Epidemiology of Mortality in Polyvalent Intensive Care Unit at University Hospital of Brazzaville

Aim: To describe the epidemiological aspects of the patients who died in polyvalent intensive care unit at University Hospital of Brazzaville. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study carried out in intensive care unit of University Hospital of Brazzaville, during period from January 2013 to December 2014. All patients who died at the unit regardless of age or sex were included. The parameters studied were age, sex, origin, reason for admission, causes of death, time of death, and length of hospitalization. Data were treated in Excel 2010 and Epi info 2007. Results: During the study period, 419 deaths out of 1121 admissions were recorded, representing a mortality rate of 37.4%. The average age was 46.2 ± 19.7 years with extremes ranging from 14 months to 90 years. The sex ratio was 0.9. Most of the deceased patients came from medical emergencies in 37.6% of the cases. Infectious (17.9%) and neurological (17.4%) pathologies were the most likely to cause death followed by cardiovascular pathologies (12.2%). Causes of death were dominated by severe sepsis and septic shock with 93.4% of infectious pathologies and stroke in 80.8% of neurological pathologies. In 42.3% of cases, the death occurred in the 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. time period. The average length of hospitalization for the deceased patients was 1.4 ± 0.5 days. All parameters studied significantly associated with mortality (p Conclusion: The mortality rate of patients admitted to the polyvalent intensive care unit at University Hospital of Brazzaville was high at 37.4%. Most of these patients were aged 40 years and older, male, with infectious and/or neurological pathologies. All deaths occurred within 48 hours of admission.

Acute Generalized Peritonitis in Intensive Care Unit at University Hospital of Brazzaville, Republic of Congo: Etiological, Therapeutic Aspects and Issues

Aim: To determine etiological, therapeutic aspects and issues of AGP in intensive care unit (ICU) at University Hospital of Brazzaville (UHB). Materials and Methods: It was a retrospective and descriptive study carried out from January to December 2016 in ICU at UHB. We collected completed medical records of patients admitted and operated for AGP regardless of age or sex. The parameters studied were age, sex, admission’s reasons, etiologies, management, post-operative complications, length of hospital and mortality. Data were treated in Excel 2010 and Epi info 2007. Results: Thirty-one complete medical records were identified (mean age: 40.6 ± 22.0 years). The sex ratio was 2.4. Shock was the most common reason for admission with 67.7% of the cases. The etiologies of AGP were dominated by gastroduodenal perforating ulcer (41.9%) followed by complicated appendicitis (19.4%). The management of all patients was medico-surgical. The bi antibiotic ceftriaxone-metronidazole was administered in 29 patients (93.6%). 18 patients (59.1%) received vasopressor therapy. The complications had occurred among 9 patients i.e. 29% of the cases;parietal suppurations represented 44.5% of the complications. The average length of hospitalization was 5.2 ± 4.6 days. The overall mortality was 41.9%. Conclusion: In our study, the most frequent etiologies were gastroduodenal perforating ulcer and complicated appendicitis. They affected young patients. The complications were dominated by parietal suppurations. The mortality rate was high.

Corticosteroids for severe influenza pneumonia: A critical appraisal

Influenza pneumonia is associated with high number of severe cases requiring hospital and intensive care unit(ICU) admissions with high mortality. Systemic steroids are proposed as a valid therapeutic option even though its effects are still controversial. Heterogeneity of published data regarding study design, population demographics, severity of illness, dosing, type and timing of corticosteroids administered constitute an important limitation for drawing robust conclusions. However, it is reasonable to admit that, as it was not found any advantage of corticosteroid therapy in so diverse conditions, such beneficial effects do not exist at all. Its administration is likely to increase overall mortality and such trend is consistent regardless of the quality as well as the sample size of studies. Moreover it was shown that corticosteroids might be associated with higher incidence of hospital-acquired pneumonia and longer duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU stay. Finally, it is reasonable to conclude that corticosteroids failed to demonstrate any beneficial effects in the treatment of patients with severe influenza infection. Thus its current use in s evere influenza pneumonia should be restricted to very selected cases and in the setting of clinical trials.

