Vital sign differences between septic patients with tetraplegia and paraplegia

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective chart review.

OBJECTIVES

Sepsis is a leading preventable cause of death in patients with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). Individuals with tetraplegia may exhibit different signs and symptoms of infection compared to those with paraplegia. In this study, we examine differences in vital signs (VS) and mental status between septic patients with tetraplegia and paraplegia with the goal of improving early identification of sepsis in this population.

SETTING

Veterans hospital in Washington, USA.

METHODS

Participants consisted of 19 patients with tetraplegia and 16 with paraplegia who were transferred from an SCI Service to a higher level of care with sepsis between June 1, 2010 and June 1, 2018 (n = 35). We compared VS between patients with tetraplegia and paraplegia at baseline and during sepsis including temperature, heart rate (HR), and blood pressure as well as presence/absence of altered mental status (AMS).

RESULTS

While there were no significant VS differences between groups at baseline, septic patients with tetraplegia had lower maximum temperature (38.2 °C versus 39.2 °C, p = 0.003), lower maximum HR (106 versus 124 beats/minute, p = 0.004), and more frequent AMS compared to septic patients with paraplegia (79% versus 31%, p = 0.007).

CONCLUSION

Patients with tetraplegia may not be able to mount fever and tachycardia to the same degree as patients with paraplegia and may be more prone to developing AMS during sepsis. These findings suggest that changes to VS parameter cut-offs may improve sensitivity and be useful in identifying sepsis earlier in the tetraplegic population.

Hospital mortality in primary admissions of septic patients with status epilepticus in the United States*

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of status epilepticus, associated factors, and relationship with in-hospital mortality in primary admissions of septic patients in the United States.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Primary admissions of adult patients more than 18 years old with a diagnosis of sepsis and status epilepticus from 1988 to 2008 identified through the Nationwide Inpatient Sample.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 7,669,125 primary admissions of patients with sepsis.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

RESULTS

During the 21-year study period, the prevalence of status epilepticus in primary admissions of septic patients increased from 0.1% in 1988 to 0.2% in 2008 (p < 0.001). Status epilepticus was also more common among later years, younger admissions, female gender, Black race, rural hospital admissions, and in those patients with organ dysfunctions. Mortality of primary sepsis admissions decreased from 20% in 1988 to 18% in 2008 (p < 0.001). Mortality in status epilepticus during sepsis decreased from 43% in 1988 to 28% in 2008. In-hospital mortality after admissions for sepsis was associated with status epilepticus, older age, and Black and Native American/Eskimo race; patients admitted to a rural or urban private hospitals; and patients with organ dysfunctions.

CONCLUSION

Our analysis demonstrates that status epilepticus after admission for sepsis in the United States was rare. Despite an overall significant reduction in mortality after admission for sepsis, status epilepticus carried a higher risk of death. More aggressive electrophysiological monitoring and a high level of suspicion for the diagnosis of status epilepticus may be indicated in those patients with central nervous system organ dysfunction after sepsis.

Impaired subcortical and cortical sensory evoked potential pathways in septic patients

OBJECTIVE

Sensory evoked potential (SEP) peak latencies were recorded in order to evaluate the incidence and severity of septic encephalopathy, testing the hypothesis that the occurrence of septic encephalopathy is more frequent than generally assumed.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Medical intensive care unit of a university hospital.

PATIENTS

Sixty-eight critically ill patients were studied within 48 hrs after the development of severe sepsis (n = 41) or septic shock (n = 27).

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Septic encephalopathy was defined as prolongation of SEP peak latencies beyond the upper limit of the reference range of subcortical (N13-N20 interpeak latency) and cortical SEP pathways (N20-N70 interpeak latency), as well as asymmetry of peak latencies marked by the presence of subclinical cerebral focal signs. Subcortical SEP pathways were impaired in 34% and cortical SEP pathways in 84% of all patients. The prolongation of the cortical SEP pathway correlated with the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation III score (r = 0.23; p <.0001). SEP peak latencies did not differ in patients with severe sepsis compared with those with septic shock. Subclinical cerebral focal signs were present in 24% of the subcortical SEP pathways and in 6% of the cortical SEP pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

Septic encephalopathy occurs more frequently than generally assumed, and its severity is associated with the severity of illness. The impairment of subcortical and cortical SEP pathways was not different between patients with severe sepsis and those with septic shock.