The impact of a "short-term" basic intensive care training program on the knowledge of nonintensivist doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic: An experience from a population-dense low- and middle-income country.

BACKGROUND: The utility of basic intensive care unit (ICU) training comprising a "1-day course" has been scientifically evaluated and reported in very few studies, with almost no such study from resource-limited settings. AIM: The study assessed the utility of basic ICU training comprising of a "1-day course" in increasing the knowledge of nonintensivist doctors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is an observational study conducted at a medical university in North India in 2020. The participants were nonintensivist doctors attending the course. The course was designed by intensivists, and it had four domains. The participants were categorised on the basis of their duration of ICU experience and broad speciality. Pretest and posttest was administered, which was analysed to ascertain the gain in the knowledge score. RESULTS: A total of 252 participants were included, of which the majority were from the clinical medicine speciality (85.3%) and had ICU experience of 1-6 months (47.6%). There was a significant improvement in the mean total score of the participants after training from 14/25 to 19/25, with a mean difference (MD) of 5.02 (p < 0.001). Based on ICU experience, in groups I (<1 month), II (1-6 months), and III (>6 months), there was a significant improvement in the total score of the participants after training with MD with 95% confidence interval (CI) limits of 5.27 (4.65-5.90), 4.70 (4.38-5.02), and 5.33 (4.89-5.78), respectively. In the clinical surgery specialty (n = 37), there was a significant improvement in the total score after training from 11/25 to 16.4/25 with an MD (95% CI limits) of 5.38 (4.4-6.3). Similarly, in the clinical medicine group (n = 215), the MD (95% CI limits) score after training was 4.95 (4.71-5.20), from 14.5/25 to 19.5/25. In feedback, more than half of the participants showed interest in joining ICU after training. CONCLUSIONS: Training nonintensivist doctors for 1 day can be useful in improving their knowledge, regardless of their prior ICU experience and speciality.

Nerve Conduction Studies: What an Intensivist should Know?

How to cite this article: Saran S, Qavi A. Nerve Conduction Studies: What an Intensivist should Know? Indian J Crit Care Med 2022;26(6):759-760.

Etiology of Pregnancy-related Acute Kidney Injury among Obstetric Patients in India: A Systematic Review.

Background: Pregnancy-related acute kidney injury (PRAKI) is an important cause of fetomaternal mortality and morbidity in developing countries. We undertook a systematic review to identify the causes of PRAKI among obstetric patients in India. Materials and methods: We systematically searched PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and Google Scholar using appropriate search terminology between 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2021. Studies reporting the etiology of PRAKI among obstetric patients (pregnant and within 42 days postpartum) in India were included for evaluation. Studies done in any other geographical location besides India were excluded. We also excluded studies done in any one trimester or any specific subgroup of patients [e.g., postpartum acute kidney injury (AKI), postabortal AKI]. A five-point questionnaire was used to assess the risk of bias in included studies. The results were synthesized as per preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Results: A total number of 7 studies with 477 participants were included for analysis. All were single-center descriptive observational studies either done in tertiary care public or private hospitals. Sepsis (mean, 41.9%; median, 49.4%; and range, 6-56.1%) was the most common cause of PRAKI followed by hemorrhage (mean, 22.1%; median, 23.5%; and range, 8.3-38.5%) and pregnancy-induced hypertension (mean, 20.9%; median, 20.7; and range, 11.5-39%). Among these seven studies, five were of moderate quality, one was of high quality, and another one was of low quality. Our study is limited due to the lack of consensus definition of PRAKI in literature and heterogeneity in reporting methods. Our study highlights the need for a structured reporting format for PRAKI to understand the true disease burden and take control measures. Conclusion: There is a moderate quality of evidence to suggest that sepsis followed by hemorrhage and pregnancy-induced hypertension are the commonest causes of PRAKI in India. How to cite this article: Gautam M, Saxena S, Saran S, Ahmed A, Pandey A, Mishra P, et al. Etiology of Pregnancy-related Acute Kidney Injury among Obstetric Patients in India: A Systematic Review. Indian J Crit Care Med 2022;26(10):1141-1151.

A Rare Case Report of Intra-abdominal Mucormycosis Complicating Acute Pancreatitis.

Intra-abdominal infections are known to complicate the course of acute pancreatitis. Invasive fungal infections (Candida spp.) are not the uncommon microorganisms which isolate from intra-abdominal specimen in acute necrotizing pancreatitis. However, we are reporting first case of invasive gastric mucormycosis in a postpartum acute pancreatitis patient. How to cite this article: Bhaskar BK, Gutte SH, Gurjar M, Saran S, Rahul R, Sengar P. A Rare Case Report of Intra-abdominal Mucormycosis Complicating Acute Pancreatitis. Indian J Crit Care Med 2022;26(6):736-738.

