Pelvic emergency management: the first 24 hours

Pelvic ring injuries are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the polytrauma patient. Mortality rates from pelvic ring injuries have declined, unrelated to injury severity. This is due to an improved understanding of trauma as a disease, initial and subsequent management options. There are a number of guidelines pertaining to these injuries. These have been brought together to provide an overview of the current guidance on the emergent management of these complex injuries. The foundations of treatment for these injuries includes the following: recognition of the high energy involved, rapid assessment, resuscitation and temporary stabilization of bony and soft tissue injuries. It is important to involve a multidisciplinary team prior to definitive management. By following the guidance set out by this article, the orthopaedic trauma team in the receiving hospital can optimize the patient and prepare them for transfer to the regional major trauma centre. This will improve patient morbidity and mortality and ensure standardization of pelvic trauma management in the first 24 hours.     

Dose-dependent benefits of quercetin on tumorigenesis in the C3(1)/SV40Tag transgenic mouse model of breast cancer

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer related death in women. Quercetin is a flavonol shown to have anti-carcinogenic actions. However, few studies have investigated the dose-dependent effects of quercetin on tumorigenesis and none have used the C3(1)/SV40 Tag breast cancer mouse model. At 4 weeks of age female C3(1)/SV40 Tag mice were randomized to one of four dietary treatments (n = 15–16/group): control (no quercetin), low-dose quercetin (0.02% diet), moderate-dose quercetin (0.2% diet), or high-dose quercetin (2% diet). Tumor number and volume was assessed twice a week and at sacrifice (20 wks). Results showed an inverted ‘U’ dose-dependent effect of dietary quercetin on tumor number and volume; at sacrifice the moderate dose was most efficacious and reduced tumor number 20% and tumor volume 78% compared to control mice (C3-Con: 9.0 ± 0.9; C3-0.2%: 7.3 ± 0.9) and (C3-Con: 2061.8 ± 977.0 mm³; and C3-0.2%: 462.9 ± 75.9 mm³). Tumor volume at sacrifice was also reduced by the moderate dose compared to the high and low doses (C3-2%: 1163.2 ± 305.9 mm³; C3-0.02%: 1401.5 ± 555.6 mm³), as was tumor number (C3-2%: 10.7 ± 1.3 mm³; C3-0.02%: 8.1 ± 1.1 mm³). Gene expression microarray analysis performed on mammary glands from C3-Con and C3-0.2% mice determined that 31 genes were down-regulated and 9 genes were up-regulated more than 2-fold (P < 0.05) by quercetin treatment. We report the novel finding that there is a distinct dose-dependent effect of quercetin on tumor number and volume in a transgenic mouse model of human breast cancer, which is associated with a specific gene expression signature related to quercetin treatment.     

Cardiac resynchronization therapy guided by late gadolinium-enhancement cardiovascular magnetic resonance

Background

Myocardial scarring at the LV pacing site leads to incomplete resynchronization and a suboptimal symptomatic response to CRT. We sought to determine whether the use of late gadolinium cardiovascular magnetic resonance (LGE-CMR) to guide left ventricular (LV) lead deployment influences the long-term outcome of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

Methods

559 patients with heart failure (age 70.4 ± 10.7 yrs [mean ± SD]) due to ischemic or non-ischemic cardiomyopathy underwent CRT. Implantations were either guided (+CMR) or not guided (-CMR) by LGE-CMR prior to implantation. Fluoroscopy and LGE-CMR were used to localize the LV lead tip and and myocardial scarring retrospectively. Clinical events were assessed in three groups: +CMR and pacing scar (+CMR+S); CMR and not pacing scar (+CMR-S), and; LV pacing not guided by CMR (-CMR).

