三维超声评估感染性心内膜炎栓塞事件及住院死亡的危险特征

目的 采用三维经食管超声心动图评估感染性心内膜炎栓塞及住院死亡的超声特征。方法 回顾性收集124例自体瓣膜感染性心内膜炎患者,分析其经胸二维超声、多平面和三维经食管超声特征。将手术前或后1个月内栓塞和死亡作为主要终点事件。将大赘生物、脓肿或瘘、腱索断裂、中重度瓣膜反流和瓣膜穿孔或严重瓣膜破坏各计1分,进行简单积分,对心脏受损累计简单积分、赘生物大小、瓣膜受损严重并失去正常形态结构采用Hosmer和ROC曲线下面积评估栓塞和不良事件。结果 124例患者中,27例（27/124,21.77%）患者发生栓塞。与二维经胸超声心动图比较,多平面和三维经食管超声心动图可识别赘生物的确切位置及其长度,而二维经胸超声心动图漏诊左心房和乳头肌赘生物。栓塞及不良事件患者血红蛋白显著低于非栓塞及不良事件患者（P<0.05）。栓塞及不良事件患者多部位赘生物形成、赘生物活动度和瓣膜严重受损并失去正常形态构成比均高于非栓塞及不良事件患者（P均<0.05）。感染性心内膜炎心脏受损累计简单积分、赘生物大小、瓣膜严重受损并失去正常形态结构曲线下面积分别为0.65（P=0.06）、0.60（P=0.19）、0.70（P=0.03）。结论 多平面及三维经食管超声对感染性心内膜炎,尤其位于不常见位置的赘生物诊断起重要作用。瓣膜严重受损并失去正常形态者与栓塞及不良事件有关。     

Elevated asymmetric dimethylarginine levels predict short- and long-term mortality risk in critically ill patients

Objective

Serum concentrations of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, may contribute to endothelial dysfunction and organ failure in sepsis. We aimed at investigating ADMA levels as a potential diagnostic or prognostic biomarker in critically ill patients.

Methods

Two hundred fifty-five patients (164 with sepsis, 91 without sepsis) were studied prospectively upon admission to the medical intensive care unit (ICU) and on day 7, in comparison to 78 healthy controls. ADMA serum concentrations were correlated with clinical data and extensive laboratory parameters. Patients’ survival was followed up for up to 3 years.

Results

ADMA serum levels were significantly elevated in critically ill patients at admission compared to controls. ADMA levels did not differ between patients with or without sepsis, but were closely related to hepatic and renal dysfunction, metabolism and clinical scores of disease severity. ADMA levels further increased during the first week of ICU treatment. ADMA serum levels at admission were an independent prognostic biomarker in critically ill patients not only for short-term mortality at the ICU, but also for unfavorable long-term survival.

Conclusion

Serum ADMA concentrations are significantly elevated in critically ill patients, associated with organ failure and related to short- and long-term mortality risk.     

Frailty as a predictor of short- and long-term mortality in critically ill older medical patients

PurposeFrailty is a common condition among critically ill patients. Usually evaluated in a mixed population of medical, cardiac and surgical patients, we aimed to assess the impact of frailty on short- and long-term mortality exclusively in critically ill older medical patients.Materials and methodsWe included 285 patients aged≥70 years admitted to ICU (2009–2017). Comorbidities, severity scores, treatment intensity and complications were recorded. Pre-hospital frailty, measured by Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), was defined as a score ≥ 5 according to this scale.ResultsPrevalence of frailty (CFS ≥ 5) of 18.6%. Frail patients were more likely to be female (64.2% vs. 35.6%, p < .001) or suffer from heart failure (17% vs. 6%,p = .021). Apache II score was higher in frail than in non-frail patients (27.4 ± 7.1 vs. 24.8 ± 8.6,p = .041). Age, comorbidities, treatment intensity, complications, and ICU and hospital length of stay were similar between frail and non-frail patients. Life-sustaining treatment limitation was more frequent in frail patients (47.2% vs. 20.7%,p < .001). Except for ICU mortality, frailty was an independent predictor of short- and long-term mortality after adjustment for sociodemographic, comorbidities, severity scores, treatment intensity and complications.ConclusionsFrailty (CFS ≥ 5) was independently associated with short- and long-term mortality in older patients admitted to ICU exclusively due to a medical reason.     

