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Background: Maternal morbidity is a quality of care indicator. The frequency of severe maternal morbidity that requires an intensive care management has increased, due to an increase in maternal age. Aim: To describe the severe and acute maternal morbidity spectrum that requires an intensive care management in a University Hospital. Material and Methods: Review of medical records of 89 pregnant women with a mean age of 29 years, admitted to an Intensive Care Unit (UCI) between 2006 and 2010. Results: Mean gestational age on admission was 32 weeks. The main comorbidities identified were chronic hypertension (13.5%), hypothyroidism (4.5%) and coagulopathies (6.7%). Severe preeclampsia, sepsis and obstetric hemorrhage were the main causes of admission. Length of stay ranged from 1 to 28 days. Seventy eight percent of patients were admitted in the immediate postnatal period. Mechanical ventilation was required in 24% of patients for a median of three days. The longer unit lengths of stay were observed in patients with preeclampsia and non-obstetric severe sepsis (pyelonephritis and pneumonia). Seven abortions and seven perinatal deaths were recorded. The latter were mainly secondary to severe preeclampsia/ HELLP syndrome. Neonatal morbidity was related to prematurity (19% hyaline membrane, 18% persistent ductus and 4% cerebral hemorrhage). There were no maternal deaths. Conclusions: Preeclampsia and its complications were the main causes of maternal ICU admission. In this series, there were no maternal deaths and the perinatal survival rate was 92%.

Intensive care medicine in Chile is still in its dawn. It has experienced a progressive growth in the last decade, but continues to be weak. Although investments in the discipline have increased fivefold, there is still a severe deficiency of intensive care specialists. This issue will represent a serious problem in the near future. The Ministry of Health gathered an expert committee to study the problem and propose solutions for the future development of the discipline.

El traumatismo mayor de la embarazada es frecuente, tiene riesgo de muerte y agrega a sus complicaciones propias, las generadas por el embarazo como prematurez, desprendimiento placentario y daño perinatal. Presentamos el caso de una embarazada de 27 semanas, con traumatismo grave por atropello, fracturas óseas y desforramiento extenso de extremidad inferior derecha, que fue sometida a tratamiento quirúrgico con reducción y corrección de luxofracturas, aseo e injertos cutáneos. Se complica con infección grave de foco cutáneo, persistente, permaneciendo 24 días en Unidad de Cuidad Intensivo (UCI) en tratamiento antibiótico, 10 drenajes quirúrgicos, nutrición enteral y manejo continuo del dolor, antes del parto. Inicia síndrome de respuesta inflamatoria sistêmica y se efectúa operación cesárea. El recién nacido prematuro pesó 1500 gramos y evolucionó favorablemente. En su puerperio permanece 60 días hospitalizada en UCI con 14 cirugías de reparación y mejoría completa. Se analiza las características singulares de morbilidad materna del caso, discutiendo los aspectos obstétricos, quirúrgicos y de cuidado intensivo, la evolución materna, el manejo de la infección y el rol de la cirugía en la prolongación del embarazo y su influencia en el resultado perinatal exitoso. Se concluye la importancia de la integración multidisciplinaria en la toma de decisiones médicas y quirúrgicas en el manejo del trauma materno grave. Maternal trauma is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality for both, fetus and mother. In addition, trauma can generate risks as premature delivery, abruptio placentae and fetal damage. A pregnant women, at 27 gestational weeks had a car accident with dislocation and fractures and extensive skinning of right leg. The first surgery for fracture-dislocations, cleaning and muscle skin flap were complicated with infection from cutaneous focus, serious and persistent. She remainded for 24 days in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with antibiotic therapy; she had 10 procedures of surgical drainage with anesthesia, catheter enteral nutrition and continuous pain medication before delivery. Then, she presented systemic inflammatory syndrome maternal and a cesarean section was done; the newborn weighted 1500 grams and had a favorable evolution. After delivery the mother stayed 60 days in ICU, with 14 reparatives surgeries and complete recovery. In this special patient with severe maternal morbidity we discuss the etiology of the oligoamnios observed, the maternal evolution in ICU, the handling of infection, the significance of surgical treatment in prolonging pregnancy and its influence on a successful perinatal outcome. We emphasize on the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in making the medical and surgical decisions in severe maternal trauma.

