Accident vasculaire cérébral ischémique révélant un syndrome de Fahr

Le syndrome de Fahr est défini par la présence de calcifications intracérébrales bilatérales et symétriques, non artériosclérotiques, localisées aux noyaux gris centraux. La découverte de celles-ci au cours d’un accident cérébrale ischémique constitue un mode de révélation exceptionnelle de cette affection et doit faire pratiquer une étude du métabolisme phosphocalcique avec dosage de la PTH. L’analyse des signes clinico-biologiques et radiologique est à la base du diagnostic. Un traitement antiépileptique au long cours peut favoriser les calcifications au niveau des noyaux gris centraux et induire le syndrome qui reste de bon pronostic. La correction des troubles du métabolisme phosphocalcique amène souvent une amélioration notable.

Clonal diversity and detection of carbapenem resistance encoding genes among multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates recovered from patients and environment in two intensive care units in a Moroccan hospital

Background

Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii has recently been defined by the World Health Organization as a critical pathogen. The aim of this study was to compare clonal diversity and carbapenemase-encoding genes of A. baumannii isolates collected from colonized or infected patients and hospital environment in two intensive care units (ICUs) in Morocco.

Methods

The patient and environmental sampling was carried out in the medical and surgical ICUs of Mohammed V Military teaching hospital from March to August 2015. All A. baumannii isolates recovered from clinical and environmental samples, were identified using routine microbiological techniques and Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using disc diffusion method. The carbapenemase-encoding genes were screened for by PCR. Clonal relatedness was analyzed by digestion of the DNA with low frequency restriction enzymes and pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and the multi locus sequence typing (MLST) was performed on two selected isolates from two major pulsotypes.

Results

A total of 83 multidrug-resistant A. baumannii isolates were collected: 47 clinical isolates and 36 environmental isolates. All isolates were positive for the bla_OXA51-like and bla_OXA23-like genes. The coexistence of bla_NDM-1/bla_OXA-23-like and bla_{OXA 24-like}/bla_OXA-23-like were detected in 27 (32.5%) and 2 (2.4%) of A. baumannii isolates, respectively. The environmental samples and the fecally-colonized patients were significantly identified (p < 0.05) as the most common sites of isolation of NDM-1-harboring isolates. PFGE grouped all isolates into 9 distinct clusters with two major groups (0007 and 0008) containing up to 59% of the isolates. The pulsotype 0008 corresponds to sequence type (ST) 195 while pulsotype 0007 corresponds to ST 1089.The genetic similarity between the clinical and environmental isolates was observed in 80/83 = 96.4% of all isolates, belonging to 7 pulsotypes.

Conclusion

This study shows that the clonal spread of environmental A. baumannii isolates is related to that of clinical isolates recovered from colonized or infected patients, being both associated with a high prevalence of the bla_OXA23-like and bla_NDM-1genes. These findings emphasize the need for prioritizing the bio-cleaning of the hospital environment to control and prevent the dissemination of A. baumannii clonal lineages.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13756-017-0262-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Anaesthetic management for awake craniotomy in brain glioma resection: initial experience in Military Hospital Mohamed V of Rabat

The awake brain surgery is an innovative approach in the treatment of tumors in the functional areas of the brain. There are various anesthetic techniques for awake craniotomy (AC), including asleep-awake-asleep technique, monitored anesthesia care, and the recent introduced awake-awake-awake method. We describe our first experience with anesthetic management for awake craniotomy, which was a combination of these techniques with scalp nerve block, and propofol/rémifentanil target controlled infusion. A 28-year-oldmale underwent an awake craniotomy for brain glioma resection. The scalp nerve block was performed and a low sedative state was maintained until removal of bone flap. During brain glioma resection, the patient awake state was maintained without any complications. Once, the tumorectomy was completed, the level of anesthesia was deepened and a laryngeal mask airway was inserted. A well psychological preparation, a reasonable choice of anesthetic techniques and agents, and continuous team communication were some of the key challenges for successful outcome in our patient.

