Risk Of Multiple Organ Failure Research Articles

Determining if Admission Thromboelastography can Predict the Development of Late Resolving Multiple Organ Failure in Trauma Patients.

Normal coagulation TEG values on admission negatively correlate with overall risk of multiple organ failure, but less is known about association between coagulation and late-resolving multiple organ failure (LRMOF) risk. Here, the relationship between TEG parameters and development of LRMOF was investigated. We conducted a retrospective assessment of patients at high postinjury multiple organ failure risk at our center. The primary outcome was LRMOF. Analysis included 742 patients. Demographics were 76% male, mean age of 41, mean ISS of 23, 34% hypercoagulability, and 16% developed LRMOF. Patients with normal admission TEG developed LRMOF at significantly lower unadjusted rates than patients with coagulation disturbances (9 vs 16%-19%, P = 0.029); however, multivariable logistic regression demonstrated that neither coagulation profile nor individual admission TEG parameters showed association with LRMOF. In this series, we found no significant relationship between coagulation status and LRMOF development.

Disease trajectory research in critical illness: applications, examples, and prospects

Trajectories refer to the motion paths followed by objects in space. Disease trajectories, which depict the evolution of disease processes over time, are significantly important for assessing diseases, formulating treatment strategies, and predicting prognosis. Critical illness is one of the leading causes of death. With advances in critical care medicine, there is increasing focus on the occurrence and development of critical illnesses. Understanding the development trajectory of critical illness is helpful to promote the early identification, intervention, and treatment of high-risk patients, avoid prolongation of the course of disease, reduce the risk of multiple organ failure, and provide important reference for the development of targeted prevention and intervention strategies, thereby reducing the incidence and mortality of critical illness. In recent years, various trajectory modeling methods have been applied to the study of critical illness. These include, but are not limited to, latent growth curve modeling (LGCM), growth mixture modeling (GMM), group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM), latent transition analysis (LTA), and latent class analysis (LCA). The aim of this article is to review the definition of disease trajectories, the methods used in trajectory modeling, and their applications and future prospects in critical illness research.

Nutrition and autophagy deficiency in critical illness.

Critical illness imposes a severe insult on the body, with various stressors triggering pronounced cell damage. This compromises cellular function, leading to a high risk of multiple organ failure. Autophagy can remove damaged molecules and organelles but appears insufficiently activated during critical illness. This review discusses insight into the role of autophagy in critical illness and the involvement of artificial feeding in insufficient autophagy activation in critical illness. Animal studies manipulating autophagy have shown its protective effects against kidney, lung, liver, and intestinal injury after several critical insults. Autophagy activation also protected peripheral, respiratory, and cardiac muscle function, despite aggravated muscle atrophy. Its role in acute brain injury is more equivocal. Animal and patient studies showed that artificial feeding suppressed autophagy activation in critical illness, particularly with high protein/amino acid doses. Feeding-suppressed autophagy may explain short and long-term harm by early enhanced calorie/protein feeding in large randomized controlled trials. Insufficient autophagy during critical illness is at least partly explained by feeding-induced suppression. This may explain why early enhanced nutrition failed to benefit critically ill patients or even induced harm. Safe, specific activation of autophagy avoiding prolonged starvation opens perspectives for improving outcomes of critical illness.

Dynamics of T helper subpopulations in the critical period of severe injury in children

