Plasmapheresis in the Management of Severe Hypertriglyceridemia

2013 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 18-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gilbert Seda ◽  
Jill M. Meyer ◽  
Dennis E. Amundson ◽  
Massoud Daheshia
Keyword(s):  
Diabetic Ketoacidosis ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Critical Care Nursing ◽  
Laboratory Studies ◽  
Severe Hypertriglyceridemia ◽  
Medical Intensive Care ◽  
The Impact

Plasmapheresis can benefit a variety of critically ill patients. A woman with diabetic ketoacidosis and severe hypertriglyceridemia was treated with plasmapheresis when conventional treatments did not markedly reduce her triglyceridemia. The patient was admitted to a medical intensive care unit because of diabetic ketoacidosis with severe lipemia. The lipemia-associated interference in laboratory studies made treatment of electrolyte abnormalities extremely difficult. The hypertriglyceridemia was initially treated with insulin, antilipidemic medications, and heparin, but the levels of triglycerides remained elevated, delaying results of needed laboratory studies for hours. After plasmapheresis, the serum level of triglycerides decreased by 77% in less than 24 hours. Severe lipemia interferes with photometric laboratory studies, yielding an underestimation of serum levels of electrolytes. Plasmapheresis is safe, rapid, and effective for emergent management of severe hypertriglyceridemia in critically ill patients. The impact of the procedure on critical care nursing is growing as nurses become involved in the treatment and follow-up care of patients who have plasmapheresis.

Impact of Hospitalized Nutritional Formula on Anthropometric, Clinical and Biochemical Indices among Egyptian Adult Cardio-Thoracic Critically Ill Patients: A Single Institutional Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 01-11
Author(s):  
Khalil NS
Keyword(s):  
Critically Ill ◽  
Clinical Data ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Skin Color ◽  
Admission Time ◽  
Chest Disease ◽  
Disease Hospital ◽  
Biochemical Indices ◽  
The Impact

Background: Malnutrition is a common consequence notably in patients admitted to the intensive care unit. Aim of the study: was to assess the Impact of hospitalized nutritional formula on anthropometric, clinical and biochemical indices among Egyptian adult cardio-thoracic Critically Ill Patients on admission and discharge days. Methods: Totally, A convenient sample of 100 cardiothoracic patients was evaluated from admission to discharge in ICUs at Damietta Chest Disease Hospital in Egypt. The patients' anthropometric measurements, clinical data and biochemical indices were assessed As well, hospital diet prescription and intake was also evaluated. Results: High significant statistical difference patients' clinical data on admission and after one week such as body built (X2 = 52.6; p = 0.0), skin color (X2= 12.9; p = 0.02), skin turgor (X2= 13.19; p = 0.0), and occurrence of bed sore (X2= 27.7; p = 0.0). On the other hand, no significant statistical differences were found in the patients' weight and body mass index on admission and discharge (one week). Moreover, significant statistical differences were found in patients biochemical indices such as albumin (t= 3.03; p=0.003) and lymphocyte counts (3.74; p=0.000). So, the 88 % of patients showed decreased albumin after one week when compared to admission time. While, 10 % of patients showed increased lymphocytic count after one week of admission when compared to admission time. Conclusion and Recommendations: Clinical assessment, anthropometric, and biochemical indices are essential for evaluation, follow-up and management of cardiothoracic critically ill patients

scholarly journals Visfatin Serum Levels Predict Mortality in Critically Ill Patients

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Koch ◽  
Ralf Weiskirchen ◽  
Alexander Krusch ◽  
Jan Bruensing ◽  
Lukas Buendgens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Critically Ill ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Medical Patients ◽  
Innate Immune Responses ◽  
Long Term Follow Up

The adipokine visfatin, also termed pre-B-cell colony-enhancing factor (PBEF), is mainly derived from adipose tissue but has been implicated in the regulation of innate immune responses. We hypothesized that visfatin could be a potential circulating biomarker in critical illness and sepsis. We therefore measured serum levels of visfatin in a cohort of 229 critically ill medical patients upon admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). In comparison to 53 healthy controls, visfatin levels were significantly elevated in medical ICU patients, especially in patients with sepsis. Visfatin serum concentrations were strongly associated with disease severity and organ failure but did not differ between patients with or without obesity or type 2 diabetes. Visfatin levels correlated with biomarkers of renal failure, liver dysfunction, and other adipokines (e.g., resistin, leptin, and adiponectin) in critically ill patients. High visfatin levels at ICU admission indicated an increased mortality, both at the ICU and during long-term follow-up of approximately two years. Our data therefore demonstrate that circulating visfatin is a valuable biomarker for risk and prognosis assessment in critically ill patients. Furthermore, visfatin seems to be involved in the pathogenesis of excessive systemic inflammation, supporting further research on visfatin as a therapeutic target.

A Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial of Transfusion Requirements in Critical Care

2018 ◽  
pp. 235-240
Author(s):  
Joseph R. Guenzer ◽  
Andrew Vardanian
Keyword(s):  
Critically Ill ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Controlled Clinical Trial ◽  
Large Trial ◽  
Transfusion Threshold ◽  
Transfusion Requirements ◽  
Red Cell Transfusion ◽  
Study Intervention ◽  
The Impact

This chapter provides a summary of the landmark study known as the TRICC trial. Is a restrictive strategy of red-cell transfusion equivalent to a liberal transfusion strategy in critically ill patients? Starting with that question, the chapter describes the basics of the study, including funding, study location, who was studied, how many patients, study design, study intervention, follow-up, endpoints, results, and criticism, and limitations. The chapter briefly reviews other relevant studies and information, discusses implications, and concludes with a relevant clinical case. Although this first large trial to examine the impact of transfusion thresholds on mortality in critically ill patients was underpowered, the trend toward decreased mortality in the restrictive group suggests that it is unlikely that the lower transfusion threshold subjects patients to increased harm. However, care must be taken in generalizing these results to cardiac surgery patients or to actively bleeding patients based on this study alone.

scholarly journals Midregional Proadrenomedullin (MRproADM) Serum Levels in Critically Ill Patients Are Associated with Short-Term and Overall Mortality during a Two-Year Follow-Up

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Lukas Buendgens ◽  
Eray Yagmur ◽  
Axel Ginsberg ◽  
Ralf Weiskirchen ◽  
Theresa Wirtz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Critically Ill ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Prognostic Biomarker ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Diagnostic Value ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Icu Mortality ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Overall Mortality

Adrenomedullin (ADM) is a peptide with pleiotropic effects in systemic inflammation. Its more stable precursor protein midregional proadrenomedullin (MRproADM) can be measured more reliably compared to ADM. Our objective was to investigate the potential role of MRproADM as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in critically ill patients at the intensive care unit (ICU). We therefore measured MRproADM in 203 ICU patients and 66 healthy controls. We found that MRproADM levels are significantly increased in critically ill patients as compared to healthy controls. MRproADM levels are significantly increased in patients with sepsis, but its diagnostic value for identifying sepsis is numerically lower than that of established markers (e.g., interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin). MRproADM levels are closely correlated to endothelial and organ dysfunction, inflammation, and established clinical scores (APACHE II, SOFA, and SAPS2). MRproADM concentrations correlate with vasopressor use but not fluid balance. Increased MRproADM levels (cut−off>1.4 nmol/L) in critically ill patients are independent predictors of ICU and overall mortality during a follow-up of up to 26 months (OR 3.15 for ICU mortality, 95% CI 1.08-9.20, p=0.036; OR for overall mortality 2.4, 95% CI 1.12-5.34, p=0.026). Our study demonstrates the potential of MRproADM serum levels as a prognostic biomarker in critical illness for ICU mortality and long-term survival during follow-up.

scholarly journals Protocol for a randomised trial of an interprofessional team-delivered intervention to support surrogate decision-makers in ICUs

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. e033521
Author(s):  
Taylor Lincoln ◽  
Anne-Marie Shields ◽  
Praewpannarai Buddadhumaruk ◽  
Chung-Chou H Chang ◽  
Francis Pike ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Family Support ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Maslach Burnout Inventory ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Icu Stay ◽  
Surrogate Decision ◽  
The Impact

IntroductionAlthough shortcomings in clinician–family communication and decision making for incapacitated, critically ill patients are common, there are few rigorously tested interventions to improve outcomes. In this manuscript, we present our methodology for the Pairing Re-engineered Intensive Care Unit Teams with Nurse-Driven Emotional support and Relationship Building (PARTNER 2) trial, and discuss design challenges and their resolution.Methods and analysisThis is a pragmatic, stepped-wedge, cluster randomised controlled trial comparing the PARTNER 2 intervention to usual care among 690 incapacitated, critically ill patients and their surrogates in five ICUs in Pennsylvania. Eligible subjects will include critically ill patients at high risk of death and/or severe long-term functional impairment, their main surrogate decision-maker and their clinicians. The PARTNER intervention is delivered by the interprofessional ICU team and overseen by 4–6 nurses from each ICU. It involves: (1) advanced communication skills training for nurses to deliver support to surrogates throughout the ICU stay; (2) deploying a structured family support pathway; (3) enacting strategies to foster collaboration between ICU and palliative care services and (4) providing intensive implementation support to each ICU to incorporate the family support pathway into clinicians’ workflow. The primary outcome is surrogates’ ratings of the quality of communication during the ICU stay as assessed by telephone at 6-month follow-up. Prespecified secondary outcomes include surrogates’ scores on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Impact of Event Scale, the modified Patient Perception of Patient Centredness scale, the Decision Regret Scale, nurses’ scores on the Maslach Burnout Inventory, and length of stay during and costs of the index hospitalisation.We also discuss key methodological challenges, including determining the optimal level of randomisation, using existing staff to deploy the intervention and maximising long-term follow-up of participants.Ethics and disseminationWe obtained ethics approval through the University of Pittsburgh, Human Research Protection Office. The findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration numberNCT02445937

Follow-up blood cultures in Gram-negative bacilli bacteremia: are they needed for critically ill patients?

2020 ◽  
Vol 86 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Martina Spaziante ◽  
Alessandra Oliva ◽  
Giancarlo Ceccarelli ◽  
Francesco Alessandri ◽  
Francesco Pugliese ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Critically Ill ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Blood Cultures ◽  
Gram Negative

scholarly journals A prospective, observational clinical trial on the impact of COVID-19-related national lockdown on thyroid hormone in young males

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulia Brigante ◽  
Giorgia Spaggiari ◽  
Barbara Rossi ◽  
Antonio Granata ◽  
Manuela Simoni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Stressful Event ◽  
Italian Population ◽  
Reference Ranges ◽  
Endocrine Regulation ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Hpt Axis ◽  
The Impact

AbstractTrying to manage the dramatic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection spread, many countries imposed national lockdown, radically changing the routinely life of humans worldwide. We hypothesized that both the pandemic per se and the consequent socio-psychological sequelae could constitute stressors for Italian population, potentially affecting the endocrine system. This study was designed to describe the effect of lockdown-related stress on the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis in a cohort of young men. A prospective, observational clinical trial was carried out, including patients attending the male infertility outpatient clinic before and after the national lockdown for COVID-19 pandemic. The study provided a baseline visit performed before and a follow-up visit after the lockdown in 2020. During the follow-up visit, hormonal measurements, lifestyle habits and work management were recorded. Thirty-one male subjects were enrolled (mean age: 31.6 ± 6.0 years). TSH significantly decreased after lockdown (p = 0.015), whereas no significant changes were observed in the testosterone, luteinising hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, estradiol and prolactin serum levels. No patient showed TSH serum levels above or below reference ranges, neither before nor after lockdown. Interestingly, TSH variation after lockdown was dependent on the working habit change during lockdown (p = 0.042). We described for the first time a TSH reduction after a stressful event in a prospective way, evaluating the HPT axis in the same population, before and after the national lockdown. This result reinforces the possible interconnection between psychological consequences of a stressful event and the endocrine regulation.

scholarly journals Development and preliminary evaluation of EMPOWER for surrogate decision-makers of critically ill patients

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Wendy G. Lichtenthal ◽  
Martin Viola ◽  
Madeline Rogers ◽  
Kailey E. Roberts ◽  
Lindsay Lief ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Critically Ill ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Experiential Avoidance ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Prolonged Grief ◽  
Surrogate Decision Makers ◽  
Surrogate Decision ◽  
Peritraumatic Distress

Abstract Objective The objectives of this study were to develop and refine EMPOWER (Enhancing and Mobilizing the POtential for Wellness and Resilience), a brief manualized cognitive-behavioral, acceptance-based intervention for surrogate decision-makers of critically ill patients and to evaluate its preliminary feasibility, acceptability, and promise in improving surrogates’ mental health and patient outcomes. Method Part 1 involved obtaining qualitative stakeholder feedback from 5 bereaved surrogates and 10 critical care and mental health clinicians. Stakeholders were provided with the manual and prompted for feedback on its content, format, and language. Feedback was organized and incorporated into the manual, which was then re-circulated until consensus. In Part 2, surrogates of critically ill patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) reporting moderate anxiety or close attachment were enrolled in an open trial of EMPOWER. Surrogates completed six, 15–20 min modules, totaling 1.5–2 h. Surrogates were administered measures of peritraumatic distress, experiential avoidance, prolonged grief, distress tolerance, anxiety, and depression at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and at 1-month and 3-month follow-up assessments. Results Part 1 resulted in changes to the EMPOWER manual, including reducing jargon, improving navigability, making EMPOWER applicable for a range of illness scenarios, rearranging the modules, and adding further instructions and psychoeducation. Part 2 findings suggested that EMPOWER is feasible, with 100% of participants completing all modules. The acceptability of EMPOWER appeared strong, with high ratings of effectiveness and helpfulness (M = 8/10). Results showed immediate post-intervention improvements in anxiety (d = −0.41), peritraumatic distress (d = −0.24), and experiential avoidance (d = −0.23). At the 3-month follow-up assessments, surrogates exhibited improvements in prolonged grief symptoms (d = −0.94), depression (d = −0.23), anxiety (d = −0.29), and experiential avoidance (d = −0.30). Significance of results Preliminary data suggest that EMPOWER is feasible, acceptable, and associated with notable improvements in psychological symptoms among surrogates. Future research should examine EMPOWER with a larger sample in a randomized controlled trial.