COVID-19: Lymphocyte Subpopulations Monitoring in Critically Ill Patients

Background: The alteration of lymphocyte subpopulations can help to predict the severity and the prognosis of severe Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Our goal was to describe the kinetics of lymphocyte subsets, and their impact on the severity and mortality in critically ill COVID-19 patients. Methods: We collected demographic data, comorbidities, clinical signs on admission, laboratory findings on admission then a follow-up during hospitalization. Lymphocyte subsets including CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, B cells, and natural killer (NK) cells were counted by flow cytometer. Results: On admission, we observed lymphopenia in 57% of cases, decreased CD3+ T cells in 76% of cases, decreased CD4+ T cells in 81% of cases, decreased CD8+ T cells in 62% of cases, decreased B cells in 52% of cases, and decreased natural killer (NK) cells in 33% of cases. After treatment, decreased CD3+ T cells, decreased CD4+ T cells, decreased CD8+ T cells, and decreased natural killer cells were predictor factors of mortality, in the univariable analysis. Conclusion: CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and natural killer cells were predictor factors of severity, ICU mortality, and also a useful tool for predicting disease progression.

Venovenous ECMO in Severe ARDS

The Veno-venous Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) indications and usage has strikingly progressed over the last years;especially with the COVID 19 pandemic, it has become an essential tool in the care of adults and children with severe pulmonary dysfunction refractory to conventional management. In this article, we will provide a review of ECMO development, clinical indications, patients’ management, options and cannulations techniques, complications, outcomes, and the appropriate strategy of organ management while on ECMO.

Septic shock 3.0 criteria application in severe COVID-19 patients:An unattended sepsis population with high mortality risk

BACKGROUND Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)can be associated with life-threatening organ dysfunction due to septic shock,frequently requiring intensive care unit(ICU)admission,respi-ratory and vasopressor support.There-fore,clear clinical criteria are pivotal for early recognition of patients more likely to need prompt organ support.Although most patients with severe COVID-19 meet the Sepsis-3.0 criteria for septic shock,it has been increasingly recognized that hyperlactatemia is frequently absent,possibly leading to an underestimation of illness severity and mortality risk.AIM To identify the proportion of severe COVID-19 patients with vasopressor support requirements,with and without hyperlactatemia,and describe their clinical outcomes and mortality METHODS We performed a single-center prospective cohort study.All adult patients admitted to the ICU with COVID-19 were included in the analysis and were further divided into three groups:Sepsis group,without both criteria;Vasoplegic Shock group,with persistent hypotension and vasopressor support without hyperlactatemia;and Septic Shock 3.0 group,with both criteria.COVID-19 was diagnosed using clinical and radiologic criteria with a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)positive RT-PCR test.RESULTS 118 patients(mean age 63 years,87%males)were included in the analysis(n=51 Sepsis group,n=26 Vasoplegic Shock group,and n=41 Septic Shock 3.0 group).SOFA score at ICU admission and ICU length of stay were different between the groups(P<0.001).Mortality was significantly higher in the Vasoplegic Shock and Septic Shock 3.0 groups when compared with the Sepsis group(P<0.001)without a significant difference between the former two groups(P=0.713).The log rank tests of Kaplan-Meier survival curves were also different(P=0.007).Ventilator-free days and vasopressor-free days were different between the Sepsis vs Vasoplegic Shock and Septic Shock 3.0 groups(both P<0.001),and similar in the last two groups(P=0.128 and P=0.133,respectively).Logistic regression identified the maximum dose of vasopressor therapy used(AOR 1.046;95%CI:1.012-1.082,P=0.008)and serum lactate level(AOR 1.542;95%CI:1.055-2.255,P=0.02)as the major explanatory variables of mortality rates(R20.79).CONCLUSION In severe COVID-19 patients,the Sepsis 3.0 criteria of septic shock may exclude approximately one third of patients with a similarly high risk of a poor outcome and mortality rate,which should be equally addressed.