scholarly journals Thrombocytopenia in the intensive care unit

2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zohreh Ostadi ◽  
Kamran Shadvar ◽  
Sarvin Sanaie ◽  
Ata Mahmoodpoor ◽  
Seied Hadi Saghaleini
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Platelet Count ◽  
Time Course ◽  
The Body ◽  
Major Surgery ◽  
Icu Patients ◽  
Creative Commons ◽  
Minor Surgery ◽  
Open Access Article

Thrombocytopenia is a frequent finding in intensive care unit especially among adults and medical ICU patients.Thrombocytopenia is defined as a platelet count less than 100×109/l in ICU setting. Platelets are made in the bone marrow from megakaryocytes. Although not fully understood, proplatelets transform into platelets in the lung. The body tries to maintain platelet count relatively constant throughout life. Pathophysiology of thrombocytopenia can be defined by hemodilution, elevated levels of platelet consumption, compromise of platelet production, increased platelet sequestration and increased platelet destruction. Unlike in other situations, absolute platelet count alone does not provide sufficient data in characterizing thrombocytopenia in ICU patients. In such cases, the time course of changes in platelet count is also pivotal. The dynamics of platelet count decrease vary considerably between different ICU patient populations including trauma, major surgery and minor surgery/medical conditions.There are strong evidences available that delay in platelet count restoration in ICU patients is an indicator of a bad outcome. How to cite this:Ostadi Z, Shadvar K, Sanaie S, Mahmoodpoor A, Saghaleini SH. Thrombocytopenia in the intensive care unit. Pak J Med Sci. 2019;35(1):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.1.19 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

scholarly journals Perioperative metabolic acidosis: The Bradford Anaesthetic Department Acidosis Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
TO Lawton ◽  
A Quinn ◽  
SJ Fletcher
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Metabolic Acidosis ◽  
Early Phase ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Late Phase ◽  
Common Finding ◽  
Major Surgery ◽  
Arterial Blood ◽  
Early Fluid

Metabolic acidosis is considered deleterious but is common in post-surgical patients admitted to intensive care unit. We evaluated the prevalence and time course of metabolic acidosis in elective major surgery, and generated hypotheses about causes, by hourly arterial blood sampling in 92 patients. Metabolic acidosis began before incision and most had occurred by the next hour. Seventy-eight per cent of patients had a significant metabolic acidosis post-operatively. Two overlapping phases were observed. The early phase started before incision, characterised by a rising chloride and falling anion gap, unrelated to saline use. The late phase was partly associated with lactate, related to surgery type, and early fluids appeared protective. There was a trend towards longer intensive care unit (+1.3 days) and hospital (+3.2 days) stay with metabolic acidosis. This is the first large study of the evolution of this common finding, demonstrating a pre-incision component. The early phase appears unavoidable or unpredictable, but the late phase might be modified by early fluid administration. It remains unclear whether acidosis of this type should be avoided.

The Use Of Platelet Transfusions In The Intensive Care Unit and Impact On Platelet Count: A 30,000 Patient Registry Study

Blood ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 122 (21) ◽  
pp. 1154-1154
Author(s):  
Shuoyan Ning ◽  
Rebecca Barty, MLT ◽  
Yang Liu ◽  
Nancy Heddle ◽  
Donald Arnold
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Platelet Count ◽  
Research Funding ◽  
Platelet Transfusion ◽  
Large Cohort ◽  
Clinical Effects ◽  
Icu Patients ◽  
Icu Admission ◽  
Platelet Transfusions