Severe mechanical injury is one of the main reasons behind children’s disability and mortality. Severe injury induces a complex host immune response to tissue injury, a parallel pro- and anti-inflammatory state, bearing an elevated risk for infectious complications (IC) and/or multiple organ failure (MOF). This study aimed to determine the informative immunological criteria of traumatic injury severity and prognosis outcome in children (severe injury group (SInj, ISS ≥ 16), n = 87; mild/moderate injury group (MInj, ISS < 16), n = 34) based on the assessment of absolute cell count (abs) and percentage of such T helper subpopulations as regulatory T lymphocytes – CD4+CD127lowCD25high(Treg), Th17 lymphocytes – CD4+CD161+ and CD4+CD127higtCD25high T cells(T127hi) in severe injury cases grouped by the outcome (favorable, n = 47; unfavorable, n = 40) and depending on IC (n = 16) and the development of MOF (n = 11) on the 1st, 3d , 5th, 7th, 14th day after injury. The control group was comprised of 80 apparently healthy children comparable in age and sex. An inverse relationship between severity of injury, degree of blood loss and outcome of injury was revealed with the abs of all Th populations, but for Th abs and Treg abs the most significant correlation was found (Spearman’s R ≤ -0,70, p < 0.00001). For SInj group, a pronounced decrease of Th abs, Treg abs, T127hi abs and Th17 abs, in the acute post-traumatic period with an increase to 14 days was revealed. The values of in the first day for indicators of patients with MInj group correspond to the values of control group and significantly differ from SInj group. There are different kinetics of percentage Th subpopulations in peripheral blood of children with severe injuries. The Th17%CD4+ and T127hi%CD4+ significant increase in 1st-3d and 3d -7th days after injury respectively in comparation with сontrol and MInj groups. There were no differences between groups in terms of Treg%CD4+. The lower-level Treg abs in trauma patients admitted to the ICU is significantly associated with develop the infectious complications and outcome of trauma. The Th17 abs is significantly reduced in 3-7th days after the injury in the SInj group with MOF. The results of the study indicate that in children levels of Treg, T127hi and Th17 is significantly associated with severity of injury and may be used to predict outcome of trauma and assess the risk of IC and MOF.

TREM-1 as a Marker of Multiple Organ Failure in Cardiac Surgery

ABSTRACT Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) frequently accompanies early postoperative period after cardiac surgery and in some cases is complicated by multiple organ failure (MOF). Inherited variation in the innate immune response genes (e.g., TREM1) is among the major factors determining the development of SIRS and the risk of MOF. This research was aimed to study whether the polymorphisms within the TREM1 gene are associated with MOF after the coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Here we enrolled 592 patients who underwent CABG surgery in the Research Institute for Complex Issues of Cardiovascular Diseases (Kemerovo, Russia) and documented 28 cases of MOF. Genotyping was performed by allele-specific PCR using TaqMan probes. In addition, we measured serum soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 1 (sTREM-1) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Five polymorphisms (rs1817537, rs2234246, rs3804277, rs7768162 andrs4711668) within the TREM1 gene were significantly associated with MOF. Patients with MOF had higher serum sTREM-1 as compared with those without MOF at both pre- and post-intervention stages. Serum sTREM-1 was associated with the rs1817537,rs2234246 and rs3804277 polymorphisms within the TREM1 gene. Minor alleles within the TREM1 gene define the level of serum sTREM-1 and are associated with MOF after CABG surgery.

Lethal toxicity induced by combined ingestion of dietary acetic acid and carbamazepine

Acetic acid is an organic acid that can be used in the food industry, which normally has an insignificant rate of adverse reactions when used rationally. However, irrational use can cause serious toxic effects and even death. In this context, the case of a death of a 52-year-old woman, involving the suspected voluntary use of food acetic acid, is presented, while toxicological and histopathological aspects were addressed for death mechanism elucidation. In this case, the pH value of 6.75 in blood, has shown severe metabolic acidosis after the ingestion of the large quantity of dietary acetic acid – about a liter. Also, the victim suffers from mental illness, carbamazepine being one of the treatment drugs. Liver damage, demonstrated by histopathological examination may be a consequence of both massive accumulation of carbamazepine in the liver and toxicity of food acetic acid. In conclusion, the hepatotoxicity induced by high level of carbamazepine was suspected of increasing the risk of multiple organ failure, in the context of acetic acid acute toxicity, highlighting the particularities of the case.

Раннее энтеральное питание с расширенным белково-калорийным обеспечением в комплексе интенсивной терапии пациентов с тяжелой политравмой как средство профилактики полиорганной недостаточности

