Thyroid Disfunction in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients. Relationship with In-Hospital Mortality.

The incidence of thyroid disfunction has not been analyzed in critically ill COVID-19 patients. Our objective was to analyze the relationship of the thyroid profile and in-hospital mortality in critically ill COVID-19 patients. This was a prospective single-center study involving critically ill COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU of a tertiary University Hospital.

Successful weaning from continuous renal replacement therapy. Associated risk factors.

Purpose: To identify risk factors of successful continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) weaning and to evaluate the effect of furosemide in the recovery of urine output after CRRT stop.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective, observational study of critical patients treated with CRRT. Weaning tests (WT) were classified in two groups: successful (urine output was recovered and CRRT was not required again) and failed (CRRT was required again).

Effect of the route of nutrition and L-alanyl-L-glutamine supplementation in amino acids' concentration in trauma patients.

Purpose: Our purpose was to assess the amino acids' (AAs) profile in trauma patients and to assess the effect of the route of nutrition and the exogenous ALA-GLN dipeptide supplementation on plasma AAs' concentration.

Methods: This is a secondary analysis of a previous randomized controlled trial. On day 1 and day 6 after trauma, plasma concentration of 25 AAs was measured using reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography.

Hyperlactatemia in ICU patients: Incidence, causes and associated mortality.

Purpose: To describe the incidence, causes and associated mortality of hyperlactatemia in critically ill patients and to evaluate the association between lactate clearance and in-hospital survival.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study of patients with hyperlactatemia admitted to the ICU. Hyperlactatemia was defined as a blood lactate concentration ≥5mmol/L and high-grade hyperlactatemia a lactate level ≥10mmol/L.

Severe trauma in the geriatric population.

Geriatric trauma constitutes an increasingly recognized problem. Aging results in a progressive decline in cellular function which leads to a loose of their capacity to respond to injury. Some medications commonly used in this population can mask or blunt the response to injury.

Enteral nutrition volume is not correlated with lower respiratory tract infection in patients on mechanical ventilation.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of enteral nutrition volume, gastrointestinal function and the type of acid suppressive drug upon the incidence of lower respiratory tract infections in critically ill patients on mechanical ventilation (MV).

Design: A retrospective secondary analysis was carried out.

Setting: The Intensive Care Unit of a University Hospital.

Effect of FiO in the measurement of VO and VCO using the E-COXV metabolic monitor.

Objective: We evaluated the effect of changes in FiO on the bias and accuracy of the determination of oxygen consumption (V˙O) and carbon dioxide production (V˙CO) using the E-COVX monitor in patients with mechanical ventilation.

Design: Descriptive of concordance.

Setting: Intensive Care Unit.

Role of Elevated Aminotransferases in ICU Patients with Rhabdomyolysis.

To evaluate whether patients with rhabdomyolysis and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and/or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) higher than 1000 IU/L had higher mortality that patients with low aminotransferases. Retrospective analysis of intensive care unit patients with rhabdomyolysis [creatine kinase (CK) higher than 5000 IU/L]. Patients were classified in two groups: low aminotransferases group, when AST and ALT were equal or lower to 1000 IU/L, and elevated aminotransferases group, when AST or ALT was above 1000 IU/L.

A SIMPLIFIED EQUATION FOR TOTAL ENERGY EXPENDITURE IN MECHANICALLY VENTILATED CRITICALLY ILL PATIENTS.

Introduction: "tight calorie control" concept arose to avoid over- and under-feeding of patients.

Objective: to describe and validate a simplified predictive equation of total energy expenditure (TEE) in mechanically ventilated critically ill patients.

Methods: this was a secondary analysis of measurements of TEE by indirect calorimetry in critically ill patients.

Prophylaxis Versus Treatment Use of Laxative for Paralysis of Lower Gastrointestinal Tract in Critically Ill Patients.

Goals: To evaluate the prevalence of lower gastrointestinal tract paralysis and to compare the success to achieve defecation between treatment and prophylaxis strategies.

