as well as irrigation ports and continuous cuff-pressure monitoring, is associated with a reduction in ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) when compared with the standard ET in high-risk patients undergoing cardiac surgery. METHODS This was a single-institution, prospective, randomized control trial. Patients were categorized as either Group A (Venner-PneuX ET tube, n = 120) or Group B (Standard ET tube, n = 120). Inclusion criteria included patients over the age of 70 years and/or impaired left ventricular function (LVEF <50%) undergoing cardiac surgery. Patients were monitored for VAP for up to 48 h post extubation and the diagnosis of VAP was according to the centres for disease control definition. RESULTS There were no significant differences in the patients' demographics. The mean (SD) ages for the two groups were 72.4 (8.2) and 72.1 (7.4) years (P = 0.6), respectively. The mean EuroSCORE was 6.39 (2.2) for Group A and 6.48 (2.6) for Group B (P = 0.9). The median intubation times were 14.7 (7.3, 2927.2) h and 13 (2.5, 528.7) h, respectively. VAP incidence was significantly lower in the Venner-PneuX ET group, being 10.8% when compared with 21% in the standard ET group (P = 0.03). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of intensive care unit stay (P = 0.2) and in-hospital mortality (P = 0.2). A binary logistic regression analysis (type of ET tube, age, LVEF, history of lung disease, smoking history, surgical procedure, EuroSCORE, cardiopulmonary bypass time, blood transfusion, intubation duration among others) confirmed that the Venner-PneuX ET tube was associated with significant VAP reduction (Odds ratio 0.45, P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS The Venner-PneuX VAP prevention system is associated with a significant reduction in VAP. This can potentially lead to significant cost reductions and should be implemented as part of the VAP reduction bundle.Item Lower-pole stones: do we finally have more answers than questions?(Elsevier, 2015-04-01) Rukin, NicholasNo abstract available.