Актуальность. Необходимость идентифицировать, лечить, предупреждать тяжелые нарушения нутритивного баланса у пациентов с политравмой остается одним из основных компонентов интенсивной терапии. Правильный выбор времени и метода нутритивной терапии, состава и энергетической ценности пищевых смесей призван способствовать снижению частоты трудно корректируемых осложнений, в том числе синдрома полиорганной недостаточности. Цель: оценить эффективность раннего энтерального питания с расширенным белково-калорийным обеспечением согласно протоколу Enhanced Protein-Energy Provision via the Enteral Route Feeding Protocol in Critically III Patients (PEP uP) в комплексе интенсивной терапии пациентов с тяжелой политравмой. Материалы и методы. Обследованы 40 больных с тяжелой политравмой, доставленных в отделение анестезии и интенсивной терапии (ОАИТ) в среднем через 0,5 часа после травмы. Средний возраст пострадавших — 41,9 ± 2,4 года. Основная группа (группа А) — 15 пациентов, которым проводилась нутритивная терапия по протоколу PEP uP. Группу сравнения (группа Б) составили 25 больных, у которых нутритивная поддержка проводилась согласно Европейским рекомендациям по клиническому питанию пациентов в ОАИТ с применением стандартных полимерных смесей. С целью оценки риска полиорганной недостаточности применяли шкалу Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) при поступлении, на 2-е, 3-и и 5-е сутки лечения. Определяли в динамике уровень общего белка и альбумина сыворотки крови. Результаты. Тяжесть органной дисфункции по шкале SOFA в обеих группах при поступлении была соизмеримой. В группе Б со вторых суток отмечено развитие устойчивой гипопротеинемии, чего в группе А не наблюдалось. На 5-е сутки лечения в группе А отмечен достоверно более высокий уровень альбумина, чем в группе Б. На третий день лечения в группе Б выросла доля пациентов с проявлениями повреждения почек: 31,8 % — 0 баллов, 54,5 % — 1 балл, 13,7 % — 2 балла по шкале SOFA. В группе А оценки в 2 балла по шкале SOFA не наблюдалось, 84,6 % имели 1 балл, 15,4 % — 0 баллов. В течение первых трех суток отмечено уменьшение проявлений повреждения легких в обеих группах. Влияние ранней нутритивной поддержки на динамику индекса оксигенации остается, по нашему мнению, неопределенным. Выводы. Достигнуто сокращение срока пребывания пациентов с тяжелой политравмой в ОАИТ в среднем на трое суток (в группе А — 16,9 ± 1,4 суток, в группе Б — 19,9 ± 1,2 суток). Первые 3–5 суток интенсивной терапии с использованием протокола PEP uP позволяют снизить риски развития полиорганной недостаточности, что следует из низшего в данный термин суммарного балла по шкале SOFA в группе А (1–4 балла) по сравнению с группой Б (4–7 баллов). Нутритивная терапия методом раннего энтерального питания с расширенным белково-калорийным обеспечением позволяет улучшить адекватность покрытия белково-энергетических потребностей у пациентов в остром периоде политравмы, что может положительно влиять на уменьшение частоты развития осложнений, продолжительность пребывания пациентов в ОАИТ.

Edible Bird Nest Protects the Kidney From Gentamicin Induced Acute Tubular Necrosis.

Every year, there are about 13.3 million cases of acute kidney injury (AKI). Although AKI is a preventable and treatable disease, if left untreated, it has high risk of multiple organ failure and progression to end stage kidney disease. Acute tubular necrosis (ATN) has been recognised as one of the major causes of AKI. Till to date, there is no effective supplement or medication in treating or reversing AKI. Most of the treatment strategies involve preventative measure to minimise the occurrence of AKI or to reverse the cause of AKI. Hence one of the primary area of research interests is to explore the potential treatment for AKI. Edible bird nests (EBN) are edible food produce by the swiftlet’s saliva, which is rich in sialic acids. Sialic acids are monosaccharides that play a vital role in maintaining the integrity and proper function of the human organs, including kidneys. EBN also contains epidermal growth factor, which is widely believed to have rejuvenation and tissue repairing properties. We initiate this study to study the potential reno-protective effect of edible bird’s nests by studying the Wistar rat model of gentamicin-induced AKI. Besides renal profiles, renal histology was also semiquantitatively assessed. In our study, pre-treatment with EBN prevented and ameliorated the gentamicin-induced AKI. To a lesser extent, post-treatment with EBN also protected the kidney from the toxic effect of gentamicin. Our findings are highly indicative that EBN possesses reno-protective properties.

Sample-to-Answer Diagnostic System for the Detection of Circulating Histones in Whole Blood.