Results

Over a maximum follow-up of 9.1 yrs, +CMR+S had the highest risk of cardiovascular death (HR: 6.34), cardiovascular death or hospitalizations for heart failure (HR: 5.57) and death from any cause or hospitalizations for major adverse cardiovascular events (HR: 4.74) (all P < 0.0001), compared with +CMR-S. An intermediate risk of meeting these endpoints was observed for -CMR, with HRs of 1.51 (P = 0.0726), 1.61 (P = 0.0169) and 1.87 (p = 0.0005), respectively. The +CMR+S group had the highest risk of death from pump failure (HR: 5.40, p < 0.0001) and sudden cardiac death (HR: 4.40, p = 0.0218), in relation to the +CMR-S group.

Conclusions

Compared with a conventional implantation approach, the use of LGE-CMR to guide LV lead deployment away from scarred myocardium results in a better clinical outcome after CRT. Pacing scarred myocardium was associated with the worst outcome, in terms of both pump failure and sudden cardiac death.     

Hemofiltration compared to hemodialysis for acute kidney injury: systematic review and meta-analysis

ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION: The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the effect of renal replacement therapy (RRT), delivered as hemofiltration vs. hemodialysis, on clinical outcomes in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI). METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL databases and conference abstracts were searched to June 2012 for parallel-group or crossover randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating hemofiltration vs. hemodialysis in patients with AKI. Two authors independently selected studies and abstracted data on study quality and outcomes. Additional information was obtained from trial authors. We pooled data using random-effects models. RESULTS: Of 6657 citations, 19 RCTs (10 parallel-group and 9 crossover) met inclusion criteria. Sixteen trials used continuous RRT. Study quality was variable. The primary analysis included 3 parallel-group trials comparing similar doses of hemofiltration and hemodialysis; sensitivity analyses included trials comparing combined hemofiltration-hemodialysis or dissimilar doses. We found no effect of hemofiltration on mortality (risk ratio [RR] 0.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.73-1.25, p=0.76; 3 trials, n=121 [primary analysis]; RR 1.10, 95%CI 0.88-1.38, p=0.38; 8 trials, n=540 [sensitivity analysis]) or other clinical outcomes (RRT dependence in survivors, vasopressor use, organ dysfunction) compared to hemodialysis. Hemofiltration appeared to shorten time to filter failure (mean difference [MD] -7 hours, 95%CI[-19,+5], p=0.24; 2 trials, n=50 [primary analysis]; MD -5 hours, 95%CI[-10, -1], p=0.01; 3 trials, n=113 [including combined hemofiltration-hemodialysis trials comparing similar doses]; MD -6 hours, 95% CI[-10, -1], p=0.02; 5 trials, n=383 [sensitivity analysis]). Data primarily from crossover RCTs suggested that hemofiltration increased clearance of medium to larger molecules, including inflammatory cytokines, compared to hemodialysis, although almost no studies measured changes in serum concentrations. Meta-analyses were based on very limited data. CONCLUSIONS: Data from small RCTs do not suggest beneficial clinical outcomes from hemofiltration, but confidence intervals were wide. Hemofiltration may increase clearance of medium to larger molecules. Larger trials are required to evaluate effects on clinical outcomes.     

Optimal Mode of clearance in critically ill patients with Acute Kidney Injury (OMAKI) - a pilot randomized controlled trial of hemofiltration versus hemodialysis: a Canadian Critical Care Trials Group project

Introduction

Among critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) needing continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), the effect of convective (via continuous venovenous hemofiltration [CVVH]) versus diffusive (via continuous venovenous hemodialysis [CVVHD]) solute clearance on clinical outcomes is unclear. Our objective was to evaluate the feasibility of comparing these two modes in a randomized trial.

Methods

This was a multicenter open-label parallel-group pilot randomized trial of CVVH versus CVVHD. Using concealed allocation, we randomized critically ill adults with AKI and hemodynamic instability to CVVH or CVVHD, with a prescribed small solute clearance of 35 mL/kg/hour in both arms. The primary outcome was trial feasibility, defined by randomization of >25% of eligible patients, delivery of >75% of the prescribed CRRT dose, and follow-up of >95% of patients to 60 days. A secondary analysis using a mixed-effects model examined the impact of therapy on illness severity, defined by sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, over the first week.