Abstract Background Thrombocytopenia is a common complication of critical illness and an independent risk factor for bleeding and death in the intensive care unit (ICU). Platelet transfusions are commonly used to improve platelet counts; however, the expected platelet increment from a transfusion in this setting has not been established. The objective of this study was to describe the frequency of platelet transfusion administration and their effect on platelet count increments in a large cohort of non-oncology critically ill adults. Methods We performed an analysis of a registry database, which was developed to capture clinical and laboratory data on all blood transfusions administered in 3 academic hospitals in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. We included all patients ≥18 years who received one or more platelet transfusion during an ICU admission. Data validation was done by integrity checks with medical records and laboratory information system performed by a biostatistician. Non-transfused ICU patients were used as controls. The absolute increment in platelet count was calculated for each single platelet transfusion using the closest platelet count taken within 24 hours before the transfusion and 4-24 hours after the transfusion. Results Between April 2006 and October 2012, 33,222 patients were admitted to ICU, including 29,511 (88.8%) who did not have a diagnosis of cancer. Of those, 4,502 (15.3%) received one or more platelet transfusion during any ICU admission (n=4,690); 31.9% were female and median age at the time of first admission was 69 years (IQR 59-77). Among the 25,009 non-transfused patients admitted to ICU during the same period, 38.1% were female and the median age was 65 years (IQR 52–76). Median pre-transfusion platelet count was 87 x109/L (IQR 59-131) and a single platelet transfusion resulted in a median platelet count increment of 21 x109/L (IQR 6-40) as measured 6.7 hours (IQR 5.1-9.8) after the transfusion. There were 277 (25.4%) transfusions that yielded a platelet count increment of 5 x109/L or less. ICU mortality was 562/4,690 (12.4%) for patients who received a platelet transfusion, compared with 2,251/33,033(6.8%) for patients who were not transfused during their ICU stay. Summary/Conclusion Among this large cohort of non-oncology ICU patients, platelet transfusions were commonly administered for thrombocytopenia that was generally mild. In this setting one platelet transfusion resulted in a median platelet count rise of 21 x109/L. Many transfusion episodes yielded no appreciable increase in platelet count. Further studies are needed to determine the clinical effects of platelet transfusion in this setting controlling for confounding. Disclosures: Heddle: CIHR: Research Funding; Canadian Blood Services: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees; Health Canada: Research Funding; Macopharma: Consultancy; ASH: Honoraria.

Thrombocytopenia in the Intensive Care Unit Patient

Hematology ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 2010 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Greinacher ◽  
Kathleen Selleng
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Platelet Count ◽  
Bone Marrow Failure ◽  
Major Surgery ◽  
Initial Increase ◽  
Severe Thrombocytopenia ◽  
Abrupt Decrease ◽  
Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia ◽  
Platelet Counts

Abstract The many comorbidities in the severely ill patient also make thrombocytopenia very common (∼ 40%) in intensive care unit patients. The risk of bleeding is high with severe thrombocytopenia and is enhanced in intensive care patients with mild or moderately low platelet counts when additional factors are present that interfere with normal hemostatic mechanisms (eg, platelet function defects, hyperfibrinolysis, invasive procedures, or catheters). Even if not associated with bleeding, low platelet counts often influence patient management and may prompt physicians to withhold or delay necessary invasive interventions, reduce the intensity of anticoagulation, order prophylactic platelet transfusion, or change anticoagulants due to fear of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. One approach to identify potential causes of thrombocytopenia that require specific interventions is to consider the dynamics of platelet count changes. The relative decrease in platelet counts within the first 3 to 4 days after major surgery is informative about the magnitude of the trauma or blood loss, whereas the dynamic of the platelet count course thereafter shows whether or not the physiologic compensatory mechanisms are working. A slow and gradual fall in platelet counts developing over 5 to 7 days is more likely to be caused by consumptive coagulopathy or bone marrow failure, whereas any abrupt decrease (within 1–2 days) in platelet counts manifesting after an initial increase in platelet counts approximately 1 to 2 weeks after surgery strongly suggests immunologic causes, including heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, other drug-induced immune thrombocytopenia, and posttransfusion purpura.

Platelet Transfusions in a Medical- Surgical Intensive Care Unit.

Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 3637-3637
Author(s):  
Donald M. Arnold ◽  
Laura A. Molnar ◽  
Mark A. Crowther ◽  
Christopher Sigouin ◽  
Julie Carruthers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Platelet Count ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Platelet Transfusion ◽  
Surgical Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Surgical Intensive Care ◽  
Icu Patients ◽  
Bleeding Severity ◽  
Platelet Transfusions