Aseptic meningitis following a bupivacaine spinal anesthesia

Spinal anesthesia complicated by meningitis is rare. The diagnosis is difficult and the clinical signs are unspecific. There is a subgroup called aseptic meningitis of a different mechanism (hypersensitive reaction and irritation of the meninges), which must be identified for appropriate care. We report the case of aseptic meningitis resulting from bupivacaine use complicating spinal anesthesia. She is 31 years old and was admitted to the intensive care unit for meningitis following a Caesarean delivery. 10 hours after the procedure, she was found to have severe headache, neck stiffness and was found restless. She lost consciousness; she was treated by attending physicians. A CT scan have been performed and was found normal. 24 hours after intubation, the patient woke up. The clinical and biological valuations were normal, allowing for the elimination of the other causes of meningitis.

[Role of rocuronium-sugammadex algorithm in suspension direct laryngoscopy]

La laryngoscopie directe en suspension est un geste chirurgical diagnostique et/ou thérapeutique des lésions endo-laryngées. Sa gestion anesthésique est compliquée. Différentes techniques anesthésiques peuvent être proposées. Malgré les contraintes, les curares gardent tout leur intérêt. L’association rocuronium et sugammadex est envisageable, elle permet une inversion rapide du bloc neuromusculaire profond et par conséquent une réduction de la morbidité postopératoire. Nous rapportons un cas d’une laryngoscopie directe en suspension réalisée sous anesthésie générale dont l’utilisation de l’association rocuronium-sugammadex a permis une facilité du geste chirurgicale, une sécurité pour le patient et un confort pour l’anesthésiste.

Anesthetic management of spontaneous cervical epidural hematoma during pregnancy: a case report

Background

Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma during pregnancy is a quite rare event requiring emergent decompressive surgery in the majority of cases to prevent permanent neurological damage. Therefore, there is little data in the literature regarding anesthetic management of cervical localization during pregnancy. The potential for difficult airway management with the patient under general anesthesia is one of the major concerns that needs to be addressed to prevent further cord compression. Anesthetic management should also include measures to maintain the mean arterial pressure to improve spinal cord perfusion. Furthermore, spine surgery in pregnant patients needs special consideration in terms of positioning and in the postoperative period.

Case presentation

We present a case of a 35-year-old white woman at 21 weeks of gestation with a spontaneous cervical epidural hematoma. Fiberoptic bronchoscope-guided nasal intubation was a safe option to ensure a higher rate of successful endotracheal intubation while minimizing the risk of aggravating the injury. Her care posed other multiples challenges that required a multidisciplinary team approach.

Conclusions

The case of our patient serves as a reminder of this rare condition and its implications regarding anesthesia.

[Rare etiology of subocclusive syndrome: inflammatory fibroid polyp of the ileum, about a clinical case]

Le polype fibroïde inflammatoire (PFI) est une lésion bénigne rare, qui découle de la sous-muqueuse du tractus gastro-intestinal, apparait généralement comme une lésion bénigne solitaire, localisée rarement au niveau de l'iléon. Son origine est controversée. La présentation clinique varie selon sa localisation, l'invagination et l'obstruction constituent les symptômes révélateurs les plus fréquents quand le polype siège au niveau de l'intestin grêle. Nous rapportons le cas d'un patient âgé de 22 ans, qui présentait une douleur abdominale, des nausées et des vomissements avec des antécédents de constipation intermittente et une perte de poids dans l'année précédente. La radiologie a objectivé une invagination iléo-iléale obstruant complètement la lumière de l'iléon. La résection segmentaire du segment iléal obstrué et l'anastomose termino-terminale ont été effectuées. Le diagnostic final de PFI a été établi par l'examen histologique et immuno-histochimique.

