It' doesn’t look good for the "metabolic cure” 5/6 negative for 1° endpoints; ORANGES found ⬇️ pressor use 5/6 with no mortality Δ; CITRIS did, but mortality was 1 of 46 2° endpoints 1/
This is a great time to do some meta-analysis.
As you can see from my quick/simple analysis, neither vitamin C either alone or in combination with hydrocortisone and steroids reduced in mortality in people with sepsis: 2/
What about other endpoints? It doesn't look much better for vitamin C: 4/6 found no ΔSOFA scores.
Also, while ΔSOFA scores and duration of vasopressors are important, I would argue that mortality is a more meaningful (and more patient centered) endpoint. 3/
Bottom Line:
I've been excited but skeptical since the Marik paper.
Since 2017, there have been several RCTs that have failed to replicate those results.
Now I’m pretty sure #VitaminC doesn’t work.
In the ICU as in life, when something seems too good to be true it probably is
4/
Methods:
This is a binary random effects model looking at 28 or 30-day mortality using #OpenMetaAnalyst and the MetaFor package in #Rstats version 3.6.2
For those interested in doing your own analysis you can download my data here: dropbox.com/s/a2k83j3a09ps…
5/
If you intubate you need to read the #PREOXI trial!
-n=1301 people requiring intubation in ED/ ICU were randomized to preoxygenation with oxygen mask vs non-invasive ventilation (NIV)
-NIV HALVED the risk of hypoxemia: 9 vs 18%
-NIV reduced mortality: 0.2% vs 1.1%
#CCR24
🧵 1/
Hypoxemia (SpO2 <85%) occurs in 10-20% of ED & ICU intubations.
1-2% of intubations performed in ED/ICU result in cardiac arrest!
This is an exceptionally dangerous procedure and preoxygenation is essential to keep patients safe.
But what’s the *BEST* way to preoxygenate? 2/
Most people use a non-rebreather oxygen mask, but because of its loose fit it often delivers much less than 100% FiO2.
NIV (“BiPAP”) delivers a higher FiO2 because of its tight fit. It also delivers PEEP & achieves a higher mean airway pressure which is theoretically helpful! 3/
Results from #PROTECTION presented #CCR24 & published @NEJM.
- DB RCT of amino acid infusion vs placebo in n=3511 people undergoing cardiac surgery w/ bypass.
- Reduced incidence of AKI (26.9% vs 31.7% NNT=20) & need for RRT (1.4% vs 1.9% NNT=200)
Potential game changer!
🧵 1/
I work in a busy CVICU & I often see AKI following cardiac surgery.
Despite risk stratification & hemodynamic optimization, AKI remains one of the most common complications after cardiac surgery with bypass.
Even a modest reduction in AKI/CRRT would be great for my patients. 2/
During cardiac surgery w/ bypass, renal blood flow (RBF) is reduced dramatically. This causes injury, especially in susceptible individuals.
But what if we could use physiology to protect the kidneys?
Renal blood vessels dilate after a high protein meal increasing RBF & GFR! 3/
77 yo with respiratory distress, RR 30, SpO2 80% on non-rebreather at 15 lpm
CXR & TTE are unrevealing
pH 7.58 / PaCO2 24 / PaO2 >500 / HCO3 22
MetHb 0% CarboxyHb 0%
The ABG looks like this:
The answer is sulfhemoglobinemia.
Sulfhemoglobinemia is a *permanently* modified hemoglobin associated with exposure to TMP/SMX, dapsone, phenazopyridine, & other amino & nitro compounds.
It has an altered oxy-hemoglobin dissociation curve.
2/
Sulfhemoglobinemia is easily confused with methemoglobinemia. Both have very dark colored blood & present with cyanosis. Diagnosis typically requires a specialized lab.
Spoiler: you may have heard that SulfHb is green. It isn’t really. You’re thinking of Vulcans’ blood.
Damn. Under Trump the White House Medical Unit was a pill-mill. Thousands of ambien & provigil per month.
Worse, for a clinic that doesn’t typically do procedures w/ moderate sedation they sure are they ordering prodigious quantities of morphine, fentanyl, versed, & ketamine…?
Honestly, this reminds me of Norman Ohler’s Blitzed.
The AG report was largely concerned with the enormous cost of prescribing these non-genetic meds.
It’s worth pointing out that dispensing prescription meds without documentation is malpractice. In the case of controlled substances it’s also likely a crime.