Impact of residual renal function on volume status in chronic renal failure

During the past few years, it has become increasingly evident that residual renal function (RRF) is an important and independent predictor of poor outcome in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Although the causes of this observation are not fully understood, it appears that the loss of RRF impairs both fluid removal and clearance of solutes, which in turn leads to uremic toxicity and increased morbidity and mortality. There is increasing evidence that patients with CKD develop signs of fluid overload already in the early phases of the disease, and this may be a stimulus for inflammatory activation. Recently, an inflammatory component was identified in uremic atherosclerotic and non-atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD), which have been consistently associated with poor clinical outcome in patients with CKD. Signs of systemic inflammation occur in parallel to the impairment in renal function, and the pathophysiology is most likely multifactorial, including a decrease in cytokine clearance, advanced glycation end-product accumulation, oxidative stress, and principal fluid overload. Additionally, inflammation seems to be a predictor of accelerated loss of renal function. In this article, we discuss the evidence showing that patients with CKD generally have fluid overload, the mechanisms by which impaired renal function may lead to a chronic inflammatory state, and the available information linking fluid overload to accelerated loss of renal function and CVD through inflammation. Inflammation may lead to the development of complications of CKD, in particular CVD, but on the other hand may also lead to a faster progression of renal disease. Strategies aiming to reduce fluid overload may be useful to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, but also preserve RRF.     

Impact of disease severity on gastric residual volume in critical patients

AIM: To investigate whether illness severity has an impact on gastric residual volume (GRV) in medical critically ill patients. METHODS: Medical intensive care unit (ICU) patients requiring nasogastric feeding were enrolled. Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score was assessed immediately preceding the start of the study. Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) Ⅱ scores were recorded on the first, fourth, seventh, and fourteenth day of the study period. GRV was measured every 4 h du...     

Cardiac surgery in patients on chronic hemodialysis: short and long-term survival

OBJECTIVE: Open-heart surgery carries a high risk for hemodialysis patients. This study focuses on the short and long-term outcomes of hemodialysis patients undergoing heart surgery. DESIGN: The study was carried out as a retrospective analysis in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery in a large university-affiliated hospital. PATIENTS: 115 hemodialysis patients underwent cardiac surgery in our department between 1 July 1996 and 31 July 2006. 67.5 % (77 patients) underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), 13.2 % (15 patients) underwent isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR) and 20.2 % (23 patients) underwent mitral valve surgery or combined valve and coronary artery bypass grafting or multiple valve surgery. METHODS: The relationship between several variables (age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, and previous myocardial infarction, type of disease, preoperative ejection fraction, and congestive heart failure) and operative (30 days) mortality and late survival was analyzed. RESULTS: The overall 30-day mortality was 18.3 % (21 patients). It was 13 % (10/77 patients) for the isolated CABG group and 13.3 % (2/15) for the isolated AVR group. Patients undergoing combined valve and coronary surgery or multiple valve surgery had a higher perioperative mortality of 39.1 % (9/23) compared to the isolated CABG and isolated AVR patients. Perioperative death was also higher in patients with moderate and severe LV dysfunction, and in patients with diabetes. The duration of dialysis periods was not related to perioperative death. Mean follow-up was 26.4 +/- 29.7 months (0.1 to 104 months). Actuarial survival at 1 year and 5 years was 76 % and 55 % for isolated CABG, 59 % and 21 % for isolated AVR, and 44 % and 33 % for all other cases, respectively (log rank P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients on dialysis have a high risk of perioperative mortality and poor long-term survival rates. Mortality is higher and survival is worse after combined CABG and valve-related procedures or multiple valve surgery than after isolated CABG and AVR.     

血液透析对慢性肾衰竭患者心脏功能的影响

目的了解血液透析对慢性肾衰竭患者心脏结构、功能变化的影响,分析其相关危险因素.方法回顾本院2004年1～12月透析治疗的慢性肾衰竭患者76例,分开始进入血液透析组(40例)和维持性血液透析组(36例),应用彩色超声测定左室形态及功能各项参数,测定透析前血压及各项实验室指标.结果开始进入血液透析组患者,超声心动图显示75%出现左室肥厚(LVH),30%左心室收缩功能障碍;维持性血液透析组55.6%出现LVH,左心室收缩功能正常,两组差异有统计学意义.维持性血液透析组血红蛋白、血钙、血磷、钙磷聚集和血浆白蛋白升高,C反应蛋白降低.结论维持性血液透析后,患者左心室功能改善,可能与贫血、营养不良及炎症反应的纠正有关.     