[Gas tamponade following intraoperative pneumothorax on a single lung: A case study]

Intraoperative pneumothorax is a rare complication with a high risk of cardiorespiratory arrest by gas tamponade especially on a single lung. We report the case of a female patient aged 53 years who benefited from a left pneumonectomy on pulmonary tuberculosis sequelae. The patient presented early postoperative anemia with a left hemothorax requiring an emergency thoracotomy. In perioperative, the patient had a gas tamponade following a pneumothorax of the remaining lung, and the fate has been avoided by an exsufflation. Intraoperative pneumothorax can occur due to lesions of the tracheobronchial airway, of the brachial plexus, the placement of a central venous catheter or barotrauma. The diagnosis of pneumothorax during unipulmonary ventilation is posed by the sudden onset of hypoxia associated with increased airway pressures and hypercapnia. The immediate life-saving procedure involves fine needle exsufflation before the placement of a chest tube. Prevention involves reducing the risk of barotrauma by infusing patients with low flow volumes and the proper use of positive airway pressure, knowing that despite protective ventilation, barotraumas risk still exists.

[Pancreatic encephalopathy: about 2 cases and review of the literature]

L'encéphalopathie pancréatique, est une complication rare de la pancréatite aiguë, notre étude porte sur 02 cas d'encéphalopathie pancréatique, hospitalisés et traités au sein du service de Réanimation chirurgicale de l'Hôpital Militaire d'Instruction Mohamed V de Rabat. L'âge des patients était compris entre 43 ans et 54 ans, nos 02 cas sont repartis en une femme et un homme. Le mécanisme physiopathologique de l'EP n'est pas encore bien élucidé, de nombreuses hypothèses ont été rapportées dans la littérature, certains auteurs suggèrent que la lipase et la Phospholipase A2 jouent un rôle dans le processus pathologique de l'EP. D'autres facteurs tels que les infections, les troubles hydroélectrolytiques, l'hypoxémie et la perturbation de la glycémie, peuvent être déclencheurs. Le diagnostic de l'encéphalopathie pancréatique est facile à établir, la symptomatologie clinique se résume le plus souvent à une confusion, avec stupeur, et agitation psychomotrice, Il s'y ajoute parfois des atteintes neurologiques comme des convulsions, une céphalée, des hémiparésies passagères, une dysarthrie, enfin des difficultés d'expression verbale et une amnésie. Les examens paracliniques, notamment L'IRM cérébrale et l'électroencéphalogramme, permettent de confirmer le diagnostic. Le traitement est d'abord symptomatique, il a comme objectif de lutter contre les facteurs qui favorisent l'apparition des signes neurologiques par les mesures de réanimation que réclame la gravité de la situation. L'évolution de l'EP est le plus souvent favorable, avec une disparition progressive des symptômes, cependant la persistance de quelques séquelles, est décrite dans la littérature. Le pronostic est fonction de la gravité de la pancréatite aigüe et des complications associées. Dans notre étude les données sont globalement comparables à celles publiées actuellement par la majorité des auteurs.

Stercoral colitis mimicking appendicitis

BACKGROUND

Stercoral colitis is an inflammatory process involving the colonic wall related to fecal impaction. This rare condition is associated with high morbidity-mortality.

FINDINGS

We report a case of a 78-year-old woman with a history of dementia under clozapine who presented a clinical and sonographic presentation of acute appendicitis. The worsening of her clinical condition prompted us to review our diagnosis and modify our approach using the CT scan which was consistent with stercoral colitis. This report concerns an atypical presentation of this condition.

CONCLUSIONS

The present case highlights the ability of severe forms of fecal impaction to precipitate very rare and life-threatening complications like stercoral colitis. It also points the importance of including stercoral colitis in the differential diagnosis of acute appendicitis in altered patients under anticholenergic drugs and the critical role of the CT scan as a crucial radiologic adjunct.

[Anaesthesia for noncardiac surgery in a heart-transplanted patient: a clinical case and review of the literature]

Le nombre et la durée de survie des patients transplantés cardiaque sont en augmentation. Une partie de ces patients se présentent régulièrement pour une chirurgie générale en dehors de la transplantation cardiaque. L’anesthésie chez ces patients peut être difficile en raison des particularités physiologiques du cœur dénervé et de la gestion du traitement immunosuppresseur avec le risque de rejet et d’infection. Nous discutons la prise en charge anesthésique à travers un cas d’un patient âgé de 60 ans transplanté cardiaque devant subir une chirurgie de cure d’éventration abdominale et une revue de la littérature.

