Organ Failure in Acute Pancreatitis and Its Impact on Outcome in Critical Care

Namrata Maheshwari, MD, IDCCM

Arun Kumar, MD 

Zafar A Iqbal, MD

Amit K Mandal, DNB,DTCD

Abhishek Vyas, MBBS

Jai D Wig, MS

Department of Critical Care Medicine and Pulmonology

Fortis Hospital 

Mohali, Punjab, 160062

India 

Abstract

The most important determinant of mortality in acute pancreatitis is organ failure (OF). The aim of this prospective observational study was to determine the incidence of organ failure in acute pancreatitis and its relation with the extent of necrosis and outcome. Sixty-one patients were divided into 3 groups: no organ failure (NOF), transient organ failure (< 48 hrs) (TOF) or persistent organ failure (> 48 hrs) (POF). Of 61 patients, 30 patients had no organ failure (49.1%), while 11 patients (18%) had TOF and 20 patients (32.7%) had POF. The mean age was 46.5 yrs with male predominance. Pulmonary and renal failures were the most common (32%), followed by CVS (cardiovascular system), coagulation system and CNS (central nervous system). Fourteen (46.4%) patients had one or two OF, 17 (56.6%) had more than two OF. There were no deaths in patients with up to two organ failures but a 70% (7) death rate in those with three organ involvement, 80% (4) with four and 100% with five OF. The percentage of pancreatic necrosis was evaluated for its relationship with organ failure. In the NOF group 19 (63.3%) patients had no necrosis, as compared to 11 patients with necrosis in TOF and POF groups (35.4%). Out of 61 patients, 13 patients died. All 13 patients who expired belonged to the POF group (p <.001). Early persisting and deteriorating organ failure had the worst outcomes. There was an increase in mortality with an increasing number of organs involved. The extent of necrosis was directly related with incidence of organ failure.

Introduction

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is characterized by a variable clinical course varying from a mild self-limited disease (80-90%) to a clinically severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) in 10-20% (1-4). Despite advances in knowledge and treatment of AP, the identification of patients with clinically severe disease on admission remains difficult (1) and the mortality in several series continues to be around 20% (2,5). 

The factors responsible for high mortality in patients with SAP are organ failure (OF) and pancreatic necrosis (6,7). The reported incidence of OF in SAP varies from 28-76 % (5,8,9). The occurrence of organ dysfunction and progressive organ failure has a major impact on outcome. Many patients who succumb to AP within the first two weeks of disease onset do so from overwhelming multiorgan failure (10,11). Other studies have also reported that prognosis deteriorated with an increase in number of organs involved (12,13). Banks and Freeman (14) studied the correlation between mortality and organ failure in patients with acute pancreatitis and documented a median mortality of 3% in patients with single organ failure and 47% in patients with multisystem organ failure. Another study documented that the overall mortality (47.8%) correlated with the number of organs failing (6). The definition of multiorgan failure is broad and encompasses transient to persistent or severe multiorgan failure that requires critical care support (15). Patients with persistent organ failure have a higher mortality as compared to patients where organ failure resolves (16). Johnson and Hial (17) showed that patients with OF that resolved within 48 hours(transient) have a low risk of complications and death in comparison to patients who have persistent organ failure(OF persisting for 3 or more days) and have a greater than one in three risk of fatal outcome. Information regarding the prediction of persistent organ failure in patients with acute pancreatitis is not available (18).

One of the factors linked to the development of OF is the extent of pancreatic necrosis. Some workers have found a correlation between the extent of necrosis and OF (19). The question of the relationship between infected necrosis and OF remains unsettled. There is no consistency in the literature on whether organ failure or infected necrosis is the main determinant of severity in acute pancreatitis. The aim of study was to study the occurrence of organ failure in acute pancreatitis and determine the influence of organ failure on mortality in patients with acute pancreatitis.

