Prognostic Value of Serum Cholinesterase Activity in Severe SARS-CoV-2-Infected Patients Requiring Intensive Care Unit Admission.

We evaluated the prognostic value of serum cholinesterase (SChE) levels in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission. This is a retrospective study of severe, critically ill, adult COVID-19 patients, all of whom had a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and were admitted into the ICU of a university hospital. We included all patients admitted to our ICU and whose SChE levels were explored on ICU admission and during ICU stay.

The value of sepsis biomarkers and their kinetics in the prognosis of septic shock due to bacterial infections.

Introduction: In this study, we aim to explore the value of procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), and serum cholinesterase (SChE) activity kinetics as useful predictors of mortality in patients with septic shock admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).

Material And Methods: We conducted a prospective single-blinded study in the ICU of a university hospital during a period of 1 year. Were included all patients 18 years of age or older, with confirmed septic shock.

Post-traumatic pulmonary embolism: incidence, physiopathology, risk factors of early occurrence, and impact outcome. A narrative review.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a well-established complication of trauma. So far, the factors that are related to early post-traumatic pulmonary embolism (PE) occurrence have been given little attention.

Aims: We have conducted this literature review in order to analyze the incidence and the physiopathology of post-traumatic PE among intensive care unit (ICU) trauma patients, analyze the incidence of early post-traumatic PE, and elucidate risk factors associated with post-traumatic PE.

Dobutamine in the treatment of severe scorpion envenoming.

Scorpion envenoming is a frequent and deadly event in Tunisia. It is caused mainly by Androctonus australis and Buthus occitanus. Pulmonary edema and shock following scorpion envenoming are related to adrenergic cardiomyopathy, and are the main symptoms leading to death.

Pulmonary embolism in intensive care units: More frequent or more Known? Prospective study of 75 cases.

Purpose: to evaluate the current rate of pulmonary embolism (PE) in our medico-surgical intensive care unit (ICU), to identify risk factors, and to determine the outcome of PE in ICU.

Methods: We performed a prospective cohort study of consecutive patients requiring intensive care admission during a one-year period. We included, in this prospective study, all the patients with confirmed PE admitted in ICU with more than 18 years of age, and expected to stay in ICU for more than 48 hours.

Incidence and impact outcome of pulmonary embolism in critically ill patients with severe exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.

Purpose: We aimed to determine the incidence and the prognostic impact [mortality and length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay (LOS)] of pulmonary embolism (PE) in critically ill patients with severe acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: This is a retrospective study performed during a 5-year period in the ICU of Habib Bourguiba University Hospital (Sfax, Tunisia). All patients with severe acute exacerbation of COPD were included.

Acute renal failure and pregnancy: a seventeen-year experience of a Tunisian intensive care unit.

Purpose: To describe the epidemiologic features of acute renal failure related to pregnancy (PRARF) and to evaluate its prognostic impact.

Methods: Retrospective study conducted in a Tunisian intensive care unit over a period of 17 years (1995-2011). Women were included if they were more than 20 weeks pregnant and were admitted to the ICU during pregnancy or immediately (<7 d) post partum.

Does low-dose hydrocortisone therapy prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia in trauma patients?

The incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is particularly high in trauma patients. Immediate acute inflammation response is one of the hallmarks of multiple trauma. This phenomenon is associated with an immunosuppression state and may increase the risk of VAP.

Severe scorpion envenomation among children: does hydrocortisone improve outcome? A case-control study.

Background: To analyse the efficacy and safety of systemic infusion of hydrocortisone hemisuccinate in children admitted to the intensive care unit with severe scorpion envenomation, we assessed the impact on mortality and length of hospital stay.

Method: We conducted a pair-wise, case-control study with 1:1 matching, reviewing records over a 13-year period (1990-2002) for the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Habib Bourguiba University Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia. A total of 184 children were included in the study (92 cases and 92 controls); cases received hydrocortisone hemisuccinate during hospitalization and controls received no steroids.

Impact of hydrocortisone hemisuccinate use on outcome of severe scorpion-envenomed adult patients.

The aim of this study is to analyze if the infusion of hydrocortisone hemisuccinate improve outcome in severe scorpion-envenomated adult patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU). Pairwise retrospective case-control study with 1:1 matching was designed. Patients were defined as cases when they received hydrocortisone hemisuccinate (as alone steroids) during hospitalization and as controls when they did not received any steroids.