[Predictors of prolonged ICU stay following elective adult cardiac surgery: Monocentric retrospective study on 5 and half years]

AIM

The aim of our study was to identify predictors for prolonged ICU stay following elective adult cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted during 5 years and a half period. Were included, patients age≥18 years old, underwent elective cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass. Patients who died within 48hours of surgery were excluded. Prolonged ICU stay was defined as stay in the ICU for 48hours or more.

RESULTS

During the review period, 610 patients were included. One hundred and sixty-four patients have required a prolonged ICU stay (26.9 %). In multivariate analysis, 5 predictors were identified: ejection fraction<30 % (OR 19.991, IC 95 % [1.382-289.1], P=0.028], pulmonary hypertension (OR 2.293, IC 95 % [1.058-4.973], P=0.036), prolonged ventilation (≥12hours) (OR 4.026, IC 95 % [2.407-6.733], P<0.001). Number of blood units transfused (OR 1.568, IC 95 % [1.073-2.291], and postoperative acute renal failure (OR 2.620, IC 95 % [1.026-6.690], P=0.044]. Prolonged ICU stay is significantly associated with prolonged hospital stay (17 days vs 13 days ; P<0.001) and higher in hospital mortality (22 % vs. 3 %, P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

The identification of these patients at risk of prolonged ICU stay is crucial. It will aid to plan prophylactic measures to optimize their support.

Unplanned Intensive Care Unit Admission following Elective Surgical Adverse Events: Incidence, Patient Characteristics, Preventability, and Outcome

Context:

Adverse events (AEs) are a persistent and an important reason for Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission. They lead to death, disability at the time of discharge, unplanned ICU admission (UIA), and prolonged hospital stay. They impose large financial costs on health-care systems.

Aims:

This study aimed to determine the incidence, patient characteristics, type, preventability, and outcome of UIA following elective surgical AE.

Settings and Design:

This is a single-center prospective study.

Methods:

Analysis of 15,372 elective surgical procedures was performed. We defined UIA as an ICU admission that was not anticipated preoperatively but was due to an AE occurring within 5 days after elective surgery.

Statistical Analysis:

Descriptive analysis using SPSS software version 18 was used for statistical analysis.

Results:

There were 75 UIA (0.48%) recorded during the 2-year study period. The average age of patients was 54.64 ± 18.02 years. There was no sex predominance, and the majority of our patients had an American Society of Anesthesiologist classes 1 and 2. Nearly 29% of the UIA occurred after abdominal surgery and 22% after a trauma surgery. Regarding the causes of UIA, we observed that 44 UIA (58.7%) were related to surgical AE, 24 (32%) to anesthetic AE, and 7 (9.3%) to postoperative AE caused by care defects. Twenty-three UIA were judged as potentially preventable (30.7%). UIA was associated with negative outcomes, including increased use of ICU-specific interventions and high mortality rate (20%).

Conclusions:

Our analysis of UIA is a quality control exercise that helps identify high-risk patient groups and patterns of anesthesia or surgical care requiring improvement.

Anesthestic management of Kassabach-Meritt Phenomenon in an adult: case report

Background

Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon (KMP) is characterized by a vascular tumor with profound thrombocytopenia and consumptive coagulopathy that may presents significant challenges for anesthesiologist.

Case presentation

An 87-year-old man presented with kaposiform hemangioendothelioma involving the right leg in critical condition due to massive bleeding. Hematology investigations indicated the presence of KMP. Association of this type of tumor with KMP in adults has never been reported.

Conclusion

The present case report lays an emphasis on the potential difficulties during anesthetic management of this rare condition.

[Depressed skull fracture following the use of Mayfield headrest in adult patients: about a case and review of the literature]

Un grand nombre d'interventions neurochirurgicales nécessitent l'utilisation d'une têtière à broches pour immobiliser la tête du patient. Nous rapportons le cas d'une embarrure chez un adulte secondaire à l'utilisation de la têtière de Mayfeild. Le diagnostic a été posé en postopératoire d'une résection chirurgicale d'un médulloblastome par une tomodensitométrie cérébrale. Plusieurs facteurs semblent contribuer à augmenter le risque de complications dues à l'utilisation de la têtière de Mayfield. Les mesures de prévention sont discutées à travers une revue de littérature.

