Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma parvum are rare causes of severe and fatal infections. The diagnosis of infection with mycoplasma is dependent on clinical suspicion and microbiological diagnosis, and often relies on molecular methods that do not readily detect antibiotic resistance. This may be of increasing importance as illustrated in the case below.

Acute kidney injury requiring renal replacement therapy occurs in up to 10% of all intensive care unit patients. Those who are hemodynamically unstable are often treated with continuous renal replacement therapy requiring continuous anticoagulation of the extracorporeal circuit. This is usually achieved by infusion of unfractionated heparin, which subsequently increases the risk of bleeding. To avoid systemic anticoagulation for continuous renal replacement therapy, regional anticoagulation with citrate has been introduced. We studied safety and efficacy of regional citrate anticoagulation for continuous venovenous hemodialysis in surgical patients requiring high dialysis doses. This was an observational prospective study in a 40-bed surgical intensive care unit at a university hospital. During a 12-month study period, all consecutive critically ill patients with high risk of bleeding requiring continuous renal replacement therapy continuous renal replacement therapy were treated with citrate anticoagulation for continuous venovenous hemodialysis. Prescribed dialysis dose was 45 mL/kg per h with a 10% increase for expected downtime. We studied filter lifetime, delivered dialysis dose, control of acid-base status, bleeding episodes, and adverse effects, that is, citrate intolerance. The total number of filters analyzed in 75 patients was 100. Mean (± standard deviation) filter running time was 78 ± 25 h. Fifty-one circuits had to be renewed because of extended filter running time (96 ± 18 h), 33 discontinued for reasons not related to renal replacement therapy (62 ± 19 h), and 13 due to filter clotting (58 ± 18 h). The mean dialysis dose during the first 72 h was 49 ± 14 mL/kg per h. Overall, acid-base status after 72 h was well controlled in 62% of patients, metabolic alkalosis (pH > 7.45) occurred in 29%, and metabolic acidosis (pH < 7.35) in 9%. In one patient, treatment was stopped because of citrate accumulation. Citrate intoxication or overt bleeding episodes were not observed. Regional citrate anticoagulation for continuous venovenous hemodialysis is a safe and effective method to deliver a high dialysis dose in critically ill patients with a high risk of bleeding. Filter patency was excellent, acid-base status was well controlled, and clinically relevant adverse effects were not observed. Therefore, citrate anticoagulated continuous venovenous hemodialysis is a useful treatment option for patients with acute kidney injury requiring high dialysis doses and at risk of bleeding.

IntroductionAcute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with concomitant impairment of oxygenation and decarboxylation represents a complex problem in patients with increased intracranial pressure (ICP). Permissive hypercapnia is not an option to obtain and maintain lung-protective ventilation in the presence of elevated ICP. Pumpless extracorporeal lung assist (pECLA) devices (iLA Membrane Ventilator; Novalung, Heilbronn, Germany) can improve decarboxylation without aggravation associated with invasive ventilation. In this pilot series, we analyzed the safety and efficacy of pECLA in patients with ARDS and elevated ICP after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).MethodsThe medical records of ten patients (eight male, two female) with severe ARDS and severe TBI concurrently managed with external ventricular drainage in the neurointensive care unit (NICU) were retrospectively analyzed. The effect of pECLA on enabling lung-protective ventilation was evaluated using the difference between plateau pressure and positive end-expiratory pressure, defined as driving pressure (ΔP), during the 3 days preceding the implant of pECLA devices until 3 days afterward. The ICP threshold was set at 20 mmHg. To evaluate effects on ICP, the volume of daily cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage needed to maintain the set ICP threshold was compared pre- and postimplant.ResultsThe ΔP values after pECLA implantation decreased from a mean 17.1 ± 0.7 cm/H2O to 11.9±0.5 cm/H2O (p = 0.011). In spite of this improved lung-protective ventilation, carbon dioxide pressure decreased from 46.6 ± 3.9 mmHg to 39.7 ± 3.5 mmHg (p = 0.005). The volume of daily CSF drainage needed to maintain ICP at 20 mmHg decreased significantly from 141.5 ± 103.5 ml to 62.2 ± 68.1 ml (p = 0.037).ConclusionsFor selected patients with concomitant severe TBI and ARDS, the application of pECLA is safe and effective. pECLA devices improve decarboxylation, thus enabling lung-protective ventilation. At the same time, potentially detrimental hypercapnia that may increase ICP is avoided. Larger prospective trials are warranted to further elucidate application of pECLA devices in NICU patients.