Xerostomia in patients on chronic hemodialysis

Xerostomia is the subjective feeling of a dry mouth, which is relatively common in patients on chronic hemodialysis. Xerostomia can be caused by reduced salivary flow secondary to atrophy and fibrosis of the salivary glands, use of certain medications, restriction of fluid intake and old age. In patients undergoing hemodialysis, xerostomia is associated with the following problems: difficulties in chewing, swallowing, tasting and speaking; increased risk of oral disease, including lesions of the mucosa, gingiva and tongue; bacterial and fungal infections, such as candidiasis, dental caries and periodontal disease; interdialytic weight gain resulting from increased fluid intake; and a reduction in quality of life. Unfortunately, no effective treatment exists for xerostomia in patients on chronic hemodialysis. The stimulation of salivary glands by mechanical means (such as chewing gum) or pharmacological agents (such as pilocarpine and angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors, the latter alone or in combination with angiotensin-receptor blockers), as well as saliva substitutes, are all ineffective, or effective only in the short term. Xerostomia remains a frustrating symptom for patients on hemodialysis, and further efforts should be made to find an effective treatment for it in the near future.     

Impact of incident comorbidity on functional loss in elderly chronic kidney disease patients undergoing hemodialysis

The incidence of end stage renal disease in older persons has been increasing progressively over the last 10 years. Improved survival rates with renal replacement therapy are making this increased prevalence even more pronounced. The usual risks of morbidity and requirements for specialized care associated with older people increase dramatically when they have chronic kidney disease (CKD). It has been seen that the majority of patients in hemodialysis units are over the age of 60, and have significant co-morbidities. The relationship between older age, chronic disorders and functional dependence (FD) is well known. Accordingly, nursing care planning must be designed with this in mind. The aim of this study was to assess whether the comorbidity associated with CKD modifies FD in patients on hemodialysis. We undertook a prospective longitudinal cohort study of hemodialysis outpatients in Málaga, Spain, using the Barthel test to establish FD and the Charlson comorbidity index to quantify comorbidity. All health events were analyzed to select those study patients with incident comorbidity, understood as the appearance of a new disease that could modify the Charlson comorbidity index, and determine the change in FD. Multivariate linear regression showed that the best model for predicting functional loss was that which considered comorbidity adjusted for age, particularly when it occurred as a result of hospital admission, as it was shown to have an important predictive value for the onset of a decrease in functional dependency scores in patients with CKD.     

Impact of residual in situ carcinoma on postoperative survival in 125 patients with extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma

Purpose

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of the presence of carcinoma in situ at the bile duct stump on postoperative survival in patients who underwent resection of extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma.

Methods

The patients with resected extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma were divided into three groups according to resected margin status: no evidence of residual carcinoma (Negative group, n?=?96); carcinoma in situ at the bile duct stump (CIS group, n?=?10); and invasive carcinoma at any surgical margin (Invasive group, n?=?19). Cause-specific survival for these groups was compared statistically.

Results

Surgical margin status was identified as a prognostic factor on univariate analysis (p?=?0.005) and was an independent prognostic factor on multivariate analysis (p?=?0.018). The CIS group displayed significantly better survival than the Invasive group (p?=?0.006), and the survival was comparable to that for the Negative group (p?=?0.533). Two of three patients in the CIS group with local recurrence died >5?years after surgical resection.

Conclusions

Patients with positive ductal margins of carcinoma in situ of the extrahepatic bile duct do not appear to show different survival after resection compared to patients with negative margins, but remnant carcinoma in situ is likely to develop late local recurrence.     