Predialytic versus Intradialytic Nutrition: A Study to Assess Effects on Intradialytic Blood Pressure, Dialysis Adequacy, and Urea Removal.

BACKGROUND: Provision of oral protein in hemodialysis (HD) is desirable due to improved compliance to protein requirements and better nutritional status, but the risks of hypotension and underdialysis need to be considered. This study compared 2 different timings for administering oral nutritional supplements (ONS), predialysis and mid-dialysis, with respect to hemodynamics, dialysis adequacy, urea removal, and tolerability. METHODS: This single-center, prospective crossover study analyzed 72 stable patients with ESRD on twice a week maintenance HD with a mean age of 38.7 (±11.2) years and a dialysis vintage of 28.2 (±13.1) months. In the first week, all the patients received ONS (450 kcal energy, 20 g protein) 1 h prior to start of dialysis (group 1) and in the next week, the supplement was administered after 2 h of start of dialysis (group 2), with a predialysis fasting period of at least 3 h in both groups. Blood pressures, serum, and spent dialysate samples were collected and nausea occurrence was noted by severity. RESULTS: Predialytic intake (group 1) was associated with higher predialysis and 1st hour blood urea, dialysis adequacy, and urea removal than group 2. Both groups achieved mean Kt/V > 1.2, and the occurrence of symptomatic hypotensive episodes and nausea was not significantly different between the groups. On repeated measures ANOVA, changes in blood urea over time showed significant group effect. CONCLUSIONS: Predialytic supplementation was associated with better dialysis adequacy and urea removal than intradialytic supplementation. However, both timings were equally tolerated and not associated with underdialysis.

CPR in COVID-19: Should We Use the PAPR to Keep the Savior Safe?

Saran S. CPR in COVID-19: Should We Use the PAPR to Keep the Savior Safe? Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(8):950.

Less Costlier and Emergency Options for Intubation during Coronavirus Disease Times.

How to cite this article: Saran S, Dube M, Azim A. Less Costlier and Emergency Options for Intubation during Coronavirus Disease Times. Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(12):1462-1463.

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) in intensive care unit.

The aim of this review is to describe variation in standards and guidelines on 'heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC)' system maintenance in the intensive care units, across the world, which is required to maintain good 'indoor air quality' as an important non-pharmacological strategy in preventing hospital-acquired infections. An online search and review of standards and guidelines published by various societies including American Institute of Architects (AIA), American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of Health Estates and Facilities Division, Health Technical Memorandum 2025 (HTM) and Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) along with various national expert committee consensus statements, regional and hospital-based protocols available in a public domain were retrieved. Selected publications and textbooks describing HVAC structural aspects were also reviewed, and we described the basic structural details of HVAC system as well as variations in the practised standards of HVAC system in the ICU, worldwide. In summary, there is a need of universal standards for HVAC system with a specific mention on the type of ICU, which should be incorporated into existing infection control practice guidelines.

Drug Dosing in Critically Ill Patients with Acute Kidney Injury and on Renal Replacement Therapy.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) complicates in around 40-50% of patients in intensive care units (ICUs), and this can account for up to 80% mortality, especially in those patients requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT). Appropriate drug dosing in such patients is a challenge to the intensivists due to various factors such as patient related (appropriate body weight, organ clearance, serum protein concentration), drug related [molecular weight (MW), protein binding, volume of distribution (V d), hydrophilicity, or hydrophobicity], and RRT related (type, modality of solute removal, filter characteristics, dose, and duration). Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of drugs can be a promising solution to this complex scenario to titrate a drug to its clinical response, but it is available only for a few drugs. In this review, we discussed drug dosing aspects of antimicrobials, sedatives, and antiepileptics in critically ill patients with AKI on RRT. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Saran S, Rao NS, Azim A. Drug Dosing in Critically Ill Patients with Acute Kidney Injury and on Renal Replacement Therapy. Indian J Crit Care Med 2020;24(Suppl 3):S129-S134.

New and promising anti-bacterials: Can this promise be sustained?

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as a major threat to public health which requires that new antimicrobials need to be developed faster than ever before. The rapid development of resistance has rendered many promising antibacterials useless in treating critically ill patients. This article discusses new antibacterials, which got Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in the last few years, along with their key pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) advantages, added antimicrobial spectrum, indications, strengths and weaknesses of these drugs from an intensivist point of view. A brief mention has been made on antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), bacteriophages and nanoparticles, which are likely to dominate the future of antibacterials. Finally, it must be understood that the battle against AMR can only be won by a combination of innovative therapies, good infection control practices, strong antibiotic stewardship in the hands of informed healthcare workers.

