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Background Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) is frequently encountered in critically ill surgical patients. We aimed to evaluate the incidence of IAH after orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) and its impact on organ function, hospital length-of-stay (LOS), and death. Methods This prospective, observational, cohort study evaluated consecutive adult patients admitted in the ICU after undergoing OLT. Intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) was measured every 4–6 h for 3 days. Worsening IAP was defined as a gradual increase in IAP over a period of time. Daily fluid balance was the daily sum of all intakes minus the output. Results IAH was observed in 48% of the patients within the first 3 days after ICU admission, while ACS was diagnosed in 15%. Patients with IAH had a higher positive fluid balance at day 1 (1764 mL [812–2733 mL] vs. 1301 mL [241–1904 mL], p = 0.025). Worsening IAH was associated with fewer days free of organ dysfunction. IAH within 72 h after ICU admission was independently associated with a composite outcome of death or a longer ICU LOS (odds ratio 2.9; CI 95% 1.02–8.25, p = 0.043). Conclusion After OLT, nearly half of the patients presented IAH, that was associated with unfavorable outcomes.

BACKGORUND Current evidence suggests that intraoperative goal-directed haemodynamic therapy (GDT) should be considered for high-risk patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery. We aimed to evaluate if an algorithm using venoarterial carbon dioxide difference (CO2 gap) and pulse pressure variation (PPV) as therapeutic targets during GDT would decrease the major complications after gastrointestinal surgery. METHODS This was a before-and-after study (n = 204) performed in a tertiary hospital on patients who underwent elective open major gastrointestinal surgeries. The inclusion criteria were surgeries expected to last more than two hours, family and physician's agreement on total postoperative support, and survival expectancy of at least three months. The exclusion criteria were previous haemodynamic instability, presence of infection, cardiac arrhythmias, and emergency surgery. In the intervention group (IG), an algorithm was applied using fluids, dobutamine, and noradrenaline during the intraoperative period aiming at MAP > 65 mm Hg, SpO2 > 95%, CO2 gap < 6 mm Hg, and PPV < 13%. The control group (CG) comprised consecutive eligible patients who were operated by the same team before the institution of the algorithm. RESULTS The rates of moderate and severe postoperative complications were lower in the IG (11% vs. 23%; IC: RR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.246-0.929; P = 0.025). The respective 90- and 180-day mortality rates in the IG and CG were 9.8% vs. 22.5% (P = 0.014) and 12.6% vs. 25.5% (P = 0.020). CONCLUSIONS An algorithm aiming to minimise the CO2 gap and normalise PPV was feasible and effective in decreasing rates of moderate and severe complications after surgery in high-risk patients.

Rationale: Coated devices may reduce biofilm formation and reduce the occurrence of device-related infections in critically ill patients. A bundle of coated devices (an endotracheal tube [ETT], central venous catheter [CVC], and urinary catheter [UC]) simultaneously inserted may optimize benefits of coated devices in patients with the most severe illness. Objectives: To assess the feasibility of a randomized controlled trial on simultaneous insertion of gold/silver/palladium-coated devices versus uncoated devices in severely ill patients, which required sequential insertion of all three devices (an ETT, CVC, and UC) for support in the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: This was a multicenter randomized controlled pilot trial. Patients who required simultaneous insertion of an ETT, CVC, and UC were randomized to treatment with coated versus uncoated devices, which were used as necessary for up to 28 days. The primary endpoint was feasibility, defined as the trial being able to enroll enough participants to have the sample size necessary for its secondary primary endpoint (estimating sepsis incidence in this population) in less than 1 year and for estimating the number of admitted patients who require simultaneous insertion of all three devices. Secondary endpoints included the incidence of sepsis and device-associated infections (ventilator-associated pneumonia, catheter-related bloodstream infection, and catheter-related urinary-tract infection) within each group as well as the number of days alive and free of antibiotics during the ICU stay. All events were adjudicated. Results: One hundred and three patients (48 in the coated-device group and 55 in the uncoated-device group) were included in the perprotocol analysis. The inclusion period was 8 months. There were 13 septic events in each group (26 in total), with an approximate incidence of sepsis of 32.3 (95% credible interval [CrI], 22.4-44.9) per 100 patient-days. The overall incidences of ventilator-associated pneumonia, catheter-related urinary-tract infection, and catheterrelated bloodstream infection were 15.2 (95% CrI, 7.8-26.4), 6.3 (95% CrI, 2.4-13.7), and 7.9 (95% CrI, 3.6-15.1) per 1,000 patient-days, and incidence rates were not statistically different between groups. Patients in the coated-device group had more days alive and free of antibiotics in the ICU (28.97 d vs. 19.62 d per 100 patient-days; mean ratio, 1.48; 95% CrI, 1.16-1.89). Conclusions: Use of a bundle of coated devices as the initial treatment for of severely ill patients is feasible. Coated devices may be associated with more days alive and free of antibiotics. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT 03868241).

