scholarly journals Fixation of Multiple-Segmented Costosternal Cartilage Fracture in Flail Chest Injury: A Case Report

Author(s):  
Pornpanit Dissaneewate ◽  
Methasit Suksintharanon ◽  
Chulin Chewakidakarn ◽  
Wich Orapiriyakul ◽  
Apipop Kritsaneephaiboon

Early internal fixation of rib fractures in the setting of flail chest has proven benefits over traditional conservative treatment. This can decrease pneumonia, time on mechanical ventilation, length of stay in intensive care units, need for tracheostomy and increase in the pulmonary function test. However, there are few reports regarding on how to restore the costochondral junction, or costal cartilage in cases of anterior or anterolateral flail chest involving cartilage matrix of the ribs or costochondral joint. This case report describes a surgical technique to restore the costochondral junction with plate osteosynthesis and the results. 

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Youenn Jouan ◽  
Leslie Grammatico-Guillon ◽  
Noémie Teixera ◽  
Claire Hassen-Khodja ◽  
Christophe Gaborit ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The post intensive care syndrome (PICS) gathers various disabilities, associated with a substantial healthcare use. However, patients’ comorbidities and active medical conditions prior to intensive care unit (ICU) admission may partly drive healthcare use after ICU discharge. To better understand retative contribution of critical illness and PICS—compared to pre-existing comorbidities—as potential determinant of post-critical illness healthcare use, we conducted a population-based evaluation of patients’ healthcare use trajectories. Results Using discharge databases in a 2.5-million-people region in France, we retrieved, over 3 years, all adult patients admitted in ICU for septic shock or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), intubated at least 5 days and discharged alive from hospital: 882 patients were included. Median duration of mechanical ventilation was 11 days (interquartile ranges [IQR] 8;20), mean SAPS2 was 49, and median hospital length of stay was 42 days (IQR 29;64). Healthcare use (days spent in healthcare facilities) was analyzed 2 years before and 2 years after ICU admission. Prior to ICU admission, we observed, at the scale of the whole study population, a progressive increase in healthcare use. Healthcare trajectories were then explored at individual level, and patients were assembled according to their individual pre-ICU healthcare use trajectory by clusterization with the K-Means method. Interestingly, this revealed diverse trajectories, identifying patients with elevated and increasing healthcare use (n = 126), and two main groups with low (n = 476) or no (n = 251) pre-ICU healthcare use. In ICU, however, SAPS2, duration of mechanical ventilation and length of stay were not different across the groups. Analysis of post-ICU healthcare trajectories for each group revealed that patients with low or no pre-ICU healthcare (which represented 83% of the population) switched to a persistent and elevated healthcare use during the 2 years post-ICU. Conclusion For 83% of ARDS/septic shock survivors, critical illness appears to have a pivotal role in healthcare trajectories, with a switch from a low and stable healthcare use prior to ICU to a sustained higher healthcare recourse 2 years after ICU discharge. This underpins the hypothesis of long-term critical illness and PICS-related quantifiable consequences in healthcare use, measurable at a population level.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 111 (Supplement_E1) ◽  
pp. e534-e541
Author(s):  
Joseph W. Kaempf ◽  
Betty Campbell ◽  
Ronald S. Sklar ◽  
Cindy Arduza ◽  
Robert Gallegos ◽  
...  