Materials and Methods

This study was a prospective study under taken during 18 months (December 2011 to May 2013) in the Departments of Gastroenterology, General Surgery and Medical Intensive Care Unit in Fortis Hospital, Mohali, Punjab, a 260 bedded multispecialty tertiary care hospital in Northern India.

The study sample included all consecutive patients diagnosed with acute pancreatitis referred to Gastroenterology or General surgery units fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria. All the patients were assessed for demographic profile and detailed symptom profile. After a detailed clinical examination relevant investigations were repeated as and when required. Patients were monitored for the presence and severity of organ failure every day during the first week, subsequent local complications, subsequent episodes of sepsis, and death or other outcomes during the same hospital admission.

Organ failure was defined as per modified multiple organ failure score (MMOFS). Transient organ failure was defined as organ failure present for less than 48 hours, and persistent organ failure was recorded when organ failure was present for more than 48 hours, where day 0 was the day of entry to the study and day one started at 8.00am on the day after entry. The course in hospital and final outcome was recorded. Cross tabulations were made with outcome, in particular with mortality.

Statistical Analysis. The data are presented as mean ± SD or median and interquartile range, as appropriate. The Mann- Whitney U-test was used for statistical analysis of skewed continuous variables and ordered categorical variables. For normally distributed data The t-test was applied. Pearson χ2 test or Fisher’s exact test was used for analysis of categorical variables with two categories. A p value of <0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance. All calculations were performed using SPSS® version 15 (Statistical Packages for the Social Sciences, Chicago, IL).

Results

The study was comprised of 61 patients who met the inclusion criteria with diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. The study group was further divided as per organ failure into three groups:

• No organ failure (NOF)
• Transient organ failure ( < 48 hrs) (TOF)
• Persistent organ failure ( > 48 hrs) (POF)

Demographic Distribution. The mean age of the patients was 46.5 years. The majority of patients were in the age group of 30-50 years. In this study the youngest patient was 17 years old and oldest was 87 years old (Figure 1).  

Figure 1. Age distribution with increased number of organs involvement.

The male to female ratio was found to be 2.4:1 (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Sex distribution.

Male predominance was found in all groups (53.3 %, 81.8%, and 90 % in the no organ, transient and persistent organ failure group respectively).

Comorbid Conditions. A majority of the patients (38) in our study group had no associated comorbid conditions  while 23 patients (37.8%) had a previous comorbid condition. Hypertension was the most common comorbid condition, seen in almost 31 % of the patients at the time of admission. Type 2 diabetes was the second most common condition noted in 24.6%, followed by hypothyroidism (4.9%), asthma, depression, cardiomyopathy and Guillain-Barré syndrome in 1.6% each (Table 1).  

Table 1. Comorbid conditions associated in our study group.

 

We could not find any association between co morbidities and mortality as 9 (62.9%) deaths occurred in the no comorbidity group as compared to 4 (30.8%) deaths in the co morbidities group (p=0.880).

Etiology. The most common etiologies of pancreatitis in our study group were alcohol and gall stones (n=24, 39% each) (Table 2).

Table 2. Etiology of acute pancreatitis.

Other causes were idiopathic (n=10, 17%), hypertriglyceridemia (n=2, 3%) and pancreatic divisum (n=1, 2%).

Percentage of Necrosis and Organ Failure. The percentage of necrosis on radiological imaging (in 46 patients) was evaluated for its relationship with organ failure. In the NOF group 19 (63.3%) patients had no necrosis (0%), 4 (13.3%) patients had <30% necrosis, 1 (3.3%) had 30-50% and 4 (13.3%) had >50% necrosis (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Relation between organ failure and pancreatic necrosis.

In the TOF group, 4 (36.4%) patients revealed no necrosis on contrast-enhanced computerized tomography (CECT) of the abdomen, <30% necrosis in 2 (18.2%) patients, 30-50% necrosis in 3 (27.3%) and >50% in 1 (9.1%) patient (Figure 3).

