Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH)-associated stress cardiomyopathy secondary to autoimmune conditions successfully treated with anakinra

We describe two young cases of reactive haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) with the resultant stress cardiomyopathy in the setting of underlying autoimmune diseases, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Still’s disease. The initial presentation was similar in both cases with fever, hyperinflammatory response, hypotension (vasoplegia), bicytopenia and hyperferritinemia. Despite standard of care and multiple broad-spectrum antibiotics, both cases remained pyrexic and were ultimately admitted to the intensive therapy unit to treat cardiogenic shock. Echocardiogram of both cases showed low ejection fraction, the cause for which was not found until the final diagnosis of HLH was made. Both cases made a complete clinical and cardiac recovery following the initiation of high-dose glucocorticoids and anakinra.

Isolated splenic sarcoidosis: a rare cause of hypercalcaemia in a patient with type 1 diabetes

A 30-year-old man was admitted to Intensive Therapy Unit (ITU) with status epilepticus secondary to severe hypoglycaemia on a background of type 1 diabetes. CT of the brain showed generalised cerebral oedema. He was successfully stepped down to a medical ward after 2 weeks. He was noted to have persistently high calcium, which required multiple doses of pamidronate. Parathyroid hormone level was appropriately low. CT of the thorax, abdomen and pelvis showed mild hepatosplenomegaly with small pathological lymph nodes throughout the abdomen. Bone marrow biopsy was unremarkable. Lymph node biopsy was difficult to achieve, and therefore a positron emission tomography scan was arranged. This showed an enlarged and hypermetabolic spleen. Differential diagnoses at this point included lymphoma and sarcoidosis. He underwent diagnostic splenectomy, and the diagnosis of sarcoidosis was confirmed histologically. Calcium level remained normal 17 months after splenectomy.

Environmental contamination and personal protective equipment contamination with SARS-CoV-2 virus in a real-life clinical setting

The importance of SARS-CoV-2 transmission via contact routes and its stability on surfaces is becoming increasingly recognised. There is ongoing concern that patients can become infected through person-to-person spread and environment-to-person spread. This study assessed whether SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA can be detected in the environment either on staff members’ personal protective equipment (PPE), on high-touch surfaces or around the bedspace of COVID-19–positive patients in a range of different ward settings to evaluate if there was any contamination of these. Results showed all PPE and high-touch surface swabs were negative. All swabs taken in the negative-pressure room where aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs) were being undertaken detected viral RNA (5/5 positive), whereas there was minimal contamination in the intensive therapy unit (1/5 positive) and none detected in the cohort bay. These findings would be consistent with the understanding that areas where AGPs are regularly performed are at higher risk of environmental contamination.

Stability of OCT and OCTA in the Intensive Therapy Unit Setting

To assess the stability of retinal structure and blood flow measures over time and in different clinical settings using portable optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) as a potential biomarker of central perfusion in critical illness, 18 oesophagectomy patients completed retinal structure and blood flow measurements by portable OCT and OCTA in the eye clinic and intensive therapy unit (ITU) across three timepoints: (1) pre-operation in a clinic setting; (2) 24–48 h post-operation during ITU admission; and (3) seven days post-operation, if the patient was still admitted. Blood flow and macular structural measures were stable between the examination settings, with no consistent variation between pre- and post-operation scans, while retinal nerve fibre layer thickness increased in the post-operative scans (+2.31 µm, p = 0.001). Foveal avascular zone (FAZ) measurements were the most stable, with an intraclass correlation coefficient of up to 0.92 for right eye FAZ area. Blood flow and structural measures were lower in left eyes than right eyes. Retinal blood flow assessed in patients before and during an ITU stay using portable OCTA showed no systematic differences between the clinical settings. The stability of retinal blood flow measures suggests the potential for portable OCTA to provide clinically useful measures in ITU patients.

Acute upper airway obstruction due to tonsillitis necessitating emergency cricothyroidotomy

A 17-year-old man was admitted to Accident & Emergency out of hours with unilateral tonsillar enlargement covering more than 75% of his oropharyngeal inlet. He appeared calm and stable on initial presentation, but in a short span of time rapidly deteriorated, leading to near complete airway obstruction necessitating an emergency awake cricothyroidotomy. Tracheostomy and tonsillectomy were done after this, he was ventilated postoperatively in intensive therapy unit and discharged home in a week. This is a rare clinical scenario in a patient presenting with palatine tonsillitis. A few subtle points in the history and examination alerted the team and prevented a risky inter hospital transfer for ear, nose and throat review. This is the first reported case in UK of palatine tonsillitis not due to infectious mononucleosis presenting with acute upper airway obstruction in a patient with no airway anomalies. It may also have been a varied presentation of COVID-19.