Objective. The purpose of this article is to describe how a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) was able to reduce substantially the use of postnatal dexamethasone in infants born between 501 and 1250 g while at the same time implementing a group of potentially petter practices (PBPs) in an attempt to decrease the incidence and severity of chronic lung disease (CLD). Methods. This study was both a retrospective chart review and an ongoing multicenter evidence-based investigation associated with the Vermont Oxford Network Neonatal Intensive Care Quality Improvement Collaborative (NIC/Q 2000). The NICU specifically made the reduction of CLD and dexamethasone use a priority and thus formulated a list of PBPs that could improve clinical outcomes across 3 time periods: era 1, standard NICU care that antedated the quality improvement project; era 2, gradual implementation of the PBPs; and era 3, full implementation of the PBPs. All infants who had a birth weight between 501 and 1250 g and were admitted to the NICU during the 3 study eras were included (era 1, n = 134; era 2, n = 73; era 3, n = 83). As part of the NIC/Q 2000 process, the NICU implemented 3 primary PBPs to improve clinical outcomes related to pulmonary disease: 1) gentle, low tidal volume resuscitation and ventilation, permissive hypercarbia, increased use of nasal continuous positive airway pressure; 2) decreased use of postnatal dexamethasone; and 3) vitamin A administration. The total dexamethasone use, the incidence of CLD, and the mortality rate were the primary outcomes of interest. Secondary outcomes included the severity of CLD, total ventilator and nasal continuous positive airway pressure days, grades 3 and 4 intracranial hemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia, stages 3 and 4 retinopathy of prematurity, necrotizing enterocolitis, pneumothorax, length of stay, late-onset sepsis, and pneumonia. Results. The percentage of infants who received dexamethasone during their NICU admission decreased from 49% in era 1 to 22% in era 3. Of those who received dexamethasone, the median number of days of exposure dropped from 23.0 in era 1 to 6.5 in era 3. The median total NICU exposure to dexamethasone in infants who received at least 1 dose declined from 3.5 mg/kg in era 1 to 0.9 mg/kg in era 3. The overall amount of dexamethasone administered per total patient population decreased 85% from era 1 to era 3. CLD was seen in 22% of infants in era 1 and 28% in era 3, a nonsignificant increase. The severity of CLD did not significantly change across the 3 eras, neither did the mortality rate. We observed a significant reduction in the use of mechanical ventilation as well as a decline in the incidence of late-onset sepsis and pneumonia, with no other significant change in morbidities or length of stay. Conclusions. Postnatal dexamethasone use in premature infants born between 501 and 1250 g can be sharply curtailed without a significant worsening in a broad range of clinical outcomes. Although a modest, nonsignificant trend was observed toward a greater number of infants needing supplemental oxygen at 36 weeks’ postmenstrual age, the severity of CLD did not increase, the mortality rate did not rise, length of stay did not increase, and other benefits such as decreased use of mechanical ventilation and fewer episodes of nosocomial infection were documented.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 89 (1) ◽  
pp. 154-155
Author(s):  
DANIEL B. SOBEL

Monitoring of arterial hemoglobin saturations by pulse oximetry has become a fixture in neonatal and pediatric intensive care units, operating rooms, and in other hospital settings. Use with extremely premature neonates is especially beneficial because of their immature skin development and vulnerability to topical damage—whether due to chemicals, tape, or temperature.1,2 This report documents a case of a burn due to a presumed shorting of a pulse oximeter probe cable in an extremely premature neonate. CASE REPORT The patient was a 690-g Hispanic female neonate born prematurely at approximately 25 weeks' gestation with respiratory distress syndrome requiring mechanical ventilation and supplemental oxygen.


2012 ◽  
Vol 92 (12) ◽  
pp. 1546-1555 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeanette J. Lee ◽  
Karen Waak ◽  
Martina Grosse-Sundrup ◽  
Feifei Xue ◽  
Jarone Lee ◽  
...  

Background Paresis acquired in the intensive care unit (ICU) is common in patients who are critically ill and independently predicts mortality and morbidity. Manual muscle testing (MMT) and handgrip dynamometry assessments have been used to evaluate muscle weakness in patients in a medical ICU, but similar data for patients in a surgical ICU (SICU) are limited. Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of strength measured by MMT and handgrip dynamometry at ICU admission for in-hospital mortality, SICU length of stay (LOS), hospital LOS, and duration of mechanical ventilation. Design This investigation was a prospective, observational study. Methods One hundred ten patients were screened for eligibility for testing in the SICU of a large, academic medical center. The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, diagnoses, and laboratory data were collected. Measurements were obtained by MMT quantified with the sum (total) score on the Medical Research Council Scale and by handgrip dynamometry. Outcome data, including in-hospital mortality, SICU LOS, hospital LOS, and duration of mechanical ventilation, were collected for all participants. Results One hundred seven participants were eligible for testing; 89% were tested successfully at a median of 3 days (25th–75th percentiles=3–6 days) after admission. Sedation was the most frequent barrier to testing (70.6%). Manual muscle testing was identified as an independent predictor of mortality, SICU LOS, hospital LOS, and duration of mechanical ventilation. Grip strength was not independently associated with these outcomes. Limitations This study did not address whether muscle weakness translates to functional outcome impairment. Conclusions In contrast to handgrip strength, MMT reliably predicted in-hospital mortality, duration of mechanical ventilation, SICU LOS, and hospital LOS.