Background Acute respiratory infections caused by viruses are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. The inflammatory response that follows viral infection is important for the control of virus proliferation. However, if overwhelming, may be associated with complicated outcomes. Objectives We assessed the clinical characteristics of patients with severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) evolving to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and the factors related to death. Study design. Prospective study in 273 adult patients with SARI performed in a university-affiliated 800-bed hospital serving an area of epidemiologic vigilance of 102 municipalities and more than 2 million inhabitants. Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 (A/H1N1), influenza A H3N2, and influenza B were tested in all patients by RT-PCR. Results The overall hospital mortality rate was 17.6%. A total of 30.4% of patients tested positive for influenza A/H1N1. Patients with SARI that evolved to ARDS took significantly longer to take the first dose of oseltamivir (6.0 vs 1.0 days, p=0.002). Patients with H1N1 positive tests had almost 3 times higher probability of death, despite having significantly less comorbidities (p=0.027). The influenza A/H1N1 pdm09 vaccine reduced the odds of death by 78%. Nonsurvivors had a more intense inflammatory response than did survivors at 48 h (C-reactive protein: 31.0 ± 17.5 vs. 14.6 ± 8.9 mg/dl, p=0.001) as well as a more positive fluid balance. Conclusions Hospital mortality associated with influenza H1N1-associated SARI and ARDS continued to be high years after the 2009 pandemic in a population with low vaccine coverage. Antiviral treatment started more than two days after onset of symptoms was more frequently associated with ARDS and death and, having had vaccine against influenza A (H1N1) was a factor independently related to survival.

RESUMO Objetivo: Definir o perfil epidemiologico e os principais determinantes de morbimortalidade dos pacientes cirurgicos nao cardiacos de alto risco no Brasil. Metodos: Estudo prospectivo, observacional e multicentrico. Todos os pacientes cirurgicos nao cardiacos admitidos nas unidades de terapia intensiva, ou seja, considerados de alto risco, no periodo de 1 mes, foram avaliados e acompanhados diariamente por, no maximo, 7 dias na unidade de terapia intensiva, para determinacao de complicacoes. As taxas de mortalidade em 28 dias de pos-operatorio, na unidade de terapia intensiva e hospitalar foram avaliadas. Resultados: Participaram 29 unidades de terapia intensiva onde foram realizadas cirurgias em 25.500 pacientes, dos quais 904 (3,5%) de alto risco (intervalo de confianca de 95% - IC95% 3,3% - 3,8%), tendo sido incluidos no estudo. Dos pacientes envolvidos, 48,3% eram de unidades de terapia intensiva privadas e 51,7% de publicas. O tempo de internacao na unidade de terapia intensiva foi de 2,0 (1,0 - 4,0) dias e hospitalar de 9,5 (5,4 - 18,6) dias. As taxas de complicacoes foram 29,9% (IC95% 26,4 - 33,7) e mortalidade em 28 dias pos-cirurgia 9,6% (IC95% 7,4 - 12,1). Os fatores independentes de risco para complicacoes foram Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3 (SAPS 3; razao de chance − RC = 1,02; IC95% 1,01 - 1,03) e Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Score (SOFA) da admissao na unidade de terapia intensiva (RC =1,17; IC95% 1,09 - 1,25), tempo de cirurgia (RC = 1,001; IC95% 1,000 - 1,002) e cirurgias de emergencias (RC = 1,93; IC95% 1,10 - 3,38). Em adicao, foram associados com mortalidade em 28 dias idade (RC = 1,032; IC95% 1,011 - 1,052) SAPS 3 (RC = 1,041; IC95% 1,107 - 1,279), SOFA (RC = 1,175; IC95% 1,069 - 1,292) e cirurgias emergenciais (RC = 2,509; IC95% 1,040 - 6,051). Conclusao: Pacientes com escores prognosticos mais elevados, idosos, tempo cirurgico e cirurgias emergenciais estiveram fortemente associados a maior mortalidade em 28 dias e mais complicacoes durante permanencia em unidade de terapia intensiva.

RESUMO O transplante de órgãos é a única alternativa para muitos pacientes portadores de algumas doenças terminais. Ao mesmo tempo, é preocupante a crescente desproporção entre a alta demanda por transplantes de órgãos e o baixo índice de transplantes efetivados. Dentre as diferentes causas que alimentam essa desproporção, estão os equívocos na identificação do potencial doador de órgãos e as contraindicações mal atribuídas pela equipe assistente. Assim, o presente documento pretende fornecer subsídios à equipe multiprofissional da terapia intensiva para o reconhecimento, a avaliação e a validação do potencial doador de órgãos. ABSTRACT Organ transplantation is the only alternative for many patients with terminal diseases. The increasing disproportion between the high demand for organ transplants and the low rate of transplants actually performed is worrisome. Some of the causes of this disproportion are errors in the identification of potential organ donors and in the determination of contraindications by the attending staff. Therefore, the aim of the present document is to provide guidelines for intensive care multi-professional staffs for the recognition, assessment and acceptance of potential organ donors.