Extravascular lung water index as a sign of developing sepsis in burns

Surviving Sepsis After Burn Campaign

INTRODUCTION

The Surviving Sepsis Campaign was developed to improve outcomes for all patients with sepsis. Despite sepsis being the primary cause of death after thermal injury, burns have always been excluded from the Surviving Sepsis efforts. To improve sepsis outcomes in burn patients, an international group of burn experts developed the Surviving Sepsis After Burn Campaign (SSABC) as a testable guideline to improve burn sepsis outcomes.

METHODS

The International Society for Burn Injuries (ISBI) reached out to regional or national burn organizations to recommend members to participate in the program. Two members of the ISBI developed specific "patient/population, intervention, comparison and outcome" (PICO) questions that paralleled the 2021 Surviving Sepsis Campaign [1]. SSABC participants were asked to search the current literature and rate its quality for each topic. At the Congress of the ISBI, in Guadalajara, Mexico, August 28, 2022, a majority of the participants met to create "statements" based on the literature. The "summary statements" were then sent to all members for comment with the hope of developing an 80% consensus. After four reviews, a consensus statement for each topic was created or "no consensus" was reported.

RESULTS

The committee developed sixty statements within fourteen topics that provide guidance for the early treatment of sepsis in burn patients. These statements should be used to improve the care of sepsis in burn patients. The statements should not be considered as "static" comments but should rather be used as guidelines for future testing of the best treatments for sepsis in burn patients. They should be updated on a regular basis.

CONCLUSION

Members of the burn community from the around the world have developed the Surviving Sepsis After Burn Campaign guidelines with the goal of improving the outcome of sepsis in burn patients.

Use of procalcitonin as a biomarker for sepsis in pediatric burns

Infection and sepsis continue to be the leading cause of morbidity and death in burn injuries. Diagnosing sepsis in burns is challenging as signs and symptoms of sepsis are not specific and overlap with those related to the burn injury. While the use of procalcitonin (PCT) as a biomarker is recommended for diagnosing sepsis in burns, evidence for children with burns is scarce. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of PCT in distinguishing sepsis in pediatric burns. A prospective observational study was conducted in a single pediatric burn unit. Children hospitalized with burns ≤ 30% of total body surface area were included while patients with chemical burn, inhalation injury, or concomitant chronic diseases were excluded. Patients were classified into three groups for sepsis, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), or controls using the American Burn Association (ABA) criteria. The predictive role of C-reactive protein (CRP) and PCT was investigated for distinguishing sepsis. Seventy-two patients were included in the study. The median total body surface area (TBSA) size was 12% (2.0-28.5%), and the median abbreviated burn severity index (ABSI) score was 3 (2-7). The median length of burn unit stay was 9.5 days (1-59 days). Sepsis was diagnosed in 11 patients (15.2%), and SIRS was present in 23 patients (40.0%), whereas 38 patients (52.8%) had neither SIRS nor sepsis (control group). Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that CRP and PCT levels distinguished sepsis patients from non-sepsis patients while PCT had a higher positive predictive value (50.0% vs. 45.0%). Optimal cutoff values of CRP and PCT for distinguishing sepsis were 66.75 mg/L and 0.95 ng/mL.

CONCLUSIONS

PCT levels could distinguish sepsis in children with burn injuries, performing better than CRP levels. Confirmatory studies are needed to evaluate the development of sepsis and the role of PCT in diagnosing sepsis in pediatric burn patients.

WHAT IS KNOWN

• Even though there are excellent criteria for the diagnosis of infection and sepsis in children and several clinical parameters and biomarkers are being studied, it's difficult to diagnose burn wound sepsis in children.

WHAT IS NEW

• Data from this study showed that procalcitonin levels performed better than CRP levels as a biomarker for distinguishing sepsis from systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in children with burn injuries.