2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 435-440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaseen M. Arabi ◽  
Jamal A. Alhashemi ◽  
Hani M. Tamim ◽  
Andres Esteban ◽  
Samir H. Haddad ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (11) ◽  
pp. 2309-2313
Author(s):  
Afia Arshed Dodhy

Objectives: To compare the role of dexmedetomidine versus midazolam as sedative in facilitating early mechanical ventilation weaning thereby decreasing ICU cost. Study Design: Randomized Controlled trial. Setting: Surgical ICU of Lahore General Hospital, Lahore. Period: December 2018 to July 2019. Material & Methods: Total of 60 adult postoperative patients (30 in each group) who required mechanical ventilation in the surgical ICU for minimum 24 hours postoperatively after major pelvi-abdominal operations were included. Patients of group “A” and “B” received midazolam infusion 20-100 mcg/kg/hr & dexmedetomidine infusion 0.2-0.7 μg/kg/hr respectively while being mechanically ventilated. The degree of sedation was measured by using the Richmond agitation sedation score (RASS) every 6 hourly. Extubation time (i.e. time from termination of drug to extubation) was recorded. The time of ICU length of stay was also recorded Results: Mean age of patients was 41.97 ±10.21 and 42.57±10.93 years in group-A and B, respectively. In group-A 18 patients (60%) and in group-B 16 patients (53.0%) were male while 12 patients (40%) in group-A and 14 patients (47.0%) were females. A significant decrease in extubation time was observed in Group-B when compared with the Group-A (p=0.046) along with odds ratio 0.938 while no significant relationship could be proved between length of stay at ICU between two groups. Stratification with regard to age, gender height, weight and type of surgery was carried out. Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine is more favourable than midazolam for sedation in intensive care patients by facilitating early exubation and decreasing the duration of invasive ventilation while no significant relationship could be proved in two groups between length of stay in intensive care unit.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Hansson ◽  
Ola Sunnergren ◽  
Anneli Hammarskjöld ◽  
Catarina Alkemark ◽  
Knut Taxbro

Abstract Background As the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic spread worldwide in 2020, the number of patients requiring intensive care and invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) has increased rapidly. Tracheostomy has several advantages over oral intubation in critically ill patients, including the facilitation of prolonged mechanical ventilation. However, the optimal timing of the procedure remains unclear. During the pandemic, early recommendations suggested that tracheostomy should be postponed, as the potential benefits were not certain to exceed the risk of viral transmission to healthcare workers. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of tracheostomy in patients with COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome, in terms of patient and clinical characteristics, outcomes, and complications, by comparing between early and late tracheostomy. Methods A multicentre, retrospective observational study was conducted in Jönköping County, Sweden. Between 14 March 2020 and 13 March 2021, 117 patients were included in the study. All patients > 18 years of age with confirmed COVID-19 who underwent tracheostomy were divided into two groups based on the timing of the procedure (< / > 7 days). Outcomes including the time on IMV, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay, and mortality 30 days after ICU admission, as well as complications due to tracheostomy were compared between the groups. Results Early tracheostomy (< 7 days, n = 56) was associated with a shorter duration of mechanical ventilation (7 [Inter Quartile Range, IQR 12], p = 0.001) as well as a shorter ICU stay (8 [IQR 14], p = 0.001). The mortality rates were equal between the groups. The most frequent complication of tracheostomy was minor bleeding. With the exception of a higher rate of obesity in the group receiving late tracheostomy, the patient characteristics were similar between the groups. Conclusions This study showed that early tracheostomy was safe and associated with a shorter time on IMV as well as a shorter ICU length of stay, implicating possible clinical benefits in critically ill COVID-19 patients. However, it is necessary to verify these findings in a randomised controlled trial.Trial Registration: Not required


2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. Secombe ◽  
P. C. Stewart

Excessive alcohol use is associated with increased health care utilisation and increased mortality. This observational study sought to identify the proportion of patients admitted with a critical illness in which alcohol misuse contributed, and to examine the resource use for this group. We performed an observational retrospective database review of all admissions to the Alice Springs Hospital intensive care unit (ICU) between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2015. The Alice Springs Hospital ICU is a ten-bed unit located in Central Australia, with approximately 600 admissions annually. The per capita consumption of alcohol in Central Australia is approximately 1.5 times the national average. The primary aim was to determine the proportion of admissions to intensive care in which alcohol misuse was identified as a contributing cause. Secondary aims examined resource utilisation including ICU and hospital length of stay, need for and duration of mechanical ventilation, and ICU re-admission. There were 3,768 admissions involving 2,670 individual patients. Of these admissions 947 (25%) were associated with alcohol misuse. Admissions associated with alcohol were significantly more likely to require mechanical ventilation (30% versus 20%, P <0.01), and had a significantly longer ICU length of stay (2.1 versus 1.9 days, P <0.05). The proportion of admissions in which alcohol misuse was implicated is amongst the highest in the published literature. The results of this study should drive further policy change directed at harm minimisation, and warrant more detailed epidemiological work at both a local and national level.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Seyhan Pala Cifci ◽  
Yasemin Urcan Tapan ◽  
Bengu Turemis Erkul ◽  
Yusuf Savran ◽  
Bilgin Comert

