Critically ill patients are at high risk of developing pressure ulcers (PUs) and patients who develop PUs remain significantly longer in the intensive care unit (ICU) with significantly increased morbidity and mortality. Therefore, the identification of patients at truly increased risk is important. The aim of this study was to examine the association of low serum albumin present at admission in ICU patients with the onset of PUs. We conducted a retrospective cohort study on 610 patients who were admitted to intensive care unit. Level of serum albumin and other biochemical indices, recorded at the time of admission, were collected. We collected information about PU occurrence after admission and conducted a statistical analysis with biomarkers at ICU admission and during hospital stay. The incidence of PU in the ICUs was 31% and about 70% of patients with PUs had hypoalbuminemia at admission. The lowest values of serum albumin in patients with PUs were directly proportional to the severity of ulcers. In this study, we found a close association between serum albumin and PUs. In fact serum albumin was negatively correlated with PU and may be considered one of the independent determinants of PU occurrence in patients admitted to ICUs.
Pressure ulcers (PUs) are a common problem in critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care units (ICUs) and they account for more than 70% of patients with low serum albumin at admission. The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of intravenous administration of albumin in patients with low serum albumin < 3·3 g/dl. In a 1-year period, a total of 73 patients were admitted to the ICU (males 45, 61·64% and females 28, 38·36%); of these, 21 patients were admitted with hypoalbuminaemia (serum albumin < 3·3 g/dl) and randomised into two groups: 11 patients were treated with 25 g intravenous albumin for the first 3 days within the first week of ICU stay (group A) and 10 patients did not receive albumin (group B). Three patients (27·27%) showed the onset of PUs in group A, whereas seven patients (70%) showed the onset of PUs within the first 7 days of stay in group B. Moreover, ulcers of group B were more severe than those of group A. This study shows that intravenous administration of albumin reduces the onset of PUs in patients admitted to the ICU and in some cases it also reduces the risk of progression to advanced stages of PUs.
Hypoxic hepatitis (HH) is a severe complication of postoperative low output syndrome, associated with high mortality rates despite appropriate drug therapy. Recently several extracorporeal supportive techniques have become available. We describe the case of a 70-year-old woman who developed HH secondary to cardiogenic shock after cardiac surgery. CPFA proved to be a valid tool for concomitant hemodynamic support and organ replacement therapy.
CgA levels were found to be elevated in approximately 50% of patients with non-neuroendocrine tumours. Further studies are required to determine the value of CgA as a marker for non-neuroendocrine tumours and the role of somatostatin analogues as a treatment for these tumour types.
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