[Occult pneumothorax: Does it take drain before elective surgery?]

Pneumothorax occult is defined by the presence of a non-visible to standard asymptomatic pneumothorax and pulmonary diagnosed only by X-ray computed tomography. The presence of this type of pneumothorax before planned surgery is a rare situation. What to do remains non-consensual. Through two clinic cases and a literature review, the authors discuss the modalities of management of this entity.

Use of sugammadex in parotid surgery: a case report

Background

Parotid surgery is a common ear, nose, and throat procedure. Facial nerve paralysis is the main feared complication following this surgery. To avoid this paralysis, intraoperative facial nerve monitoring is often used, but neuromuscular blocking agents interfere with this technique. Therefore, the neuromuscular blocking agent used should have a short duration of muscle relaxation. With the discovery of sugammadex, a steroidal neuromuscular blocking agent has acquired the potential to be used in place of succinylcholine.

Case presentation

A 41-year-old African woman was scheduled for a parotidectomy at our hospital. Rocuronium-induced neuromuscular block was reversed intraoperatively with sugammadex to facilitate identification of facial nerve function. The facial nerve was identified without incident, and surgical conditions were good for the removal of the tumor. During postoperative follow-up, no evidence of residual paralysis has been noted.

Conclusions

In parotid surgery, the use of sugammadex allows free use of a steroidal neuromuscular blocking agent for intubation and thus intraoperative facial nerve monitoring can be done safely.

Acinetobacter infections prevalence and frequency of the antibiotics resistance: comparative study of intensive care units versus other hospital units

INTRODUCTION

This study aims to determine the Acinetobacter sp clinical isolates frequency and its antibiotic susceptibility pattern by comparing results obtained from the Intensive Care Units (ICUs) to that of other units at the Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital in Rabat.

METHODS

This is a retrospective study over a 2-years period where we collected all clinical isolates of Acinetobacter sp obtained from samples for infection diagnosis performed on hospitalized patients between 2012 to 2014.

RESULTS

During the study period, 441 clinical and non-repetitive isolates of Acinetobacter sp were collected representing 6.94% of all bacterial clinical isolates (n = 6352) and 9.6% of Gram negative rods (n = 4569). More than a half of the isolates were from the ICUs and were obtained from 293 infected patients of which 65, 2% (191 cases) were males (sex ratio = 1.9) and the median age was 56 years (interquartile range: 42-68 years). Acinetobacter clinical isolates were obtained from respiratory samples (44.67%) followed by blood cultures (14.51%). The resistance to ciprofloxacin, ceftazidime, piperacillin / tazobactam, imipenem, amikacin, tobramycin, netilmicin, rifampicin and colistin was respectively 87%, 86%, 79%, 76%; 52%, 43%, 33% 32% and 1.7%. The difference in resistance between the ICUs and the other units was statistically significant (p <0.05) except for colistin, tetracycline and rifampicin.

CONCLUSION

This paper shows that solving the problem of prevalence and high rate of multidrug resistant Acinetobacter infection which represents a therapeutic impasse, requires the control of the hospital environment and optimizing hands hygiene and antibiotics use in the hospital.

[Abnormal prolongation of analgesic femoral block: case report]

La prolongation anormale d'un bloc nerveux peut être définie comme un dépassement du délai habituel de récupération sensitive ou motrice. A travers un cas clinique d'une prolongation anormale d'un bloc analgésique et une revue de la littérature, les auteurs discutent les facteurs de risque et les moyens de prévention de cette complication.

[Acute post surgical lung edema: a severe complication]

L’œdème aigu pulmonaire (OAP) post-obstructif est une complication respiratoire grave qui doit être reconnue par les anesthésistes et les réanimateurs a fin de permettre une prise en charge diagnostique et thérapeutique précoce. Nous rapportons un cas survenu chez un jeune patient en postopératoire d'une appendicectomie. Immédiatement après l'extubation le patient a développé une détresse respiratoire, une désaturation et des signes auscultatoires et radiologiques évoquant un œdème aigu du poumon. Un bilan étiologique, notamment cardiaque, est revenu normal et l’évolution était favorable dans les heures qui suivent après reintubation et traitement par diurétiques. Le diagnostic de l'OAP post-obstructif était alors retenu. A travers ce cas et une revue de la littérature, les auteurs mettent en relief cette complication redoutable nécessitant une prise en charge précoce.