Objective. Oxygen therapy is one of the most common treatment modalities for hypoxemic patients, but target goals for normoxemia are not clearly defined. Therefore, iatrogenic hyperoxia is a very common situation. The results from the recent clinical researches about hyperoxia indicate that hyperoxia can be related to worse outcomes than expected in some critically ill patients. According to our literature knowledge, there are not any reports researching the effect of hyperoxia on clinical course of patients who are not treated with invasive mechanical ventilation. In this study, we aimed to determine the effect of hyperoxia on mortality, and length of stay and also possible side effects of hyperoxia on the patients who are treated with oxygen by noninvasive devices. Materials and Methods. One hundred and eighty-seven patients who met inclusion criteria, treated in Dokuz Eylul University Medical Intensive Care Unit between January 1, 2016, and October 31, 2018, were examined retrospectively. These patients’ demographic data, oxygen saturation (SpO2) values for the first 24 hours, APACHE II (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II) scores, whether they needed intubation, if they did how many days they got ventilated, length of stay in intensive care unit and hospital, maximum PaO2 values of the first day, oxygen treatment method of the first 24 hours, and the rates of mortality were recorded. Results. Hyperoxemia was determined in 62 of 187 patients who were not treated with invasive mechanic ventilation in the first 24 hours of admission. Upon further investigation of the relation between comorbid situations and hyperoxia, hyperoxia frequency in patients with COPD was detected to be statistically low (16% vs. 35%, p<0.008). Hospital mortality was significantly high (51.6% vs. 35.2%, p<0.04) in patients with hyperoxia. When the types of oxygen support therapies were investigated, hyperoxia frequency was found higher in patients treated with supplemental oxygen (nasal cannula, oronasal mask, high flow oxygen therapy) than patients treated with NIMV (44.2% vs. 25.5%, p<0.008). After exclusion of 56 patients who were intubated and treated with invasive mechanical ventilation after the first 24 hours, hyperoxemia was determined in 46 of 131 patients. Mortality in patients with hyperoxemia who were not treated with invasive mechanical ventilation during hospital stay was statistically higher when compared to normoxemic patients (41.3% vs 15.3%, p<0.001). Conclusion. We report that hyperoxemia increases the hospital mortality in patients treated with noninvasive respiratory support. At the same time, we determined that hyperoxemia frequency was lower in COPD patients and the ones treated with NIMV. Conservative oxygen therapy strategy can be suggested to decrease the hyperoxia prevalence and mortality rates.


1999 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 170-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Besserman ◽  
D Teres ◽  
A Logan ◽  
M Brennan ◽  
S Cleaves ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE: To test an alternative flexible approach to traditional fixed intermediate and intensive care to minimize transfers of patients. METHODS: Patients admitted to a 28-bed nursing unit with intermediate care potential and a 12-bed intensive care unit at a 300-bed teaching community hospital were studied. The group included 524 patients with a discharge diagnosis code for mechanical ventilation. During eight 3-week cycles, 1073 transfers of patients were tabulated. A plan-do-study-act method was used to improve weaning from mechanical ventilation and reduce the number of inappropriate days in intensive care. Admissions and transfers to the 2 units for all patients during the eight 3-week cycles were compared over time. Length of stay and mortality were noted for all patients treated with conventional and noninvasive ventilation. RESULTS: Direct admissions to the flexible intermediate unit increased with no overall change in admissions to the intensive care unit. Fewer patients needed conventional ventilation, and more in both units were treated with noninvasive ventilation. The median number of transfers per patient treated with mechanical ventilation decreased from 1.94 to 1.20. Length of stay and mortality also decreased among such patients. Some cost savings were attributable to the decrease in the number of transfers. Transfers out of the hospital directly from the intensive care unit increased from 2.24% to 4.43%. CONCLUSIONS: In a community teaching hospital, flexible care policies decreased the number of in-hospital transfers of patients treated with mechanical ventilation.


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