Shock : molecular, cellular, and systemic pathobiological aspects and therapeutic approaches : the official journal the Shock Society, the European Shock Society, the Brazilian Shock Society, the International Federation of Shock Societies
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To determine whether early coagulopathy affects the mortality associated with severe civilian pediatric trauma, trauma patients younger than 18 years admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit from 2001 to 2010 were evaluated. Patients with burns, primary asphyxiation, preexisting bleeding diathesis, lack of coagulation studies, or transferred from other hospitals more than 24 h after injury were excluded. Age, sex, race, mechanism of injury, initial systolic blood pressure, Glasgow Coma Scale score, Injury Severity Score, prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, platelet count, and international normalized ratio were recorded. ⋯ In contrast, the combination of TBI and early coagulopathy was associated with a fourfold increase in mortality in this patient population. Early coagulopathy is an independent predictor of mortality in civilian pediatric patients with severe trauma. The increase in mortality was particularly significant in patients with TBI either isolated or combined with other injuries, suggesting that a rapid correction of this coagulopathy could substantially decrease the mortality after TBI in pediatric trauma patients.
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Sepsis is the main cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) among individuals hospitalized in intensive care units. Acute kidney injury is an independent risk factor for mortality, and its occurrence increases the complexity and cost of treatment. However, the pathophysiological mechanisms of AKI remain unclear. ⋯ Dialysis is the main treatment for AKI. Although there is no clear benefit of any specific dialysis modality, these patients are initially instructed to use continuous dialysis methods, especially for the most severe cases with multiple organ system dysfunctions and for those who display signs of hemodynamic instability. Recent studies demonstrate that patients should receive a dialysis dose of at least 25 mL · kg · h.
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Leptospirosis is an acute septicemic illness that affects humans in all parts of the world. Approximately 10% of patients with leptospirosis develop severe disease, the Weil syndrome, with jaundice, acute kidney injury (AKI), and pulmonary hemorrhage. Leptospirosis-induced AKI is typically nonoliguric with a high frequency of hypokalemia. ⋯ Studies with hamsters demonstrated that in leptospirosis a noncardiogenic pulmonary edema occurs consequently to a decrease in the clearance of alveolar fluid, due to a decrease in sodium transporter in the luminal membrane (ENaC) and an increase in the NKCC1 basolateral membrane transporter. Antibiotic treatment is efficient in the early and late/severe phases and revert all kidney transporters. Early and daily hemodialysis, low daily net fluid intake, and lung-protective strategies are recommended for critically ill patients with leptospirosis.
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Acute coagulopathy of trauma (aCOT) is a state of disordered coagulation developing soon after severe injury and blood loss and has been defined in the clinical literature as an elevation in prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). ⋯ This model of aCOT in rats showed complex changes in clotting parameters over 4 h that included a rise in PT and aPTT. At 4 h, there was a decrease in clotting firmness, even though the clot formation was faster (elevated α angle and decrease in clotting time). The decrease in clotting firmness correlated with falling fibrinogen and platelet count. This model affords an opportunity to evaluate interventions in the treatment of aCOT.