Persistent inflammation-immunosuppression catabolism syndrome, a common manifestation of patients with enterocutaneous fistula in intensive care unit

BACKGROUND: Persistent inflammation-immunosuppression catabolism syndrome (PICS) is a newly proposed concept that has replaced late multiple-organ failure and prolongs surgical intensive care unit (ICU) duration. Enterocutaneous fistula (ECF) is one of the most challenging complications in the practice of surgery. However, no studies have been performed connecting PICS with ECF. METHODS: A total of 130 ECF patients admitted to ICU between January 2011 and January 2012 were retrospectively studied. Two residents of our center collected data (including demographics, clinical manifestation, underlying disease, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, therapeutic schedules, laboratory test reports, and clinical outcomes) from electronic medical records for each patient. We further investigated the prevalence of PICS in patients with ECF and compared the demographics, disease severity, complications, clinical outcomes, and prognosis between PICS and non-PICS patients. RESULTS: The overall incidence of PICS in ECF was 43.1%. The mortality rates of non-PICS and PICS groups were 7.1% and 28.3%, respectively. Compared with the non-PICS group, the PICS group showed an increased age, a higher fistula output, but a lower body mass index and albumin level. However, the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score did not differ between the two groups. During the whole treatment course, the PICS group showed a higher risk of developing pneumonia and catheter-related blood stream infection compared with the non-PICS group. Although the overall incidences of sepsis were similarly, the risk of developing sepsis after the first 7 days of admission was significantly higher in the PICS group (67.9% vs. 38.6%, p = 0.002). Moreover, the PICS group experienced longer stays in the ICU, higher hospital charges, and higher probabilities of mechanical ventilation compared with the non-PICS group. CONCLUSION: PICS is a common manifestation of patients with ECF. ECF provides an excellent clinical model to study PICS owing to the pathophysiologic characteristics of ECF itself. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic study, level III.