Impact of muscle volume and muscle function decline in patients undergoing surgical resection for hepatocellular carcinoma

Background and Aim

This study investigated the prognostic impact of muscle volume loss (MVL) and muscle function decline in patients undergoing resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

This study enrolled 171 naïve HCC patients treated with resection from 2007 to 2015, after excluding those lacking spirometry or computed tomography findings, who had received non‐curative treatments, or with restrictive or obstructive lung disorders. The median peak expiratory flow rate (%PEF) was set as the cut‐off value for muscle function decline, and MVL was diagnosed using a previously reported value. Clinical backgrounds and prognosis were retrospectively evaluated.

Results

Overall survival rate was lower in the MVL (n = 35) as compared with the non‐MVL (n = 136) group (1/3/5‐year overall survival rate = 88.2%/81.6%/55.6% vs 91.0%/81.5%/74.8%, respectively; P = 0.0083), while there were no differences regarding hepatic function or tumor burden between the groups. Child‐Pugh class B (hazard ratio [HR] 3.510, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.558–7.926, P = 0.0025), beyond Milan criteria (HR 1.866, 95%CI: 1.024–3.403, P = 0.042), and presence of MVL (HR 1.896, 95%CI: 1.052–3.416, P = 0.033) were significant prognostic factors. The decreased %PEF group (n = 84) showed a higher rate of postoperative delirium than the others (n = 87) (27.4% vs 11.5%, P = 0.0088). The cut‐off values for %PEF and age for postoperative delirium were 63.3% (area under receiver operating characteristic [AUROC] 0.697) and 73 years old (AUROC 0.734), respectively. Delirium was observed in 50.0% (14/28) of patients with both factors, 23.8% (15/63) of those with 1 factor, and 5.0% (4/80) of those without either factor.

Conclusion

Muscle volume loss is an independent prognostic factor in HCC patients treated with surgical resection, while advanced age and decreased muscle function might indicate high risk for postoperative delirium.     

Causes of hospitalization in patients on chronic hemodialysis

Patients taking dialysis regularly form a group with higher morbidity and mortality compared with common population. The risk factors of the hospitalization in future in these patients are supposed to be: older age, history of cardiovascular disease, comorbidity, vascular access other than arterio-venous fistula, certain types of nephropathy and serum albumin level < 30 g/l. The number of patients in chronic dialysis treatment in Slovakia rises. Therefore we have performed a retrospective study. It's aim was to evaluate the main reasons and risk factors of hospitalizations in chronic haemodialysis patients in Turciansky region. METHODS: 80 patients undergoing regular haemodialysis treatment in 2 dialysis centres during 24 months were included. Following data were collected: age, gender, comorbidity, type of nephropathy, residual diuresis, some data connected with dialysis treatment, laboratory parametres and body mass index. RESULTS: During the given period of time 66 per cent of the patients of our sample required hospitalization. The main reasons of their hospitalization were complications of vascular access (13%), surgery (12%), the sepsis (9%) and serious bleeding (9%). Hospitalized patients showed significantly lower BMI and residual diuresis compared with non-hospitalized ones. They also suffered from greater amount of other diseases. As for gender prevailed men and patients with a history of cardiovascular disease, thrombosis and peptic ulcer. There was no connection between morbidity and age, type of vascular access and laboratory parameters observed.     

老年血液透析患者长期存活疗效分析

为探讨血液透析对老年肾功能衰竭患者长期存活的疗效 ,我们对 1990年以来 6例行 72 8次血液透析老年患者临床资料进行回顾性分析 ,并以 10例成人 6 2 6次血液透析患者为对照组 ,就其临床疗效及并发症进行探讨。1　材料与方法1 1　一般资料　老年组 6例 ,男 4例 ,女 2例 ,年龄 6 0～ 71岁 ,平均 6 5岁 ;作为对照的成人组 10例 ,男 8例 ,女 2例 ,年龄 2 8～ 5 8岁 ,平均 43岁。原发病均为慢性肾小球肾炎。其中无尿型肾衰老年组 4例 ,成人组 5例。两组实验室指标 :老年组 :血红蛋白 (Ｈｂ) (6 2 82± 0 5 8) ｇ/Ｌ ,血清白蛋白 (ＳＡ)(30 0 …     

Plasma aldosterone in hypertensive patients on chronic hemodialysis: distribution, determinants and impact on survival.