In POF group no necrosis was detected in 3 (15%) patients, <30 % in 2 (10%), 30-50% in 1 (5%) and >50% in 2 (10%) patients. The relationship between the amount of necrosis was directly related with incidence of organ failure and this correlation was found to be statistically significant (Figure 3).

MMOFS and Mortality. We divided our study in 3 groups, no organ failure, transient (<48 hrs) and persistent (>48 hrs) organ failure to understand the nature and dynamics of organ failure. Groups were further divided in early onset (<7days), late onset (>7days). Organ failure was calculated by the Modified multiorgan failure score (MMOFS). Daily MMOFS was calculated in all patients up to 7 days. MMOFS difference was calculated by MMOFS 7 (MMOFS at day 7) – MMOFS 1 (at the time of admission). On the basis of MMOFS difference groups were further divided into same (if difference was 0), improving (if deference was negative value), or deteriorating (if deference was a positive value) groups (Figure 4).

Figure 4. Comparison of outcome with MMOFS difference.

MMOFS difference was found to be highly significantly (ANOVA, p<0.001 each) correlated with organ failures and outcome. In our study no deaths occurred in the transient OF groups (early transient, late transient and transient deteriorating). We attributed this to the dynamics that transient OF could resolve with treatment and had a better outcome than persistent OF. Among the 13 deaths reported in our study, 46.2 % were in the early (<7 days) OF group compared to the late (>7 days) OF group (20%).

Organ Involvement. Pulmonary and renal failures were the most common organ involvements noted among our study group (32% each). This was followed by cardiovascular system (22%), coagulation system (8%) and central nervous system (6%) (Figure 5).

Figure 5. Organ failure by system.

Organ involvement and mortality. Fourteen (46.4%) patients had one or two OF and 17 (56.6%) had more than two OF (table 3). Comparison of the number of organ failures to mortality was statically significant (p<0.001) (Figure 6).

Figure 6. Outcome in patients with increasing organ involvement.

We found that there was an increase in incidence of mortality with an increase in the number of organs involved. There were no deaths in patients with up to two organ failures; it increased with increasing number of organs involved (Table 3).

Table 3. Organ failure and mortality.

The mortality rate was 70% (n=7) with three organ involvement, 80 % (n=4) with four and 100% with five OF.

Discussion

Severe acute pancreatitis is a systemic disease and characterized by acute onset and rapid progression, with a high incidence of complications and serious morbidity (20). An international multidisciplinary classification of acute pancreatitis severity is based on local and systemic determinants of severity. The local determinants relate to presence of pancreatic necrosis, and whether the necrosis is infected or sterile. The systemic determinants relate to whether there is organ failure or not, and if present, whether it is transient or persistent. The presence of both infected pancreatic necrosis and persistent organ failure has a greater impact on severity than either determinant alone. Based on these principles, the severity is classified as mild, moderate, severe or critical (21).The three most common systems involved are renal, lung, and cardiovascular system. Respiratory complications are frequent in acute pancreatitis and respiratory dysfunction is a major component of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (22,23). In a population based study, 15.05% of patients with AP had a diagnosis of acute renal failure (24).

The present study showed that the difference in age was not significantly different between the groups. There are some studies which showed an association between advancing age as a predictor of organ failure and mortality. Wig et al. (6) studied 161 patients and concluded that age of the patients was a risk factor for multiple organ failure. Li et al. (25) studied 181 patients with SAP and found a correlation of age with OF (<.001). Frey et al²⁶ also showed that the number of complications was positively correlated with the age of patients. Older age and number of complications were strong predictors of organ failure among patients with SAP. Though we recorded a higher incidence of organ failures and mortality in a younger age group of 40-45, the difference was attributed to a small number of patients above 65 years in our study as compared to studies done in the western world.

