SummaryWith the popularity of ambulatory surgery ever increasing, we carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine whether the type of anaesthesia used had any bearing on patient outcomes. Total intravenous propofol anaesthesia was compared with two of the newer inhalational agents, sevoflurane and desflurane. In total, 18 trials were identified; only trials where nitrous oxide was administered to, or omitted from, both groups were included. A total of 1621 patients were randomly assigned to either propofol (685 patients) or inhalational anaesthesia (936 patients). If surgical causes of unplanned admissions were excluded, there was no difference in unplanned admission to hospital between propofol and inhalational anaesthesia (1.0% vs 2.9%, respectively; p = 0.13). The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting was lower with propofol than with inhalational agents (13.8% vs 29.2%, respectively; p < 0.001). However, no difference was noted in post-discharge nausea and vomiting (23.9% vs 20.8%, respectively; p = 0.26). Length of hospital stay was shorter with propofol, but the difference was only 14 min on average. The use of propofol was also more expensive, with a mean (95% CI) difference of £6.72 (£5.13-£8.31 (€8.16 (€6.23À€10.09); $11.29 ($8.62-$13.96))) per patient-anaesthetic episode (p < 0.001). Therefore, based on the published evidence to date, maintenance of anaesthesia using propofol appeared to have no bearing on the incidence of unplanned admission to hospital and was more expensive, but was associated with a decreased incidence of early postoperative nausea and vomiting compared with sevoflurane or desflurane in patients undergoing ambulatory surgery.

We retrospectively studied outcomes for HIV-infected patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) between January 1999 and June 2009. Patient demographics, receipt of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), reason for ICU admission and survival to ICU and hospital discharge were recorded. Comparison was made against outcomes for general medical patients contemporaneously admitted to the same ICU. One hundred and ninety-two HIV-infected patients had 222 ICU admissions; 116 patients required mechanical ventilation (MV) and 43 required renal replacement therapy. ICU admission was due to an HIV-associated diagnosis in 113 patients; 37 had Pneumocystis pneumonia. Survival to ICU discharge and hospital discharge for HIV-infected patients was 78% and 70%, respectively, and was 75% and 68% among 2065 general medical patients with 2274 ICU admissions; P = 0.452 and P = 0.458, respectively. HIV infection was newly diagnosed in 42 patients; their ICU and hospital survival was 69% and 57%, respectively. From multivariable analysis, factors associated with ICU survival were patient's age (odds ratio [OR] = 0.74 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.53-1.02] per 10-year increase), albumin (OR = 1.05 [1.00-1.09] per 1 g/dL increase), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score (OR = 0.55 [0.35-0.87] per 10 unit increase), receipt of HAART (OR = 2.44 [1.01-4.94]) and need for MV (OR = 0.14 [0.06-0.36]). In the era of HAART, HIV-infected patients should be offered ICU admission if it is likely to be of benefit.

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Management of medical cardiac arrest is challenging. The internationally agreed approach is highly protocolised with therapy and diagnosis occurring in parallel. Early identification of the precipitating cause increases the likelihood of favourable outcome. Echocardiography provides an invaluable diagnostic tool in this context. Acquisition of echo images can be challenging in cardiac arrest and should occur in a way that minimises disruption to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). In this article, the reversible causes of cardiac arrest are reviewed with associated echocardiography findings.CaseA 71-year-old patient underwent right upper lobectomy for lung adenocarcinoma. On the 2nd post-operative day, he developed respiratory failure with rising oxygen requirement and right middle and lower lobe collapse and consolidation on chest X-ray. He was commenced on high-flow oxygen therapy and antibiotics. His condition continued to deteriorate and on the 3rd post-operative day he was intubated and mechanically ventilated. Six hours after intubation, he became suddenly hypotensive with a blood pressure of 50 systolic and then lost cardiac output. ECG monitoring showed pulseless electrical activity. CPR was commenced and return of circulation occurred after injection of 1 mg of adrenaline. Focused echocardiography was performed, which demonstrated signs of massive pulmonary embolism. Thrombolytic therapy with tissue plasminogen activator was given and his condition stabilised.