Clinical Application of Transabdominal Ultrasound Combined with PICCO in Septic Shock Fluid Resuscitation and Its Predictive Value for Survival Outcome

To investigate the clinical value of transabdominal ultrasound combined with pulse index continuous cardiac output (PICCO) in fluid resuscitation of septic shock patients, and to analyze the predictive value of survival outcomes, 68 patients with septic shock were randomly divided into the ultrasound + PICCO group and PICCO group. Compared with before treatment, blood lactic acid (BLA) was cleared, and central venous pressure (CVP) and oxygenation index were significantly increased in all patients. The oxygen binding index, central venous oxygen saturation (ScVO₂), and CVP in the ultrasound + PICCO group were increased compared with the PICCO group, while BLA, mechanical ventilation time, total fluid resuscitation input and hospitalization were significantly reduced. The extravascular lung water index and shape change index were positively correlated with sequential organ failure assessment. The combination of extravascular lung water index and shape change index had higher clinical value than each alone in predicting the death of patients with septic shock. The combination of transabdominal ultrasound with PICCO is better at guiding fluid resuscitation in patients with septic shock and has a certain predictive value with respect to the survival outcome of septic shock patients.

Changes of Extravascular Lung Water as an Independent Prognostic Factor for Early Developed ARDS in Severely Burned Patients

An important feature of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is fluid lost into the interstitium of lung combined with its compromised reabsorption, resulting in the elevation of extravascular lung water (EVLW). Although ARDS is known as an early, common, and life-threatening complication in major burns, the issue of whether or how the EVLW index (EVLWI) correlates with its prognosis has not been identified yet. In this retrospectively study, 121 severely burned adults with ARDS occurred in 2 weeks postburn were analyzed and divided into two groups: survivors (73 patients) and nonsurvivors (48 patients) according to the 28-day outcome after injury. Compared with nonsurvivors, survivors exhibited bigger EVLWI reduction in day 2 after ARDS onset (ΔEVLWI2), with no differences in ARDS timing and other EVLWI variables. ΔEVLWI2, rather than EVLWI on 2 days after ARDS onset, was identified as an independent prognostic factor even after adjusting other significant factors by Cox proportional hazard analysis. ROC curve analysis showed that ΔEVLWI2 [AUC = 0.723, 95% CI = (0.631-0.816), P < .001] was a relative predictor for survival on 28-day postburn, with a threshold of 1.9 ml/kg (63.0% sensitivity, 77.1% specificity). Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis confirmed a significantly higher survival rate on 28-day postburn in patients with ΔEVLWI2 > 1.9 ml/kg (log-rank test: χ 2 =14.780, P < .001). Taken together, our study demonstrated that ΔEVLWI2 is an independent prognostic factor for early ARDS in severe burns. ΔEVLWI2 higher than 1.9 ml/kg might predict a higher survival rate in those patients.

Evaluation of the association between extravascular lung water and prognosis of sepsis: A protocol of systematic review

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study is to explore the association between extravascular lung water (EVLW) and prognosis of sepsis (PS).

METHODS

We will carry out comprehensive literature search in electronic databases (PUBMED/MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, WorldSciNet, PsycINFO, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, CBM, and CNKI) and additional sources. All electronic databases will be searched from their initial to the present without language restrictions. Case-controlled studies reporting the association between EVLW and PS will be evaluated for inclusion. Outcomes of interest will include mortality rate, extravascular lung water index, pulmonary vascular permeability index, blood lactate clearance, oxygenation index, blood gas analysis, PaO2/FiO2, cardiac output index, global end diastolic volume index, intrathoracic blood volume index, systemic resistance index, acute physiology and chronic health scoring system II, and infection-related organ failure scoring system. Study quality will be evaluated using Newcastle-Ottawa Tool, and statistical analysis will be performed utilizing RevMan 5.4 software.

RESULTS

This study will summarize the most recent evidence to investigate the association between EVLW and PS.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study will provide an exhaustive view of the association between EVLW and PS.

STUDY REGISTRATION OSF

osf.io/vhnxw.

To Swan or Not to Swan: Indications, Alternatives, and Future Directions

The pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) has revolutionized bedside assessment of preload, afterload, and contractility using measured pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, calculated systemic vascular resistance, and estimated cardiac output. It is placed percutaneously by a flow-directed balloon-tipped technique through the venous system and the right heart to the pulmonary artery. Interest in the hemodynamic variables obtained from PACs paved the way for the development of numerous less-invasive hemodynamic monitors over the past 3 decades. These devices estimate cardiac output using concepts such as pulse contour and pressure analysis, transpulmonary thermodilution, carbon dioxide rebreathing, impedance plethysmography, Doppler ultrasonography, and echocardiography. Herein, the authors review the conception, technologic advancements, and modern use of PACs, as well as the criticisms regarding the clinical utility, reliability, and safety of PACs. The authors comment on the current understanding of the benefits and limitations of alternative hemodynamic monitors, which is important for providers caring for critically ill patients. The authors also briefly discuss the use of hemodynamic monitoring in goal-directed fluid therapy algorithms in Enhanced Recovery After Surgery programs.

