BackgroundChloride is important for maintaining acid-base balance, muscular activity, osmosis and immunomodulation. In patients with major trauma, chloride levels increase after fluid therapy; this is associated with poor clinical outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine whether hyperchloremia was associated with increased mortality in patients who had sustained major trauma.MethodsThis study enrolled 266 major trauma patients by retrospective chart review, from January 2011 to December 2015. Patients were older than 16 years; were admitted to an intensive care unit; survived more than 48 h; and had sustained major trauma, defined as an injury severity score ≥ 16. Hyperchloremia was defined as a chloride level > 110mEq/L. Delta chloride (Δchloride) was defined as the difference between the serum chloride level measured 48-h post-admission and the initial level. Clinical and laboratory variables were compared between survivors (n = 235) and non-survivors (n = 31). A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association between hyperchloremia 48-h post-admission (hyperchloremia-48) and 30-day mortality.ResultsThe overall 30-day mortality was 11.7 % (n = 31). Hyperchloremia-48 occurred in 65 patients (24.4 %) and the incidence was significantly different between survivors and non-survivors (19.6 vs. 61.3 %, respectively, p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic analysis identified hyperchloremia-48 and Δchloride as independent predictive factors for 30-day mortality in major trauma patients.DiscussionInfusion of chloride-rich solutions, such as normal saline, is itself associated with hyperchloremia, which has been associated with poor patient outcomes. Patients receiving normal saline were more likely to suffer major postoperative complications, acute kidney injury, and infections. Moreover, large changes in serum chloride levels correlated with greater in-hospital mortality. ConclusionHyperchloremia 48-h post-admission and Δchloride was associated with 30-day mortality in major trauma patients. These indices may be useful prognostic markers.

Few studies have evaluated the risk factors for in-hospital mortality in critically ill surgical patients who have undergone emergency gastrointestinal (GI) surgery. The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality in critically ill surgical patients after emergency GI surgery.The medical records of 362 critically ill surgical patients who underwent emergency GI surgery, admitted to intensive care unit between January 2007 and December 2011, were reviewed retrospectively. Perioperative biochemical and clinical parameters of survivors and nonsurvivors were compared. Logistic regression multivariate analysis was performed to identify the independent risk factors of mortality.The in-hospital mortality rate was 15.2% (55 patients). Multivariate analyses revealed cancer-related perforation (odds ratio [OR] 16.671, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.629–105.721, P = 0.003), preoperative anemia (hemoglobin <10 g/dL; OR 6.976, 95% CI 1.376–35.360, P = 0.019), and preoperative hypoalbuminemia (albumin <2.7 g/dL; OR 9.954, 95% CI 1.603–61.811, P = 0.014) were independent risk factors of in-hospital mortality after emergency GI surgery.The findings of this study suggest that in critically ill patients undergoing emergency GI surgery, cancer-related peritonitis, preoperative anemia, and preoperative hypoalbuminemia are associated with in-hospital mortality. Recognizing risk factors at an early stage could aid risk stratification and the provision of optimal perioperative care.