The bedside index for severity in acute pancreatitis (BISAP) score represents a simple way to identify patients at risk for increased mortality and the development of intermediate markers of severity within 24 hours of presentation. In our series the BISAP score was significantly associated (p<.001) with organ failure as well as survival (p<.001). We found 9 out of 13 deaths in the >3 score group and four deaths at a BISAP score of 2 as compared to zero mortality in the BISAP score 1 and 0 group. Kim et al. (27) also compared BISAP, the serum procalcitonin (PCT), and other multifactorial scoring systems simultaneously, concluded that BISAP is more accurate for predicting the severity of acute pancreatitis than the serum procalcitonin, APACHE-II, Glasgow, and modified CT severity index (MCTSI) scores. Chen et al. (28) evaluated the accuracy of BISAP in predicting the severity and prognosis of acute pancreatitis (AP) in 497 Chinese patients. They conclude that BISAP score is valuable in predicting the severity of AP and prognoses of SAP in Chinese patients.

Contrast enhanced computed tomography (CECT) is considered the gold standard for the diagnosis of pancreatic necrosis and peripancreatic collections. CT assessment correlates with the clinical course of the disease and recognized variables of disease severity. We ordered CECT in all patients on the second or third day after admission rather than at the time of admission. Additional contrast-enhanced CT scans were ordered at intervals during the hospitalization to detect and monitor the course of intra-abdominal complications of acute pancreatitis, such as the development of organized necrosis, pseudocysts, and vascular complications including pseudoaneurysms. In our study CT severity index (CTSI) > 7 at admission did not correlate well with organ failure or mortality (p=NS), although the percentage of necrosis had significant correlation with organ failure. Our results are similar to many studies reported in the literature. Simchuk et al. (29) performed a study on 268 patients with acute pancreatitis. They concluded CTSI > 5 correlated significantly with death. Similar results were also obtained by Leung et al. (30) on 121 patients studied retrospectively, and they concluded that CTSI is superior to Ranson’s score and APACHE II score in predicting outcome in pancreatitis. However a few studies found no association between grade of necrosis and outcome of pancreatitis. Shinzeki et al. (31) did not find any correlation between necrosis evident on CECT at admission and outcome of SAP (p=0.061). Another study by Lankisch et al. (32) also did not find any correlation between necrosis and organ failure.

In our study pulmonary and renal were the most common organ failures observed (32% each). The total number of organ failures at admission was also significantly different in both groups (p=0.001), however none of the organ failures independently proved to be a significant predictor of mortality. MMOFS difference was found to be highly significantly correlated with organ failures and outcome. Among the 13 deaths reported in our study, 46.2 % were in the early (<7 days) OF group compared to the late (>7 days) OF group (20%). Our series also showed comparable results with other studies suggesting that early organ failure is the major predictor of poor outcome MMOFS difference was found to be highly significantly (ANOVA, p<0.001 each) correlated with organ failures and outcome. In our study no deaths occurred in the transient OF groups (early transient, late transient and transient deteriorating). We attributed this to the dynamics that transient OF could resolve with treatment and had a better outcome than persistent OF. Among the 13 deaths reported in our study, 46.2 % were in the early (<7 days) OF group compared to the late (>7 days) OF group (20%). Our series also showed comparable results with other studies suggesting that early organ failure is the major predictor of poor outcome (p=0.002) compared to late organ failure (p=0.400).

We found that early persistent OF had a 66.6% mortality as compared to persistent deteriorating organ failure which also had a very high mortality (72.2%). Very few studies have reported on the dynamics of OF with MMOFS. Johnson et al. (19) in a study of 290 patients with SAP had 116 patients with no OF and 147 patients with OF at the time of admission subdivided those with OF into those with persistent (OF lasting for>48 hours) and transient (OF lasting for<48hours) organ failure. Mortality was 36.3% in persistent and 5% in transient OF group. No patients without OF died.

