Multiorgan dysfunction syndrom is the major driving pathophysiological mechanism of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. Gastrointestinal dysfunction usually develops as a result critical illness and it is believed to play a key role in the development and progression of multiple organ dysfunction. Moreover, any primary disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, if severe enough, can lead to a critical state and secondary multiorgan dyfunction. Despite intensive experimental and clinical research, reliable tools for monitoring and evaluation of the severity of gastrointestinal dysfunction remain unknown. In the same line, therapy of this complex pathology remains largely supportive. The aim of this thesis was first to explain the severity of the most common and most serious nosocomial infection of the digestive tract, second to elucidate the safety and effectiveness of the endoscopic dual enteral probe insertion in ventilated critically ill patients, and, third to evaluate new diagnostic tools of the gastrointestinal dysfunction. Finally, we present an ongoing project aimed at investigating esophageal dysfunction in mechanically ventilated critically ill patients.

Multiorgan dysfunction syndrom is the major driving pathophysiological mechanism of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. Gastrointestinal dysfunction usually develops as a result critical illness and it is believed to play a key role in the development and progression of multiple organ dysfunction. Moreover, any primary disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, if severe enough, can lead to a critical state and secondary multiorgan dyfunction. Despite intensive experimental and clinical research, reliable tools for monitoring and evaluation of the severity of gastrointestinal dysfunction remain unknown. In the same line, therapy of this complex pathology remains largely supportive. The aim of this thesis was first to explain the severity of the most common and most serious nosocomial infection of the digestive tract, second to elucidate the safety and effectiveness of the endoscopic dual enteral probe insertion in ventilated critically ill patients, and, third to evaluate new diagnostic tools of the gastrointestinal dysfunction. Finally, we present an ongoing project aimed at investigating esophageal dysfunction in mechanically ventilated critically ill patients.

Introduction : La mortalité associée à l’insuffisance rénale aiguë (acute kidney injury ‘’AKI’’) aux soins intensifs pédiatriques (SIP) dépasse les 50%. Des études antérieures sur la thérapie de remplacement rénal (TRR) ont fait ressortir plusieurs facteurs de risque de mortalité dont le syndrome de défaillance multiviscérale (SDMV) et la surcharge liquidienne ≥ 10 à 20% avant l’initiation de la TRR. L’objectif de cette étude était d’identifier les principaux facteurs de risque de mortalité à 28 jours après l’initiation de la TRR chez les patients atteints d’AKI aux SIP. Méthode : Il s’agit d’une étude de cohorte rétrospective aux SIP d’un centre tertiaire. Tous les enfants ayant reçus de la TRR continue ou de l’hémodialyse intermittente pour AKI, entre janvier 1998 et décembre 2014, ont été inclus. Les facteurs de risque de mortalité ont été préalablement identifiés par quatre intensivistes et deux néphrologues pédiatres et analysés à l’aide d’une régression logistique multivariée. Résultats : Quatre-vingt-dix patients ont été inclus. L’âge médian était de 9 [2-14] ans. La principale indication d’initiation de la TRR était la surcharge liquidienne (64,2%). La durée médiane d’hospitalisation aux SIP était de 18,5 [8,0-31,0] jours. Quarante patients (44,4%) sont décédés dans les 28 jours suivant l’initiation de la TRR et quarante-cinq (50,0%) avant la sortie des SIP. Le score de PELOD ≥ 20 (OR 4,66 ; 95%CI 1,68-12,92) et la surcharge liquidienne ≥ 15% (OR 9,31; 95%CI 2,16-40,11) à l’initiation de la TRR étaient associés de façon indépendante à la mortalité. Conclusion : Cette étude a permis de faire ressortir deux facteurs de risque de mortalité à 28 jours à l’initiation de la TRR : la surcharge liquidienne et la sévérité du SDMV mesurée par le score de PELOD. / Introduction: Mortality rate associated with acute kidney injury (AKI) in pediatric intensive care units (PICU) exceeds 50%. Prior studies on renal replacement therapy (RRT) have highlighted different mortality risk factors including the presence of a multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and fluid overload ≥ 10 to 20% before starting RRT. The aim of this study was to identify most important risk factors of 28-day mortality in patients with AKI at RRT initiation in PICU. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study in a tertiary care pediatric center. All critically ill children who underwent acute continuous RRT or intermittent hemodialysis for AKI between January 1998 and December 2014 were included. A case report form was developed and specific risk factors were identified by a panel of four pediatric intensivists and two nephrologists. Risk factors analysis was made using logistic regression in SPSS and SAS software. Results: Ninety patients were included. The median age was 9 [2-14] years. The most common indication for RRT initiation was fluid overload (FO) (64.2%). The median PICU length of stay was 18.5 [8.0-31.0] days. Forty of the 90 patients (44.4%) died within 28 days after RRT initiation and forty-five (50.0%) died before PICU discharge. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, a PELOD score ≥ 20 (OR 4.66; 95%CI 1.68-12.92) and percentage of FO ≥ 15% (OR 9.31; 95%CI 2.16-40.11) at RRT initiation were independently associated with mortality. Conclusion: This study suggests that fluid overload and severity of MODS measured by PELOD score are two risk factors of 28-day mortality in PICU patients on RRT.