Lung ultrasound in the management of acute decompensated heart failure

Once thought impracticable, lung ultrasound is now used in patients with a variety of pulmonary processes. This review seeks to describe the utility of lung ultrasound in the management of patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). A literature search was carried out on PubMed/Medline using search terms related to the topic. Over three thousand results were narrowed down via title and/or abstract review. Related articles were downloaded for full review. Case reports, letters, reviews and editorials were excluded. Lung ultrasonographic multiple B-lines are a good indicator of alveolar interstitial syndrome but are not specific for ADHF. The absence of multiple B-lines can be used to rule out ADHF as a causative etiology. In clinical scenarios where the assessment of acute dyspnea boils down to single or dichotomous pathologies, lung ultrasound can help rule in ADHF. For patients being treated for ADHF, lung ultrasound can also be used to monitor response to therapy. Lung ultrasound is an important adjunct in the management of patients with acute dyspnea or ADHF.     

原发性闭角型青光眼脉络膜厚度的变化

目的:探讨原发性急性闭角型青光眼(APACG)、原发性慢性闭角型青光眼(CPACG)脉络膜厚度(CT)的变化及相关因素。方法:回顾性研究。选取APACG患者35例43眼,CPACG患者26例46眼和正常对照组46例81眼参与这项研究。EDI-OCT用于测量和比较APACG、CPACG及正常对照组黄斑中心凹下、距黄斑中心凹2mm鼻侧、颞侧、上方、下方的CT,分别标记为黄斑中心凹下脉络膜厚度(SFCT),鼻2mm(N 2mm)、颞2mm(T 2mm)、上2mm(S 2mm)、下2mm(I 2mm)。进行线性回归分析探讨CT的相关因素。使用Logistic回归模型分析CT与APACG、CPACG的关系。结果:APACG,CPACG和正常对照组在所有位点的CT均无差异(P>0.05)。所有位点的CT与眼轴长度(AL)呈负相关。N 2mm、I 2mm还与年龄、前房深度(ACD)呈负相关,SFCT与年龄、AL呈负相关(P<0.05)。多因素Logistic回归分析表明,S 2mm与APACG存在相关性(P=0.029),OR值和95%的置信区间为0.975(0.953,0.997)。各位点CT与CPACG无相关性(P>0.05)。结论:年龄、AL、ACD是CT的相关因素。S 2mm的变薄与APACG相关。然而,CPACG与各位点CT不存在相关性。     

连续性血液净化对重症急性胰腺炎血浆炎症介质的影响

【摘要】　目的 探讨连续性血液净化(CBP)对重症急性胰腺炎(SAP)患者血浆炎症介质的影响。方法 对36例重症急性胰腺炎患者进行CBP治疗,使用ELISA法检测治疗前和治疗后24 h、48 h血浆TNF -α、IL -1β、IL -6、IL -8的浓度,并与同期健康人群做比较。结果 31例患者好转出院,存活率为86.1%,血生化指标明显改善;SAP患者血浆TNF -α、IL -1β、IL -6、IL -8浓度显著高于正常对照组,CBP治疗24 h后四种细胞因子明显低于治疗前水平(P<0.05),治疗48 h后有不同程度的回升,但仍低于治疗前水平(P<0.05)。结论 CBP可有效清除SAP患者血浆炎症介质,从而阻断全身炎症反应,改善预后。     

Two-Stage Arthroplasty for Prosthetic Joint Infection : A Systematic Review of Acute Kidney Injury,Systemic Toxicity and Infection Control

Periprosthetic infections of hip and knee joints are now treated by two-stage revision arthroplasty with an infection control rate of 91%. The present systematic review studied the reported incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) and infection recurrence from January 1989 to June 2012 to assess the risk–benefit ratio of antibiotic spacer use. Ten observational studies (n = 544 patients) with clinical outcomes showed an average incidence of AKI of 4.8%. The average reported persistence or recurrence rate of infection was 11% during a follow-up period that ranged from 13 to 108 months. The risk–benefit ratio presently favors treatment although there appears to be higher complication rates and incidence of AKI than previously reported. Marked heterogeneity in practice and lack of detail in reporting precluded more robust quantitative synthesis. Clinicians need to be aware of the potential risk of AKI, particularly in high-risk patients; practice patterns for the use of antibiotic spacers need to be standardized.     