On analysis of the 13 patients who expired, 4 patients died early (<7 days) and 9 deaths were late (>7 days). OF was the main cause of death in both groups, however all patients with sepsis died later. In the study of Yang et al. (33) the most important and common cause of death for patients with fulminant pancreatitis was multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, which usually was the consequence of systemic inflammation response syndrome in the early stage, and severe infection in the later stage, respectively.

Conclusions

Patients with persistent organ failure have a higher mortality. Early persisting and deteriorating organ failure had the worst outcome of among patients with acute pancreatitis. There was an increase in mortality with increasing number of organs involved. The extent of necrosis was directly related with the incidence of organ failure.

References

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13. Mofidi R, Duff MD, Wigmore SJ, Madhavan KK, Garden OJ, Parks RW. Association between early systemic inflammatory response, severity of multiorgan dysfunction and death in acute pancreatitis. Br J Surg. 2006:93:738-44. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
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30. Leung TK, Lee CM, Lin SY, Chen HC, Wang HJ, Shen LK, Chen YY. Balthazar computed tomography severity index is superior to Ranson criteria and APACHE II scoring system in predicting acute pancreatitis outcome. World J Gastroenterol. 2005;11:6049-52. [PubMed]
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Reference as: Maheshwari N, Kumar A, Iqbal ZA, Mandal AK, Vyas A, Wig JD. Organ failure in acute pancreatitis and its impact on outcome in critical care. Southwest J Pulm Crit Care. 2015;10(5):253-64. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13175/swjpcc055-15 PDF

Ultrasound for Critical Care Physicians: Tiny Bubbles

Kashif Aslam, MD

Michel Boivin, MD

Division of Pulmonary, Critical care and Sleep Medicine

University of New Mexico School of Medicine

Albuquerque, NM

A 59 year old woman with a past medical history significant for stage IV MALT lymphoma (after chemotherapy and in remission) presented from a long term care facility for respiratory distress and altered mental status. The patient was in hypercarbic respiratory failure with a severe lactic acidosis. Her blood pressure deteriorated, she was begun on vasopressors and intubated.  Pertinent labs demonstrated a white blood cell count of 0.9 X10⁶ /ml, a hemoglobin of 7.1 g/dl, and a platelet count 66 X10⁶  /ml. The patient was started on Cefepime and Linezolid presumptively for septic shock. Ultrasounds of her thorax were performed (Videos 1 & 2).

Video 1.  Ultrasound of the right thorax in the mid-axillary line. 

 

Video 2.  Ultrasound of the right thorax in the mid-axillary line (slightly more caudad).

What is the best explanation for the ultrasound findings shown above? (Click on the correct answer for an explanation)

1. Large pleural effusion
2. Pneumothorax
3. Consolidation due to pneumonia
4. Ruptured diaphragm
5. Lung abscess

Reference as: Aslam K, Boivin M. Ultrasound for critical care physicians: tiny bubbles. Southwest J Pulm Crit Care. 2015;10(5):216-9. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13175/swjpcc067-15 PDF

May 2015 Critical Care Case of the Month: An Infected Leg

Sandra L. Till DO and Robert A. Raschke MD

Banner University Good Samaritan Medical Center

Phoenix, AZ

History of Present Illness

A 46-year-old transferred due to concern for necrotizing fasciitis. One the day prior to transfer purple discoloration was not noted in the lower portion of the left leg. On the day of transfer the leg became more purple, painful, and swollen. She presented to a pain clinic that advised her to go to an emergency room. The emergency room performed arterial Doppler ultrasound, which was normal and transferred her due to concern of necrotizing fasciitis.

Past Medical History, Social History and Family History

She has a past medical history of fibromyalgia. She had an extensive surgical history including an appendectomy, bladder implant, cholecystectomy, dilatation and curettage, esophageal repair, left femoral artery repair due to a motor vehicle accident, partial hysterectomy, left knee surgery, and several left leg operations with grafting. Family history was non-contributory. The patient was single with two children, and smoked 1-2 packs of cigarettes per day for 30 years. She denied any illicit drugs or alcohol abuse.