We wish to report the first recorded case of indigenous human rabies caused by a bat bite in the United Kingdom in 100 years. This instructive case report highlights a number of key lessons: first, bites from insectivorous bats indiginous to the United Kingdom can cause rabies in humans; second, rabies immunization is essential for bat-handlers, and postexposure treatment for rabies is essential for patients bitten by bats; third, patients able to give a history who present with acute flaccid paralysis and/or presumptive viral encephalitis should be asked if they have been bitten by bats, irrespective of travel history, or this history should be obtained from family or friends; fourth, antemortem diagnosis of bat rabies (EBLV type 2a infection) in humans is possible using RT-PCR.

The number of people travelling to malaria-endemic countries continues to increase, and malaria remains the commonest cause of serious imported infection in non-endemic areas. Severe malaria, mostly caused by Plasmodium falciparum, often requires intensive care unit (ICU) admission and can be complicated by cerebral malaria, respiratory distress, acute kidney injury, bleeding complications, and co-infection. The mortality from imported malaria remains significant. This article reviews the manifestations, complications and principles of management of severe malaria as relevant to critical care clinicians, incorporating recent studies of anti-malarial and adjunctive treatment. Effective management of severe malaria includes prompt diagnosis and early institution of effective anti-malarial therapy, recognition of complications, and appropriate supportive management in an ICU. All cases should be discussed with a specialist unit and transfer of the patient considered.

Whilst the risk of dying after an operation in the UK is very small, the volume of surgery means that there are 20 000e25 000 deaths each year. For these patients and others who suffer major complications, critical illness often leads to a loss of capacity. If wishes are not discussed in advance, the patients may be excluded from meaningful involvement in decisions affecting their care. The preoperative period has been postulated as one where advance care planning could begin by engaging in voluntary conversations about an individual's wishes, priorities, and values should he/she loses capacity. There remain unanswered questions as to whether healthcare professionals are supportive of a move towards better engagement in such discussions with patients. Even if the reception to the idea is positive, it is clear that appropriate training and understanding will be required. The aims of this review were to describe the current knowledge and attitudes of healthcare professionals towards advance care planning in the perioperative setting, and to outline any educational programmes or training limitations that have been identified. Seven articles that met the inclusion criteria were identified. They indicate that healthcare professionals mostly have a positive view of advance care planning in the perioperative period, and there is little training or educational content available. Despite this, most healthcare professionals report feeling well equipped to have such discussions. Evidence was not found of advance care planning becoming a routine part of training or practice in the care of patients in the lead up to high-risk surgery.

We describe the incidence, associations and outcomes of acute kidney injury (AKI) among HIV-infected patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). We retrospectively analysed 223 admissions to an inner-London, University-affiliated ICU between 1999 and 2012, and identified those with AKI and performed multivariate analysis to determine associations with AKI. Of all admissions, 66% were affected by AKI of any severity and 35% developed stage 3 AKI. In multivariate analysis, AKI was associated with chronic kidney disease (odds ratio [OR] = 3.19; p = 0.014), a previous AIDS-defining illness (OR = 1.93; p = 0.039) and the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, (OR = 3.49; p = 0.018, if > 30). No associations were demonstrated with use of anti-retroviral medication (including tenofovir), or an individual's HIV viral load or CD4 count. AKI was associated with higher inpatient mortality and longer duration of ICU admission. Among patients with stage 3 AKI, only 41% were alive 90 days after ICU admission. Among survivors, 74% regained good renal function, the remainder were dependent on renal replacement therapy or were left with significant ongoing renal dysfunction. Of note, many patients had baseline serum creatinine concentrations well below published reference ranges. AKI among HIV-infected patients admitted to ICU carries a poor prognosis.