Acute Respiratory Failure

Comparison of a Novel Score "NOD-ACLF" to Other Established Prognostic Scores for Prediction of Mortality in APASL-ACLF Patients: A Cohort Study from a Tertiary Care Center of North India

Background

Commonly used prognostic scores for acute on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) have complex calculations. We tried to compare the simple counting of numbers and types of organ dysfunction to these scores, to predict mortality in ACLF patients.

Methods

In this prospective cohort study, ACLF patients diagnosed on the basis of Asia Pacific Association for Study of the Liver (APASL) definition were included. Severity scores were calculated. Prognostic factors for outcome were analysed. A new score, the Number of Organ Dysfunctions in Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure (NOD-ACLF) score was developed.

Results

Among 80 ACLF patients, 74 (92.5%) were male, and 6 were female (7.5%). The mean age was 41.0±10.7 (18-70) years. Profile of acute insult was; alcohol 48 (60%), sepsis 30 (37.5%), variceal bleeding 22 (27.5%), viral 8 (10%), and drug-induced 3 (3.8%). Profiles of chronic insults were alcohol 61 (76.3%), viral 20 (25%), autoimmune 3 (3.8%), and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis 2 (2.5%). Thirty-eight (47.5%) were discharged, and 42 (52.5%) expired. The mean number of organ dysfunction (NOD-ACLF score) was ->4.5, simple organ failure count (SOFC) score was >2.5, APASL ACLF Research Consortium score was >11.5, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease-Lactate (MELD-LA) score was >21.5, and presence of cardiovascular and respiratory dysfunctions were significantly associated with mortality. NOD-ACLF and SOFC scores had the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic to predict mortality among all these.

Conclusion

The NOD-ACLF score is easy to calculate bedside and is a good predictor of mortality in ACLF patients performing similar or better to other scores.

Impact of Obesity on Outcomes Associated With Acute Alcoholic Pancreatitis

The incidence and prevalence of obesity have been rising in the United States, negatively impacting the population's overall health. This study seeks to better understand the impact of obesity on patients presenting with acute alcoholic pancreatitis (AAP). Data collected using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) from the fourth quarter of 2015 to 2019 with a principal diagnosis of AAP and secondary obesity were analyzed. Confounders were adjusted for multivariate regression analysis using a multitude of factors. A total of 229,510 patients were identified with a diagnosis of AAP, among which 14,150 were also identified as obese. A majority of the sample, both obese and non-obese patients with AAP, were middle-aged white females. The average comorbidity index (CCI) was lower in the non-obese cohort compared to the obese cohort. Compared to non-obese patients, patients with AAP who were obese had higher hospital charges and a longer LOS (p<0.05. Additionally, compared to non-obese patients, obese patients with AAP had higher odds of mortality and adverse events, such as acute renal failure and respiratory failure (p<0.05). Current research supports these complications, which have shown an association with increased visceral fat in or around the pancreas that can ultimately worsen acute pancreatitis outcomes and aggravate AAP by damaging the intestinal mucosal barrier. These findings should be considered when treating obese patients who develop AAP. Strategies to increase surveillance of such patients should be implemented to reduce complications and mortality in this population.

Neurological effects of respiratory dysfunction

The respiratory and the nervous systems are closely interconnected and are maintained in a fine balance. Central mechanisms maintain strict control of ventilation due to the high metabolic demands of brain which depends on a continuous supply of oxygenated blood along with glucose. Moreover, brain perfusion is highly sensitive to changes in the partial pressures of carbon dioxide and oxygen in blood, which in turn depend on respiratory function. Ventilatory control is strictly monitored and regulated by the central nervous system through central and peripheral chemoreceptors, baroreceptors, the cardiovascular system, and the autonomic nervous system. Disruption in this delicate control of respiratory function can have subtle to devastating neurological effects as a result of ensuing hypoxia or hypercapnia. In addition, pulmonary circulation receives entire cardiac output and this may act as a conduit to transmit infections and also for metastasis of malignancies to brain resulting in neurological dysfunction. Furthermore, many neurological paraneoplastic syndromes can have underlying lung malignancies resulting in respiratory dysfunction. It is essential to understand the underlying mechanisms and the resulting manifestations in order to prevent and effectively manage the many neurological effects of respiratory dysfunction. This chapter explores the various neurological effects of respiratory dysfunction with focus on their pathophysiology, etiologies, clinical features and long-term neurological sequelae.