Direct hemoperfusion with polymyxin B-immobilized cartridge in severe sepsis due to intestinal perforation: hemodynamic findings and clinical considerations in anticoagulation therapy.

BACKGROUND: High levels of endotoxin have been reported as a risk factor for mortality in critical patients. Toraymyxin® is a column designed to remove circulating blood endotoxin by direct hemoperfusion widely used in Japan. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of direct hemoperfusion with Toraymyxin® (DHP-PMX) as an adjuvant treatment in patients with severe sepsis due to intestinal perforation in terms of hemodynamic function and coagulation abnormalities. METHODS: Prospective cohort study with a historical control group. Cohort 1: prospective cohort undergoing two sessions of DHP-PMX (n=14). Cohort 2: retrospective historical cohort (n=7). The anticoagulation regime was used according to the protocol of each centre and to the special conditions of each patient. RESULTS: Mean norepinephrine dose was significantly reduced (0.9 ± 0.5 μg/kg/min pre-first DHP-PMX vs 0.3 ± 0.4 μg/kg/min post-second DHP-PMX treatment, p<0.05). Central venous pressure (CVP) and stroke volume variation (SVV) remained without significant changes during the study, as well as cardiac index (CI) in patients with initial CI ≥ 2.5 L/min/m2. CI significantly increased in patients with initial CI<2.5 L/min/m2 (2.1 ± 0.4 pre-first DHP-PMX vs 3.4 ± 0.4 pre-second DHP-PMX session, p=0.01). Mean platelet count pre-first and post-second DHP-PMX decreased significantly (213.9 x 10(3) ± 138.5 x 10(3) platelets/mm3 vs 91.0 x 10(3) ± 53.5 x 10(3) platelets/mm3, p=0.03), without significant changes during each DHP-PMX treatment. Patients did not experience bleeding nor complications derived from DHP-PMX treatments. Survival rates at 28 and 56 days did not differ significantly between cohort 1 and 2 (21.4% vs 42.9%; 42.9% vs 57.1%; respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Performing two sessions of DHP-PMX treatment in a cohort of patients with abdominal sepsis is a feasible adjuvant therapeutic approach, safe in terms of coagulation abnormalities, can be done with different anticoagulation protocols, improves hemodynamic status and may impact on survival.