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Fiberoptic intubation for a difficult airway requires significant experience. Traditionally only normal airways were available for high fidelity bronchoscopy simulators. It is not clear if training on difficult airways offers an advantage over training on normal airways. This study investigates the added value of difficult airway scenarios during virtual reality fiberoptic intubation training. A prospective multicentric randomized study was conducted 2019 to 2020, among 86 inexperienced anesthesia residents, fellows and staff. Two groups were compared: Group N (control, n = 43) first trained on a normal airway and Group D (n = 43) first trained on a normal, followed by three difficult airways. All were then tested by comparing their ORSIM ® scores on 5 scenarios (1 normal and 4 difficult airways). The final evaluation ORSIM ® score for the normal airway testing scenario was significantly higher for group N than group D: median score 76% (IQR 56.5–90) versus 58% (IQR 51.5–69, p = 0.0039), but there was no difference in ORSIM ® scores for the difficult intubation testing scenarios. A single exposure to each of 3 different difficult airway scenarios did not lead to better fiberoptic intubation skills on previously unseen difficult airways, when compared to multiple exposures to a normal airway scenario. This finding may be due to the learning curve of approximately 5–10 exposures to a specific airway scenario required to reach proficiency.

Linezolid is an antibiotic used against gram-positive bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Its primary adverse effect is haematotoxicity. The objective of this study was to analyse the risk factors for onset of thrombocytopenia in critically ill patients treated with linezolid. This was a retrospective, single-centre study of 72 patients. Platelets were measured from D0 to D20 after the start of treatment. The risk factors for thrombocytopenia were identified using a multivariate logistic regression analysis following a Monte Carlo simulation. Following ROC curve analysis, a baseline platelet count lower than 108 × 109/L and a Cmin higher than 4 mg/L, with respective odds ratios of 117 (95% CI [97–206]) and 3 (95% CI [1.5–6.2]) in the simulated population, were identified as risk factors. Among the source population patients combining these 2 factors, a significantly higher number developed thrombocytopenia (66.7% vs. 33.3%, p = 0.0042). A baseline platelet count lower than 108 × 109/L and a Cmin higher than 4 mg/L are risk factors for the onset of thrombocytopenia in critically ill patients treated with linezolid.

To assess incidence and predicting factors of awake craniotomy complications. Retrospective cohort study. Operating room and Post Anesthesia Care unit. 162 patients who underwent 188 awake craniotomy procedures for brain tumor, ASA I to III, with monitored anesthesia care. We classified procedures in 3 groups: major event group, minor event group, and no event group. Major events were defined as respiratory failure requiring face mask or invasive ventilation; hemodynamic instability treated by vasoactive drugs, or bradycardia treated by atropine, bleeding >500 ml, transfusion, gaseous embolism, cardiac arrest; seizure, cerebral edema, or any events leading to stopping of the cerebral mapping. Minor event was defined as any complication not classified as major. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine predicting factors of major complication, adjusted for age and ASA score. 45 procedures (24%) were classified in major event group, 126 (67%) in minor event group, and 17 (9%) in no event group. Seizure was the main complication (n = 13). Asthma (odds ratio: 10.85 [1.34; 235.6]), Remifentanil infusion (odds ratio: 2.97 [1.08; 9.85]) and length of the operation after the brain mapping (odds ratio per supplementary minute: 1.01 [1.01; 1.03]) were associated with major events. Previous medical history of asthma, remifentanil infusion and a long duration of neurosurgery after cortical mapping appear to be risk factors for major complications during AC. •Seizure is the main per operative complication of awake craniotomy•History of asthma, remifentanil use and time after cerebral mapping were associated with major event•Awake craniotomy was associated with less hypotension, nausea/vomiting, and reduced length of stay than general anesthesia

Background The cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model, a gold standard in sepsis research, is associated with an important variability in mortality. While the number of punctures and needle size is well described in CLP animal studies, the length of cecal ligation is often not. The relationship between cecal ligation and survival in mice is briefly reported in the literature; therefore, we devised an investigation in mice of the consequences of three standardized cecal ligation lengths on mortality and the severity of the ensued sepsis. Methods Male C57BL/6J mice underwent standardized CLP. The cecum was ligated at 5, 20, or 100 % of its total length and further perforated by a single 20-G puncture. Mortality was analyzed. We assessed blood lactate, serum creatinine levels, and serum cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10) after procedure in a control group and in ligated mice. Results Mortality was directly related to ligation length: median survival was 24 h for the “100 %” group and 44 h for the “20 %” group. Blood lactate increased proportionally with the ligation length. At 6 h post-procedure, pro-inflammatory cytokines significantly increased in the ligated group with significantly higher serum levels of IL-6 in the 100 % group compared to the other ligated groups. The 20 % group exhibited the characteristics of septic shock with hypotension below 65 mmHg, pro-inflammatory balance, organ dysfunction, and hyperlactatemia. Conclusions Cecal ligation length appears to be a major limiting factor in the mouse CLP model. Thus, this experimental model should be performed with high consistency in future protocol designs.