Medications

• Zolpidem
• Warfarin
• Furosemide
• Potassium Chloride
• Morphine sulfate
• Gabapentin
• Oxycodone
• Alprazolam
• Ondansetron
• Amitriptyline

Physical Examination

Vitals signs: Blood pressure 128/85 mm Hg, pulse 86 beat/min, respiratory rate 12, temperature 36.7º C, SPO2 96% on 2L/min of oxygen.

General: Non-toxic, alert and oriented x3, tearful due to pain.

The remainder of the physical examination was unremarkable except for the left lower extremity (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Photograph of the patient's left leg.

Which of the following are appropriate at this time? (Click on the correct answer to proceed to the second of five panels)

1. Blood cultures
2. Complete blood count, c-reactive protein, sodium, creatinine and glucose
3. Surgery consult
4. Wound culture
5. All of the above

Reference as: Till SL, Raschke RA. May 2015 critical care case of the month: an infected leg. Southwest J Pulm Crit Care. 2015;10(5):208-15. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13175/swjpcc045-15 PDF

April 2015 Critical Care Case of the Month: Half-Sided Light House

Theodore Loftsgard APRN, ACNP, CCRN

Adam Frost RRT, CRT

Dacia Evans RN

Karen Kolbet PharmD, RPh

Division of Critical Care

Mayo Clinic

Rochester, Minnesota

History of Present Illness

A 55 year old woman was transferred to the ICU from the general medicine ward for tachycardia and acute hypoxic respiratory distress. She has multiple myeloma and had received cycle one of bortezomib, dexamethasone, thalidomide, cisplatin, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide and etoposide (VDT-PACE) and radiotherapy to T7 for a pathologic compression. She was admitted for pain control from mucositis.

Past Medical History

In addition to the multiple myeloma she has a past medical history of asthma, ovarian cysts, diverticulitis, eczema, pneumonia, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, appendectomy, ectopic pregnancy in the past, and left Bell's palsy.

Current Medications

• Acyclovir 400 mg BID
• Albuterol 90 HFA prn
• Allopurinol 300 mg daily
• Fluconazole 200 mg BID
• Gabapentin 300 mg BID,
• Hydromorphone
• Levofloxacin 500 daily
• Morphine
• Omeprazole
• Bactrim 400-80 mg daily for PCP prophylaxis
• Thalomid 200 mg capsule daily
• Ativan 0.5 mg just prior to transfer

Physical Examination

• Vital Signs: temperature 36.4 °C, respiratory rate 24 breaths/minute, blood pressure 148/77 mm Hg, pulse 133/minute, SpO2 98% on oxygen at 4 L/min.
• General: Alert and follows commands. Slightly somnolent. In respiratory acute distress.
• Skin: Pink, warm and dry without acute rashes or lesions.
• Eyes: EOMs intact. Conjunctivae pink. Sclerae anicteric
• ENT: Neck supple. Trachea midline.
• Cardiac: S1, S2 irregular rate and rhythm without extra sounds, murmurs, rubs or gallops. Capillary refill 2 seconds.
• Lungs: Respirations with accessory muscle use, shallow. scattered crackles and equal to auscultation. Diminished bilateral bases.
• Abdomen: Soft. No abdominal tenderness. Non-distended. Bowel sounds present.
• Extremities: Peripheral pulses +2/4 throughout. 1+ peripheral edema.
• Neuro: GCS = 13, residual bell's palsy.

