Early Thrombocytopenia at Hospital Admission Predicts Mortality in Patients with Non-Isolated Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

Unlabelled: Patients with severe traumatic brain injury (STBI) often experience an abnormal hemostasis that contributes to mortality and unfavorable neurological outcomes.

Objectives: We aimed to analyze epidemiologic, clinical, and laboratory factors associated with mortality in patients with STBI during the first 48 h after in-hospital admission.

Methods: We performed an observational retrospective study of STBI patients with associated extracranial trauma [defined as Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥ 16 with an Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) head and neck ≥ 3 and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) ≤ 8] admitted to a Level II trauma center over seven years (2015-2021).

Infectious complications following major heart surgery from the day of the surgery to hospital discharge.

Background: At some point in their lives, many people will require major heart surgery (MHS). Patients are generally older adults with various risk factors for infection. However, the incidence of infection after MHS is poorly known, as reported infection data are frequently biased due to different factors like the surgical procedure, postoperative timing, and infectious syndromes or etiologic agents, among others.

Lung and blood perioperative metalloproteinases in patients undergoing oncologic lung surgery: Prognostic implications.

Background: Metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been reported to be related to oncologic outcomes. The main goal of the study was to study the relationship between these proteins and the long-term prognosis of patients undergoing oncologic lung resection surgery.

Methods: This was a substudy of the phase IV randomized control trial (NCT02168751).

Student survey after ten years of continuous blended teaching of echocardiography.

Objective: To analyse the impact of 10 years of blended echocardiography teaching.

Methods And Results: A questionnaire was emailed to all medical doctors who graduated from the blended learning diploma in echocardiography developed by the University of Chile and taught by a team from Chile and Spain. One hundred and forty of the 210 students who graduated from the program between 2011 and 2020 completed the questionnaire: 53.

Feasibility of using KardiaMobile-L6 for QT interval monitoring during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in critical care patients.

The electrocardiogram (ECG) represents an essential tool to determine cardiac electrical abnormalities in COVID-19 patients, the effects of anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs, and potential drug interactions. Smartphone-based heart monitors have increased the spectrum of ECG monitoring however, we are not aware of its reliability in critically ill COVID-19 patients. We aim to evaluate the feasibility and reliability of nurse-performed smartphone electrocardiography for QT interval monitoring in critically ill COVID-19 patients using KardiaMobile-6L compared with the standard 12-lead ECG.

COVID-19 associated infections in the ICU setting: A retrospective analysis in a tertiary-care hospital.

Introduction: Our work describes the frequency of superinfections in COVID-19 ICU patients and identifies risk factors for its appearance. Second, we evaluated ICU length of stay, in-hospital mortality and analyzed a subgroup of multidrug-resistant microorganisms (MDROs) infections.

Methods: Retrospective study conducted between March and June 2020.

COVID-19 associated infections in the ICU setting: A retrospective analysis in a tertiary-care hospital.

Introduction: Our work describes the frequency of superinfections in COVID-19 ICU patients and identifies risk factors for its appearance. Second, we evaluated ICU length of stay, in-hospital mortality and analyzed a subgroup of multidrug-resistant microorganisms (MDROs) infections.

Methods: Retrospective study conducted between March and June 2020.

Possible unrecognised liver injury is associated with mortality in critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) with acute respiratory distress syndrome is a life-threatening condition. A previous diagnosis of chronic liver disease is associated with poorer outcomes. Nevertheless, the impact of silent liver injury has not been investigated.

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in the COVID-19 era: An expected new entity.

Objectives: Information on the recently COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) entity is scarce. We describe eight CAPA patients, compare them to colonised ICU patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and review the published literature from Western countries.

Methods: Prospective study (March to May, 2020) that included all COVID-19 patients admitted to a tertiary hospital.

Selective digestive decontamination solution used as "lock therapy" prevents and eradicates bacterial biofilm in an in vitro bench-top model.

Background: Most preventing measures for reducing ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) are based mainly on the decolonization of the internal surface of the endotracheal tubes (ETTs). However, it has been demonstrated that bacterial biofilm can also be formed on the external surface of ETTs. Our objective was to test in vitro the efficacy of selective digestive decontamination solution (SDDs) onto ETT to prevent biofilm formation and eradicate preformed biofilms of three different microorganisms of VAP.