Objective This study’s aim was to describe and evaluate outcomes of medical strategies used for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) treatment in general practice and to assess impact of LUTS on patients’ general health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Methods This cross-sectional observational study was conducted by French general practitioners. Eligible patients were males aged ≥50 years, diagnosed for at least one year and currently treated for LUTS due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Several validated questionnaires were documented by patients to assess severity of LUTS (IPSS), specific quality of life (IPSS-Q8), impact of LUTS (BII), LUTS evolution (VNS) and general HRQoL (EQ-5D). Results Among 1,098 patients included, 82.7% were treated with monotherapies and 17.3% with combinations. Mean treatment duration was 5.2 ± 3.2 years, and 47.2% of patients had at least one treatment modification since initiation. Patients reported diminished quality of life (IPSS-Q8 ≥3) (42.3%), persisting symptoms (IPSS-score ≥12) (35.5%), symptoms worsening (VNS-score ≤−1) (18.8%) and high bother (BII-score ≥9) (2.6%). Globally, 52.8% had at least one of these unsatisfactory outcomes. Regarding general HRQoL, mean EQ-5D utility significantly decreased with LUTS severity (mild: 0.90 ± 0.12; moderate: 0.81 ± 0.21; and severe symptoms: 0.73 ± 0.25; P  < 0.001). As well, all five-dimensions of EQ-5D were significantly altered in patients with moderate-to-severe LUTS (<0.001), especially ‘Pain/Discomfort’ and ‘Anxiety/Depression’. In multivariate analyses including age and comorbidities, EQ-5D utility index remained negatively associated with each additional unit in the IPSS-score. Conclusions This study shows that around half of BPH patients medically treated report unsatisfactory outcomes, suggesting consequential unmet medical needs in general practice. Also, moderate-to-severe LUTS significantly impact on general HRQoL.

Hypotension frequently occurs during spinal anesthesia (SA), especially in the elderly. Phenylephrine is effective to prevent SA-induced hypotension during cesarean delivery. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of prophylactic infusion of phenylephrine after SA for orthopedic surgery in the elderly. This prospective, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study included 54 patients older than 60 years undergoing elective lower limb surgery under SA (injection of 10 mg of isobaric bupivacaine with 5 μg of sufentanyl). Patients were randomized to group P (100-μg/mL solution of phenylephrine solution at 1 mL/min after placement of SA) or the control group C (0.9% isotonic sodium chloride solution). The flow of the infusion was stopped if the mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) was higher than the baseline MAP and maintained or restarted at 1 mL/min if MAP was equal to or lower than the baseline MAP. Heart rate and MAP were collected throughout the case. Hypotension was defined by a 20% decrease and hypertension as a 20% increase from baseline MAP. Bradycardia was defined as a heart rate lower than 50 beats per minute. Twenty-eight patients were randomized to group P and 26 patients to group C. MAP was higher in group P than in group C (92 ± 2 vs 82 ± 2 mm Hg, mean ± SD, P< .001). The number of hypotensive episodes per patient was higher in group C compared with group P (9 [0-39] vs 1 [0-10], median [extremes], P< .01), but the number of hypotensive patients was similar between groups (19 [73%] vs 20 [71%], P= 1). The time to onset of the first hypotension was shorter in group C (3 [1-13] vs 15 [1-95] minutes, P= .004). The proportion of patients without hypotension (cumulative survival) was better in group P (P= .04). The number of hypertensive episodes per patient and the number of bradycardic episodes per patient were similar between groups (P= not significant). Prophylactic phenylephrine infusion is an effective method of reducing SA-induced hypotension in the elderly. Compared with a control group, it delays the time to onset of hypotension and decreases the number of hypotensive episodes per patient. More data are needed to evaluate clinical outcomes of such a strategy. •Prophylactic phenylephrine infusion (ie, beginning immediately after the placement of SA) is an effective method of reducing SA-induced hypotension in the elderly. Compared with a control group, it delays the time to onset of hypotension and decreases the number of hypotensive episodes per patient.•Prophylactic phenylephrine infusion appears to be safe regarding bradycardia or hypertension.•More data are needed to evaluate clinical outcomes of such a strategy.

Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase-L1 (UCH-L1), and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) are potential biomarkers of traumatic brain injury (TBI) but also of secondary insults to the brain. The aim of this study was to describe the cerebral distribution of GFAP, UCH-L1, and MMP-9 in a rat model of diffuse TBI associated with standardized hypoxia-hypotension (HH). Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated to Sham (n = 10), TBI (n = 10), HH (n = 10), and TBI+HH (n = 10) groups. After 4 hours, brains were rapidly removed and immunostaining of GFAP, UCH-L1, and MMP-9 was performed. Areas of interest that have been described as particularly sensitive to hypoxic insults were analyzed. For GFAP, in the neocortex, immunostaining revealed a significant decrease in strong staining for HH and TBI+HH groups compared with TBI group (P < .0001). For UCH-L1, the total immunostaining (6 regions of interest) reported a significant increase in strong staining (P < .0001) and decrease in weak staining (P < .0001) for the HH and TBI+HH groups compared with the Sham and TBI groups. For MMP-9, for the HH and TBI+HH groups, a significant increase in moderate (P < .0001) and weak staining (P < .0001) and a decrease in negative staining (P < .0001) compared with the Sham and TBI groups were observed. UCH-L1 and MMP-9 immunostainings increased after HH alone or HH combined with TBI compared with TBI alone. GFAP immunostaining decreased particularly in the neocortex after HH alone or HH combined with TBI compared with TBI alone. These three biomarkers could therefore be considered as potential biomarkers of HH insults independently of TBI.

Background Weaning from mechanical ventilation is associated with the presence of asynchronies between the patient and the ventilator. The main objective of the present study was to demonstrate a decrease in the total number of patient-ventilator asynchronies in invasively ventilated patients for whom difficulty in weaning is expected by comparing neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA) and pressure support ventilation (PSV) ventilatory modes. Methods We performed a prospective, non-randomized, non-interventional, single-center study. Thirty patients were included in the study. Each patient included in the study benefited in an unpredictable way from both modes of ventilation, NAVA or PSV. Patients were successively ventilated for 23 h in NAVA or in PSV, and then they were ventilated for another 23 h in the other mode. Demographic, biological and ventilatory data were collected during this period. The two modes of ventilatory support were compared using the non-parametric Wilcoxon test after checking for normal distribution by the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. The groups were compared using the chi-square test. Results The median level of support was 12.5 cmH 2 O (4–20 cmH 2 O) in PSV and 0.8 cmH 2 O/μvolts (0.2–3 cmH 2 O/μvolts) in NAVA. The total number of asynchronies per minute in NAVA was lower than that in PSV (0.46 vs 1, p  < 0.001). The asynchrony index was also reduced in NAVA compared with PSV (1.73 vs 3.36, p  < 0.001). In NAVA, the percentage of ineffective efforts (0.77 vs 0.94, p  = 0.036) and the percentage of auto-triggering were lower compared with PSV (0.19 vs 0.71, p  = 0.038). However, there was a higher percentage of double triggering in NAVA compared with PSV (0.76 vs 0.71, p  = 0.046). Conclusion The total number of asynchronies in NAVA is lower than that in PSV. This finding reflects improved patient-ventilator interaction in NAVA compared with the PSV mode, which is consistent with previous studies. Our study is the first to analyze patient-ventilator asynchronies in NAVA and PSV on such an important duration. The decrease in the number of asynchronies in NAVA is due to reduced ineffective efforts and auto-triggering.

Background To compare patients hospitalised in the intensive care unit (ICU) after surgery for community-acquired intra-abdominal infection (CA-IAI) and hospital-acquired intra-abdominal infection (HA-IAI) in terms of mortality, severity and complications. Methods Retrospective study including all patients admitted to 2 ICUs within 48 h of undergoing surgery for peritonitis. Results Two hundred twenty-six patients were enrolled during the study period. Patients with CA-IAI had an increased 28-day mortality rate compared to those with HA-IAI (30% vs 15%, respectively ( p  = 0.009)). At 90 days, the mortality rates were 36.7 and 37.5% in the CA-IAI group and HA-IAI group, respectively, with a similar APACHE II score on admission (median: 21 [15–25] vs. 21 [15–24] respectively, p  = 0.63). The patients with HA-IAI had prolonged ICU and hospital stays (median: 17 [7–36] vs. 6[3–12] days, p  < 0.001 and 41 [24–66] vs. 17 [7–32] days, p  = 0.001), and experienced more complications (reoperation and reintubation) than those with CA-IAI. Conclusion CA-IAI group had higher 28-day mortality rate than HA-IAI group. Mortality was similar at 90 days but those with HA-IAI had a prolonged ICU and hospital stay. In addition, they developed more complications.

Background The objective of this study was to determine the main risk factors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa mutation as well as the mechanisms of acquired resistance. Methods We conducted a 2-year prospective study in patients who were carriers of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain and who had been admitted to a medical/surgical ICU. Results Of the 153 patients who were included, 34 had a mutation in their strain. In a multivariate analysis, a duration of ventilation > 24 days was a risk factor for mutation (risk ratio 4.29; CI 95% 1.94–9.49) while initial resistance was a protective factor (RR 0.36; CI 95% 0.18–0.71). In a univariate analysis, exposure of P. aeruginosa to ceftazidime was associated with an over-production of AmpC cephalosporinase and exposure to meropenem was associated with impermeability. A segmentation method based on the duration of ventilation (> 24 days), initial resistance, and exposure of strains to ceftazidime made it possible to predict at 83% the occurrence of mutation. Conclusion The duration of ventilation and the presence of resistance as soon as P. aeruginosa is identified are predictive factors of mutation in ICU patients.