Propranolol Reduces Cardiac Index But does not Adversely Affect Peripheral Perfusion in Severely Burned Children

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to quantify the effect of propranolol on hemodynamic parameters assessed using the PiCCO system in burned children.

METHODS

We analyzed hemodynamic data from patients who were randomized to receive either propranolol (4 mg/kg/day) or placebo (control), which was initiated as a prospective randomized controlled trial. Endpoints were cardiac index (CI), percent predicted heart rate (%HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), percent predicted stroke volume (%SV), rate pressure product (RPP), cardiac work (CW), systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), extravascular lung water index (EVLWI), arterial blood gases, events of lactic acidosis, and mortality. Mixed multiple linear regressions were applied, and a 95% level of confidence was assumed.

RESULTS

One hundred twenty-one burned children (control: n = 62, propranolol: n = 59) were analyzed. Groups were comparable in demographics, EVLWI, SVRI, %SV, arterial blood gases, Denver 2 postinjury organ failure score, incidence of lactic acidosis, or mortality. Percent predicted HR, MAP, CI, CW, and RPP were significantly reduced in the propranolol-treated group (P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Propranolol significantly reduces cardiogenic stress by reducing CI and MAP in children with severe burn injury. However, peripheral oxygen delivery was not reduced and events of lactic acidosis as well as organ dysfunction was not higher in propranolol treated patients.

Pulmonary ultrasound scoring system for intubated critically ill patients and its association with clinical metrics and mortality: A prospective cohort study

PURPOSE

Pulmonary ultrasound (PU) examination at the point-of-care can rapidly identify the etiology of acute respiratory failure (ARF) and assess treatment response. The often-subjective classification of PU abnormalities makes it difficult to document change over time and communicate findings across providers. The study goal was to develop a simple, PU scoring system that would allow for standardized documentation, have high interprovider agreement, and correlate with clinical metrics.

METHODS

In this prospective study of 250 adults intubated for ARF, a PU examination was performed at intubation, 48-hours later, and at extubation. A total lung score (TLS) was calculated. Clinical metrics and final diagnosis were extracted from the medical record.

RESULTS

TLS correlated positively with mortality (P = .03), ventilator hours (P = .003), intensive care unit, and hospital length of stay (P = .003, P = .008), and decreasing PaO₂ /FiO₂ (P < .001). Agreement of PU findings was very good (kappa = 0.83). Baseline TLS and subscores differed significantly between ARF categories (nonpulmonary, obstructive, and parenchymal disease).

CONCLUSIONS

A quick, scored, PU examination was associated with clinical metrics, including mortality among a diverse population of patients intubated for ARF. In addition to diagnostic and prognostic information at the bedside, a standardized and quantifiable approach to PU provides objectivity in serial assessment and may enhance communication of findings between providers.

Endothelial protein C receptor polymorphisms and risk of sepsis in a Chinese population

Objective

To examine the potential relationship of EPCR polymorphisms and the risk of sepsis in a Chinese population.

Methods

Snapshot SNP genotyping assays and DNA sequencing methods were used to detect polymorphisms of the EPCR gene, rs2069948C/T (2532C/T) and rs867186A/G (6936A/G), in 64 patients with sepsis and in 113 controls. Soluble EPCR (sEPCR) was measured by ELISA.

Results

There were significant differences in the allele and genotype frequencies of EPCR gene rs2069948C/T and allele frequencies of rs867186A/G between male and female patients and controls. Females carrying rs2069948 C/T genotype or T allele and males carrying rs867186 A allele were associated with a significantly increased risk of sepsis. Plasma sEPCR levels of sepsis patients were higher than controls and showed no correlation with EPCR gene polymorphisms.

Conclusions

EPCR polymorphisms may be associated with increased risk of sepsis, but this has no effect on the release of sEPCR in patients with sepsis.