scholarly journals Outcomes of non-COVID-19 critically ill patients during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Răzvan Bologheanu ◽  
Mathias Maleczek ◽  
Daniel Laxar ◽  
Oliver Kimberger
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care ◽  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Medical Specialty ◽  
Routine Care ◽  
Treatment Pathways ◽  
Icu Length Of Stay ◽  
Matched Study ◽  
The Impact

Summary Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disrupts routine care and alters treatment pathways in every medical specialty, including intensive care medicine, which has been at the core of the pandemic response. The impact of the pandemic is inevitably not limited to patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and their outcomes; however, the impact of COVID-19 on intensive care has not yet been analyzed. Methods The objective of this propensity score-matched study was to compare the clinical outcomes of non-COVID-19 critically ill patients with the outcomes of prepandemic patients. Critically ill, non-COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) during the first wave of the pandemic were matched with patients admitted in the previous year. Mortality, length of stay, and rate of readmission were compared between the two groups after matching. Results A total of 211 critically ill SARS-CoV‑2 negative patients admitted between 13 March 2020 and 16 May 2020 were matched to 211 controls, selected from a matching pool of 1421 eligible patients admitted to the ICU in 2019. After matching, the outcomes were not significantly different between the two groups: ICU mortality was 5.2% in 2019 and 8.5% in 2020, p = 0.248, while intrahospital mortality was 10.9% in 2019 and 14.2% in 2020, p = 0.378. The median ICU length of stay was similar in 2019: 4 days (IQR 2–6) compared to 2020: 4 days (IQR 2–7), p = 0.196. The rate of ICU readmission was 15.6% in 2019 and 10.9% in 2020, p = 0.344. Conclusion In this retrospective single center study, mortality, ICU length of stay, and rate of ICU readmission did not differ significantly between patients admitted to the ICU during the implementation of hospital-wide COVID-19 contingency planning and patients admitted to the ICU before the pandemic.

scholarly journals Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Target Attainment Based on Measured Versus Predicted Unbound Ceftriaxone Concentrations in Critically Ill Patients with Pneumonia: An Observational Cohort Study

Antibiotics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 557
Author(s):  
Matthias Gijsen ◽  
Erwin Dreesen ◽  
Ruth Van Daele ◽  
Pieter Annaert ◽  
Yves Debaveye ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Renal Function ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Protein Binding ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Observational Cohort Study ◽  
Target Attainment ◽  
Binding Model ◽  
Observational Cohort ◽  
The Impact

The impact of ceftriaxone pharmacokinetic alterations on protein binding and PK/PD target attainment still remains unclear. We evaluated pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) target attainment of unbound ceftriaxone in critically ill patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Besides, we evaluated the accuracy of predicted vs. measured unbound ceftriaxone concentrations, and its impact on PK/PD target attainment. A prospective observational cohort study was carried out in adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit with severe CAP. Ceftriaxone 2 g q24h intermittent infusion was administered to all patients. Successful PK/PD target attainment was defined as unbound trough concentrations above 1 or 4 mg/L throughout the whole dosing interval. Acceptable overall PK/PD target attainment was defined as successful target attainment in ≥90% of all dosing intervals. Measured unbound ceftriaxone concentrations (CEFu) were compared to unbound concentrations predicted from various protein binding models. Thirty-one patients were included. The 1 mg/L and 4 mg/L targets were reached in 26/32 (81%) and 15/32 (47%) trough samples, respectively. Increased renal function was associated with the failure to attain both PK/PD targets. Unbound ceftriaxone concentrations predicted by the protein binding model developed in the present study showed acceptable bias and precision and had no major impact on PK/PD target attainment. We showed suboptimal (i.e., <90%) unbound ceftriaxone PK/PD target attainment when using a standard 2 g q24h dosing regimen in critically ill patients with severe CAP. Renal function was the major driver for the failure to attain the predefined targets, in accordance with results found in general and septic ICU patients. Interestingly, CEFu was reliably predicted from CEFt without major impact on clinical decisions regarding PK/PD target attainment. This suggests that, when carefully selecting a protein binding model, CEFu does not need to be measured. As a result, the turn-around time and cost for ceftriaxone quantification can be substantially reduced.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document