Colonization of the nasal airways by Staphylococcus aureus on admission to a major heart surgery operating room: A real-world experience.

Introduction: Nasal swab culture is used to identify Staphylococcus aureus colonization, as this is a major risk factor for surgical site infection (SSI) in patients who are going to undergo major heart surgery (MHS). We determined nasal carriage of S. aureus in patients undergoing MHS by comparing the yield of a conventional culture with that of a rapid molecular test (Xpert® SA Nasal Complete, Cepheid).

Infections in patients after Berlin Heart EXCOR assist device implantation.

Objectives: Berlin Heart EXCOR devices (BHED) are ventricular assist devices (VAD) used mainly as a bridge to heart transplantation (HT) in pediatric population. The aim of our study is to report the infections diagnosed in adult patients undergoing a BHED implantation.

Methods: Adult patients receiving a BHED between Jul 2009 and Oct 2017 at our institution were included.

Impact of selective digestive decontamination without systemic antibiotics in a major heart surgery intensive care unit.

Purpose: The incidence density of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is higher in patients undergoing major heart surgery than in other populations, despite the introduction of bundles of preventive measures, because many risk factors are not amenable to intervention. Selective digestive decontamination (SDD) has been shown to be efficacious for decreasing the frequency of VAP, although it has not been incorporated into the routine of most intensive care units. The objective of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of SDD without parenteral antibiotics for preventing VAP in a major heart surgery intensive care unit.

Eradication of P. aeruginosa biofilm in endotracheal tubes based on lock therapy: results from an in vitro study.

Background: Despite the several strategies available for the management of biofilm-associated ventilator-associated pneumonia, data regarding the efficacy of applying antibiotics to the subglottic space (SS) are scarce. We created an in vitro model to assess the efficacy of antibiotic lock therapy (ALT) applied in the SS for eradication of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm in endotracheal tubes (ETTs).

Methods: We applied 2 h of ALT to a P.

Early intravenous immunoglobulin replacement in hypogammaglobulinemic heart transplant recipients: results of a clinical trial.

Background: Immunoglobulin G (IgG) hypogammaglobulinemia (HGG) is a risk factor for development of severe infections after heart transplantation. We performed a clinical trial to preliminarily evaluate the efficacy and safety of early administration of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) for prevention of severe infection in heart recipients with post-transplant IgG HGG.

Methods: Twelve heart recipients with IgG HGG detected in a screening phase of the clinical trial (IgG <500 mg/dL) were recruited.

Ethanol lock therapy (E-Lock) in the prevention of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CR-BSI) after major heart surgery (MHS): a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Lock-therapy with antimicrobials has been used for the treatment and prevention of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CR-BSI). Experiences with Ethanol-Locks (E-locks) have included therapeutic interventions with variable results. Patients undergoing Major Heart Surgery (MHS) are a high-risk population for CR-BSI.

Impact of four sequential measures on the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia in cardiac surgery patients.

Introduction: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most frequent infection in patients admitted to intensive care units.

Methods: We compared rates of VAP, days on mechanical ventilation (MV), and cost of antimicrobial agents before and during implementation.

Results: We collected data from 401 patients before the intervention and from 1,534 patients during the intervention.

Pre-emptive broad-spectrum treatment for ventilator-associated pneumonia in high-risk patients.

Purpose: Patients requiring mechanical ventilation (MV) for >48 h after major heart surgery (MHS) are at a high risk of acquiring ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and tracheobronchitis (VAT). Most non-pharmacological interventions to prevent VAP in such patients are usually already implemented. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy in preventing lower respiratory infections of antibiotics active against multidrug-resistant pathogens in this very high-risk population.

Incidence and risk factors for ventilator-associated pneumonia after major heart surgery.

Purpose: Major heart surgery (MHS) patients are a particularly high-risk population for nosocomial infections. Our objective was to identify risk factors for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in patients undergoing MHS.

Methods: Prospective study including 1,844 patients operated from 2003 to 2006.