The GI-Index is suited to quantify the granularity of TGNs. The GI-Index is an automated, standardized parameter available on a 24 h basis. We suggest that it replace the time-consuming, subjective and semiquantitative microscopic procedure.

Objectives: Clinicians regularly encounter substantial time delays in diagnosing sepsis and administering appropriate antibiotic treatment. This study investigated the ability of the Intensive Care Infection Score (ICIS) to distinguish between infectious and noninfectious processes, and to assess the justified commencement of antibiotic therapy retrospectively, in line with hospital actual best practice and applied laboratory parameters. Methods: Intensive-care unit (ICU) patients were enrolled in this retrospective, observational study. Clinical data and laboratory parameters were determined daily. The cohort was divided into infected and noninfected patient groups. Results: Out of 172 ICU patients, including 72 postoperative patients, the predictive value for infection throughout the first 5 days in 'all patients' and the 'postoperative patient' group was highest for ICIS. An ICIS cut-off value of three could predict infection in postoperative patients with 82.9% sensitivity and 75.1% specificity. ICIS showed the lowest rate of potentially 'falsely encouraged' and 'discouraged' antibiotic therapies for noninfected and for septic postoperative patients, respectively, compared with C-reactive protein, procalcitonin and white blood cell levels.

Despite a similar precision, ODM and PCA were not interchangeable with regard to measuring SV changes within a goal-directed haemodynamic algorithm. A decrease in interchangeability coincided with increasing NE levels and greater changes of MAP to a fluid challenge.

Liver surgery is still associated with a high rate of morbidity and mortality. We aimed to compare different haemodynamic treatments in liver surgery. In a prospective, blinded, randomised, controlled pilot trial patients undergoing liver resection were randomised to receive haemodynamic management guided by conventional haemodynamic parameters or by oesophageal Doppler monitor (ODM, CardioQ-ODM) or by pulse power wave analysis (PPA, LiDCOrapid) within a goal-directed algorithm adapted for liver surgery. The primary endpoint was stroke volume index before intra-operative start of liver resection. Secondary endpoints were the haemodynamic course during surgery and postoperative pain levels. Due to an unbalance in the extension of the surgical procedures with a high rate of only minor procedures the conventional group was dropped from the analysis. Eleven patients in the ODM group and 10 patients in the PPA group were eligible for statistical analysis. Stroke volume index before start of liver resection was 49 (37; 53) ml/m2 and 48 (41; 56) ml/m2 in the ODM and PPA group, respectively (p=0.397). The ODM guided group was haemodynamically stable as shown by ODM and PPA measurements. However, the PPA guided group showed a significant increase of pulse-pressure-variability (p=0.002) that was not accompanied by a decline of stroke volume index displayed by the PPA (p=0.556) but indicated by a decline of stroke volume index by the ODM (p<0.001). The PPA group had significantly higher postoperative pain levels than the ODM group (p=0.036). In conclusion, goal-directed optimization by ODM and PPA showed differences in intraoperative cardiovascular parameters indicating that haemodynamic optimization is not consistent between the two monitors.Trial RegistrationISRCTN.com ISRCTN64578872

One of the most frequently ordered tests by intensive care medical staff is the complete (CBC) and differential blood count for diagnosing anemia due to blood loss, characterizing thrombopenic conditions or finding proof for sepsis. Classically, the clinician relies on the quantification of single cell classes for substitutive therapy especially in emergency situations. Here, the authors discuss new possibilities offered by markers of the extended blood count from fully automatized haematology analyzers supplying valuable information for monitoring therapies in intensive care units.