Sequential blood purification therapy for critical patients with hyperlipidemic severe acute pancreatitis

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of sequential blood purification therapy in the treatment of critical patients with hyperlipidemic severe acute pancreatitis.METHODS: Thirty-one intensive care unit(ICU) patients with hyperlipidemic severe acute pancreatitis treated at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University were divided into either a study group(n = 15; July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2014) or a control group(n = 16; July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2012) based on the implementation of sequential blood purification therapy. The control group received continuous venous-venous hemofiltration(CVVH) on the basis of conventional treatments, and the therapeutic dose of CVVH was 30 m L/kg per hour. The study group received sequential plasma exchange and CVVH on the basis of conventional treatments. The anticoagulation regimen of CVVH is the regional citrate anticoagulation. Mortality rate on day 28, rates of systemic and local complications, duration of ICU, and time to target serum lipid level, as well as physiologic and laboratory indices were compared between the two groups.RESULTS: The mortality rate on day 28 was significantly lower in the study group than in the control group(13.33% vs 37.50%; P < 0.05). The duration of ICU stay was significantly shorter in the study group than in the control group(7.4 ± 1.35 d vs 9.19 ± 2.99 d, P < 0.05). The time to target serum lipid level was significantly shorter in the study group than in the control group(3.47 ± 0.52 d vs 7.90 ± 1.14 d, P < 0.01). There were no significant differences in the rates of systemic complications and local complications between the two groups(60% vs 50% and 80% vs 81%, respectively). In the comparisons of physiologic and laboratory indices, serum albumin and C-reactive protein were significantly better in the study group than in the control group after treatment(37.8 ± 4.6 g/L vs 38.9 ± 5.7 g/L, and 20.5 ± 6.4 mg/L vs 28.5 ± 7.1 mg/L, respectively, both P < 0.05). With the exception of plateletcrit, no other indices showed significant differences between the two groups.CONCLUSION: Sequential blood purification therapy is effective in the treatment of ICU patients with hyperlipidemic severe acute pancreatitis and can improve patient prognosis.

Henoch-Schonlein purpura with intestinal perforation and cerebral hemorrhage: A case report

Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) with intestinal perforation and cerebral hemorrhage is a very rare clinical condition. There has been no report of HSP complicated with both intestinal perforation and cerebral hemorrhage until October 2012. Here we describe a case of HSP with intestinal perforation and cerebral hemorrhage in a 5-year-old girl. Plain abdominal radiograph in the erect position showed heavy gas in the right subphrenic space with an elevated diaphragm. Partial resection of the small intestine was performed, and pathological analysis suggested chronic suppurative inflammation in all layers of the ileal wall and mesentery. Seventeen days after surgery, cerebral hemorrhage developed and the patient died.

Procalcitionin as a diagnostic marker to distinguish upper and lower gastrointestinal perforation

AIM To assess the accuracy of serum procalcitionin(PCT)as a diagnostic marker in verifying upper and lower gastrointestinal perforation(GIP).METHODS This retrospective study included 46 patients from the surgical intensive care unit(ICU)of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University who were confirmed to have GIP between June 2013 and December 2016.Demographic and clinical patient data were recorded on admission to ICU.Patients were divided into upper(n=19)and lower(n=27)GIP groups according to the perforation site(above or below Treitz ligament).PCT and WBC count was obtained before laparotomy and then compared between groups.Meanwhile,the diagnostic accuracy of PCT was analyzed.RESULTS Patients with lower GIP exhibited significantly higher APACHE II score,SOFA score and serum PCT level than patients with upper GIP(P=0.017,0.004,and0.001,respectively).There was a significant positive correlation between serum PCT level and APACHE II score or SOFA score(r=0.715 and r=0.611,respectively),while there was a significant negative correlation between serum PCT level and prognosis(r=-0.414).WBC count was not significantly different between the two groups,and WBC count showed no significant correlation with serum PCT level,APACHE II score,SOFA score or prognosis.The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of PCT level to distinguish upper or lower GIP was 0.778.Patients with a serum PCT level above 17.94 ng/d L had a high likelihood of lower GIP,with a sensitivity of 100%and a specificity of 42.1%.CONCLUSION Serum PCT level is a reliable and accurate diagnostic marker in identifying upper or lower GIP before laparotomy.

Management of procedural pain in the intensive care unit

Pain is a common experience for inpatients,and intensive care unit(ICU)patients undergo more pain than other departmental patients,with an incidence of 50%at rest and up to 80%during common care procedures.At present,the management of persistent pain in ICU patients has attracted considerable attention,and there are many related clinical studies and guidelines.However,the management of transient pain caused by certain ICU procedures has not received sufficient attention.We reviewed the different management strategies for procedural pain in the ICU and reached a conclusion.Pain management is a process of continuous quality improvement that requires multidisciplinary team cooperation,painrelated training of all relevant personnel,effective relief of all kinds of pain,and improvement of patients'quality of life.In clinical work,which involves complex and diverse patients,we should pay attention to the following points for procedural pain:(1)Consider not only the patient's persistent pain but also his or her procedural pain;(2)Conduct multimodal pain management;(3)Provide combined sedation on the basis of pain management;and(4)Perform individualized pain management.Until now,the pain management of procedural pain in the ICU has not attracted extensive attention.Therefore,we expect additional studies to solve the existing problems of procedural pain management in the ICU.