Anesthetic considerations in Demons-Meigs' syndrome: a case report

INTRODUCTION

Demons-Meigs' syndrome is characterized by the presence of a benign ovarian tumor associated with ascites and a right-sided hydrothorax. Its pathophysiology remains unclear. Anesthesia of this syndrome is a real challenge. Respiratory, hemodynamic, metabolic problems and abdominal hypertension are the main anesthetic risks.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 52-year-old African woman with Demons-Meigs' syndrome was admitted for elective surgery under general anesthesia. An abdominal computed tomography scan showed a tumor mass, with tissue and cystic components associated with abundant ascites and a right pleural effusion of medium abundance. In the operating room after standard monitoring, a crash induction was performed. Just after, her saturation level decreased requiring the use of an alveolar recruitment maneuver followed by the application of positive end-expiratory pressure. Vasoconstrictor and vascular filling were used to correct the hypotension that occurred. Airway pressures remained at 35 cm H2O. Maintenance of a slightly proclive position and opening of the abdomen with the progressive removal of 3200 ml ascitic fluid allowed a lower thoracic pressure (airway pressures=24 cm H2O). Her postoperative course was unremarkable. Clinical evolution after five months was marked by a complete recovery of our patient and no recurrence of effusion or ascites.

CONCLUSIONS

Demons-Meigs' syndrome is a benign disease with a good prognosis. Respiratory and hemodynamic problems and abdominal hypertension are the main anesthetic risks of this syndrome. Good management of these risks is necessary to preserve the prognosis.

Convulsions during cataract surgery under peribulbar anesthesia: a case report

INTRODUCTION

Locoregional anesthesia techniques are increasingly used for cataract surgery. From these techniques, peribulbar anesthesia has been very successful over the retrobulbar anesthesia seen its effectiveness and safety. However, peribulbar anesthesia is not without risk.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 70-year-old African man was scheduled for cataract surgery and lens implant for his right eye. His medical history included hypertension, diabetes mellitus and gall bladder surgery. There were no personal or family antecedents of allergy, epilepsy or taking food or toxic drug. No abnormalities were detected in his preoperative evaluation. In the operating room, standard monitoring was installed and a peripheral venous catheter 18g was inserted. Peribulbar anesthesia was realized with two injections in primary gaze position. The anesthetic mixture contained lidocaine 2% and bupivacaine 0.5%. The needle used was 25GA, 19mm, ¾ inch. The first injection was performed in his lower temporal peribulbar space with 5mL of mixture; the second injection was performed with 3mL of mixture in his upper nasal peribulbar space. These injections were performed after a negative aspiration test and followed by manual compression of his globe for 5 minutes. Five minutes after peribulbar anesthesia, his blood pressure increased to 209/115mmHg requiring three bolus of nicardipine (3.0mg) to reduce his blood pressure to 134/56mmHg. One minute after, he had generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Tracheal intubation was performed. His capillary blood glucose was 170mg/dL, axillary temperature was 36.5°C, and his serum electrolytes were normal. He recovered spontaneous ventilation 1.5 hours later. A neurological examination noted no deficit. Extubation was performed 15 minutes later without incident. A brain computed tomography and electroencephalogram were unremarkable. He was discharged on the second day and operated on 1 month later under general anesthesia.

CONCLUSIONS

Various serious complications can occur during locoregional anesthesia techniques in ophthalmic surgery. The mastering and perfecting of these techniques by practitioners and compliance with safety standards in anesthesia are the only way to guarantee the prevention of such complications.