Severe internal trauma results in millions of hospitalizations each year, including thousands of deaths caused by subsequent multiple organ failure. The majority of these deaths occur within the first 24 h, and thus, rapid diagnosis of internal trauma severity is necessary for immediate treatment. For early organ damage identification, diagnosis in point-of-care settings is crucial for rapid triage and treatment. Recent reports suggest that circulating histones may serve as a biomarker for severe organ damage and the risk of multiple organ failure. Here, we report a point-of-care diagnostic system that utilizes the inherent interactions between histones and DNA for the fluorescence-based detection of histones in whole blood. In the assay, histones within the sample are wrapped by DNA, thus preventing an intercalating dye from binding the DNA and fluorescing. To allow for quantitative fluorescent measurements to be made in a point-of-care setting, we integrate a rapid, automated blood separation step into our assay. Furthermore, we eliminate manual reagent additions using a thermally responsive alkane partition (TRAP), thus making the system sample-to-answer. Finally, we demonstrate the assay in a portable fluorescence reader compatible with a point-of-care environment. We report a limit of detection 112 ng/mL in whole blood, suggesting that our device can be used to rapidly diagnose internal trauma severity and the likelihood of multiple organ failure in near-patient settings.

Prediction of Multiple Organ Failure Complicated by Moderately Severe or Severe Acute Pancreatitis Based on Machine Learning: A Multicenter Cohort Study.

Background Multiple organ failure (MOF) may lead to an increased mortality rate of moderately severe (MSAP) or severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). This study is aimed to use machine learning to predict the risk of MOF in the course of disease. Methods Clinical and laboratory features with significant differences between patients with and without MOF were screened out by univariate analysis. Prediction models were developed for selected features through six machine learning methods. The models were internally validated with a five-fold cross-validation, and a series of optimal feature subsets were generated in corresponding models. A test set was used to evaluate the predictive performance of the six models. Results 305 (68%) of 455 patients with MSAP or SAP developed MOF. Eighteen features with significant differences between the group with MOF and without it in the training and validation set were used for modeling. Interleukin-6 levels, creatinine levels, and the kinetic time were the three most important features in the optimal feature subsets selected by K-fold cross-validation. The adaptive boosting algorithm (AdaBoost) showed the best predictive performance with the highest AUC value (0.826; 95% confidence interval: 0.740 to 0.888). The sensitivity of AdaBoost (80.49%) and specificity of logistic regression analysis (93.33%) were the best scores among the six models in the test set. Conclusions A predictive model of MOF complicated by MSAP or SAP was successfully developed based on machine learning. The predictive performance was evaluated by a test set, for which AdaBoost showed a satisfactory predictive performance. The study is registered with the China Clinical Trial Registry (Identifier: ChiCTR1800016079).

Current status of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for COVID-19.

Since its outbreak in late December 2019, corona virus disease (COVID-19) has become a worldwide pandemic, hitting over 200 countries and regions around the world. In Japan, to prevent COVID-19 infection, the Japanese government recommends that people wear a mask, disinfect their hands with alcohol frequently, stay 2 m from others, avoid going out unnecessarily, and avoid the three Cs of “closed spaces with poor ventilation”, “crowded spaces with many people”, and “close contact”.1 Standard treatments for confirmed moderate and severe cases of COVID-19 infection in Japan are steroid, remdesivir, baricitinib and/or heparin, in addition to oxygenation supportive therapy, based on the Guideline of Medical Care for COVID-19, version 4.2, from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/000712473.pdf). The Japanese Society of Hyperbaric and Undersea Medicine released a position statement concerning COVID-19 infection on March 20, 2020, as hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO2) requires the three Cs, especially treatments in a multiplace chamber (https://www.jshm.net/file/covid19_1.pdf). Patients with a fever over 37.5°C, cough or sputum, and those with potential COVID-19 infection are not indicated for entrance into the HBO2 room. If a patient has confirmed COVID-19 infection, HBO2 is not recommended, excluding cases in which the benefit of HBO2 is superior to that without HBO2. The Japanese Society of Hyperbaric and Undersea Medicine has also declared that HBO2 is not recommended for the treatment of COVID-19-associated hypoxia. Instead, recommended treatment options include ventilator support or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (https://www.uhms.org/images/MiscDocs/UHMS_Guidelines_-_COVID-19_V4.pdf). However, there have been five recent reports of patients with COVID-19-associated hypoxia using HBO2 to ameliorate their hypoxia (Table 1) as the increased amount of oxygen in the plasma due to HBO2 may mobilize stem cells, block the inflammatory cascade, interfere with interstitial fibrosis development in the lungs, delay the onset of severe interstitial pneumonia, and reduce the risk of multiple organ failure due to an overall abated COVID-19 viral load.2-5 These five reports included four case reports or case series and one analysis of 20 cases treated with HBO2 using a propensity-matched controls analysis. The report by Gorenstein et al.4 described the usefulness of HBO2 for patients with COVID-19 infection compared with controls without HBO2 (adjusted subdistribution hazard ratios were 0.37 for inpatient mortality [P = 0.14] and 0.26 for mechanical ventilation P = 0.046]). Based on these preliminary reports, a randomized control study to verify the safety and utility of HBO2 for patients with COVID-19, even severe cases, is now ongoing (https://www.uhms.org/images/Position-Statements/HBO2_and_COVID_8-10-2020_clinicaltrials_8-12-2020.pdf). No funding information provided. Approval of the research protocol with approval no. and committee name: This report was approved by the review board of our hospital (approval number: 298). Informed consent: N/A. Registry and registration no. of the study/trial: N/A. Animal studies: N/A. Conflict of interest: The author do not have conflict of interest to declare.

