Resuscitation Medicine and death definition

Death is the reason for the existence of resuscitation. The Western definition of death has evolved continuously over the last three centuries. Today, the world recognizes two types of biological death: cardiac or “real” death (I,e. definitive cease of cardiac , respiratory and cerebral function) and encephalic death. The latter (brain death) has been accepted worldwide medically and legally as the biological state of death of the organism. Continue reading →

Category: 2022, 2022a, Case Reports
Keywords: brain death, Death, Resuscitation
Authors (a/b order): Aslanidis Th., Myrou A.

Raoultella planticola an emerging pathogen? Case report and literature review.

Raoultella planticola is a Gram-negative, oxidase-negative, aerobic that belongs to Enterobacteriaceae family and has a lot of similarities with Klebsiella spp. Though initially rare mentioned as an opportunistic infection, more and more reports are published. In the present article we present a case of an R. planticolla upper respiratory infection and we review the relevant literature. Continue reading →

Category: 2022, 2022a, Case Reports
Keywords: Raoultella planticola
Authors (a/b order): Aslanidis Th., Didangelos T., Myrou A., Savopoulos Ch.

A case-based literature synthesis of extreme hyperferritinemia in critically ill patients with COVID-19

COVID-19 has brought up the interest about hyperferritinemic syndromes. Though often seen in COVID-19, especially within the frame of COVID-CSS, hyperferritinemia needs a systematic diagnostic approach, as co-infections or other causes may also increase ferritin. In this article, we present a case report of extreme hyperferrinemia in an male criticall ill patient with COVID-19 and we perform a short synthesis of the available literature. Continue reading →

Category: 2021, 2021b, Case Reports
Keywords: covid-19, Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis, Hyperferritinemia, ICU
Authors (a/b order): Aslanidis Th., Flioni EN., Myrou A., Papachristou D., Thoma G.

Comparison of SpO2/FiO2 ratio, Oxygenation index, ventilator ratio and SpO2/PaCO2 ratio, SpO2/PEEP ratio with PaO2/FiO2 ratio in critically ill patients.

Trend towards noninvasive, easy to use monitor was always a challenge. Numerous indices have been used to monitor the progress of patients on positive pressure ventilation. The present study compares different indices in a mixed larger intensive care unit (ICU) population. In a prospective observational study Arterial blood gases (ABG) analyses were obtained from 225 patients under mechanical ventilation in a polyvalent adult ICU. Values of ideal body weight (IBW), Body mass index (BMI), PAO2, PaO2/FiO2 ratio (PFr), SpO2/FiO2 ratio (SFr), SpO2/PEEP ratio (SPr), SpO2/PaCO2 ratio (SPCr), Oxygenation index (OI) and Ventillatory ratio (VR) were calculated; and further correlation analysis was conducted. In Pressure control ventilation mode a relative strong relation between PFr and SFr and OI was found; yet further regression analysis implies that no direct replacement of PFr with SFr can be made without limitations, in clinical setting. In Volume control ventilation mode moderate relation was found between SFr and PFr. In the present study a moderate relation was found between SFr and PFr. The results agree with previous published studies; the differences among them lie in the different design of each one of them. The authors believe that- given the fact that one still considers using broadly PFr as index of oxygenation- SFr can be used safely as a surrogate for PFr only for certain disease states. Larger series are needed in order to define those patients groups and these pathophysiological conditions.

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