Routine chest x-rays in intensive care units: a systematic review and meta-analysis

ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION: Chest x-rays (CXRs) are the most frequent radiological tests performed in the intensive care unit (ICU). However, the utility of performing daily routine CXRs is unclear. METHODS: We searched Medline and Embase (1948 to March 2011) for randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and before-after observational studies comparing a strategy of routine CXRs to a more restrictive approach with CXRs performed to investigate clinical changes among critically ill adults or children. In duplicate, we extracted data on the CXR strategy, study quality and clinical outcomes (ICU and hospital mortality; duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU and hospital stay). RESULTS: Nine studies (39,358 CXRs; 9,611 patients) were included in the meta-analysis. Three trials (N = 870) of moderate to good quality provided information on the safety of a restrictive routine CXR strategy; only one trial systematically assessed for missed findings. Pooled data from trials showed no evidence of effect of a restrictive approach on ICU mortality (risk ratio [RR] 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.84 to 1.28, P = 0.72; two trials, N = 776), hospital mortality (RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.68 to 1.41, P = 0.91; two trials, N = 259), ICU length of stay (weighted mean difference [WMD] -0.86 days, 95% CI -2.38 to 0.66 days, P = 0.27; three trials, N = 870), hospital length of stay (WMD -2.50 days, 95% CI -6.62 to 1.61 days, P = 0.23; two trials, N = 259), or duration of mechanical ventilation (WMD -0.30 days, 95% CI -1.48 to 0.89 days, P = 0.62; three trials, N = 705). Adding data from six observational studies, one of which systematically screened for missed findings, gave similar results. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis did not detect any harm associated with a restrictive chest radiograph strategy. However, confidence intervals were wide and harm was not rigorously assessed. Therefore, the safety of abandoning routine CXRs in patients admitted to the ICU remains uncertain.     

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     

Supine versus upright anterior images: comparison in T1-201 myocardial scintigraphy

In patients undergoing exercise thallium-201 myocardial scintigraphy, activity in the inferior wall on anterior images may appear diminished when the standard supine view is used, but normal when the view is acquired with the patient upright. To determine the clinical significance of this observation, the distribution of thallium-201 activity was semiquantitatively assessed in supine and upright anterior images obtained immediately after exercise in 93 patients (65 men, 28 women). The presence of inferior wall and coronary artery disease was established with coronary angiography or from documentation of previous myocardial infarction. Supine and upright images were compared with use of receiver operating characteristic curves. In male patients diagnostic accuracy for identification of both inferior wall and coronary artery disease was improved through the use of the upright anterior image. In women, there was no significant difference in reader performance with upright and supine images. Upright anterior images should be routinely obtained in men in order to reduce the frequency of false-positive identification of inferior wall defects.     

Infection versus tumor in the spine: criteria for distinction with CT

To develop criteria to distinguish among pyogenic infection, nonpyogenic infection, and neoplastic processes in the spine by means of computed tomography (CT), the authors retrospectively analyzed 17 cases of pyogenic infection (20 sites), 40 cases of neoplastic disease (56 sites), and five cases of granulomatous infection (eight sites). Reliable criteria for pyogenic infection were complete prevertebral soft-tissue involvement, diffuse osteolytic destruction, gas within both bone and soft tissue, and a process centering on an intervertebral disk. Neoplastic disease was characterized by posterior element involvement, partial or absent prevertebral soft-tissue swelling, and osteoblastic alterations. In a limited number of cases, nonpyogenic infection was characterized by focal lytic bone involvement and marginal sclerosis. Blinded testing of these criteria indicated potential for improved diagnostic accuracy in clinical practice.     

重组人血小板生长因子和重组人粒细胞集落刺激因子对急性放射病猴的治疗作用

目的 本文作者观察了rhTPO和rhG-CSF对急性放射病猴的治疗效果, 旨在为造血因子的临床应用提供理论依据。方法 正常雄性成年猕猴20只, 随机分为rhTPO10μg·kg^-1·d^-1、G-CSF10μg·kg^-1·d^-1、TPO+G-CSF和照射对照4组。动物照射的吸收剂量为5.0Gy(300kVX射线, 吸收剂量率为0.20～0.22Gy/min);给药方法 均为皮下注射, 连续给药21天。结果 ①外周血小板：照后第7天TPO治疗组开始下降, 第10天达最低值(45%, 以照前值为100%, 下同), 第14天达照前值水平, 第21天达最高值(311%), 第30天仍为263%.G-CSF治疗组第9天仅为照前值的10%, 照后第30天接近照前水平(92%).对照组照后第7天开始迅速下降, 第16天达最低值(9%), 仅为TPO治疗组的5.9%(P<0.01), 第30天(80%)仍未恢复到照前值水平。②外周血网织红细胞百分比：4组动物照后均迅速下降, TPO治疗组于照后第8天达最低值(11%), 低于照前值50%的时间为8天, 第12天开始迅速回升, 第20天达最高值(402%).G-CSF治疗组及对照组动物下降程度更为迅速, 第9天分别为照前值的7%和9%, 低于照前值孙%的时m均长达16大, 照石第29和27天达最高值(分别为352%和408%)o③外周血白细胞：G-CSF治疗组于照后第7天迅速降至4.9%, 第20夭回升至照前水平, 停药后又降至89%~74%oTPO治疗组及对照组变化趋势一致, 低于SO%照前值的时间均为23天, 照后第30天仍未恢复至照前水平(分别为65.3%和46.6%)0④病程极期对照组动物均接受了2--3次血小板悬液或全血输注, 而TPO或G-CSF治疗组动物均不需要精血或输血小板悬液。结论 重组人TPO可明显促进S.OGy照射猴外周血小板和网织红细胞的恢复。G-CSF可明显地促进照射动物外周血白细胞的恢复。这些造血因子为事故性急性放射病等造血功能障碍性疾病的临床治疗显示了良好的前景。     

Unsatisfactory hepatic perfusion after placement of an implanted pump and catheter system: angiographic correlation

Thirty-five patients with scintigrams showing unsatisfactory hepatic artery perfusion after surgical placement of an implanted pump and catheter system were examined with selective angiography (33 cases) or digital subtraction angiography (DSA) during which the contrast material was injected through the side port of the pump (six cases). In 34 of 35 cases, the cause of the unsatisfactory (either extrahepatic or incomplete) hepatic perfusion was defined. DSA was definitive in only two cases, in which extrahepatic flow through collateral vessels was demonstrated. The cause of the perfusion defect was hepatic artery thrombosis in 14 cases, extrahepatic flow through collateral vessels in 14 cases, a misplaced catheter in four cases, and a short proper hepatic artery without adequate length for mixing in two cases. Although hepatic artery perfusion scintigraphy is the primary tool for evaluation of hepatic perfusion after catheter placement, angiography plays an important role in treating the subset of patients with unsatisfactory hepatic perfusion.