Immunotherapy for acute-on-chronic liver failure

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a life-threatening disease with a high risk of multiple organ failure, sepsis, and death. ACLF activates innate and acquired immune responses in human body and thus leads to the progression of persistent systemic inflammatory response syndrome and multiple organ dysfunction, leading to the high mortality rate of this disease. Dysregulated immune response plays a key role in disease progression, and immunotherapy may help to target immune-mediated organ damage and inhibit the progression of liver failure. This article reviews the role and mechanism of drugs and means with a potential immune regulatory effect in ACLF, in order to provide a reference for immunotherapy for ACLF.

The gut as a hidden source of sepsis.

From the initial hypothesis considering 30 years ago the gut as the "motor" of multiple organ failure (MOF) related to an induced hyperpermeability leading to bacterial translocation into the systemic circulation, the reality becomes significantly more complex. The gut contains three interplaying components - the epithelium, the microbiome, and the immune system - that have to cooperate to maintain two opposite function: adsorption of nutrients and maintenance of a barrier to prevent the crossing of intraluminal microbes or their products to avoid host response. Many critical illnesses are altering such a functional integrity that facilitate the growth of pathogens, their translocation toward blood or lymph, and the activation of the systemic inflammation with high risk of MOF. The gut becomes then the "hidden cause" of sepsis related to complex mechanisms. This review tries to give a comprehensive description of these mechanisms, focused on induced sepsis. Some new therapeutic strategies are discussed.

Dysregulation of the actin scavenging system and inhibition of DNase activity following severe thermal injury

BackgroundCirculating cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) is not found in healthy subjects, but is readily detected after thermal injury and may contribute to the risk of multiple organ failure. The hypothesis was that a postburn reduction in DNase protein/enzyme activity could contribute to the increase in cfDNA following thermal injury.MethodsPatients with severe burns covering at least 15 per cent of total body surface area were recruited to a prospective cohort study within 24 h of injury. Blood samples were collected from the day of injury for 12 months.ResultsAnalysis of blood samples from 64 patients revealed a significant reduction in DNase activity on days 1–28 after injury, compared with healthy controls. DNase protein levels were not affected, suggesting the presence of an enzyme inhibitor. Further analysis revealed that actin (an inhibitor of DNase) was present in serum samples from patients but not those from controls, and concentrations of the actin scavenging proteins gelsolin and vitamin D‐binding protein were significantly reduced after burn injury. In a pilot study of ten military patients with polytrauma, administration of blood products resulted in an increase in DNase activity and gelsolin levels.ConclusionThe results of this study suggest a novel biological mechanism for the accumulation of cfDNA following thermal injury by which high levels of actin released by damaged tissue cause a reduction in DNase activity. Restoration of the actin scavenging system could therefore restore DNase activity, and reduce the risk of cfDNA‐induced host tissue damage and thrombosis.

The modern concept of intensive therapy of coagulopathy, which is complicate polytrauma and shock