Background: Laxatives use is commonly the first-level measure to achieve defecation in critically ill patients with lower gastrointestinal tract paralysis. Studies comparing prophylaxis versus treatment of lower gastrointestinal tract paralysis have not been performed yet.

Role of Respiratory Drive in Hyperoxia-Induced Hypercapnia in Ready-to-Wean Subjects With COPD.

Background: Hyperoxia-induced hypercapnia in subjects with COPD is mainly explained by alterations in the ventilation/perfusion ratio. However, it is unclear why respiratory drive does not prevent CO2 retention. Some authors have highlighted the importance of respiratory drive in CO2 increases during hyperoxia.

A randomized trial of intravenous glutamine supplementation in trauma ICU patients.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of the intravenous (i.v.) L-alanyl-L-glutamine dipeptide supplementation during 5 days on clinical outcome in trauma patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).

Respiratory CO2 response depends on plasma bicarbonate concentration in mechanically ventilated patients.

Objective: There is controversy about the effects of high plasma bicarbonate concentration ([HCO3(-)]) and the CO2 response test. We analyzed the relationship between [HCO3(-)] and the variation in hydrogen ion concentration (pH) for a given change in PaCO2, and its effects upon CO2 response.

Design: A retrospective study was carried out.

Respiratory CO₂ response in acute cervical spinal cord injury (CO₂ response in spinal cord injury).

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare the CO₂ response of acute tetraplegic cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) patients undergoing mechanical ventilation with a control group of critically ill patients ready for weaning of mechanical ventilation and successfully extubated.

Setting: This study was conducted at the intensive care unit of a University Hospital in Mallorca, Spain.

Central respiratory drive in patients with neuromuscular diseases.

Background: The contribution of the central respiratory drive in the hypercapnic respiratory failure of neuromuscular diseases (NMD) is controversial.

Objective: To compare the CO2 response and the duration of weaning of mechanical ventilation between a group of NMD patients and a group of quadriplegic patients due to ICU-acquired weakness (ICU-AW).

Methods: We prospectively studied 16 subjects with NMD and 26 subjects with ICU-AW ready for weaning, using the method of the re-inhalation of expired air.

Stress hyperglycaemia in critically ill patients: potential role of incretin hormones; a preliminary study.

Background: Stress hyperglycaemia is common in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting and has been related to a worst outcome.

Objective: The objective was to characterize the association of glucoregulatory hormones, mainly incretins, with the levels of glycaemia, and its relationship with outcome in ICU patients.

Methods: We prospectively studied 60 patients.

[Efficacy of the dipeptide N(2)-L-Alanyl-L-glutamine in traumatic patients admitted to the ICU: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, multicentre study].

Hypothesis: the endovenous administration of glutamine, independently of the type of nurtrition received, can reduce the ICU length of stay, the incidence of infections and the mortality in the traumatic patients admitted to the ICU.

Objectives: The main objective is to assess the efficacy of glutamine suplementation, given intravenously, to reduce the incidence of infectious complications, mortality and ICU length of stay in the traumatic patients admitted to the ICU. Other objectives are: 1) to assess the efficacy of glutamine in different groups of patients according to the severity and the plasma levels of glutamine.

Potential effects of corticosteroids on physiological dead-space fraction in acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Background: Increased dead-space fraction is common in patients with persistent acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We evaluated the changes in the oxygenation and dead-space fraction in patients with persistent ARDS after corticosteroid therapy.

Methods: This was a non-randomized non-placebo, controlled observational study including 19 patients with persistent ARDS treated with corticosteroids.

Response to the high-dose corticotrophin stimulation test depends on plasma adrenocotropin hormone levels in septic shock.

Purpose: The use of the high-dose corticotrophin stimulation test (HDCST) as a guide to use low-dose steroid therapy in septic shock is controversial. The adrenocotropin hormone (ACTH) constitutes the immediate stimuli to produce cortisol. We evaluated the correlation of the response to the HDCST with plasma ACTH levels in patients with septic shock.