Shock : molecular, cellular, and systemic pathobiological aspects and therapeutic approaches : the official journal the Shock Society, the European Shock Society, the Brazilian Shock Society, the International Federation of Shock Societies
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A correlation between sublingual and intestinal mucosa microcirculation, and ischemic necrosis of the tongue as a sign of poor prognosis has been reported. However, an association between tongue ischemia and intestinal health and subsequent outcome has never been studied. This preliminary prospective observational study evaluated the association between macroscopic tongue ischemia and enterocyte injury and poor outcome in patients with septic shock. ⋯ Compared with patients with normal tongues (n = 45), those with ischemic tongues (n = 12) had a significantly higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score (29.0 [25.0-34.0] vs. 36.5 [30.5-44.5], P = 0.017), lactate level (2.8 [2.0-5.0] vs. 9.3 [4.5-10.6], P = 0.002), and I-FABP level (1.9 [0.8-4.0] vs. 54.4 [19.5-159.3], P < 0.001) and the all-cause 28-day mortality was significantly higher (7% vs. 83%, P < 0.001). In conclusion, macroscopic tongue ischemia at ICU admission was associated with enterocyte injury and poor outcome in patients with septic shock. Although there is a disadvantage in that assessment of the tongue was subjective, tongue ischemia could be used to gauge the severity of intestinal injury and to estimate poor outcome in the clinical setting.
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To examine whether very low levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D {25(OH)D} upon admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) are associated with worse outcomes. ⋯ Initially non-septic critically ill patients appear to have very low ICU admission 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels. Among critically ill patients, severely low vitamin D levels (<7 ng/mL) at ICU admission do not predict sepsis development, increased risk of in-hospital mortality, or longer stay in the ICU. However, these severely low admission vitamin D levels in patients who will eventually develop sepsis are associated with development of respiratory tract infections.
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Chronic inflammation, even at subclinical levels, is associated with adverse long-term outcome. ⋯ Plasma CRP levels in critically ill patients decreased during the first week after hospital discharge but remained unchanged during the subsequent 5 weeks. Over two-thirds of the patients exhibited elevated CRP levels compatible with chronic sub-clinical inflammation. Persistently elevated CRP levels after hospital discharge are associated with higher risk of rehospitalization.
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The integrated analysis of changes in the metabolic profile could be critical for the discovery of biomarkers of lung injury, and also for generating new pathophysiological hypotheses and designing novel therapeutic targets for the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This study aimed at developing a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based approach for the identification of the metabolomic profile of ARDS in patients with H1N1 influenza virus pneumonia. ⋯ The serum metabolomic profile is sensitive and specific to identify ARDS in patients with H1N1 influenza A pneumonia. Future studies are needed to determine the role of NMR spectroscopy as a biomarker of ARDS.
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Postoperative vasoplegic shock after cardiac surgery seems to be a frequent complication with poor outcomes. We hypothesized that vasopressin may increase the risk of poor outcomes in patients with preoperative Left Ventricular Dysfunction (pLVD) rather than norepinephrine. The aim of this study was to assess whether vasopressin is superior to norepinephrine to improve outcomes in patients with pLVD after cardiac surgery. ⋯ Compared with norepinephrine, vasopressin could not improve the postoperative outcomes in patients with pLVD after cardiac surgery. Vasopressin should be cautious to be used as a first-line vasopressor agent in postcardiac vasoplegic shock.