超声诊断艾滋病患者感染性心内膜炎

目的 探讨艾滋病(AIDS)合并感染性心内膜炎患者彩色多普勒超声心动图特征。 方法 观察227例AIDS合并感染性心内膜炎患者彩色多普勒超声心动图,结合临床资料和实验室检查结果进行回顾性分析。 结果 227例患者心脏各瓣膜、室壁、房室间隔内膜面均有不同程度增厚、毛糙和赘生物形成,以右心心内膜炎最常见。病原微生物种类以细菌、真菌感染为主,可为混合性感染。通过内科抗感染治疗,赘生物84例(37.00％,84/227)消失,79例(34.80％,79/227)缩小,64例(28.19％,64/227)变化不大,但回声增强、活动度减少。 结论 AIDS合并感染性心内膜炎患者的超声心动图有特征性的改变,可为临床诊断、治疗提供有价值的信息。     

感染性心内膜炎患者的栓塞风险预测

目的 探求可以预测感染性心内膜炎患者住院期间总栓塞事件的独立因素.方法 回顾性分析南京鼓楼医院2005～2012年收治的133例感染性心内膜炎患者的发病特点,包括基本情况、生化结果、超声心动图表现和血培养结果与栓塞的关系.结果 单因素分析发现WBC＞ 15×109/L、CRP＞ 40 mg/L、赘生物累及多个瓣膜以及赘生物大小＞1 cm与栓塞相关（P值分别为0.023、0.029、0.004、＜0.001）,将其纳入二元Logistic回归模型后发现赘生物累及多个瓣膜以及大小＞1 cm是栓塞的独立预测因素（P=0.003,OR=3.34,95％ CI：1.52 ～7.31;P =0.030,OR =2.37,95％ CI：1.09 ～5.18）.结论 赘生物累及多个瓣膜以及大小＞1 cm是栓塞的独立预测因素,临床中处理这类感染性心内膜炎患者时可能需尽早手术,以减少栓塞事件的发生.     

Exploring the associations between long-term care and mortality rates among stroke patients

Information on types of long-term care received by stroke patients after hospital discharge is essential for the formulation of long-term care resource development policy. Comparisons of outcomes resulting from different types of long-term care can provide important considerations in the selection of long- term care services. The purpose of this study is to describe the patterns of long-term care received, and to explore if associations exist between long-term care services and mortality status among stroke patients after hospital discharge. Using a longitudinal quasi-experimental study design, this study collected information on the type of long-term care received at 1, 3, and 6 months after discharge for 714 patients. At one month after discharge, 4.5 % had died, and 22.1 % had regained all functions in activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living. The percentage of patients receiving institutional care, home or community-based care, and family care only were 10.4 % , 22.4 % , and 40.7 % respectively. The respective percentages at 3 months after discharge were 11.2 % , 18.7 % , and 38.0 % , and, at 6 months after discharge, 10.3 % , 19.4 % , and 30.9 % . After adjusting for age, sex, previous incidence of stroke, and physical functions, the odds of dying within 6 months after discharge for stroke patients receiving home or community-based care was significantly lower than those in institutions ( OR = 0.39; 95 % CI = 0.15 to 0.97 ). It is not clear why a lower mortality rate was observed among patients receiving home or community-based services. Differences in quality of care and quality of life among users of different types of long-term care services should be investigated. More research is needed to assess the causes of the disparity in mortality rates among users of different types of long-term care services.     

Cardiac troponin I does not independently predict mortality in critically ill patients with severe sepsis

Objective: Patients with sepsis often have elevated cardiac troponin I even in the absence of coronary artery disease. The prognostic value of cardiac troponins in critically ill patients with sepsis remains debatable. Our objective was to evaluate the prognostic value of cardiac troponin I in critically ill patients with severe sepsis. Methods: In this retrospective study, we included patients with severe sepsis who had troponin assayed within 12 h of admission to intensive care over a 6 year period. Patients who had myocardial infarction at intensive care admission in the setting of sepsis were excluded. Included patients were classified into two groups based on their serum troponin I levels: low troponin group (troponin ≤ 0.1 µg/L) and elevated troponin group (troponin > 0.1 µg/L). The primary outcome of interest was hospital mortality. The secondary outcome measures included intensive care mortality, intensive care and hospital length of stay. Results: A total of 382 patients were admitted to intensive care with sepsis. Of these, 293 patients were included in analyses. There was a statistically significant difference in hospital (15% vs 36.1%; P < 0.01) and intensive care (11% vs 25%; P < 0.01) mortality, but not in intensive care and hospital duration of stay. Logistic regression analysis revealed temperature, simplified acute physiology score II and serum lactate to be independent predictors of hospital mortality. Cardiac troponin I was not an independent predictor of hospital mortality. Conclusion: Critically ill patients with severe sepsis who had elevated troponin had increased hospital and intensive care mortality. However, cardiac troponin I did not independently predict hospital mortality.     

Medically unexplained illness in short- and long-term disability applicants: Prevalence and cost of salary reimbursement

Purpose. Compared to patients with explained illness, patients with medically unexplained illness (MUI) may be at elevated risk of applying for disability. Accordingly, patients with MUI may account for a disproportionate number of disability claims and for a disproportionate percentage of salary reimbursement costs. The study was conducted to determine: (a) The prevalence of MUI among disability insurance claimants; (b) the cost of salary reimbursement; and (c) the impact of psychiatric comorbidity on length and cost of disability.