The Use of Procalcitonin (PCT) for Diagnosis of Sepsis in Burn Patients: A Meta-Analysis

The continuous development of resuscitation techniques and intensive care reduced the mortality rate induced by the initial shock in burn patients and, currently, infections (especially sepsis) are the main causes of mortality of these patients. The misuse of antimicrobial agents is strongly related to antimicrobial and adverse patient outcomes, development of microbial resistance and increased healthcare-related costs. To overcome these risks, antimicrobial stewardship is mandatory and biomarkers are useful to avoid unnecessary medical prescription, to monitor antimicrobial therapy and to support the decision of its stop. Among a large array of laboratory tests, procalcitonin (PCT) emerged as the leading biomarker to accurately and time-effectively indicate the presence of systemic infection. In the presence of systemic infection, PCT blood levels undergo a sudden and dramatic increase, following the course of the infection, and quickly subside after the control of the septic process. This work is a meta-analysis on PCT performance as a biomarker for sepsis. This meta–analysis showed that overall pooled area under the curve (AUC) is 0.83 (95% CI = 0.76 to 0.90); the estimated cut-off is 1.47 ng/mL. The overall sepsis effect in PCT levels is significant and strong (Cohen's d is 2.1 and 95% CI = 1.1 to 3.2). This meta–analysis showed PCT may be considered as a biomarker with a strong diagnostic ability to discriminate between the septic from the non-septic burn patients. Thus, this work encourages the determination of PCT levels in clinical practice for the management of these patients, in order to timely identify the susceptibility to sepsis and to initiate the antimicrobial therapy, improving the patients’ outcomes.

ICU management based on PiCCO parameters reduces duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU length of stay in patients with severe thoracic trauma and acute respiratory distress syndrome

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to assess whether a management algorithm using data obtained with a PiCCO system can improve clinical outcomes in critically ill patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

RESULTS

The PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio increased over time in both groups, with a sharper increase in the PiCCO group. There was no difference in 28-day mortality (3.2 vs. 3.6%, P = 0.841). Days on mechanical ventilation (3 vs. 5 days, P = 0.002) and ICU length of stay (6 vs. 11 days, P = 0.004) were significantly lower in the PiCCO group than in the CVP group. Treatment costs were lower in the PiCCO group than in the CVP group. Multivariate logistic regression model showed that the monitoring method (PiCCO vs. CVP) was independently associated with the length of ICU stay [odds ratio (OR) 3.16, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.55-6.63, P = 0.001], as well as shock (OR 3.41, 95% CI 1.74-6.44, P = 0.002), shock and ARDS (OR 3.46, 95% CI 1.79-6.87, P = 0.002), and APACHE II score (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.02-1.86, P = 0.014).

CONCLUSIONS

This study investigated the usefulness of the PiCCO system in improving outcomes for patient with severe thoracic trauma and ARDS and provided new evidence for fluid management in critical care settings.

Extravascular lung water in critical care: recent advances and clinical applications

Extravascular lung water (EVLW) is the amount of fluid that is accumulated in the interstitial and alveolar spaces. In lung oedema, EVLW increases either because of increased lung permeability or because of increased hydrostatic pressure in the pulmonary capillaries, or both. Increased EVLW is always potentially life-threatening, mainly because it impairs gas exchange and reduces lung compliance. The only technique that provides an easy measurement of EVLW at the bedside is transpulmonary thermodilution. The validation of EVLW measurements by thermodilution was based on studies showing reasonable correlations with gravimetry or thermo-dye dilution in experimental and clinical studies. EVLW should be indexed to predicted body weight. This indexation reduces the proportion of ARDS patients for whom EVLW is in the normal range. Compared to non-indexed EVLW, indexed EVLW (EVLWI) is better correlated with the lung injury score and the oxygenation and it is a better predictor of mortality of patients with acute lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Transpulmonary thermodilution also provides the pulmonary vascular permeability index (PVPI), which is an indirect reflection of the integrity of the alveolocapillary barrier. As clinical applications, EVLWI and PVPI may be useful to guide fluid management of patients at risk of fluid overload, as during septic shock and ARDS. High EVLWI and PVPI values predict mortality in several categories of critically ill patients, especially during ARDS. Thus, fluid administration should be limited when EVLWI is already high. Whatever the value of EVLWI, PVPI may indicate that fluid administration is particularly at risk of aggravating lung oedema. In the acute phase of haemodynamic resuscitation during septic shock and ARDS, high EVLWI and PVPI values may warn of the risk of fluid overload and prevent excessive volume expansion. At the post-resuscitation phase, they may prompt initiation of fluid removal thereby achieving a negative fluid balance.