The statute presents the fourth edition (The European guideline on management of major bleeding and coagulopathy following trauma: fourth edition, 2016) of European recommendations on the treatment of severe blood loss and coagulopathy caused by injury. More than 50% of all trauma patients with a fatal outcome die within 24 hours after injury. After hospitalization in a third of patients with trauma, the bleeding is coagulopathic. They significantly increase the risk of multiple organ failure and death compared with patients with similar trauma in the absence of coagulopathy. Early acute coagulopathy associated with traumatic injury is multifactorial: 1) hemorrhage induced shock; 2) tissue damage with the release of tissue thromboplastin and the development of thrombinemia; 3) activation of anticoagulant and fibrinolytic systems. The severity of coagulation disorders is determined by the influence of environmental factors, metabolic disorders (acidosis, hypothermia, tissue hypoperfusion and consumption coagulopathy) and therapeutic strategy. Coagulopathies can be associated with trauma to the brain, liver, and patient's individual characteristics, which include age, heredity, comorbidities, and medication, especially oral anticoagulants. Coagulation monitoring (internationally normalized ratio (INR) and APTT), characterizes only the beginning of the 2nd phase of blood coagulation, and represents the generation of only the first 4% of thrombin. Therefore, the performance of a normal coagulogram may be normal, although the general condition of the blood coagulation system is pathological. Late diagnosis of traumatic coagulopathy may affect the outcome. A new concept of reanimation of patients with massive bleeding has been presented, the immediate introduction of coagulation components (RBC, native plasma and platelets in a 1: 1: 1 ratio), tranexamic acid, fresh frozen plasma, fibrinogen concentrate, desmopressin, prothrombin complex concentrate, recombinant activated coagulation factor VII (rFVIIa). Currently, the issue of using fresh whole blood for resuscitation in case of injury and massive blood loss is relevant.

Efficacy comparisons of enteral nutrition and parenteral nutrition in patients with severe acute pancreatitis: a meta-analysis from randomized controlled trials.

We conducted a comprehensive analysis to evaluate the treatment efficacy and safety of enteral nutrition (EN) and parenteral nutrition (PN) in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) patients, and to provide a basis for their evidence based application in a clinical setting. We conducted a systematic online search of the PubMed, Web of Science, Wanfang, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases, from their inception to November 2017. Studies were subjected to further screening if they met the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Eleven studies were subjected to qualitative and quantitative synthesis; these included a total of 562 patients (281 for EN and 281 for PN). No significant heterogeneity across studies was found. The results indicated that EN can significantly decrease the mortality rate (relative risk [RR] = 0.43, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.23–0.78, P=0.006), and lowers the risk of infection and complications (RR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.39–0.71, P=0.000) more so than does PN. The EN group had a similar risk of multiple organ failure (MOF) compared with the PN group (RR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.39–1.02, P=0.059). The use of EN was also found to significantly reduce mean hospitalization time (mean difference = −2.93, 95% CI: −4.52–1.34, P=0.000). No publication bias was found. Our meta-analysis suggested that EN, but not PN, significantly reduced the risk of mortality, infection, and complications for patients with SAP. EN support also decreased the rate of MOF and surgical intervention. EN is recommended as an initial treatment option for patients with SAP.

Prolonged Anhepatic State After Rescue Hepatectomy of a Transplanted Liver

Introduction: Lamotrigine is an antiepileptic drug that has been associated with hepatocellular injury and only a few cases of fulminant hepatic failure. We present a rare case of Lamotrigine-induced liver failure requiring liver transplantation, which was complicated by severe acute rejection and recurrent liver failure requiring a complete hepatectomy with a 29-hour anhepatic course before undergoing a second transplant. Case: A 44 year-old female with a history of gastroparesis, Meniere's disease, migraines, depression, anxiety, chronic back pain, and alcohol abuse presented as a transfer from an outside hospital for altered mental status and presumed severe alcoholic hepatitis. Labs revealed AST and ALT elevated to 1271 and 1379 respectively, total bilirubin of 11.6, PT of 23.8, ammonia of 100, and otherwise normal serum chemistries. She was initially treated with prednisolone. Due to concerns for acute liver failure, she underwent liver biopsy which showed active hepatitis with extensive parenchymal necrosis consistent with drug-induced liver injury. After further investigation, it appeared that patient was taking Lamotrigine for a mood disorder and possibly migraines. Transplant surgery was quickly consulted and patient received an orthotopic liver transplant. Within one week, her transaminases and lactic acid began to rise and abdominal distention worsened. Given recurrent acute liver failure and abdominal compartment syndrome, hepatectomy with portocaval anastomosis was performed. Intraoperatively, the liver appeared ischemic and explant pathology showed evidence of acute humoral-mediated rejection with extensive necrosis. Fulminant hepatic failure protocol activated and she remained anhepatic for about 29 hours until receiving a re-transplantation. She eventually recovered after an extended hospital stay and was discharged to a skilled nursing facility. Discussion: Prolonged anhepatic states after hepatectomy are associated with poor clinical outcomes with an increased risk of multiple organ failure, metabolic disturbances, and accumulation of toxic metabolites. Oftentimes, a temporary portocaval shunt is used as bridge therapy to re-transplantation as in our case. There are limited reports of anhepatic patients, with 67 hours being one of the longest reported durations. Our case demonstrates the rare instance of a successful rescue hepatectomy leaving our patient anhepatic for greater than a day.