Background: Development of percutaneous techniques for tracheostomy have facilitated its implementation in the intensive care unit (ICU). Aim: To evaluate the safety of performing percutaneous tracheostomy (PT) using the Ciaglia Blue Rhino thechnique with fiberoptic bronchoscopy assistance in patients with prolonged mechanical ventilation. Patients and methods: Prospective evaluation of 100 consecutive patients aged 62±16 years (38 women) subjected to percutaneous tracheostomy. AU the procedures were performed in the ICU. Demographic variables, APACHE II, days of mechanical ventilation before PT, operative and post operative complications were recorded. Results: Mean APACHE II score was 20±3. Patients required on average 16±7 days of mechanical ventilation before PT. Eight patients (8%) had operative complications. One had an episode of transitory desaturation, one had a transitory hypotension related to sedation and six had mild bleeding not requiríng transfusión. No patient required conversión to surgical tracheostomy. Four patients (4%) presentedpost operative complications. Two had a mild and transitory bleeding ofthe ostomy and two had a displacement ofthe cannula. No other complications were observed. Conclusions: PT using the Ciaglia Blue Rhino technique with fiberoptic bronchoscopy assistance is a safe procedure that can be performed in the ICU by trained intensivists.

Propofol infusion syndrome (PRIS) is a rare but potentially lethal complications. This disorder is triggered under unknown circumstances by a propofol infusion of more than 5 mg/kg/h for more than 48 h. PRIS is characterized by a multiorgan failure and rhabdomyolysis and is induced by a disturbance in mitochondrial long chain fatty acid oxidation. We report a 43 year-old woman who underwent brain surgery due to a vascular malformation. In the immediate postoperative period, she had an unexplained and severe lactic acidosis. During anaesthesia, she received a propofol infusion of 7 mg/kg/h that continued in the UCI at a rate of 3.5 mg/kg/h, for 8 hours more. The suspicion of PRIS motivated immediate discontinuation of propofol with rapid correction of lactic acidosis and full recovery of the patient (Rev Méd Chile 2008; 136: 88-92)

Background: Severe sepsis (SS) is the leading cause of death in the Intensive Care Units (ICU). Aim: To study the prevalence of SS in Chilean ICUs. Material and methods: An observational, cross-sectional study using a predesigned written survey was done in all ICUs of Chile on April 21st, 2004. General hospital and ICU data and the number of hospitalized patients in the hospital and in the ICU at the survey day, were recorded. Patients were followed for 28 days. Results: Ninety four percent of ICUs participated in the survey. The ICU occupation index was 66%. Mean age of patients was 57.7+18 years and 59% were male, APACHE II score was 15+7.5 and SOFA score was 6+4. SS was the admission diagnosis of 94 of the 283 patients (33%) and 38 patients presented SS after admission. On the survey day, 112 patients fulfilled SS criteria (40%). APACHE II and SOFA scores were significantly higher in SS patients than in non SS patients. Global case-fatality ratio at 28 days was 15.9% (45/283). Case-fatality ratio in patients with or without SS at the moment of the survey was 26.7% (30/112) and 8.7% (17/171), respectively p

A 32 years old female was admitted to hospital due to acute abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and liquid stools. Physical examination was normal except for pain on her left inferior abdominal quadrant without peritoneal irritation signs. An abdominal CAT-scan suggested thrombosis at celiac trunk, although the echo Doppler showed no alterations except for signs of ischemia in the distal branch of the superior mesenteric artery. An exploratory laparotomy was performed disclosing a necrosis of the distal ileum and cecum, diffuse peritonitis and thrombosis of the ileocecoapendiculocolic artery. No vasculitis lesions were found in the arteries of medium size examined. A history of intermittent claudication for the past 3 years as well as acrocyanosis, asymmetry of pulses and blood pressure in the superior extremities was ascertained after the surgery. A MRI angiogram showed multiple stenoses and irregularities at the celiac trunk, hepatic, superior mesenteric and fibular arteries. No abnormalities at the aortic arch and its main branches were documented. A sepsis due to Candida sp complicated her postoperatory period. After recovery, prednisone 1 mg/kg/day was started and the anticoagulation continued. The abdominal pain, intermittent claudication and superior limb acrocyanosis disappeared. This is an unusual case of type IV Takayasu's arteritis with acute abdominal signs as the first manifestation (Rev Méd Chile 2002; 130: 1159-64)

Legionella pneumophila is the second cause of severe community acquired pneumonia. In Chile, however, there are few reports of pneumonia caused by Legionella. We report eight patients (6 men, aged 42 to 72 years old) with community-acquired pneumonia caused by Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1, confirmed by the measurement of urinary antigen. Clinical presentation was characterized by fever or hypothermia (in one case), cough, dyspnea and neurological abnormalities in four patients. Cigarette smoking was the most frequently identified risk factor. All patients had at least one American Thoracic Society severity criteria. Complications observed were acute hypoxemic respiratory failure in seven patients, shock in four, renal failure in four and need for mechanical ventilation in three. No patient died (Rev Méd Chile 2002; 130: 309-13)