Association of serum soluble Fas concentrations and mortality of septic patients.

Introduction: Scarce data on Fas, one of the main receptors that activates the apoptosis extrinsic pathway, in septic patients exists. Higher blood soluble Fas (sFas) concentrations in non-survivor septic patients compared with survivors have been found in small studies; however, the association of blood sFas concentrations with mortality controlling for sepsis severity has not been stablished due to this small sample size in those studies. Thus, our main objective study was to determine whether an association between blood sFas concentrations and sepsis mortality controlling for sepsis severity exists.

Association of serum soluble Fas concentrations and mortality of septic patients.

Introduction: Scarce data on Fas, one of the main receptors that activates the apoptosis extrinsic pathway, in septic patients exists. Higher blood soluble Fas (sFas) concentrations in non-survivor septic patients compared with survivors have been found in small studies; however, the association of blood sFas concentrations with mortality controlling for sepsis severity has not been stablished due to this small sample size in those studies. Thus, our main objective study was to determine whether an association between blood sFas concentrations and sepsis mortality controlling for sepsis severity exists.

Chlorhexidine-silver sulfadiazine-impregnated venous catheters are efficient even at subclavian sites without tracheostomy.

Background: Chlorhexidine-silver sulfadiazine (CHSS)-impregnated catheters have been found to decrease the risk of catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) and central venous catheter (CVC)-related costs. However, there are no published data about cost-effectiveness of the use of CHSS-impregnated catheters in subclavian venous access without the presence of tracheostomy (thus, with a very low risk of CRBSI). That was the objective of this study.

Chlorhexidine-silver sulfadiazine- or rifampicin-miconazole-impregnated venous catheters decrease the risk of catheter-related bloodstream infection similarly.

Background: The objective of this study was to compare the incidence of catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) with the use of second-generation chlorhexidine-silver sulfadiazine (CHSS)-impregnated catheters, rifampicin-miconazole (RM)-impregnated catheters, and standard catheters.

Methods: Retrospective study of patients admitted to an intensive care unit who received CHSS, RM, or standard catheters in femoral venous access.

Results: We diagnosed 18 CRBSIs in 245 patients with standard catheters in 2,061 days, zero CRBSI in 169 patients with CHSS-impregnated catheters in 1,489 days, and zero CRBSI in 227 patients with RM-impregnated catheters in 2,009 days.

Chlorhexidine-silver sulfadiazine-impregnated venous catheters save costs.

Background: Previous cost-effectiveness analyses have found that the use of chlorhexidine-silver sulfadiazine (CHSS)-impregnated catheters is associated with decreased catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI) and central venous catheter (CVC)-related costs. However, in these analyses, the CVC-related cost included the increase of hospital stay.

Objective: Our aim was to determine the immediate CVC-related cost (including only the cost of CVC, diagnosis of CRBSI, and antimicrobials for the treatment of CRBSI) of using a CHSS or a standard catheter in internal jugular venous access.

Left atrial dysfunction and new-onset atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery.

Introduction And Objectives: Postoperative atrial fibrillation is a common complication of carrying out cardiac surgery with extracorporeal circulation (ECC). The aim of this study was to determine whether preoperative left atrial contractile dysfunction, as assessed by tissue Doppler echocardiography, is associated with the development of postoperative new-onset atrial fibrillation (PAF).

Methods: Transthoracic Doppler echocardiography was performed preoperatively in patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery.