591 Abdominal Apoplexy – a Case of Spontaneous Haemoperitoneum from Pancreaticoduodenal Artery Bleed

Background

Inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery (IPDA) haemorrhages are extremely rare and often occur secondary to IPDA aneurysms. They can result in a spontaneous life-threatening bleed which requires urgent treatment via transcatheter arterial embolisation (TAE).

Case Summary

We report the case of an IPDA haemorrhage in a 52-year-old male who presented with a one-day history of severe worsening generalised abdominal pain. Although his initial blood pressure, heart rate and haemoglobin were within the normal range, he had a persistent metabolic acidosis with raised lactate. This prompted an urgent out-of-hours Computed Tomography (CT) scan. On return to the ward, he had a syncopal episode and was found to be in shock. An urgent venous blood gas revealed a substantial haemoglobin drop (133g/L to 88g/L) and review of his imaging identified intra-abdominal haemorrhage, confirmed by radiology to be an IPDA haemorrhage. The patient was managed according to the trust's major haemorrhage protocol and blue light transfer to a tertiary centre for embolisation by interventional radiology was arranged. He was transferred with ongoing resuscitation, and successfully underwent TAE of the IPDA. No aneurysm or other pathology was noted on angiography.

Conclusion

IPDA haemorrhages are uncommon. Physiological compensation may normalise initial observations and initial haemoglobin level may also be falsely reassuring. Therefore, it is important to monitor physiological indicators, such as pH and lactate, as real-time severity indicators to identify emergency pathology early.

Effect of airway pressure display on interobserver agreement in the assessment of vascular pressures in patients with acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome*

BACKGROUND

Previous investigations have identified significant interobserver variability in the measurements of central venous pressure and pulmonary artery occlusion pressure in critically ill patients. Large interobserver variability in the measurement of vascular pressures could potentially lead to inappropriate treatment decisions.

OBJECTIVE

We postulated that adding an airway pressure signal (Paw) to pressure tracings of central venous pressure and pulmonary artery occlusion pressure would improve interobserver agreement by facilitating identification of end-expiration.

DESIGN

To test this hypothesis, six independent experts used a standard protocol to interpret strip-chart recordings of central venous pressure and pulmonary artery occlusion pressure with or without Paw. Two observers were said to agree if their measurements were within 2 mm Hg of each other. SETTING/SUBJECTS/INTERVENTIONS: A total of 459 strip-chart recordings (303 without Paw and 156 with Paw) were obtained from 121 patients enrolled in the ARDSnet Fluids and Catheters Treatment Trial (FACTT) in 16 different hospitals.

RESULTS

Agreement within 2 mm Hg between two measurements was 79% for central venous pressure strips without Paw vs. 86% with Paw. For pulmonary artery occlusion pressure, agreement increased from 71% without Paw to 83% with Paw. The increase in agreement with the addition of Paw was greater for strips demonstrating >8 mm Hg phasic respiratory variation compared with strips demonstrating less phasic respiratory variation.

CONCLUSION

Paw display is a simple, inexpensive method to facilitate the identification of end-expiration that can significantly improve interobserver agreement.

Population-based survey and analysis of trends in the prevalence of diabetic nephropathy in Type 1 diabetes

AIMS

To determine the prevalence of the various stages of diabetic nephropathy in Type 1 diabetes in a population-based survey. To make direct comparison with results from previous published studies to assess current trends.

METHODS

Identification of all Type 1 patients using a population-based diabetes register. Urine samples for albumin assay were obtained at clinic visit and by postal request. Prevalence rates were calculated specifically for direct comparisons with previously published surveys.

RESULTS

This study and European data from the 1990s show a clear reduction in the cumulative prevalence of microalbuminuria and established nephropathy compared with surveys from Copenhagen (1985), Pittsburgh (1986-8) and Boston (1992). In North Wales in 1999 the overall cumulative prevalence of microalbuminuria was 27.2% (95% confidence interval (CI) 24.3-30.1%) and established nephropathy was 9.6% (7.7-11.5%). Comparisons with data from EURODIAB and from Spain indicated similar results, although the prevalence of microalbuminuria was lower in North Wales than in the EURODIAB study. Significantly lower rates of nephropathy were seen in more recent Swedish cohorts. Diabetic nephropathy remains more common in males. Microalbuminuria before 10 years duration of diabetes was seen at all post-pubertal ages.

CONCLUSIONS

Rates of nephropathy in Europe in the 1990s are lower than a decade ago. Modern methods of management are therefore associated with demonstrable benefit at the population level. The lowest rates of nephropathy are associated with optimum glycaemic control in Swedish data, indicating the importance of metabolic in addition to haemodynamic factors.