Acute and Critical Care

Original Articles

Infection
Excessive fluid resuscitation is associated with intensive care unit mortality in Pakistani patients with dengue shock syndrome: Moiz Salahuddin, Rameesha Khalid, Sadaf Hanif, Filza Naeem, Rameen Aijaz, Akbar Shoukat Ali; Acute Crit Care. 2025;40(2):235-243. Published online May 22, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.004008

4,569 View
88 Download
1 Web of Science
1 Crossref

Background
The mortality of severe dengue infections is approximately 23%. In the management of dengue shock syndrome (DSS), aggressive fluid resuscitation is recommended. The primary objective of our study was to assess the factors associated with 30-day mortality in DSS patients.
Methods
Adult patients >18 years old, who were admitted with DSS were included. DSS was diagnosed in patients who required vasopressors or had lactic acidosis >4 mmol/L. Patients were divided into three different groups based on cumulative fluid balance at death or extubation: group I (<3.5 L), group II (3.5–8.0 L), and group III (>8.0 L).
Results
A total of 135 patients with DSS was included, with an overall 30-day mortality of 74.8%. The average Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score on intensive care unit admission was 12.2. Mechanical ventilation was required in 112 patients (83.0%), with 61 patients (45.2%) being intubated without a noninvasive ventilation trial. Respiratory failure was the most common reason for requiring intubation (65 patients, 48.2%). In survivors, the median cumulative fluid balance was 1,493 ml (interquartile range [IQR], 0–4,501 ml), whereas that in the mortality group was 7,797 ml (IQR, 3,700–13,600 ml). On multivariate analysis, SOFA score (odds ratio [OR], 1.220; 95% CI, 1.011–1.472; P=0.038) and having received >8.0 L cumulative fluid balance (OR, 6.682; 95% CI, 1.808–24.689; P=0.004) were associated with increased risk of mortality.
Conclusions
DSS patients have high mortality rates. High SOFA scores and >8.0 L cumulative fluid balance may indicate worse outcomes.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Comment on “Excessive fluid resuscitation is associated with intensive care unit mortality in Pakistani patients with dengue shock syndrome”
Hinpetch Daungsupawong, Viroj Wiwanitkit
Acute and Critical Care.2025; 40(4): 630. CrossRef

Surgery
Classification of postoperative fever patients in the intensive care unit following intra-abdominal surgery: a machine learning-based cluster analysis using the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC)-IV database, developed in the United States: Sang Mok Lee, Hongjin Shim; Acute Crit Care. 2025;40(2):293-303. Published online April 30, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.004464

5,298 View
56 Download
1 Web of Science
2 Crossref

Abstract PDF

Background
Postoperative fever is common. However, it can sometimes indicate severe complications such as sepsis or pneumonia. Intensive care unit (ICU) patients who have undergone abdominal surgery have a higher risk of postoperative fever due the physical severity of this type of surgery. Nevertheless, determining when more aggressive or invasive management of fever is necessary remains a challenge.
Methods
We analyzed the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC)-IV and MIMIC-IV-Note databases, which are open critical care big databases from a single institute in the United States. From this, we selected ICU patients who developed fever after intra-abdominal surgery and classified these patients into two groups using cluster analysis based on diverse variables from the MIMIC-IV databases. Following this cluster analysis, we assessed differences among the identified groups.
Results
Of 2,858 ICU stays after intra-abdominal surgery, 331 postoperative fever cases were identified. These patients were clustered into two groups. Group A included older patients with a higher mortality rate, while group B consisted of younger patients with a lower mortality rate.
Conclusions
Postoperative ICU patients with a fever could be classified into two distinct groups, a high-risk group and low-risk group. The high-risk patient group was characterized by older age, higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, and more unstable hemodynamic status, indicating the need for aggressive management. Clustering postoperative fever patients by clinical variables can support medical decision-making and targeted treatment to improve patient outcomes.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Nomogram predictive model for the incidence and risk factors of persistent fever after cardiovascular surgery
Feng Zang, Guangxu Mao, Ziyao Quan, Yongfeng Shao, Sheng Zhao, Liyun Wang, Zhanjie Li, Zhongqiu You, Lu Liu, Wensen Chen
BMC Surgery.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
BODY TEMPERATURE MANAGEMENT IN PERIOPERATIVE AND INTENSIVE CARE: CLINICAL STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING PATIENT OUTCOMES
Marta Nowocień, Karolina Witek, Joanna Kaźmierczak, Anna Mandecka, Kornela Kotucha-Cyl, Weronika Komala, Natalia Guzik, Joanna Gerlach, Dorota Plechawska
International Journal of Innovative Technologies in Social Science.2025;[Epub] CrossRef

Epidemiology
Mortality rates among adult critical care patients with unusual or extreme values of vital signs and other physiological parameters: a retrospective study: Charles Harding, Marybeth Pompei, Dmitriy Burmistrov, Francesco Pompei; Acute Crit Care. 2024;39(2):304-311. Published online May 13, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2023.01361

