Estimated Cerebral Perfusion Pressure and Intracranial Pressure in Septic Patients.

Background: Sepsis-associated brain dysfunction (SABD) is frequent and is associated with poor outcome. Changes in brain hemodynamics remain poorly described in this setting. The aim of this study was to investigate the alterations of cerebral perfusion pressure and intracranial pressure in a cohort of septic patients.

Cerebral autoregulation in anoxic brain injury patients treated with targeted temperature management.

Background: Little is known about the prevalence of altered CAR in anoxic brain injury and the association with patients' outcome. We aimed at investigating CAR in cardiac arrest survivors treated by targeted temperature management and its association to outcome.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data.

Low hemoglobin and venous saturation levels are associated with poor neurological outcomes after cardiac arrest.

Introduction: Hemoglobin (Hb) is a main determinant of tissue oxygen delivery and anemia could be particularly harmful in post-anoxic brain injury. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of Hb and venous Hb oxygen saturation (SvO/ScvO) with long-term neurological outcome in patients admitted after cardiac arrest (CA).

Methods: Analysis of adult CA patients admitted to the Department of Intensive Care of the Erasme University Hospital (Brussels, Belgium) over 9 years.

Comparison of estimation of cardiac output using an uncalibrated pulse contour method and echocardiography during veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Introduction: During veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, cardiac output monitoring is essential to assess tissue oxygen delivery. Adequate arterial oxygenation depends on the ratio between the extracorporeal pump blood flow and the cardiac output. The aim of this study was to compare estimates of cardiac output and blood flow/cardiac output ratios made using an uncalibrated pulse contour method with those made using echocardiography in patients treated with veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Renin as a Marker of Tissue-Perfusion and Prognosis in Critically Ill Patients.

Objectives: To characterize renin in critically ill patients. Renin is fundamental to circulatory homeostasis and could be a useful marker of tissue-perfusion. However, diurnal variation, continuous renal replacement therapy and drug-interference could confound its use in critical care practice.

Impaired cerebral autoregulation is associated with brain dysfunction in patients with sepsis.

Background: Sepsis-associated brain dysfunction (SABD) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The pathophysiology of SABD is multifactorial. One hypothesis is that impaired cerebral autoregulation (CAR) may result in brain hypoperfusion and neuronal damage leading to SABD.

Acute liver dysfunction after cardiac arrest.

Few data are available regarding hypoxic hepatitis (HH) and acute liver failure (ALF) in patients resuscitated from cardiac arrest (CA). The aim of this study was to describe the occurrence of these complications and their association with outcome. All adult patients admitted to the Department of Intensive Care following CA were considered for inclusion in this retrospective study.

No relationship between red blood cell distribution width and microcirculatory alterations in septic patients.

Background: Increased red cell distribution width (RDW), a quantitative measure of erythrocyte size variability, has been associated with increased mortality in critically ill patients.

Methods: In this post-hoc analysis of prospectively collected data, we studied 122 septic patients with and without shock who had undergone sublingual microcirculatory assessment using Sidestream Dark Field (SDF) videomicroscopy. Patient demographics, comorbidities, the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score on admission and the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score on the day of the microcirculatory assessment were collected.