A new marker of sepsis post burn injury?*

OBJECTIVES

Accurate diagnosis of sepsis is difficult in patients post burn due to the large inflammatory response produced by the major insult. We aimed to estimate the values of serum N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and procalcitonin and the changes in hemodynamic variables as markers of sepsis in critically ill burn patients.

DESIGN

Prospective, observational study.

SETTING

A quaternary-level university-affiliated ICU.

PATIENTS

Fifty-four patients with burns to total body surface area of greater than or equal to 15%, intubated with no previous cardiovascular comorbidities, were enrolled.

INTERVENTIONS

At admission, a FloTrac/Vigileo system was attached and daily blood samples taken from the arterial catheter. Infection surveillance was carried out daily with patients classified as septic/nonseptic according to American Burns Consensus criteria.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, procalcitonin, and waveform analysis of changes in stroke volume index and systemic vascular resistance index were measured within the first 24 hours after burn and daily thereafter for the length of the ICU stay or until their first episode of sepsis. Prevalences of stroke volume variation less than 12% (normovolemia) with hypotension (systolic blood pressure < 90 mm Hg) were recorded. Patients with sepsis differed significantly from "no sepsis" for N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, systemic vascular resistance index, and stroke volume index on days 3-7. Procalcitonin did not differ between sepsis and "no sepsis" except for day 3. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curves showed excellent discriminative power for B-type natriuretic peptide (p = 0.001; 95% CI, 0.99-1.00), systemic vascular resistance index (p < 0.001; 95% CI, 0.97-0.99), and stroke volume index (p < 0.01; 95% CI, 0.96-0.99) in predicting sepsis but not for procalcitonin (not significant; 95% CI, 0.29-0.46). A chi-square crosstab found that there was no relationship between hypotension with normovolemia (stroke volume variation < 12%) and sepsis.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels and certain hemodynamic changes can be used as an early indicator of sepsis in patients with burn injury. Procalcitonin did not assist in the early diagnosis of sepsis.

How to perform indexing of extravascular lung water: a validation study

BACKGROUND

Extravascular lung water is a quantitative marker of the amount of fluid in the thoracic cavity besides the vasculature. Indexing to both predicted and actual body weight have been proposed to compare different individuals and provide a uniform range of normal.

OBJECTIVE

We explored extravascular lung water measured by single-indicator transpulmonary thermodilution in a large cohort of patients without cardiopulmonary instability, in order to evaluate current and alternative indexing methods.

DESIGN

Prospective, observational.

SETTING

Neurosurgical ICU in a tertiary referral academic teaching hospital.

PATIENTS

One hundred and one consecutive patients requiring elective brain tumor surgery and postoperative ICU surveillance.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Indexed to predicted body weight, females had a mean extravascular lung water of 9.1 (SD=3.1, range: 5-23) mL/kg and males of 8.0 (SD=2.0, range: 4-19) mL/kg (p<0.001). Values indexed to predicted body weight were inversely correlated with the patient's height (p<0.001). Indexed to the traditionally used actual body weight, data showed a significant relationship to weight (p<0.001) and gender (p<0.05). In contrast, indexing to body height presented a method without dependencies on height, weight, or gender, yielding a uniform 95% confidence interval of 218-430 mL/m. Extravascular lung water increased with positive perioperative fluid balance (p=0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Using either predicted or actual body weight for indexing extravascular lung water does not lead to independence of height, weight, and gender of the patient. Specifying a fixed range of normal or a uniform upper threshold for all patients is misleading for either method, despite widespread use. Our data suggest that indexing extravascular lung water to height is superior to weight-based methods. As we are not aware of any abnormal hemodynamic profile for brain tumor patients, we propose our findings to be a close approximation to normal values.

Burn injuries

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To summarize and highlight recent advances in the understanding and management of burn injuries.

RECENT FINDINGS

The review focuses on topics which are of particular relevance for critical care practitioners involved in burn care: resuscitation, management of infection and sepsis, epidemiology and outcome, and organization and costs of burn care.