Exploration of transmission chain and prevention of the recurrence of coronavirus disease 2019 in Heilongjiang Province due to inhospital transmission

The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)epidemic is a major public health emergency characterized by fast spread,a wide range of infections,and enormous control difficulty.Since the end of December 2019,Wuhan has become the first core infection area of China's COVID-19 outbreak.Since March 2020,the domestic worst-hit areas have moved to the Heilongjiang Province due to the increased number of imported COVID-19 cases.Herein,we reported the major COVID-19 outbreak,which caused a rebound of the epidemic in Harbin,China.After the rebound,different levels of causes for the recurrence of COVID-19,including citylevel,hospital-level,and medical staff-level cause,were investigated.Meanwhile,corresponding countermeasures to prevent the recurrence of the epidemic were also carried out on the city level,hospital level,and medical staff level,which eventually showed the effect of infection control function in a pandemic.In this study,we described the complete transmission chain,analyzed the causes of the outbreak,and proposed corresponding countermeasures from our practical clinical experience,which can be used as a valuable reference for COVID-19 control.

Standardization of critical care management of non-critically ill patients with COVID-19

The large global outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)has seriously endangered the health care system in China and globally.The sudden surge of patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection has revealed the shortage of critical care medicine resources and intensivists.Currently,the management of non-critically ill patients with COVID-19 is performed mostly by non-intensive care unit(ICU)physicians,who lack the required professional knowledge,training,and practice in critical care medicine,especially in terms of continuous monitoring of the respiratory function,intervention,and feedback on treatment effects.This clinical problem needs an urgent solution.Therefore,here,we propose a series of clinical strategies for non-ICU physicians aimed at the standardization of the management of non-critically ill patients with COVID-19 from the perspective of critical care medicine.Isolation management is performed to facilitate the implementation of hierarchical monitoring and intervention to ensure the reasonable distribution of scarce critical care medical resources and intensivists,highlight the key patients,timely detection of disease progression,and early and appropriate intervention and organ function support,and thus improve the prognosis.Different management objectives are also set based on the high-risk factors and the severity of patients with COVID-19.The approaches suggested herein will facilitate the timely detection of disease progression,and thus ensure the provision of early and appropriate intervention and organ function support,which will eventually improve the prognosis.

Remote nursing training model combined with proceduralization in the intensive care unit dealing with patients with COVID-19

The shortage of personal protective equipment and lack of proper nursing training have been endangering health care workers dealing with coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19).In our treatment center,the implementation of a holistic care model of time-sharing management for severe and critical COVID-19 patients has further aggravated the shortage of intensive care unit(ICU)professional nurses.Therefore,we developed a short-term specialized and targeted nursing training program to help ICU nurses to cope with stress and become more efficient,thus reducing the number of nurses required in the ICU.In order to avoid possible human-to-human spread,small teaching classes and remote training were applied.The procedural training mode included four steps:preparation,plan,implementation,and evaluation.An evaluation was conducted throughout the process of nursing training.In this study,we documented and shared experiences in transitioning from traditional face-to-face programs to remote combined with proceduralization nursing training mode from our daily work experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic,which has shown to be helpful for nurses working in the ICU.

Holistic care model of time-sharing management for severe and critical COVID-19 patients

The rapid global outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)and the surge of infected patients have led to the verge of exhaustion of critical care medicine resources worldwide,especially with regard to critical care staff.A holistic care model on time-sharing management for severe and critical COVID-19 patients is proposed,which includes formulation of individualized care objectives and plans,identification of care tasks in each shift and making detailed checklist,and management of quality of care.This study was conducted in the COVID-19 treatment center of Harbin,Heilongjiang Province.The data collected from the treatment center were recorded and analyzed.From the results we can deduce that it is especially suitable for non-intensive care unit(non-ICU)nurses to adapt care management mode of ICU as soon as possible and ensure the quality and efficiency of care during the epidemic.The holistic care model on time-sharing management for severe and critical cases with COVID-19 proposed based on our daily work experiences can assist in improving the quality and efficiency of care,thus reducing the mortality rate of patients in ICU.

A multi-center cross-sectional study on blood purification among adult patients in intensive care unit in China: a study protocol

Background: Blood purification (BP) is one of the most important rescue measures for patients with critical illness in the intensive care unit (ICU), espedally for those with acute kidney injury. The purpose of this nationwide survey was to reveal the real world of current BP practice in different ICUs all over China. This study was designed to be a multi-center cross-sectional study. Methods: All adult patients (over 18 years of age), who were admitted to ICU and required BP in 35 sub-centers across China were included during 30-day survey period in 2018. Demographic characteristics and clinical data were recorded including the timing of treatment initiation, indications, modality, relative contraindication, establishment of vascular access, selection of filter/membrane, settings, anti-coagulation, executive department, complication, intake, and output. Discussion: This nationwide survey may contribute to reveal the real world of current BP practice in different ICUs all over China.

Clinical efficacy of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in cardiogenic shock patients:a multi-center study

Cardiogenic shock(CS)is a life-threatening condition in intensive care unit,which leads to death of many critically ill patients.Although survival of CS patients seems to have improved,it continues to carry a poor prognosis,and mortality rates range from 60%to 80%.