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Abstract Background High ratio of the carbon dioxide veno-arterial difference to the oxygen arterial-venous difference (PvaCO2/CavO2) is associated with fluid bolus (FB) induced increase in oxygen consumption (VO2). This study investigated whether PvaCO2/CavO2 was associated with decreases in blood-lactate levels FB in critically ill patients with hyperlactatemia. Methods This prospective observational study examined adult patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) with lactate levels > 1.5 mmol/L who received FBs. Blood-lactate levels were measured before and after FB under unchanged metabolic, respiratory, and hemodynamic conditions. The primary outcome was blood-lactate levels after FB. Significant decreases in blood-lactate levels were considered as blood-lactate levels

Abstract Background Whether Intensive Care Unit (ICU) clinicians display unconscious bias towards cancer patients is unknown. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of critically ill patients with and without perceptions of excessive care (PECs) by ICU clinicians in patients with and without cancer. Methods This study is a sub-analysis of the large multicentre DISPROPRICUS study. Clinicians of 56 ICUs in Europe and the United States completed a daily questionnaire about the appropriateness of care during a 28-day period. We compared the cumulative incidence of patients with concordant PECs, treatment limitation decisions (TLDs) and death between patients with uncontrolled and controlled cancer, and patients without cancer. Results Of the 1641 patients, 117 (7.1%) had uncontrolled cancer and 270 (16.4%) had controlled cancer. The cumulative incidence of concordant PECs in patients with uncontrolled and controlled cancer versus patients without cancer was 20.5%, 8.1%, and 9.1% (p

BackgroundIn this prospective observational study, we evaluated the effects of fluid bolus (FB) on venous-to-arterial carbon dioxide tension (PvaCO2) in 42 adult critically ill patients with pre-infusion PvaCO2 > 6 mmHg.ResultsFB caused a decrease in PvaCO2, from 8.7 [7.6-10.9] mmHg to 6.9 [5.8-8.6] mmHg (p < 0.01). PvaCO2 decreased independently of pre-infusion cardiac index and PvaCO2 changes during FB were not correlated with changes in central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2) whatever pre-infusion CI. Pre-infusion levels of PvaCO2 were inversely correlated with decreases in PvaCO2 during FB and a pre-infusion PvaCO2 value < 7.7 mmHg could exclude a decrease in PvaCO2 during FB (AUC: 0.79, 95%CI 0.64-0.93; Sensitivity, 91%; Specificity, 55%; p < 0.01).ConclusionsFluid bolus decreased abnormal PvaCO2 levels independently of pre-infusion CI. Low baseline PvaCO2 values suggest that a positive response to FB is unlikely.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis represents an immunologic reaction to a foreign antigen and is most often caused by drugs. Atorvastatin, a blood cholesterol–lowering agent, is a recognized cause of rhabdomyolysis; while naproxen, a widely used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, is a known cause of photo-induced skin lesions. We report the first fatal case of drug-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis associated with severe muscle necrosis due to the use of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and a statin with very high levels of creatine phosphokinase leading to acute kidney injury, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and complete skin necrosis leading to death.

Aspergillus sp. are ubiquitous mould infections and in most patients, the source is presumed to be air-borne infections during surgical procedures. Prevention of these infections requires special attention of ventilation systems in operating rooms. Post-operative aspergillosis occurs mainly in immunocompromised patients as well as those who receive corticosteroids temporarily. We report a case of a 71-year-old immunocompromised patient who developed multiple lower limb embolisms due to Aspergillus niger originating from an aortitis of the ascending aorta nine months following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.