Impact of prone position on outcomes of COVID-19 patients with spontaneous breathing.

Background: In this study, we explored whether early application of the prone position (PP) can improve severe hypoxemia and respiratory failure in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with spontaneous breathing.

Methods: This is a prospective observational study of severe, critically ill adult COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit. All vital parameters were recorded in real time for all patients.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of critically ill COVID-19 patients in Sfax, Tunisia.

Background: Africa, like the rest of the world, has been impacted by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, only a few studies covering this subject in Africa have been published.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of critically ill adult COVID-19 patients-all of whom had a confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection- admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Habib Bourguiba University Hospital (Sfax, Tunisia).

Early post-traumatic pulmonary embolism in intensive care unit: incidence, risks factors, and impact outcome.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a well-established complication of trauma. Recent studies suggest that pulmonary embolism (PE) may occur very early, and even immediately, after injury. The aim of this study is to analyze the incidence, risk factors and prognosis of early PE among ICU trauma patients.

Value of Serum Cholinesterase Activity in the Diagnosis of Septic Shock Due to Bacterial Infections.

Background: We aimed to investigate whether serum cholinesterase (SChE) activity can be helpful for the diagnosis of septic shock and to evaluate its usefulness in comparison with procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP).

Methods: A prospective single-blinded study conducted in an intensive care unit of university hospital. Patients were classified as having cardiogenic shock, septic shock, or hemorrhagic shock.

Impact of acetazolamide use in severe exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease requiring invasive mechanical ventilation.

Purpose: To analyse the impact of acetazolamide (ACET) use in severe acute decompensation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease requiring mechanical ventilation and intensive care unit (ICU) admission.

Patients And Methods: Retrospective pair-wise, case-control study with 1:1 matching. Patients were defined as cases when they had received acetazolamide (500 mg per day) and as controls when they did not received it.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia in trauma patients with open tracheotomy: Predictive factors and prognosis impact.

Objective: To assess the predictive factors of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) occurrence following open tracheotomy in trauma patients.

Materials And Methods: We conducted an observational, prospective study over 15 months, between 01/08/2010 and 30/11/2011. All trauma patients (except those with cervical spine trauma), older than 15 years, undergoing open tracheotomy during their ICU stay were included.

Efficacy of corticosteroid therapy in severe decompensation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease requiring mechanical ventilation.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the efficacy of corticosteroids in severe acute decompensation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease requiring mechanical ventilation and intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Pairwise retrospective case-control study with 1:1 matching. Patients were defined as cases when they received corticosteroids and as controls when they did not received any steroids.

Post-traumatic pulmonary embolism in the intensive care unit.

Objective: To determine the predictive factors, clinical manifestations, and the outcome of patients with post-traumatic pulmonary embolism (PE) admitted in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods: During a four-year prospective study, a medical committee of six ICU physicians prospectively examined all available data for each trauma patient in order to classify patients according to the level of clinical suspicion of pulmonary thromboembolism. During the study period, all trauma patients admitted to our ICU were classified into two groups.

Isolated traumatic head injury in children: Analysis of 276 observations.

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

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective study, we included all consecutive children with isolated traumatic brain injury admitted to the 22-bed intensive care unit (ICU) of Habib Bourguiba University Hospital (Sfax, Tunisia). Basic demographic, clinical, biochemical, and radiological data were recorded on admission and during ICU stay.

Diffuse axonal injury in patients with head injuries: an epidemiologic and prognosis study of 124 cases.

Background: Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is usually associated to severe trauma. Recent imaging advances made its diagnosis easier. Its prognosis impact is not yet well established.

Pulmonary embolism in intensive care unit: Predictive factors, clinical manifestations and outcome.

Objective: To determine predictive factors, clinical and demographics characteristics of patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) in ICU, and to identify factors associated with poor outcome in the hospital and in the ICU.

Methods: During a four-year prospective study, a medical committee of six ICU physicians prospectively examined all available data for each patient in order to classify patients according to the level of clinical suspicion of pulmonary thromboembolism. During the study periods, all patients admitted to our ICU were classified into four groups.

Epidemiological, clinical characteristics and outcome of severe scorpion envenomation in South Tunisia: multivariate analysis of 951 cases.

The aim of this retrospective descriptive study was to describe both epidemiologically and clinically manifestations following severe scorpion envenomation and to define simple predictive factors which can be used in routine practice in general Intensive Care Units (ICU) as an indicator of poor prognosis. Cases were collected from hospital patients' files during 13-year (1990-2002) period in the medical Intensive Care Unit of a university hospital (Sfax - Tunisia). The diagnosis of scorpion envenomation was based on a history of scorpion sting.

Correlation between antibiotic use and changes in susceptibility patterns of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a medical-surgical intensive care unit.

Context: Multiple surveillance programmes have reported a decline in antibiotic susceptibility of P. aeruginosa.

Aim: Our study aimed to study the relationship between the use of antipseudomonal drugs and the development of resistance of P.

Curious fatal intentional poisoning case with organophosphate pesticide.

Background: A case of organophosphorus intoxication with rebounding symptoms is reported.

Case Report: Case report of a 24-year-old man who poisoned himself with organophosphorus pesticide and was hospitalized in a 22-bed adult medical surgical intensive care unit at a tertiary care hospital. The patient had ingested organophosphorus pesticide after an argument and fight with his family and had presented typical clinical and biological manifestations of intoxication by this chemical.

Colistin as a salvage therapy for nosocomial infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria in the ICU.

The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of systemic colistin therapy in the treatment of nosocomial infections caused by multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii or Pseudomonas aeruginosa and to study related adverse events. We prospectively studied 78 infections caused by multidrug-resistant A. baumannii or P.

Factors associated with pulmonary edema in severe scorpion sting patients--a multivariate analysis of 428 cases.

Objective: To determine clinical and routine laboratory factors associated with pulmonary edema secondary to scorpion envenomation.

Design And Setting: Retrospective study covering 13 years (1990-2002) in the medical Intensive Care Unit of a university hospital (Sfax-Tunisia).

Patients: 428 patients older than 3 years who were admitted to the intensive care unit for scorpion envenomation were included in this study.

Suspected acute interstitial nephritis induced by colistin.

We describe a 35-year-old male admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). He developed ventilator-associated pneumonia caused by multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and was treated with imipenem and colistin without any renal toxicity. The patient was readmitted to the ICU for a 2nd and a 3rd exacerbation of COPD and was again treated with imipenem and colistin.

Clinical manifestations of systemic paraphenylene diamine intoxication.

Background: To report clinical symptoms and outcome of systemic paraphenylene diamine (PPD) intoxication.

Methods: Our study was retrospective. It was conducted over 6 yrs (1994-2000) in the medical intensive care unit (ICU) of a university hospital and it concerned 19 patients hospitalized for systemic PPD intoxication.