Results

We randomized 78 patients (mean age 61.5 years; 39% women; 23% with chronic kidney disease; 82% with sepsis). Baseline SOFA scores (mean 15.9, SD 3.2) were similar between groups. We recruited 55% of eligible patients, delivered >80% of the prescribed dose in each arm, and achieved 100% follow-up. SOFA tended to decline more over the first week in CVVH recipients (-0.8, 95% CI -2.1, +0.5) driven by a reduction in vasopressor requirements. Mortality (54% CVVH; 55% CVVHD) and dialysis dependence in survivors (24% CVVH; 19% CVVHD) at 60 days were similar.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that a large trial comparing CVVH to CVVHD would be feasible. There is a trend toward improved vasopressor requirements among CVVH-treated patients over the first week of treatment.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov: {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT00675818","term_id":"NCT00675818"}}NCT00675818     

An efficient record linkage scheme using graphical analysis for identifier error detection

Background  

Integration of information on individuals (record linkage) is a key problem in healthcare delivery, epidemiology, and "business intelligence" applications. It is now common to be required to link very large numbers of records, often containing various combinations of theoretically unique identifiers, such as NHS numbers, which are both incomplete and error-prone.     

Intestinal microcirculation and gut permeability in acute pancreatitis: Early changes and therapeutic implications

Translocation of bacteria from the intestine causes local and systemic infection in severe acute pancreatitis. Increased intestinal permeability is considered a promoter of bacterial translocation. The mechanism leading to increased gut permeability may involve impaired intestinal capillary blood flow. The aim of this study was to evaluate and correlate early changes in capillary blood flow and permeability of the colon in acute rodent pancreatitis of graded severity. Edematous pancreatitis was induced by intravenous cerulein; necrotizing pancreatitis by intravenous cerulein and intraductal glycodeoxycholic acid. Six hours after induction of pancreatitis, the permeability of the ascending colon was assessed by the Ussing chamber technique; capillary perfusion of the pancreas and colon (mucosal and subserosal) was determined by intravital microscopy. In mild pancreatitis, pancreatic capillary perfusion remained unchanged (2.13 ± 0.06 vs. 1.98 ± 0.04 nl-min^−l.cap ⁻¹ [control]; P = NS), whereas mucosal (1.59 _± 0.03 vs. 2.28 ± 0.03 nl.min^−l.cap ⁻¹ [control]; P <0.01) and subserosal (2.47 ± 0.04 vs. 3.74 ± 0.05 nl-min^−l.cap ^-1 [control]; P <0.01) colonic capillary blood flow was significantly reduced. Severe pancreatitis was associated with a marked reduction in both pancreatic (1.06 = 0.03 vs. 1.98 ± 0.04 nl’min^-1.cap ^-1 [control]; P <0.01) and colonic (mucosal: 0.59 = 0.01 vs. 2.28 ± 0.03 nl.min^−l.cap ^-1 [control], P < 0.01; subserosal: 1.96 ± 0.05 vs. 3.74 ± 0.05 nl.min^−l.cap ^-1 [control], P <0.01) capillary perfusion. Colon permeability tended to increase with the severity of the disease (control: 147 ±19 nmol.hr^−l.cm {−2}2; mild pancreatitis: 158±23 nmol-hr^−l.cm^-2; severe pancreatitis: 181 ±33 nmol.hr^−l.cm^-2; P = NS). Impairment of colonic capillary perfusion correlates with the severity of pancreatitis. A decrease in capillary blood flow in the colon, even in mild pancreatitis not associated with significant protease activation and acinar cell necrosis or impairment of pancreatic capillary perfusion, suggests that colonic microcirculation is especially susceptible to inflammatory injury. There was no significant change in intestinal permeability in the early stage of pancreatitis, suggesting a window of opportunity for therapeutic interventions to prevent the later-observed increase in gut permeability, which could result in improved intestinal microcirculation. Presented at the Thirty-Seventh Annual Meeting of The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, San Diego, Calif., May 19–22, 1996. Supported in part by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG Fo 197/3).