13,613 View
170 Download
3 Web of Science
4 Crossref

Abstract PDF

Background
We evaluated relationships of vital signs and laboratory-tested physiological parameters with in-hospital mortality, focusing on values that are unusual or extreme even in critical care settings.
Methods
We retrospectively studied Philips Healthcare–MIT eICU data (207 U.S. hospitals, 20142015), including 166,959 adult-patient critical care admissions. Analyzing most-deranged (worst) value measured in the first admission day, we investigated vital signs (body temperature, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and respiratory rate) as well as albumin, bilirubin, blood pH via arterial blood gas (ABG), blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, FiO2 ABG, glucose, hematocrit, PaO2 ABG, PaCO2 ABG, sodium, 24-hour urine output, and white blood cell count (WBC).
Results
In-hospital mortality was ≥50% at extremes of low blood pH, low and high body temperature, low albumin, low glucose, and low heart rate. Near extremes of blood pH, temperature, glucose, heart rate, PaO2 , and WBC, relatively. Small changes in measured values correlated with several-fold mortality rate increases. However, high mortality rates and abrupt mortality increases were often hidden by the common practice of thresholding or binning physiological parameters. The best predictors of in-hospital mortality were blood pH, temperature, and FiO2 (scaled Brier scores: 0.084, 0.063, and 0.049, respectively).
Conclusions
In-hospital mortality is high and sharply increasing at extremes of blood pH, body temperature, and other parameters. Common-practice thresholding obscures these associations. In practice, vital signs are sometimes treated more casually than laboratory-tested parameters. Yet, vitals are easier to obtain and we found they are often the best mortality predictors, supporting perspectives that vitals are undervalued.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

SAPS II or APACHE II is better to predict mortality in patients admitted at ICU
Seksan Chaisuksant, Pavinee Noinard, Watchara Boonsawat, Kittisak Sawanyawisuth
International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences.2026; 24: 100979. CrossRef
Multiplex Targeted Proteomic Analysis of Cytokine Ratios for ICU Mortality in Severe COVID-19
Rúben Araújo, Cristiana P. Von Rekowski, Tiago A. H. Fonseca, Cecília R. C. Calado, Luís Ramalhete, Luís Bento
Proteomes.2025; 13(3): 35. CrossRef
Association between a high Modified Nutrition Risk in Critically Ill score and 30-day mortality in critically ill adults: A retrospective cohort study
Begum Seyda Avci, Onder Yesiloglu, Abdullah Yildirim, Omer Genc, Yeliz Simsek, Ahmet Burak Urfalioglu, Erdem Aksay, Adnan Kuvvetli, Akkan Avci, Ramazan Guven, Hilmi Erdem Sumbul
Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -).2025; 194(5): 1923. CrossRef
Integrated risks from air pollution and climate extremes: synergistic effects of ozone, heat, and humidity on cardiovascular mortality
Qiaochu Wei, Xinhan Zhang, Jialin Zhou, Dandan Xu, Jie Xiang, Ping Cheng, Yuan Chen, Zhijian Chen, Xiaofeng Wang, Xiaoming Lou, Zhenyu Zhang, Zhe Mo
BMC Medicine.2025;[Epub] CrossRef

Case Reports

Neurology
Myoclonic status epilepticus after severe hyperthermia in a patient with coronavirus disease 2019: Katherine A Hill, John J Peters, Sara M Schaefer; Acute Crit Care. 2023;38(4):509-512. Published online March 24, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2021.01452

5,453 View
113 Download

Abstract PDF: Myoclonic status epilepticus (MSE) is a sign of severe neurologic injury in cardiac arrest patients. To our knowledge, MSE has not been described as a result of prolonged hyperpyrexia. A 56-yearold man with coronavirus disease 2019 presented with acute respiratory distress syndrome, septic/hypovolemic shock, and presumed community-acquired pneumonia. Five days after presentation, he developed a sustained fever of 42.1°C that did not respond to acetaminophen or ice water gastric lavage. After several hours, he was placed on surface cooling. Three hours after fever resolution, new multifocal myoclonus was noted in the patient’s arms and trunk. Electroencephalography showed midline spikes consistent with MSE, which resolved with 40 mg/kg of levetiracetam. This case demonstrates that severe hyperthermia can cause cortical injury significant enough to trigger MSE and should be treated emergently using the most aggressive measures available. Providers should have a low threshold for electroencephalography in intubated patients with a recent history of hyperpyrexia.