Acute Renal Failure and Mortality After Open-Heart Surgery in Infants

Acute renal failure (ARF) is a major complication in infants who undergo cardiac surgery. The aim of this investigation was to identify possible risk factors for ARF and mortality in this patients group. Out of 64 patients, 21 (32.8%) cases developed acute renal failure and overall mortality rate was 25%. The mortality rate was higher in the infants who developed ARF than those who did not (66.7% and 4.7%, respectively, p < 0.05). Also, ARF was positively correlated with mortality (r:0.70, p < 0.0001). The nonsurvivors had lower mean serum albumin than did the survivors (p < 0.05), and serum albumin level was negatively correlated with mortality (r = ? 0.34, p < 0.05). For the patients with serum albumin level < 3.5 g/dL, the unadjusted odds ratio for mortality was 4.3 (CI 95%:1.05 ? 17.86). Total bypass time and aorta clamping time were significantly longer in the nonsurvivor group than in the survivor group (p < 0.05 for both). In conclusion, the significant risk factors for mortality in these patients were development of ARF, low serum albumin level, and long total bypass and aorta clamping times, which may be predictive of poor prognosis.     

High Prevalence of Undiagnosed Kidney Disease in Those Presenting with Troponin Positive Acute Coronary Syndrome

Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence and knowledge of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in those presenting to a District General Hospital (DGH) in the United Kingdom with troponin positive acute coronary syndrome (ACS) as compared to a sample of the general population. Methods: A retrospective observational study. Data were collected from ProForma completed during the 18-month period from 1 November 2007 to 30 April 2009. The stage of CKD and the proportion of undocumented CKD at presentation were calculated and the mean stage was compared with the general practice population (of similar demographics) sampled by de Lusignan et al. (Identifying patients with chronic kidney disease from general practice computer records. Fam Pract. 2005;22:234–241.) using the t-test statistics. Results: A total of 936 patients (600 men and 336 women) presented with troponin positive ACS; their mean stage of CKD = 2.874 ± 0.024. This was significantly different from the mean stage of CKD = 1.999 ± 0.004 found within the general population (p < 0.001). About 58.6% of patients with CKD stages 4 or 5 had no knowledge or documentation of their renal impairment. Conclusions: Among those presenting to hospital with troponin positive ACS were many patients with undocumented severe renal impairment, emphasizing the need for general practitioners to screen for renal disease and refer to specialist nephrology services where appropriate. Joint renal and cardiac clinics may offer better care for this group of patients’ long-term care.     

Effect of Fenoldopam Mesylate in Critically Ill Patients at Risk for Acute Renal Failure is Dose Dependent

Background: Acute renal failure (ARF) is common and difficult to prevent, especially in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with cancer. Therapeutic trials with various agents have generally been ineffective in preventing ARF. We describe the effects of two different doses of the dopamine DA-1 receptor agonist fenoldopam mesylate on renal function in a series of critically ill cancer patients at risk of developing ARF. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of 100 consecutive patients who received fenoldopam mesylate for at least 72 h in the medical and surgical ICUs of The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center who were at risk of developing ARF. Eighteen patients received low-dose fenoldopam mesylate (≤ 0.05 µg/kg/min). The remaining 82 patients received high-dose fenoldopam mesylate (0.07–0.1 µg/kg/min). Data were collected relating to drug dosage, patient demographics, severity of illness, and indices of renal function. Results: Patients were moderately ill, with a mean APACHE II score of 18 ± 6 at initiation of fenoldopam infusion. Eighty-five percent of patients had at least two risk factors for the development of ARF, and 20% had four. For the group overall, the incidence of ARF was 13%, and the hospital mortality rate was 37%. When compared with the low-dose group, patients who received high-dose fenoldopam had a significantly shorter ICU length of stay despite a significantly higher APACHE II score (p = 0.01). The high-dose group also had a highly significant decrease in serum creatinine levels at 72 h (p = 0.005). Conclusions: These data support the hypothesis that fenoldopam mesylate may provide a degree of dose-dependent renal protection in cancer patients with early acute renal failure.