Abstract Background: The benefits and harms of platelet transfusions in critically ill patients are unclear. Objectives: To describe the frequency of, indications for, and effects of platelet transfusions in patients admitted to a medical- surgical intensive care unit (ICU). Design: Single center cohort study (January 2001 to January 2002). Methods: We identified all patients who developed thrombocytopenia (platelet count <150 x 109/l) during their ICU admission from a prospective study which enrolled consecutive adults admitted to ICU with an expected length of stay ≥72 hours, and which excluded patients with trauma, orthopedic surgery, cardiac surgery, pregnancy, or receiving palliative care. Retrospectively, using a priori criteria, bleeding severity and the indications for platelet transfusions were assessed; 23.7% of bleeding events and 89.5% of transfusion indications were reviewed in duplicate independently. Initial agreement was calculated using Cohen’s unweighted kappa and all assessments of bleeding severity and transfusion indications were adjudicated by third person. Results: Of 261 ICU patients, 118 (45.2%) had thrombocytopenia. Initial agreement between primary reviewers for assessments of bleeding severity was good (k= 0.69), and for indications for platelet transfusions was poor (k=0.35); consensus was achieved in all cases. One third of thrombocytopenic patients had major bleeding (37/118, 31.4%), and one fifth had minor bleeding (24/118, 20.3%). Among thrombocytopenic patients, 27/118 (22.9%) received a total of 76 platelet transfusions, 24 (31.6%) of which were administered to treat bleeding, and 52 (68.4%) of which were to prevent bleeding. Of the prophylactic platelet transfusions, 18/52 (34.6%) preceded invasive procedures. The mean ± SD platelet count prior to therapeutic platelet transfusions was 54 ± 40 x109/l; for peri-procedural transfusions, 55 ± 38 x109/l; and for other prophylactic platelet transfusions, 37 ± 21 x109/l. Most transfusions (69/76, 91%) were administered as pools of 5.2 ± 1.2 random donor platelets, and few (7/76, 9.2%) were apheresis platelets. A single platelet transfusion (pool of 5 random donor units or 1 apheresis unit) resulted in a platelet increment of 14 ± 29 x109/l at 6.6 ± 5.9 hours following transfusion. No rise in platelet count was observed following 17 transfusions given to 13 patients. Conclusions: Platelet transfusions are frequently administered to thrombocytopenic critically ill patients, and, although the indication is not always clear, the most common reason is to prevent bleeding. Nearly half of transfused ICU patients were refractory to one or more platelet transfusion. Further prospective studies are needed on the indications for, and effects of, platelet transfusions in the ICU setting.

Microbiome in Critical illness: An Unconventional and Unknown Ally

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Zanza ◽  
Tatsiana Romenskaya ◽  
Duraiyah Thangathurai ◽  
Veronica Ojetti ◽  
Angela Saviano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Critical Illness ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ◽  
Bacterial Flora ◽  
The Body ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Icu Patients ◽  
Infection Spread

Background: The digestive tract represents an interface between the external environment and the body where the interaction of a complex polymicrobial ecology has an important influence on health and disease. The physiological mechanisms that are altered during the hospitalization and in the intensive care unit (ICU) contribute to the pathobiota’s growth. Intestinal dysbiosis occurs within hours of being admitted to ICU. This may be due to different factors, such as alterations of normal intestinal transit, administration of variuos medications or alterations in the intestinal wall which causes a cascade of events that will lead to the increase of nitrates and decrease of oxygen concentration, liberation of free radicals. Objective: This work aims to report the latest updates on the microbiota’s contribution to developing sepsis in patients in the ICU department. In this short review were reviewed the latest scientific findings on the mechanisms of intestinal immune defenses performed both locally and systemically. In addition, we considered it necessary to review the literature to report the current best treatment strategies to prevent the infection spread which can bring systemic infections in patients admitted to ICU. Material and Methods: This review has been written to answer at three main questions: what are the main intestinal flora’s defense mechanisms that help us to prevent the risk of developing systemic diseases on a day-to-day basis? What are the main dysbiosis’ systemic abnormalities? What are the modern strategies that are used in the ICU patients to prevent the infection spread? Using the combination of following keywords: microbiota and ICU, ICU and gut, microbiota and critical illness, microbiota and critical care, microbiota and sepsis, microbiota and infection, gastrointestinal immunity,in the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, the Cochrane Library, medline and pubmed, google scholar, ovid/wiley. Finally, we reviewed and selected 72 articles. We also consulted the site ClinicalTrials.com to find out studies that are recently conducted or ongoing. Results: The critical illness can alter intestinal bacterial flora leading to homeostasis disequilibrium. Despite numerous mechanisms, such as epithelial cells with calciform cells that together build a mechanical barrier for pathogenic bacteria, the presence of mucous associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) which stimulates an immune response through the production of interferon-gamma (IFN-y) and THN-a or by stimulating lymphocytes T helper-2 produces anti-inflammatory cytokines. But these defenses can be altered following a hospitalization in ICU and lead to serious complications such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), health care associated pneumonia (HAP) and ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP), Systemic infection and multiple organ failure (MOF), but also in the development of coronary artery disease (CAD). In addition, the microbiota has a significant impact on the development of intestinal complications and the severity of the SARS-COVID-19 patients. Conclusion: The microbiota is recognized as one of the important factors that can worsen the clinical conditions of patients who are already very frailty in intensive care unit. At the same time, the microbiota also plays a crucial role in the prevention of ICU associated complications. By using the resources, we have available, such as probiotics, symbiotics or fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), we can preserve the integrity of the microbiota and the GUT, which will later help maintain homeostasis in ICU patients.