SUMMARY

While being the mainstay of early survival in burn victims, various aspects of burn resuscitation are still contentious and highlighted in this review. In particular, several strategies to overcome the repeatedly observed 'fluid creep' in burn patients are discussed, including the use of computerized resuscitation algorithms and the administration of colloids. Sepsis and multiorgan failure have become the major causes of death in patients surviving the initial phase of burn shock. Various aspects of sepsis management are reviewed, amongst which diagnosis, antibiotic treatment and prophylaxis. Recent epidemiologic data allow to identify risk factors associated with mortality as these are potentially amenable to targeted prevention and therapy. Examples are acute kidney injury and sepsis. The overview is completed by recent findings on organization and costs of burn care, including the adherence to referral criteria and the main determinants of cost.

Current trends in inflammatory and immunomodulatory mediators in sepsis

Sepsis refers to severe systemic inflammation in response to invading pathogens. An overwhelming immune response, as mediated by the release of various inflammatory mediators, can lead to shock, multiple organ damage, and even death. Cytokines, proteases, lipid mediators, gaseous substances, vasoactive peptides, and cell stress markers play key roles in sepsis pathophysiology. Various adhesion molecules and chemokines sequester and activate neutrophils into the target organs, further augmenting inflammation and tissue damage. Although the anti-inflammatory substances counterbalance proinflammatory mediators, prolonged immune modulation may cause host susceptibility to concurrent infections, thus reflecting enormous challenge toward developing effective clinical therapy against sepsis. To understand the complex interplay between pro- and anti-inflammatory phenomenon in sepsis, there is still an unmet need to study newly characterized mediators. In addition, revealing the current trends of novel mediators will upgrade our understanding on their signal transduction, cross-talk, and synergistic and immunomodulating roles during sepsis. This review highlights the latest discoveries of the mediators in sepsis linking to innate and adaptive immune systems, which may lead to resolution of many unexplored queries.

Use of the PiCCO system in critically ill patients with septic shock and acute respiratory distress syndrome: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Hemodynamic monitoring is very important in critically ill patients with shock or acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS). The PiCCO (Pulse index Contour Continuous Cardiac Output, Pulsion Medical Systems, Germany) system has been developed and used in critical care settings for several years. However, its impact on clinical outcomes remains unknown.

METHODS/DESIGN

The study is a randomized controlled multi-center trial. A total of 708 patients with ARDS, septic shock or both will be included from January 2012 to January 2014. Subjects will be randomized to receive PiCCO monitoring or not. Our primary end point is 30-day mortality, and secondary outcome measures include ICU length of stay, days on mechanical ventilation, days of vasoactive agent support, ICU-free survival days during a 30-day period, mechanical-ventilation-free survival days during a 30-day period, and maximum SOFA score during the first 7 days.

DISCUSSION

We investigate whether the use of PiCCO monitoring will improve patient outcomes in critically ill patients with ARDS or septic shock. This will provide additional data on hemodynamic monitoring and help clinicians to make decisions on the use of PiCCO.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT01526382.

Prognostic value of extravascular lung water index in critically ill patients: a systematic review of the literature

BACKGROUND

The prognostic value of extravascular lung water (EVLW) has been widely investigated; however, a wide range of its predictive accuracy has been reported.

STUDY DESIGN

A meta-analysis of diagnostic test studies was conducted.

SETTING AND POPULATION

Various patient populations in the intensive care unit were included, such as burned patients and patients with acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome and sepsis.

SELECTION CRITERIA

A computerized search of PubMed, Current Contents, CINAHL, and EMBASE from inception until March 1, 2011, was performed to identify potentially relevant articles. The inclusion criteria were studies investigating the prognostic value of EVLW in critically ill patients. There was no language restriction in the searching.

INDEX TESTS

The EVLW index (EVLWI) was used.

REFERENCE TESTS

The outcome was mortality (including in-hospital mortality, intensive care unit mortality, and 28-day mortality).

RESULTS

We analyzed data from 11 studies and 9 countries involving 670 patients. Overall, the EVLWI was significantly higher in nonsurvivors than in survivors, with a mean difference of 5.06 mL/kg (95% confidence interval, -7.53 to -2.58). The heterogeneity was significant with I(2) = 90%. The pooled statistics of diagnostic accuracy together with relevant 95% confidence interval were as follows: sensitivity, 0.81 (0.72-0.88); specificity, 0.66 (0.55-0.76); diagnostic odds ratio, 8.84 (3.83-20.4), positive likelihood ratio, 2.44 (1.69-3.52); negative likelihood ratio, 0.28 (0.16-0.46).