Evaluation of patient safety culture in the pediatric intensive therapy unit in a public hospital / Avaliação da cultura de segurança do paciente em unidade de terapia intensiva pediátrica em hospital público

Objetivo: avaliar a segurança do paciente em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Pediátrica. Método: estudo transversal realizado com 50 profissionais de uma equipe multiprofissional em uma Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Pediátrica em hospital público do interior da Bahia. Utilizou-se instrumento com variáveis sociodemográficas e profissionais e o questionário Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC) adaptado para o Brasil. Realizou-se análise descritiva, classificando as dimensões em áreas de força ou críticas para a segurança do paciente. Resultados: dentre as dimensões de segurança do paciente analisadas nesse estudo, destacaram-se positivamente “Aprendizado organizacional” (60,0%) e “Trabalho em equipe no âmbito das unidades”. Conclusão: a identificação de potencialidades e fragilidades é importante ferramenta para o alcance de uma cultura de segurança positiva e desenvolvimento de ações seguras em saúde.

An analytical observational study on the prognostic implication of postoperative serial serum lactate level for complications and predicting length of intensive therapy unit stay after major abdominal surgery

Background: Post-operative microcirculatory alteration causes hypoperfusion, tissue hypoxia and organ dysfunction, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. Increase in serum lactate level in response to tissue hypoxia may serve as a cost effective tool to assess status of all organ dysfunction being sensitive but not organ specific and may help in early prognostication. Aim of this study was to investigate the association of blood lactate levels during the first 24 hours after surgery with postoperative morbidity and mortality, with length of ITU stay and to correlate the lactate values at various time points with different postoperative complications (POC).Methods: 150 patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery were included. Blood lactate (mmol/lit) levels were measured immediately on admission to the Intensive Therapy Unit (ITU) and at 6, 12, and 24 hours of admission. The parameters of clinical outcome included were mortality, shock, Acute kidney injury (AKI), respiratory failure, wound dehiscence and length of ITU stay. Heart Rate, Mean Arterial Pressure, spo2, Temperature and Urine output were also measured.Results: There was statistically significant difference in the lactate levels measured at the above mentioned point of time (0, 6, 12 and 24h) in cases with death and without fatal outcome, with and without respiratory failure, with and without AKI, with and without shock and in cases with and without wound dehiscence (p<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in urine output, duration of ITU stay and duration of intubation (p<0.05).Conclusions: Increased serum lactate levels were significantly associated with postoperative complications, mortality and length of ITU stay in patients undergoing major elective abdominal surgery.

Factors associated to the gestational age of prematuros inhibited in a neonatal intensive therapy unit / Fatores associados à idade gestacional de prematuros internados em unidade de terapia intensiva neonatal

Objetivo: descrever fatores associados à idade gestacional de prematuros internados em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva. Métodos: estudo transversal com recém-nascidos prematuros encaminhados à alta da Unidade. Resultados: participaram 66 prematuros, 59% meninos, média de 32 semanas gestacionais, 26% prematuros moderados, 51% com peso adequado para idade gestacional ao nascimento. 38% das gestantes apresentaram pré-eclâmpsia, 18% diabetes gestacional. Houve associação dos grupos de prematuros com: peso ao nascimento (p=0,000), tempo de internação (p=0,000), tempo de ventilação mecânica invasiva (p=0,000), tempo total de oxigênio (p=0,000), necessidade de transfusão (0,019) e uso de surfactante (0,003). Entre os prematuros tardios e moderados, houve aumento significativo na frequência de recém-nascidos pequenos para idade gestacional no momento da alta (p=0,046 e p=0,021). Conclusão: Pré-eclâmpsia foi a complicação mais prevalente entre as gestantes. Diabetes gestacional foi mais frequente no parto antes das 34 semanas. Observou-se restrição do crescimento extrauterino no momento da alta da unidade.