Neurology
Malignant Syndrome in Parkinson Disease Similar to Severe Infection: Dong Hun Lee, Jeong Mi Moon, Yong Soo Cho; Korean J Crit Care Med. 2017;32(4):359-362. Published online December 29, 2016; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/kjccm.2016.00087

19,137 View
216 Download
1 Web of Science
1 Crossref

Abstract PDF

A 70-year-old woman with Parkinson disease was admitted to the emergency department with altered consciousness, fever and convulsive movements without experiencing withdrawal from antiparkinsonian medication. Six hours after the emergency department visit, the patient had a hyperpyrexia (>40°C) and a systolic blood pressure of 40 mmHg. There was no evidence of bacterial infection based on extensive workups. The patient was discharged without aggravation of Parkinson disease symptoms after treatment that included administration of dantrolene sodium, enforcement of continuous renal replacement therapy and cooling blankets. Malignant syndrome should be suspected if high fever occurs in Parkinson disease patients without evidence of a definitive infection.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Parkinsonism-Hyperpyrexia Syndrome and Dyskinesia-Hyperpyrexia Syndrome in Parkinson’s Disease: Two Cases and Literature Review
Jian-Yong Wang, Jie-Fan Huang, Shi-Guo Zhu, Shi-Shi Huang, Rong-Pei Liu, Bei-Lei Hu, Jian-Hong Zhu, Xiong Zhang
Journal of Parkinson's Disease.2022; 12(6): 1727. CrossRef

Review Article

Hematology
Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome: Seung Jin Yoo, Sang Taek Heo, Keun Hwa Lee; Korean J Crit Care Med. 2014;29(2):59-63. Published online May 31, 2014; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/kjccm.2014.29.2.59

10,595 View
102 Download
3 Crossref

Abstract PDF

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a newly emerging infectious disease, caused by a novel species of Phlebovirus of Bunyaviridae family, in China, South Korea, and Japan. SFTS is primarily known as a tick-borne disease, and human-to-human transmission is also possible in contact with infectious blood. Common clinical manifestations include fever, thrombocytopenia, and leukopenia as initial symptoms, and multiple organ dysfunction and failure manifest with disease progression. Whereas disease mortality is reported to be 12% to 30% in China, a recent report of cumulative SFTS cases indicated 47% in Korea. Risk factors associated with SFTS were age, presence of neurologic disturbance, serum enzyme levels, and elevated concentrations of certain cytokines. Diagnosis of SFTS is based on viral isolation, viral identification by polymerase chain reaction, and serologic identification of specific immunoglobulin G. Therapeutic guideline has not been formulated, but conservative management is the mainstream of treatment to prevent disease progression and fatal complications.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

The first discovery of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus in Taiwan
Tsai-Lu Lin, Shan-Chia Ou, Ken Maeda, Hiroshi Shimoda, Jacky Peng-Wen Chan, Wu-Chun Tu, Wei-Li Hsu, Chi-Chung Chou
Emerging Microbes & Infections.2020; 9(1): 148. CrossRef
Epidemiology of severe fever and thrombocytopenia syndrome virus infection and the need for therapeutics for the prevention
Norbert John C. Robles, Hae Jung Han, Su-Jin Park, Young Ki Choi
Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research.2018; 7(1): 43. CrossRef
Two Treatment Cases of Severe Fever and Thrombocytopenia Syndrome with Oral Ribavirin and Plasma Exchange
In Park, Hye In Kim, Ki Tae Kwon
Infection & Chemotherapy.2017; 49(1): 72. CrossRef

Original Article

Causes of Fever in the ICU - A Prospective, Cohort Study: Eun Ju Jeon, Hye Min Lee, Sung Gun Cho, Hyung Koo Kang, Hee Won Kwak, Ju Han Song, Jae Woo Jung, Jae Chol Choi, Jong Wook Shin, In Won Park, Byoung Whui Choi, Jae Yeol Kim; Korean J Crit Care Med. 2008;23(1):13-17.; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/kjccm.2008.23.1.13

5,198 View
72 Download
1 Crossref

Abstract PDF

BACKGROUND
Fever develops in 70% of ICU patients. In the present study, we tried to figure out causes of fever and the prognosis of febrile patients in the ICU in a prospective, cohort method.
METHODS
From February to June 2007, patients admitted to medical ICU were daily screened and those who developed fever were enrolled. 237 consecutive admissions of 237 patients over a 5-month period were analyzed. Clinical parameters, including demographic data, underlying diseases, duration of ICU stay, causes of fever and final outcome were analyzed.
RESULTS
Fever (core temperature > or =38.3degrees C) was present in 8% of admission, and it was caused by infective (84.2%) and non-infective processes (15.8%). Most fever occurred within first 5 days in the course of the admission (68.4%) and most lasted less than 5 days (57.9%). The median Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) III score at the time of fever was 43 (+/-19). Those with infectious fever had no significant differences in terms of severity of diseases in comparison with those with non-infectious cause of fever. The most common cause of infective fever was pneumonia (n=11). Prolonged fever (> or =5 days), all of which was caused by infection, occurred in 11 patients. Those with prolonged fever had higher mortality rate than short duration of fever (37.5% vs 0%, p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
Infection, especially pneumonia is common cause of fever in the ICU. Prolonged fever is associated with high mortality rate.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

The Value of Procalcitonin and the SAPS II and APACHE III Scores in the Differentiation of Infectious and Non-infectious Fever in the ICU: A Prospective, Cohort Study
Eun Ju Jeon, Jae Woo Jung, Jae Chol Choi, Jong Wook Shin, In Won Park, Byoung Whui Choi, Ae Ja Park, Jae Yeol Kim
Journal of Korean Medical Science.2010; 25(11): 1633. CrossRef

First
Prev
Page of 1
Next
Last

Search