A high plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) is known to be associated with poor outcome in patients with cardiac disease. However, the prognostic value of PAC in chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients is unknown. In 1996 we examined 128 hypertensive patients treated with antihypertensive drugs, excluding angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, who were undergoing chronic HD (ages 61.8+/-13.8 years, 62% male), and for whom PAC (ng/dl) data were obtained. We followed up these patients until November 2003. During the follow-up period, 30 patients died. About half of all patients (48%) had PAC values above the normal range. We assigned the 128 patients to a lower (<22.9) or higher (> or = 22.9) PAC group according to the median baseline PAC. The survival rate as calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method was 90.6% in the higher PAC group and 62.5% in the lower PAC group (p=0.003). In multivariate analysis, serum potassium and plasma renin activity were independent determinants of PAC. Cox proportional hazards analysis, with adjustment for other variables including diabetes, showed that lower PAC was independently predictive of death. The adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) of the lower PAC group was 2.905 (1.187-7.112, p=0.020). The significance of PAC became marginal by adjustment with albumin or potassium. These results indicate that higher PAC is common, but not associated with an increase in total and cardiovascular deaths among hypertensive patients undergoing chronic HD. The association between lower PAC and poor survival may be driven by volume retention and/or lower potassium.     

Circulatory state of patients on chronic hemodialysis

In 16 patients on chronic hemodialysis, the cardiac catheterization was performed. They had received the hemodialytic treatment for 41 months in the average. All but two cases had cardiothoracic ratio above 50%. It was 58 +/- 7% in all. The laboratory data, body weight, or the interdialytic body weight change was comparable with those of other patients with normal heart size. Pericardial effusion was denied by echocardiographic study. Cardiac index and the left ventricular stroke work index were higher than normal; 4.7 L/min/m2, and 85 +/- 31 g.m/m2 respectively. Cardiac index was higher than 3.9 L/min/m2 in 11 patients and left ventricular stroke work index was above 68 g.m/m2 (= mean value of control). The pulmonary artery wedge pressure was 16 +/- 6 mmHg and abnormally high in six patients (greater than 15 mmHg). The pulmonary artery wedge pressure was found to be correlated with the cardiac work (r = 0.53, p less than 0.02), and with the cardiothoracic ratio (r = 0.64, po less than 0.02). The present study revealed a circulatory abnormality of pulmonary congestion which may be brought by an excessive load upon the heart in the renal failure patients A further increase in the cardiac work by aggravation of anemia, retention of body fluid, or the elevation of blood pressure may easily result in an acute pulmonary edema. The reduction of the load by vasodilator may be useful for the relief of the acute rise of the pulmonary artery wedge pressure as suggested in the study of a small group in the present paper.     

Impact of intradialytic blood pressure changes on cardiovascular outcomes is independent of the volume status of maintenance hemodialysis patients

Intradialytic systolic blood pressure (SBP) changes are related to the volume status; however, whether SBP change impacts on adverse outcomes depends on the volume status remains uncertain. We retrospectively investigated the relationship among intradialytic changes in SBP, cardiovascular outcomes, and volume status in maintenance hemodialysis patients. We determined SBP changes (ΔSBP) as postdialysis SBP minus predialysis SBP and volume status as the ratio of extracellular water to total body water (ECW/TBW) using bioelectrical impedance analysis. There were 82 (60.3%) with ΔSBP ?20 to 10 mm Hg, 21 (15.4%) with ΔSBP ≤ ?20 mm Hg, and 33 (24.3%) with ΔSBP ≥ 10 mm Hg, and they were followed up for a median of 34 months. Cardiovascular events more frequently occurred in the patients with ΔSBP ≤ ?20 mm Hg and ≥ 10 mm Hg (hazard ratio: 2.3 and 3.0; P = .062 and .006); these associations persisted even after adjusting for postdialysis ECW/TBW (P = .056 and .028). Moreover, ΔSBP ≥ 10 mm Hg was associated with increased cardiovascular mortalities independent of postdialysis ECW/TBW (P = .043). There was an independent association of volume status between considerable SBP decrease or increase during hemodialysis and adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Besides appropriate volume control, other factors related to BP changes during hemodialysis must be investigated.