Does change of catecholamine use improve the outcome of patients with shock admitted to intensive care unit?

Up to 2008, dopamine was the catecholamine that was the most recommended in our intensive care unit (ICU) after fluid resuscitation. However, recently, norepinephrine has become the catecholamine that was most recommended in our ICU after fluid resuscitation. The aim of this study was to determine if there was an efficacy or safety benefit to this protocol therapeutic change in patients with shock admitted to our ICU.

[Use of catecholamines for shock. A continuous debate!].

Background: Hypotension and shocks are frequently observed in patients requiring admission in ICU. However, the optimal adrenergic support in shock is controversial.

Aim: To perform a descriptive approach of the current use of catecholamine in a medico-surgical ICU in patients with schoks.

Pulmonary edema following scorpion envenomation: mechanisms, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment.

Scorpion envenomation is common in tropical and subtropical regions. Cardio-respiratory manifestations, mainly cardiogenic shock and pulmonary edema, are the leading causes of death after scorpion envenomation. The mechanism of pulmonary edema remains unclear and contradictory conclusions were published.

Clinical features, complications and mortality in critically ill patients with 2009 influenza A(H1N1) in Sfax,Tunisia.

Purpose: Africa, as the rest of the world, was touched by the 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1). In the literature, a few publications covering this subject emerged from this continent. We prospectively describe baseline characteristics, treatment and outcomes of consecutive critically ill patients with confirmed 2009 influenza A(H1N1) in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Sfax hospital.

Scorpion envenomation among children: clinical manifestations and outcome (analysis of 685 cases).

Our objective was to characterize both epidemiologically and clinically manifestations after severe scorpion envenomation and to define simple factors indicative of poor prognosis in children. We performed a retrospective study over 13 years (1990-2002) in the medical intensive care unit (ICU) of a university hospital (Sfax-Tunisia). The diagnosis of scorpion envenomation was based on a history of scorpion sting.

Risk factors and outcomes of intensive care unit-acquired infections in a Tunisian ICU.

Background: ICU-acquired infections constitute an important world-wide health problem. Our aim was to determine the incidence, predictive factors and impact of ICU-AIs in ICU patients in Tunisia.

Material/methods: We conducted a prospective observational cohort study over a 3 month period in the medical surgical intensive care unit of Habib Bourguiba University Hospital (Sfax-Tunisia).

[Traumatic head injury in children in south Tunisia epidemiology, clinical manifestations and evolution. 454 cases].

Aim: To determine epidemiological, causes, clinical and Para clinical manifestations and outcome in children with traumatic head injury in south Tunisia.

Methods: A retrospective study over a 8 year period (1997-2004) of 454 children's with head injury admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a university hospital (Sfax-Tunisia). Basic demographic, clinical, biological and radiological data were recorded on admission and during the ICU stay.

[Acute fatty liver of pregnancy. "Incidence, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis"].

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) is a rare, potentially fatal complication that occurs in the third trimester or early postpartum period. It generally appears between weeks 30 and 38. Usually the APLF symptoms start one to two weeks before hospitalization with nausea, emesis, general uneasiness, jaundice, epigastric pain and other symptoms.

Severe head injury among children: prognostic factors and outcome.

Aim: To determine predictive factors of mortality among children after traumatic brain injury.

Methods: A retrospective study over 8 years of 222 children with severe head injury (Glasgow Coma Scale score < or = 8) admitted to a university hospital (Sfax, Tunisia). Basic demographic, clinical, biological and radiological data were recorded on admission and during intensive care unit stay.

Neurogenic pulmonary edema due to traumatic brain injury: evidence of cardiac dysfunction.

Background: Acute neurogenic pulmonary edema, a common and underdiagnosed clinical entity, can occur after virtually any form of injury of the central nervous system and is a potential early contributor to pulmonary dysfunction in patients with head injuries.

Objective: To explore myocardial function in patients with evident neurogenic pulmonary edema after traumatic head injury.

Methods: During a 1-year period in a university hospital in Sfax, Tunisia, information was collected prospectively on patients admitted to the 22-bed intensive care unit because of isolated traumatic head injury who had neurogenic pulmonary edema.