Category: 2013

Loop Diuretics in Acute Kidney Injury

Loop Diuretics in Acute Kidney Injury

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A 65 year old woman underwent an elective mitral valve repair (MVR) and four vessel coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedure. Pre-operatively she was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) secondary to hypertensive nephropathy, and chronic airway disease secondary to smoking. Her baseline creatinine was 275. Surgery was uneventful but in the post-operatively period she developed pulmonary oedema and worsening acute kidney injury (AKI). On day 2 her creatinine reached 420 and oliguria occurred (urine output < 0.5 ml kg-1 hr-1). Non-invasive respiratory ventilation provided adequate support and maintained a normal blood PaCO2 and pH, although her base excess drifted to -7 mmol l-1.Dopamine was administered at 2–10 μg kg-1 min-1, titrated to MAP ≧ 75 mmHg; pericardial pacing continued to maintain sinus rhythm at 60 bpm; her CVP was 14 mmHg and stable. Furosemide was started and given by a continuous infusion of 10 mg hr-1 after an initial bolus of 100 mg to try and help with diuresis.

Is there any evidence to support the use of loop diuretics in acute kidney injury?

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Neuroprognostication after Cardiac Arrest

Neuroprognostication after Cardiac Arrest

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A 30 year old man suffered a 30 minute cardiorespiratory arrest secondary to an asthma attack. He was resuscitated, had his severe bronchospasm managed and he was treated with therapeutic hypothermia at 33 degrees. Once rewarmed, his neurology was assessed over several days. He was ventilated on a spontaneous mode, but his pupils remained fixed and dilated and there was no higher motor function seen. A CT brain was consistent with severe hypoxic ischaemic injury. After discussion with the family, treatment was withdrawn.

How reliable is neuroprognostication after cardiac arrest? What modalities are tested? Is there a difference in patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia?

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Necrotising Fasciitis - Advances in diagnosis and management

Necrotising Fasciitis – Advances in diagnosis and management

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A 40 year old man underwent a minor elective day case lower limb soft tissue operation. 72 hrs later he began to feel unwell and developed fevers and rigors. He was seen first thing in the morning with increasing pain and inflammation extending up from the foot to the knee. Intravenous antibiotics were started on admission. He was in theatre having a debridement by late morning, by which time the inflammation had spread to the inner thigh. He was in profound septic shock with disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. During the debridement, it was noted that the inflammation had spread to his pelvis. He had a laparotomy and it was determined that the resection he would require was unsurvivable. Treatment was withdrawn and he died on the operating table.

How is necrotising fasciitis diagnosed and how is it managed?

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Vasopressin in Septic Shock

Vasopressin in Septic Shock

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An elderly man presented with an acute abdomen. At operation, he was found to have four-quadrant peritonitis due to a perforating sigmoid tumour. He underwent a hemicolectomy and had a defunctioning stoma formed. Postoperatively, he required 0.7mcg/kg/min noradrenaline to maintain a MAP 65mmHg. A vasopressin infusion was commenced and his noradrenaline requirements decreased. However, he developed acute kidney injury and subsequent multiorgan failure. Treatment was withdrawn around 48 hours post-operatively.

Is vasopressin safe to use in septic shock? What are the benefits?Read More »

Therapeutic Hypothermia after Cardiac Arrest (Peri-TTM)

Therapeutic Hypothermia Post-Cardiac Arrest (Peri-TTM)

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An elderly man was resuscitated from out-of-hospital VF cardiac arrest. He remained deeply comatose post ROSC and was ventilated on the intensive care. His temperature control was not actively managed unless hyperthermia developed. 24 hours post admission he started to have myoclonic jerks and his pupils were fixed and dilated. CT brain showed evidence of severe hypoxic ischaemic injury. Treatment was withdrawn at 72 hours after discussion with family.

What is the rationale for the use of therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest?Read More »

IV Immunoglobulin for Necrotising Fasciitis

IV Immunoglobulin for Necrotising Fasciitis

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A 40 year old woman presented with painful swelling of the right side of the neck. She had previously suffered a haematological malignancy and received a bone marrow transplant. A presumptive diagnosis of necrotising fasciitis was made and the neck, shoulder and chest underwent surgical debridement. Postoperatively, the patient remained ventilated in septic shock. Further debridement was required at 24 hours. Group A streptococcus was grown from the debrided tissue and IV immunoglobulins was commenced. The patient gradually weaned from support and was discharged from ICU several days later.

Does IV immunoglobulin have a role to play in the treatment of necrotising fasciitis?Read More »

Management of Delirium

Management of Delirium

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A large 60 year old man developed septic shock and multiorgan failure secondary to a severe community acquired pneumonia. On the twelfth night of his ICU admission he became increasingly agitated and pulled out his vascath, NG tube and dislodged his tracheostomy. The resulting loss of airway led to a severe desaturation event before he was anaesthetised and reintubated, with loss of around 500ml blood from the haemofiltration circuit and vascath wound haemorrhage. He was commenced on regular haloperidol, but his CAM-ICU remained positive for 48 hours. Haloperidol was continued for 4 days, and he had a prolonged respiratory wean.

How is delirium best managed on the intensive care unit?Read More »

Hypertensive Reversible Posterior Leukoencephalopathy

Hypertensive Reversible Posterior Leukoencephalopathy

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A 65 year old chronic hypertensive man underwent a bone marrow transplant for acute myeloid leukaemia. He was subsequently treated for neutropaenic sepsis. He developed acute confusion and a subsequent drop in GCS requiring intubation. CT head and CSF investigation was normal. EEG was non-diagnostic. He was persistently hypertensive on the ICU. Review of notes showed that his anti-hypertensive medications had been omitted since admission, and that his ward blood pressures had been persistently elevated. Antihypertensives were established and the blood pressure improved. The neurological features improved with the blood pressure. A subsequent MRI confirmed the diagnosis.

What are the clinical features of Reversible Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome (RPLS)?Read More »

Management of the Open Abdomen

Management of the Open Abdomen after Severe Abdominal Sepsis

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A middle aged man presented with a week long history of severe abdominal pain and distension. CT scans confirmed free air, fluid and probable large bowel perforation. Laparotomy revealed multiple large bowel perforations and four quadrant peritonitis. He had an extensive washout, a colectomy and a laparostomy with negative pressure dressing applied. He returned to theatre at 24 hrs for further washout, and at 48hrs for stoma formation. He had several further relook laparotomies, and abdominal wall closure was achieved on day 10. During this time he had been treated for septic shock and acute kidney injury and had been commenced on parenteral nutrition. His recovery was further complicated by healthcare associated infections but he left hospital nearly a month later.

How is an open abdomen managed after severe abdominal sepsis?Read More »

Intraabdominal Hypertension & Abdominal Compartment Syndrome

Intraabdominal Hypertension & Abdominal Compartment Syndrome

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A 35 year old was admitted following a simultaneous kidney pancreas transplant. The procedure had been complicated and she had received a large volume transfusion and crystalloid infusion.Her initial intraabdominal pressures were elevated at 22cmH2O on admission to the intensive care. It continued to escalate over the next 48 hours peaking at 29. She was managed with sedation, NG tube and abdominal perfusion pressures kept above 60mmHg. The tranplanted pancreas remained functional, but the renal transplant showed delayed graft function. On day 4 there was a reduction in her abdominal pressure and her urine output correspondingly increased.

What is the current evidence for the management of intra abdominal hypertension (IAH)?Read More »