[Difficult intubation: should follow the recommendations]

Intubation and ventilation impossible mask is a dramatic situation with potentially serious consequences. We report the case of a patient of 43 years, followed for a goiter, which was scheduled for a total thyroidectomy under general anesthesia. Preoperative evaluation is not noted signs of compression or tracheal deviation, and there were no criteria predictive of intubation or difficult mask ventilation. The induction of anesthesia was standard. Mask ventilation was effective allowing paralysis. The standard laryngoscopy showed a score of Cormack and Lehane grade IV. Several attempts at intubation were made leading to a situation of intubation and ventilation impossible mask with deep desaturation. A tracheostomy was done urgently. The patient was operated on, six months later, with a fiber optic intubation. Through this case, the authors draw attention to the difficulty of achieving an emergency tracheotomy in the presence of goiter and emphasize the need for integration of different modes of learning and retention of management skills of the upper airway.

Mycophenolate mofetil associated with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy with successful outcome

The use of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is known to be associated with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). We report a case of PML in a patient receiving MMF, who showed improvement upon discontinuation of the drug. He was restarted on MMF, following which he went into coma. He showed prompt recovery upon stopping the drug again and made full recovery without any residual neurological deficit. This case is being reported to further highlight this neurological side-effect of MMF.

[Unilateral bronchospasm during general anesthesia]

We report a case of unilateral bronchospasm encountered following an induction of anesthesia of healthy young man with no significant past medical or surgical history. The differential diagnosis and management are discussed. Unilateral bronchospasm was probably caused by topical lidocaine injected with a Laryngojet injector at the vocal cords.

[Acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to influenza A (H1N1) infection: a report of a case]

Through a clinical case of acute respiratory distress syndrome after infection with influenza virus H1N1 and a review of the literature the authors discuss treatment options, prognostic factors and the problems raised in support this pathology in Moroccan center.

[Systemic candidiasis in medical intensive care unit: analysis of risk factors and the contribution of colonization index]

OBJECTIVES

Description of the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of the patients introducing risk factors of invasive candidiasis. Analysis of risk factors for candidiasis invasive and evaluation of the contribution of colonization index (CI) in the diagnosis of the systematic candidiasis in medical intensive care.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Prospective observational study (October 2007 to October 2009). The selected patients present risk factors of system IC candidiasis with an infectious syndrome or clinical signs suggestive of Candida infection and hospitalized more than 48 hours in medical intensive care unit. Pittet's colonization index was calculated at admission and then once a week added to a blood culture. Patients were classified according to level of evidence of Candida infection and the degree of colonization (CI<0.5, CI ≥ 0.5).

RESULTS

The study included 100 patients. Mean age of our patients was 55.8 ± 18.2 years with male prevalence. Neurological disease was the most frequent pathology in admission (48%). The most common risk factors were broad-spectrum antibiotics and foreign material. In the various mycology IC specimens, Candida albicans was the most frequent, followed by C. tropicalis, then C. glabrata. The CI was greater than or equal to 0.5 at 53% of the patients, and less than 0.5 in 47% of the cases. Among the patients, 15% developed an invasive candidiasis. In multivariate analysis, the corticosteroid therapy was associated with a high colonisation (IC ≥ 0.5) and neutropenia with a high risk of systemic candidiasis. The positive predictive value of CI was 26%. The negative predictive value was 98%, the sensitivity and specificity was 93% and 48% respectively.

CONCLUSION

CI has the advantage to provide a quantified data of the patient's situation in relation to the colonization. But, it isn't helpful with patients having an invasive candidiasis in medical intensive care unit.

[Ischaemic stroke secondary to viper envenomation in Morocco in the absence of adequate antivenom]

An ischaemic stroke is a rare complication of viper envenomation that is due to multifactorial pathophysiological mechanisms. The authors describe the case of a 55-year-old patient bitten by the viper Cerastes cerastes. The patient was admitted to the intensive care unit with multiple organ failure, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, rhabdomyolysis, anuria and elevated troponin level. The persistent disturbance of consciousness has motivated a brain scan which has revealed a bifocal ischemic stroke. The complex venom of the species C. cerastes may induce hypotension, tissue necrosis, acute renal failure, bleeding disorders or DIC. With the cessation of a non-indicated heparintherapy and haemodialysis, the patient recovered in a few weeks despite the initial infusion of an unsuitable antivenom due to the late identification of the reptile. The preventive treatment of the complications of this envenomation is based on the infusion of the polyvalent antivenom Favirept(®).