Synthetic colloid resuscitation in severely injured patients: analysis of a nationwide trauma registry (TraumaRegister DGU)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of synthetic colloid resuscitation among severely injured patients. Fluid resuscitation of trauma patients of a nationwide trauma registry was analysed between 2002 and 2015. Effects of synthetic colloid resuscitation in the pre-hospital setting and emergency department on renal failure, renal replacement therapy and multiple organ failure were analysed among patients with ≥2 days intensive care unit stay, and in-hospital mortality was analysed among all patients. 48,484 patients with mean age of 49 years and mean injury severity score of 23 points were included; 72.3% were male and 95.5% had blunt trauma. Risk-adjusted analyses revealed that patients receiving >1,000 ml synthetic colloids experienced an increase of renal failure and renal replacement therapy rates (OR 1.42 and 1.32, respectively, both p ≤ 0.006). Any synthetic colloid use was associated with an increased risk of multiple organ failure (p < 0.001), but there was no effect on hospital mortality (p = 0.594). Between 2002 and 2015 usage of synthetic colloids dropped, likewise did total fluid intake and usage of blood products. The data from this analysis suggests that synthetic colloid resuscitation provides no beneficial effects and might be harmful in patients with severe trauma.

Early enteral nutrition versus delayed enteral nutrition in acute pancreatitis: A PRISMA-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background:Whether early enteral nutrition (EEN) administration is more beneficial than delayed enteral nutrition (DEN) for patients with acute pancreatitis remains controversial.Methods:This meta-analysis aimed to pool all relevant articles to evaluate the effects of EEN within 48 hours versus DEN beyond 48 hours on the clinical outcomes of patients with acute pancreatitis. We searched PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science for all relevant studies and extracted the data concerning basic characteristics, complications, and mortality. We calculated the pooled risk ratio (RR), weighted mean difference, and the corresponding 95% confidential interval (95% CI) using STATA 12.0.Results:For complications, the pooled analysis showed that EEN was related to a reduced risk of multiple organ failure (RR = 0.67, 95% CI 0.46–0.99, P = .04), but not for necrotizing pancreatitis (RR = 0.95, 95% CI 0.81–1.12, P = .57). There was a tendency for decreased systemic inflammatory response syndrome in the EEN group, but the trend was not significant (RR = 0.85, 95% CI 0.71–1.02, P = .09). For mortality, no significant difference was found between the EEN and DEN groups (RR = 0.78, 95% CI 0.27–2.24, P = .64).Conclusion:EEN within 48 hours is superior to DEN beyond 48 hours for patients with acute pancreatitis; however, more studies are required to verify this conclusion.

High intravascular tissue factor-but not extracellular microvesicles-in septic patients is associated with a high SAPS II score.

BackgroundSepsis is associated with coagulation abnormalities, and a high content of intravascular tissue factor (TF) may contribute to the development of multisystem organ failure. Circulating microvesicles (MVs) are increased during sepsis and characterized by their phosphatidylserine content. It is unclear whether MVs—as a part of the host response to the infection—are beneficial or rather contribute to systemic complications in sepsis. In the present prospective clinical pilot study, we investigated whether plasma TF and MVs are associated with the risk of multiple organ failure and mortality.MethodsThirty patients diagnosed with sepsis, severe sepsis, or septic shock were enrolled and classified as 19 survivors and 11 non-survivors. Blood samples were collected on the day of admission and then daily for up to 2 weeks. MVs and TF were quantified in plasma by ELISA.ResultsNon-survivors had significantly higher TF concentrations on day 3 compared to survivors. Logistic regression analysis revealed that patients with high amounts of TF had significantly increased risk for severity of disease, according to high Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (SAPS II) scores (odds ratio 18.7). In contrast, a higher content of phosphatidylserine-rich MVs were apparently associated with a lower risk for mortality and multiple organ failure, although this was only a trend and the odds ratios were not significant.ConclusionsThis study showed that a high amount of TF in septic patients is significantly associated with increased risk for disease severity, according to a high SAPS II score. Quantification of total MVs in plasma, independent from their cell origin, might be indicative for the outcome of patients in sepsis.