Method. An insurance database of 26,451 short-term disability (STD) recipients with long-term disability (LTD) coverage was analyzed to determine the prevalence and salary reimbursement costs of MUI. Applicants with medically explained and psychiatric illness were included for comparison.

Results. The prevalence of MUI among STD recipients was lower than clinical and community rates. Rates of application and receipt of LTD benefits for MUI were similar to explained illness. When LTD payments were projected to retirement age, costs associated with unexplained back pain and fibromyalgia were comparable to those of explained illness. The length of disability and salary reimbursement costs were greater when comorbid psychiatric illness was present.

Conclusions. Patients with MUI did not account for a disproportionate number of disability claims or amount of the money spent on salary reimbursement. Comorbid psychiatric illness increased the length and cost of disability.     

Mean platelet volume in predicting short- and long-term morbidity and mortality in patients with or without ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

Mean platelet volume (MPV) is a marker of platelet activation. An increased MPV is associated with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and long-term mortality. The aim of this study was to compare MPV in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Also, we investigated the value of MPV on in-hospital mortality and long-term prognosis of patients with STEMI and NSTEMI. We studied 429 patients with AMI (70.4% male, 61.9 ± 12.4 years; 279 patients with STEMI, 150 patients with NSTEMI). MPV and platelet count were similar in both groups. Elevated MPV increased the risk of death by 3.1-fold (p < 0.001) in STEMI group during the hospitalization. However, increased MPV was not associated with in-hospital mortality in NSTEMI group. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of MPV was 0.868 (95% CI, 0.830-0.907) for predicting two-year mortality. A cut-off point of 11.1 fL showed a sensitivity of 81% and a specifity of 77% for prediction of two-year mortality. Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed two-year mortality rate of 12.5% in patients with MPV >11.1 fL versus 9.9% in patients with MPV <11.1 fL (p < 0.001). Cox regression analysis showed MPV to be an independent predictor of two-year mortality (Hazard ratio 1.7; 95% CI 1.5-1.9; p < 0.001). An increased MPV is an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality in patients with STEMI. However, elevated levels of MPV did not predict in hospital mortality in NSTEMI group. The increase in MPV values was independently correlated with two-year mortality in all study patients.     

Infective endocarditis in patients receiving long-term hemodialysis

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the predominant characteristics of patients receiving long-term dialysis who develop infective endocarditis (IE). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed the records of all chronic hemodialysis patients who had IE at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn, between 1983 and 1997. RESULTS: Twenty episodes of IE occurred in 17 patients. One patient had 3 episodes of IE, and 1 patient had 2 episodes of IE; each episode was caused by a different organism. The mean +/- SD age of our patients was 63 +/- 11 years; there were 13 males; 6 patients had diabetes mellitus; and the mean +/- SD duration of hemodialysis prior to IE was 24.2 +/- 20.5 months. This analysis included 10 episodes of IE (occurring in 9 patients) within the Mayo Clinic Dialysis System during which time 223,358 hemodialysis treatments were delivered, giving a rate of 10 IE episode per 223,336 hemodialysis treatments. Among all 20 IE episodes, there were 14 synthetic arteriovenous grafts, 4 permanent venous dialysis catheters, 2 temporary venous dialysis catheters, and 2 native arteriovenous fistulas (2 accesses in 2 patients), and access had been in place for a mean +/- SD of 15.9 +/- 18.6 months. The portal of infection was the hemodialysis access in 13 episodes of IE. The causative organisms for IE were Staphylococcus aureus in 8 cases, Enterococcus sp in 4 cases, viridans streptococcus in 3 cases, Staphylococcus epidermidis in 2 cases, and 1 case each of Streptococcus bovis, group G beta-hemolytic streptococcus, and Aspergillus sp. The mitral valve was involved in 9 cases, the aortic valve was involved in 5 cases, and the tricuspid and pulmonic valves were involved in 1 case each. Patient survival (after the first episode of IE) was 71% at 30 days; 53% at 60 days; and 35% at 1 year. Echocardiography was performed in 19 episodes of IE. The transthoracic echocardiogram was 62.5% sensitive and 40% specific for the presence of definite or probable vegetations. Univariate analysis for factors affecting 60-day survival show that presence of right-sided IE, vegetation size greater than 2.0 cm3, diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, and initial leukocyte count greater than 12.5 x 10(9)/L were poor prognostic factors. Aortic valve involvement carried a better prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Infective endocarditis in hemodialysis patients is relatively infrequent but has a high mortality. Patients with synthetic intravascular dialysis angioaccess (synthetic grafts and venous catheters) are more likely to develop IE than patients with native arteriovenous fistulas. Transesophageal echocardiography is a preferred echocardiographic study for suspected cases of IE. Prolonged antibiotic therapy is needed for all patients, and close monitoring is needed for patients with right-sided IE, large vegetations, diabetes mellitus, and an elevated leukocyte count.     