LIMITATIONS

The sample sizes of included studies were small.

CONCLUSION

The EVLWI appears to be a good predictor of mortality in critically ill patients.

Extravascular lung water predicts progression to acute lung injury in patients with increased risk*

OBJECTIVES

To compare the extravascular lung water index and other markers of disease severity in patients with acute lung injury vs. patients at risk for development of acute lung injury and to determine their ability to predict progression to acute lung injury in patients at risk.

DESIGN

Extravascular lung water index, dead space fraction, PaO2/FIO2, and other markers of disease severity were measured prospectively in 29 patients daily for 5 days after admission to the intensive care unit. Patients had acute lung injury as defined by the American European Consensus Committee criteria or had risk factors for development of it.

SETTING

The intensive care units of an academic tertiary referral hospital.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The mean extravascular lung water index on day 1 for patients who progressed to acute lung injury was higher than for those who did not (15.5 ± 7.4 mL/kg vs. 8.7 ± 2.3 mL/kg; p = .04). None of the other physiologic parameters tested discriminated progression to acute lung injury to include the mean physiologic dead space (0.61 ± 0.06] vs. 0.59 ± 0.10; p = .67), PaO2/FIO2 ratio (322 ± 35 vs. 267 ± 98; p = .15), and static lung compliance (30.9 ± 13.5 vs. 38.5 ± 11.7; p = .24). An extravascular lung water index cutoff value on day 1 of 10 mL/kg had a 63% sensitivity, 88% specificity, positive predictive value of 83%, and negative predictive value of 70% to predict progression to acute lung injury. There was no difference in extravascular lung water index between those who progressed to acute lung injury vs. those who had acute lung injury (14.3 ± 4.7 vs. 15.5 ± 7.4; p = .97).

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated extravascular lung water index is a feature of early acute lung injury and discriminates between those with acute lung injury and those without. Furthermore, extravascular lung water index predicts progression to acute lung injury in patients with risk factors for development of acute lung injury 2.6 ± 0.3 days before the patients meet American European Consensus Committee criteria for it. These 2.6 ± 0.3 days may then represent missed opportunity for therapeutic intervention and improved outcome.

The year in burns 2010

For 2010, roughly 1446 original burn research articles were published in scientific journals using the English language. This article reviews those with the most impact on burn treatment according to the Editor of one of the major journals (Burns) and his colleagues. As in previous reviews, articles were divided into the following topic areas: epidemiology, demographics of injury, wound characterisation and treatment, critical care, inhalation injury, infection, metabolism and nutrition, psychological considerations, pain and itching management, rehabilitation and long-term outcomes, and burn reconstruction. Each paper is considered very briefly, and the reader is referred to full manuscripts for details.

Extravascular lung water correlates multiorgan dysfunction syndrome and mortality in sepsis

Background

This study was designated to investigate whether increased extravascular lung water index (EVLWI) may correlate multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and mortality in sepsis.

Methods

We designed a prospective cohort study in an intensive care unit of a tertiary care hospital. Sixty-seven patients with severe sepsis were included. Data were used to determine an association between EVLWI and the development of MODS and mortality. These connections were determined by the multiple logistic regression, plotting the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and by Spearman test.

Results

EVLWI levels were higher in MODS patients on day 1 (median (IQR), 18(12.8–23.9) ml/kg, n = 38, p<0.0001) than in those without (median (IQR), 12.4 (7.9–16.3) ml/kg, n = 29) and day 3 (median (IQR), 17.8 (11.2–22.8) ml/kg, n = 29, p = 0.004) than in those without (median (IQR), 12.4 (8.0–16.3) ml/kg, n = 29). EVLWI was used as an independent predictor of the development of MODS (odds ratio, 1.6; p = 0.005; 95% confidence interval, 1.2∼2.2) during ICU stay. The area under the ROC curve showed that EVLWI levels could predict MODS (0.866) and mortality (0.881) during ICU stay. Meanwhile, the higher of SOFA score, the more EVLWI was found on day 1 (r = 0.7041, p<0.0001) and day 3 (r = 0.7732, p<0.0001).

Conclusions

Increased EVLWI levels correlates development of MODS and mortality during the patients' ICU stay. Further more, the potential of novel treatment in severe sepsis with lung injury may develop.