Admission to intensive care of very old patients

THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM: Because of the costs of intensive care, there is a possibility that access to this sector may be limited for those above a certain age. It would therefore appear necessary to develop an ethical clinical strategy in order to assess as precisely as possible and on individual level, the benefits and risks of these techniques, since age itself is simply a criterion among so many others. Among the elements that are important for the decision is the respect of the patient's wish, when it can be obtained since this is a fundamental point. In studies conducted in the United States, 50 to 90% of the elderly persons interviewed did not wish to be resuscitated in the case of cardiac arrest. CRITERIA FOR ADMISSION: The decision to admit an elderly patient in an intensive care unit must take into account the functional state of the patient, appreciated on daily activity and mobility scores and the neuro-psychological assessment, before hospitalization. In parallel, the severity of the underlying disease and the impact on visceral failures, assessed by the severity scores on admission appear to be more reliable prognostic elements than the patients' age itself. FOLLOWING RESUSCITATION: The quality of life of elderly patients within the months following resuscitation is difficult to assess, but is considered as acceptable in the majority of surviving patients. IN PRACTICE: The choice of admission in intensive care of an elderly patient requires a multidisciplinary approach that takes into account the patient's and/or family's wishes, the benefit/risk ratio of the technical act but which also, in certain cases, bears in mind the principle of end of life and the patient's dignity.     

Predictive factors of mortality due to polymicrobial peritonitis with Candida isolation in peritoneal fluid in critically ill patients

BACKGROUND: Candida peritonitis (CP) is generally considered to be a severe disease, but its impact on outcome in critically ill patients remains unknown. HYPOTHESIS: The predictive factors of mortality due to CP can be determined by study of a population of patients with CP. DESIGN: A retrospective review of a prospective surgical intensive care unit (ICU) database of patients (January 1, 1994, through December 31, 2000). SETTING: University hospital in Paris, France. PATIENTS: Eighty-three patients with generalized CP. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Demographic and microbiologic data and outcome were collected, and nonsurvivors were compared with survivors. RESULTS: Overall ICU mortality due to CP was 43 (52%) of 83 patients. In a stepwise multivariate logistic regression, the following 4 variables were independently associated with mortality: APACHE II (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II) score on admission of at least 17 (odds ratio [OR], 28.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.7-142.5; P<.001), respiratory failure on admission (OR, 10.6; 95% CI, 2.2-51.2; P =.003), upper gastrointestinal tract site of peritonitis (OR, 7.7; 95% CI, 1.7-34.7; P =.007), and results of direct examination of peritoneal fluid that were positive for Candida (OR, 4.7; 95% CI, 1.2-19.7; P =.002). CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm the severity of CP in ICU patients and emphasize the prognostic value of direct examination of peritoneal fluid for Candida in this context.     

The renal epidemiology and information network (REIN): a new registry for end-stage renal disease in France.

The French Renal Epidemiology and Information Network (REIN) registry began in 2002 to provide a tool for public health decision support, evaluation and research related to renal replacement therapies (RRT) for end-stage renal disease (ESRD). It relies on a network of nephrologists, epidemiologists, patients and public health representatives, coordinated regionally and nationally. Continuous registration covers all dialysis and transplanted patients. In 2003, 2070 patients started RRT, 7854 were on dialysis and 7294 lived with a functioning graft in seven regions (with a population of 16.5 million people). The overall crude annual incidence rate of RRT for ESRD was 123 per million population (p.m.p.) with significant differences in age-adjusted rates across regions, from 84 [95% confidence interval (CI): 74-94] to 155 [138-172] p.m.p. The principal causes of ESRD were hypertension (21%) and diabetic (20%) nephropathies. Initial treatment for ESRD was peritoneal dialysis for 15% of patients and a pre-emptive graft for 3%. The one-year survival rate was 81% [79-83] in the cohort of 2002-2003 incident patients. As of December 31, 2003, the overall crude prevalence was 898 [884-913] p.m.p, with 5% of patients receiving peritoneal dialysis, 47% on haemodialysis and 48% with a functioning graft. The experience in these seven regions over these two years clearly shows the feasibility of the REIN registry, which is progressively expanding to cover the entire country.     

Follicular lymphoma international prognostic index

The prognosis of follicular lymphomas (FL) is heterogeneous and numerous treatments may be proposed. A validated prognostic index (PI) would help in evaluating and choosing these treatments. Characteristics at diagnosis were collected from 4167 patients with FL diagnosed between 1985 and 1992. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to propose a PI. This index was then tested on 919 patients. Five adverse prognostic factors were selected: age (> 60 years vs 60 years), Ann Arbor stage (III-IV vs I-II), hemoglobin level (< 120 g/L vs 120 g/L), number of nodal areas (> 4 vs 4), and serum LDH level (above normal vs normal or below). Three risk groups were defined: low risk (0-1 adverse factor, 36% of patients), intermediate risk (2 factors, 37% of patients, hazard ratio [HR] of 2.3), and poor risk ( 3 adverse factors, 27% of patients, HR = 4.3). This Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI) appeared more discriminant than the International Prognostic Index proposed for aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Results were very similar in the confirmation group. The FLIPI may be used for improving treatment choices, comparing clinical trials, and designing studies to evaluate new treatments.      

Prevalence of skin infections in sheltered homeless

In an attempt to determine the prevalence of various skin infections in the homeless population in Marseilles, France, we undertook a case control study. Cases were recruited among institutionalized homeless subjects during two snapshot investigations conducted in January 2002 and 2003 respectively. The control subjects were recruited from among those who presented at a clinic for pre-travel advice. We recruited 498 cases and 200 control subjects. Compared to control subjects, a significantly higher proportion of cases had skin diseases (38% versus 0.5%; p < 0.0001). Pruritus, body-lice infestation, scratching lesions, folliculitis, tinea pedis, scabies and impetigo (ecthyma) were strongly significantly associated with homelessness. The higher prevalence of skin infections in the homeless people mainly results from the body-louse infestation, scabies, bacterial super-infection of skin surfaces that have been breached by frequent scratching and tinea pedis due to poor foot hygiene.     

High frequency of cholestasis in generalized pustular psoriasis: Evidence for neutrophilic involvement of the biliary tract

Generalized pustular psoriasis is a rare form of psoriasis that is sometimes associated with extracutaneous manifestations. Evidence for biliary involvement has been suggested in isolated cases. We investigated the prevalence and nature of liver abnormalities occurring in this disease. Twenty-two patients consecutively admitted for generalized pustular psoriasis who underwent liver biological tests at the time of the attack and during the following weeks were included. Twenty patients (90%) had at least one abnormal biological liver parameter. Eleven patients (50%) had pronounced abnormalities: jaundice (4/22), gammaglutamyl transferase higher than 5 times the normal value (10/22), alkaline phosphatase higher than twice the normal value (7/22), and/or aminotransferases higher than 3 times the normal value (7/22). These abnormalities returned to normal range at the time of remission of pustular psoriasis, suggesting that severe liver abnormalities could be associated with severe cutaneous disease. Neutrophilic cholangitis was observed on liver biopsy. Persistent magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography features similar to those observed in sclerosing cholangitis were found in 3 of the 4 patients studied. No causal factor other than pustular psoriasis could be identified. In conclusion, our results demonstrate the high frequency of liver abnormalities in patients with generalized pustular psoriasis. Biliary involvement related to neutrophilic cholangitis should be added to the spectrum of extracutaneous manifestations of this disease, and physicians should be aware of such a complication.