scholarly journals Mild thrombocytopenia indicating maternal organ damage in pre‐eclampsia: a cross‐sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michinori Mayama ◽  
Mamoru Morikawa ◽  
Takashi Yamada ◽  
Takeshi Umazume ◽  
Kiwamu Noshiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Platelet Count ◽  
Intensive Care Unit Admission ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Preterm Delivery ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Organ Damage ◽  
Severe Thrombocytopenia ◽  
Relative Risks

Abstract Background Currently, there is a disagreement between guidelines regarding platelet count cut-off values as a sign of maternal organ damage in pre-eclampsia; the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists guidelines state a cut-off value of < 100 × 109/L; however, the International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy guidelines specify a cut-off of < 150 × 109/L. We evaluated the effect of mild thrombocytopenia: platelet count < 150 × 109/L and ≥ 100 × 109/L on clinical features of pre-eclampsia to examine whether mild thrombocytopenia reflects maternal organ damage in pre-eclampsia. Methods A total of 264 women were enrolled in this study. Participants were divided into three groups based on platelet count levels at delivery: normal, ≥ 150 × 109/L; mild thrombocytopenia, < 150 × 109/L and ≥ 100 × 109/L; and severe thrombocytopenia, < 100 × 109/L. Risk of severe hypertension, utero-placental dysfunction, maternal organ damage, preterm delivery, and neonatal intensive care unit admission were analyzed based on platelet count levels. Estimated relative risk was calculated with a Poisson regression analysis with a robust error. Results Platelet counts indicated normal levels in 189 patients, mild thrombocytopenia in 51 patients, and severe thrombocytopenia in 24 patients. The estimated relative risks of severe thrombocytopenia were 4.46 [95 % confidence interval, 2.59–7.68] for maternal organ damage except for thrombocytopenia, 1.61 [1.06–2.45] for preterm delivery < 34 gestational weeks, and 1.35 [1.06–1.73] for neonatal intensive care unit admission. On the other hand, the estimated relative risks of mild thrombocytopenia were 0.97 [0.41–2.26] for maternal organ damage except for thrombocytopenia, 0.91 [0.62–1.35] for preterm delivery < 34 gestational weeks, and 0.97 [0.76–1.24] for neonatal intensive care unit admission. Conclusions Mild thrombocytopenia was not associated with severe features of pre-eclampsia and would not be suitable as a sign of maternal organ damage.

scholarly journals Lung ultrasound predicts clinical course but not outcome in COVID-19 ICU patients: a retrospective single-center analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie-Susanne Stecher ◽  
Sofia Anton ◽  
Alessia Fraccaroli ◽  
Jeremias Götschke ◽  
Hans Joachim Stemmler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Lung Ultrasound ◽  
Clinical Course ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Clinical Deterioration ◽  
Normal Lung ◽  
Icu Patients ◽  
Standardized Protocol ◽  
Ultrasound Score

Abstract Background Point-of-care lung ultrasound (LU) is an established tool in the first assessment of patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of lung ultrasound in COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU) patients in predicting clinical course and outcome. Methods We analyzed lung ultrasound score (LUS) of all COVID-19 patients admitted from March 2020 to December 2020 to the Internal Intensive Care Unit, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) of Munich. LU was performed according to a standardized protocol at ICU admission and in case of clinical deterioration with the need for intubation. A normal lung scores 0 points, the worst LUS has 24 points. Patients were stratified in a low (0–12 points) and a high (13–24 points) lung ultrasound score group. Results The study included 42 patients, 69% of them male. The most common comorbidities were hypertension (81%) and obesity (57%). The values of pH (7.42 ± 0.09 vs 7.35 ± 0.1; p = 0.047) and paO2 (107 [80–130] vs 80 [66–93] mmHg; p = 0.034) were significantly reduced in patients of the high LUS group. Furthermore, the duration of ventilation (12.5 [8.3–25] vs 36.5 [9.8–70] days; p = 0.029) was significantly prolonged in this group. Patchy subpleural thickening (n = 38; 90.5%) and subpleural consolidations (n = 23; 54.8%) were present in most patients. Pleural effusion was rare (n = 4; 9.5%). The median total LUS was 11.9 ± 3.9 points. In case of clinical deterioration with the need for intubation, LUS worsened significantly compared to baseline LU. Twelve patients died during the ICU stay (29%). There was no difference in survival in both LUS groups (75% vs 66.7%, p = 0.559). Conclusions LU can be a useful monitoring tool to predict clinical course but not outcome of COVID-19 ICU patients and can early recognize possible deteriorations.