Severe amlodipine intoxication treated by hyperinsulinemia euglycemia therapy

The objective of this study was to report a use of hyperinsulinemia euglycemia therapy in severe amlodipine intoxication. Intoxication with 420 mg of amlodipine caused severe hypotension in a 20-year-old female patient. The patient was initially treated with fluids, calcium gluconate, and epinephrine without effect. She was then given hyperinsulinemia euglycemia therapy. We observed a rise in blood pressure (BP) approximately 30 min after insulin was given and the BP was subsequently responsive to epinephrine. The patient was weaned from pressors 5 h after insulin therapy. The trachea was extubated 24 h after ingesting amlodipine, and the patient was transferred for psychiatric treatment 3 days later. This possible positive inotropic effect of insulin therapy in patients with calcium channel blocker intoxication supports previous findings. It is suggested that hyperinsulinemia euglycemia therapy may be considered as a first-line therapy in amlodipine intoxication.

[Timing of tracheostomy and outcome of patients requiring mechanical ventilation]

OBJECTIVES

To assess the impact of tracheostomy timing on outcome of critically ill patients requiring mechanical ventilation (MV).

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective clinical study in a twelve beds intensive care unit (ICU).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From January 2001 to June 2005, patients under MV who received tracheostomy were divided into 2 groups: early tracheostomy group when tracheostomy was performed before or on day 7 and late tracheostomy group when it was performed thereafter. We compared prevalence of nosocomial pneumonia, length of sedation, lengths of MV, length of stay in ICU, weaning from MV and mortality rates between the 2 groups.

RESULTS

During this period of 4 years and half, 112 patients underwent tracheostomy, 62 of whom had early tracheostomy and 50 had late tracheostomy. Early tracheostomy was associated with significant reduction of length of sedation (10+/-3 vs 17+/-5 days, P<0.001), length of MV (21+/-19 vs 29+/-17 days, P=0.02) and length of stay in ICU (33+/-22 vs 42+/-18 days, P=0.042). There were no differences in prevalence of pneumonia (21% for early tracheostomy group vs 31% for late tracheostomy group, P=0, 13), weaning from MV (50 vs 36%, P=0.19), and mortality rates between the 2 groups (38 vs 54%, P=0.15).

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that early tracheostomy (< or =7 days), was associated with shorter length of sedation, shorter duration of MV and shorter ICU length of stay, without affecting weaning from MV, prevalence of nosocomial pneumonia or survival.

[Postoperative meningitis caused by an unusual etiological agent: Salmonella enteritidis]

Salmonella intracranial infections are unusual in adults, and particularly after neurosurgical procedures. We report a case of post-operative meningitis owing to Salmonella enteritidis. A 72-year-old man with type 2 diabetes was admitted to our unit for postoperative evaluation and management after neoplasic intracranial surgery. On the third day of admission, the patient developed infectious signs and diagnosis of postoperative meningitis was evoked. The cultivation of cerebrospinal fluid revealed Salmonella enteritidis which was also identified in several blood cultures. The treatment consisted of third-generation cephalosporin and quinolone to which Salmonella enteritidis was susceptible. However, the clinical course was poor and the patient died on day 8. This case demonstrates that postoperative meningitis can be caused by an unusual agent like Salmonella enteritidis.

[Management of hepatic injuries with multiple trauma in the emergency unit. Report of three cases]

The problems put by the blunt hepatic injuries at the multiple traumas are discussed after the exposition of three observations. 60% of the blunt hepatic injuries are due to the accidents of the public way. The strategy diagnosis and therapeutic facing a hepatic lesion remains guided by the patient's state haemodynamic. The exam essential to the arrival in the sieve of the emergencies is the abdominal scan that searches for one extrusion intra and possibly retroperitoneal and analyze the hepatic parenchyrma. However, it depends extensively on the experience of the echographist. The city scan stood to the first plan of the medical imagery: it permits a precise diagnosis of the parenchymateuses hepatic lesions, specify the abundance of the hemoperitoine, facilitate the therapeutic conduct in presence of associated lesions and the surveillance of the blunt hepatic injuries.