Brain protection in open heart surgery in patients with infective endocarditis

Effect of nimotope on cerebral metabolism and incidence of mental disorders in patients operated on under forced ventilation of the lungs (FVL) was studied in 32 patients subjected to replacement of mitral and aortic valves for infective endocarditis. Nimotope was used for preventing hypoxic disorders of the CNS. The drug was injected starting from the stage of operation before FVL. Cerebral hypoxia was diagnosed using lactate-oxygen index (LOI) and other cerebral metabolic coefficients. LOI increased in all patients immediately after FVL, being much higher in the patients without cerebral protection. Moreover, numerous neurotic and mental disorders were observed in this group of patients during the early postoperative period. By contrast, no mental disorders, disorders of memory or attention were detected in the patients treated with nimotope. These data indicate that nimotope decreases the unfavorable effect of FVL on the CNS function in patients with infective endocarditis. The difference of lactate content in arterial blood and in the internal jugular vein bulb and LOI can be used for the diagnosis of brain ischemia in heart surgery with FVL.     

Admission C-reactive protein and short- as well as long-term mortality in diabetic versus non-diabetic patients with incident myocardial infarction

Background  

To investigate the association between admission C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and 28-day case fatality as well as long-term mortality after an incident acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in non-diabetic and diabetic patients.     

超声心动图对感染性心内膜炎患者的赘生物及其他常见并发症的研究

目的总结和探讨感染性心内膜炎患者的赘生物及其他常见并发症的超声心动图详细特征及其不足之处。方法选取2003～2008年在我院住院且确诊为感染性心内膜炎患者118例,所有患者均进行了手术和病理检查确诊。并将患者经胸超声心动图与手术、病理结果进行比较研究。结果在符合入选条件的118例感染性心内膜炎患者中,病理发现赘生物或菌落者78例,慢性瓣膜炎71例,黏液样变性13例。本组病例中,超声检查出赘生物大小2～26mm,1至多个,活动度主要为好,以强或中强回声,首先以左心房面受累;超声心动图对赘生物检出率为83.8%;并且经胸超声心动图的检出率随着赘生物增大和数量逐渐增加。超声对于赘生物形态描述主要为团块状、不均质样回声,而手术中常描述为菜花状、结节状。超声对损伤瓣膜的检出率达89.1%,对单纯主动脉瓣损伤的检出率最高;对于其他并发症的检出率如人工瓣瓣周漏、瓣膜脱垂、脓肿、假性动脉瘤、瓣叶穿孔分别为100%、95.0%、66.7%、66.7%及33.3%,虽然超声对瓣叶穿孔检出率最低,但其特异度高达99.1%,而敏感度仅为22.2%。结论超声心动图能够对大部分感染性心内膜炎患者的赘生物大小、数量及附着位置、损伤瓣叶及其常见并发症进行准确判断,但对瓣叶穿孔判断能力有待提高,对赘生物形态的描述有待与手术统一。     

Prognostic factors for long-term mortality and risk of stroke in patients with transient ischemic attacks

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the natural course of patients with transient ischaemic attacks and to determine prognostic factors concerning long-term mortality and the incidence of stroke. 159 patients, who were hospitalized after transient ischaemic attacks at the Neurological University Department Vienna during the years 1976 to 1985, were asked about the further course of their illness using questionnaires. 22 patients had moved to unknown addresses and the return rate of the remaining questionnaires was 73.0%. Thus, the results of 100 patients were included in the present study. The follow-up period was 71 +/- 32 months (x +/- s; range: 19-135 months). During the follow-up period, 11 patients had died and 25 had eventually incurred full-blown cerebral infarction. The following variables were analyzed for their prognostic relevance with respect to long-term mortality and stroke occurrence: sex, age, vessel territority involved clinically, number of vessel territories involved clinically, number of strokes, and severity of clinical symptoms. The clinical symptoms (motor deficits, sensory deficits, speech disorders, visual field defects and organic mental syndrome) were graded semiquantitatively and added up to a "total score". Age had a significant influence on survival, but not on stroke occurrence. All other variables had no significant impact on long-term mortality and stroke occurrence. It is concluded that transient ischaemic attacks are warning symptoms of an impending stroke. However, prognostic assumptions cannot be made of the basis of clinical features in this subacute stage. Thus, all patients suffering from transient ischaemic attacks should have a comprehensive and thorough vascular investigation as soon as possible.