scholarly journals Should the CIWA-Ar be the standard monitoring strategy for alcohol withdrawal syndrome in the intensive care unit?

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tessa L. Steel ◽  
Shewit P. Giovanni ◽  
Sarah C. Katsandres ◽  
Shawn M. Cohen ◽  
Kevin B. Stephenson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Alcohol Withdrawal ◽  
Withdrawal Syndrome ◽  
Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Alternative Measure ◽  
Icu Patients ◽  
Verbal Responses

Abstract Background The Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol-Revised (CIWA-Ar) is commonly used in hospitals to titrate medications for alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS), but may be difficult to apply to intensive care unit (ICU) patients who are too sick or otherwise unable to communicate. Objectives To evaluate the frequency of CIWA-Ar monitoring among ICU patients with AWS and variation in CIWA-Ar monitoring across patient demographic and clinical characteristics. Methods The study included all adults admitted to an ICU in 2017 after treatment for AWS in the Emergency Department of an academic hospital that standardly uses the CIWA-Ar to assess AWS severity and response to treatment. Demographic and clinical data, including Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) assessments (an alternative measure of agitation/sedation), were obtained via chart review. Associations between patient characteristics and CIWA-Ar monitoring were tested using logistic regression. Results After treatment for AWS, only 56% (n = 54/97) of ICU patients were evaluated using the CIWA-Ar; 94% of patients had a documented RASS assessment (n = 91/97). Patients were significantly less likely to receive CIWA-Ar monitoring if they were intubated or identified as Black. Conclusions CIWA-Ar monitoring was used inconsistently in ICU patients with AWS and completed less often in those who were intubated or identified as Black. These hypothesis-generating findings raise questions about the utility of the CIWA-Ar in ICU settings. Future studies should assess alternative measures for titrating AWS medications in the ICU that do not require verbal responses from patients and further explore the association of race with AWS monitoring.

scholarly journals Beta-Lactams Toxicity in the Intensive Care Unit: An Underestimated Collateral Damage?

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 1505
Author(s):  
Claire Roger ◽  
Benjamin Louart
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Acute Interstitial Nephritis ◽  
Convulsive Status Epilepticus ◽  
Beta Lactam ◽  
Beta Lactams ◽  
Drug Induced ◽  
Icu Patients

Beta-lactams are the most commonly prescribed antimicrobials in intensive care unit (ICU) settings and remain one of the safest antimicrobials prescribed. However, the misdiagnosis of beta-lactam-related adverse events may alter ICU patient management and impact clinical outcomes. To describe the clinical manifestations, risk factors and beta-lactam-induced neurological and renal adverse effects in the ICU setting, we performed a comprehensive literature review via an electronic search on PubMed up to April 2021 to provide updated clinical data. Beta-lactam neurotoxicity occurs in 10–15% of ICU patients and may be responsible for a large panel of clinical manifestations, ranging from confusion, encephalopathy and hallucinations to myoclonus, convulsions and non-convulsive status epilepticus. Renal impairment, underlying brain abnormalities and advanced age have been recognized as the main risk factors for neurotoxicity. In ICU patients, trough concentrations above 22 mg/L for cefepime, 64 mg/L for meropenem, 125 mg/L for flucloxacillin and 360 mg/L for piperacillin (used without tazobactam) are associated with neurotoxicity in 50% of patients. Even though renal complications (especially severe complications, such as acute interstitial nephritis, renal damage associated with drug induced hemolytic anemia and renal obstruction by crystallization) remain rare, there is compelling evidence of increased nephrotoxicity using well-known nephrotoxic drugs such as vancomycin combined with beta-lactams. Treatment mainly relies on the discontinuation of the offending drug but in the near future, antimicrobial optimal dosing regimens should be defined, not only based on pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) targets associated with clinical and microbiological efficacy, but also on PK/toxicodynamic targets. The use of dosing software may help to achieve these goals.

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