Pertinent Labs

• Sodium: 144 mmol/L
• Potassium: 4.2 mmol/L
• Chloride: 113 mmol/L *
• Bicarbonate,: 23 mmol/L
• Creatinine: 0.6 mg/dL
• Hematocrit: 20.5 %
• Leukocytes: 0.5 x10(9)/L
• Hemoglobin: 6.2 g/dL
• Platelet Count: 39 x10(9)/L
• Calcium, Ionized(S): 4.81 mg/dL
• pH (FOR CALCIUM, IONIZED [S]): 7.47
• INR: 1.5
• APTT(P): 29 sec

Her ECG (Figure 1) showed a tachycardia with a maximum heart rate was in the 170's.

Figure 1. Admission ECG to the ICU.

Her admission chest x-ray is shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2. Portable chest x-ray taken just after admission to the ICU.

Which of the following are true? (Click on the correct answer to proceed to the second of four panels)

1. The EKG shows atrial fibrillation with a rapid ventricular response
2. She should be immediately intubated for airway protection
3. The chest x-ray shows bilateral pleural effusions
4. 1 and 3
5. All of the above

Reference as: Loftsgard T, Frost A, Evans D, Kolbet K. April 2015 critical care case of the month: half-sided light house. Southwest J Pulm Crit Care. 2015;10(4):159-70. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13175/swjpcc031-15 PDF

March 2015 Critical Care Case of the Month: It’s Not Always Sepsis

Dionne Morgan, MD 

Carolyn H. Welsh, MD 

University of Colorado and the Eastern Colorado Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Department of Medicine

Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine

Denver, CO

History of Present Illness

A 57-year-old man with multiple co-morbidities including diabetes mellitus presented with wet gangrene of the right foot and hypotension.  He had diabetic ketoacidosis and acute kidney injury. He was admitted to the medical intensive care unit, given intravenous fluids and treated with insulin therapy, piperacillin/tazobactam and vancomycin. Initial blood cultures grew Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The podiatry service performed a right transmetatarsal amputation. Subsequently, he did well and was transferred to a medical floor for further care. 

Three weeks later, following resolution of the initial sepsis, he developed persistently high fevers with hemodynamic instability despite continued antibiotic therapy. He was transferred back to the MICU for presumed sepsis.

Past Medical History, Social History and Family History

The past medical history was significant for diabetes, hypertension, COPD, coronary artery disease and hepatitis C. He did not smoke nor drink alcohol. Family history was non-contributory.

Physical Examination

On readmission to the medical intensive care unit, the patient was noted to have a generalized maculopapular rash on both upper and lower extremities, torso, palms and soles of his feet, associated with facial and periorbital edema (Figure 1). There was no mucosal membrane involvement or lymphadenopathy.  He was also febrile to 104^o F, hypotensive to 80/50 mm Hg and icteric.

Figure 1. Image of rash.

Laboratory Studies

Initial labs showed elevated leukocyte count, BUN and creatinine with anion-gap metabolic acidosis but a normal liver enzyme profile. Repeat labs on readmission to the medical ICU were significant for severe leukocytosis, with marked eosinophilia, atypical lymphocytes on blood smear, acute transaminitis and hyperbilirubinemia.

Admission labs: White blood cell count (WBC) 29.9 x 1000 cells/μL. Eosinophils 0.0% (Normal 0.0 - 0.7%), AST 28 U/L, ALT 15 U/L, ALP 162 U/L, total bilirubin 0.2 mg/dL.

Labs on ICU readmission: White blood cell count (WBC) 35.7 x 1000 cells/ μL. Eosinophils 2.3% (Normal 0.0 -0.7%), AST 486 U/L, ALT 288 U/L, ALP 749 U/L, total bilirubin 4.3 mg/dL.

Which are components of the SIRS criteria? (click on the correct answer to proceed to the second of 4 panels)

1. Elevated respiratory rate
2. Hypothermia
3. Leukocytosis
4. Tachycardia
5. All the above

Reference as: Morgan D, Welsh CH. March 2015 critical care case of the month: it's not always sepsis. Southwest J Pulm Crit Care. 2015;10(3):105-11. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13175/swjpcc029-15 PDF