Effect of Prone Positioning on Intraocular Pressure in Patients With Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of prolonged duration of prone position (with head laterally rotated) on intraocular pressure in acute respiratory distress syndrome patients. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: University hospital ICU. PATIENTS: Twenty-five acute respiratory distress syndrome patients, age 60 years (51-67 yr), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score 10 (10-12), PaO2/FIO2 ratio of 90 (65-120), and all in septic shock. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Intraocular pressure (in mm Hg) measured by hand-held applanation tonometer, at different time points. Before prone (in both eyes): at 30-45° head-end elevation position (THE pre-prone), in supine position just before turning prone (Tsupine pre-prone); during prone (in nondependent eye): at 10 minutes (T10 prone), 30 minutes (T30 prone), and at just before end of prone session (Tend-prone). After end of prone session (both eyes): at 5 minutes (T5 supine post-prone), 10 minutes (T10 HE post-prone), 15 minutes (T15 HE post-prone), and 30 minutes (T30 HE post-prone). Median duration of prone position was 14 hours (12-18 hr). Median intraocular pressure increased significantly (p ≤ 0.001) in both eyes. In dependent eye, from 15 (12-19) at THE pre-prone to 24, 21, 19, and 16 at T5 supine post-prone, T10 HE post-prone, T15 HE post-prone, and T30 HE post-prone respectively, whereas in nondependent eye from 14 (12-18.5) at THE pre-prone to 23, 25, 32, 25, 22, 20, and 17 at T10 prone, T30 prone, Tend-prone, T5 supine post-prone, T10 HE post-prone, T15 HE post-prone, and T30 HE post-prone respectively. Bland-Altman plot analysis showed significant linear relationship (r = 0.789; p ≤ 0.001) with good agreement between rise in mean intraocular pressure of the both eyes (dependent eye and nondependent eye) with their paired differences after the end of different duration of prone session (T5 supine post-prone). CONCLUSIONS: There is significant increase in intraocular pressure due to prone positioning among acute respiratory distress syndrome patients. Intraocular pressure increases as early as 10 minutes after proning, with increasing trend during prone position, which persisted even at 30 minutes after the end of post prone session although with decreasing trend.

Diagnosing Catheter-associated Urinary Tract Infection in Critically Ill Patients: Do the Guidelines Help?

Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is the leading cause of hospital-acquired infections in hospitalized patients in medical and surgical wards, but it is still commonly underdiagnosed in critically ill patients despite a higher device usage rate. The most commonly employed diagnostic criteria for such diagnosis come from the Infectious Disease Society of America and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Health Safety Network surveillance definition. It is surprising that no separate diagnostic criteria of CAUTI exist, for the critically ill patients - though these patients are of a different class of patients' altogether, due to decreased immunity, existence on multiple organ supports, and invasive lines, and an inability to communicate with a clinician. In this review, we highlight the difficulties in applying the available guidelines to diagnose CAUTI in critically ill patients. We also suggest an algorithm for the diagnosis of CAUTI in these patients.

Comparison of Hemodynamic Monitoring between Transesophageal Doppler and Ultrasonography-Guided Inferior Vena Cava Distensibility in Supine versus Prone Position: A Pilot Study.

INTRODUCTION: Lung-protective ventilation strategy and prone positioning are the strategies practiced to manage patients suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Inferior Vena Cava Distensibility (dIVC) Index has been used for predicting fluid responsiveness (FR) in supine position. We conducted this study to observe the utility of dIVC in prone position in ARDS patients and compare it with esophageal Doppler (ED) parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After ethical clearance, a prospective observational pilot study was conducted in a 12-bedded tertiary care hospital. Adult ARDS patients who were treated with prone ventilation were included. Informed consent was taken from the relatives. IVC was visualized through right lateral approach both in supine and prone positions. We compared IVC distensibility and ED parameters, first in 45° head up and then in prone. FR was defined as an increase in the stroke volume of ≥15% as measured by ED. The patients with dIVC >18% were assumed to be fluid responsive. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software version 20. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients met the inclusion criteria. ARDS was (mean P/F ratio 116.64 ± 44.76) mostly due to pulmonary etiology. Out of 25 patients, 10 patients were fluid responsive based on dIVC (cutoff >18%) in supine position. When compared to ED values after passive leg raising, dIVC had a sensitivity and specificity of 77.78% and 81.25%, respectively, in predicting FR with a moderate-to-absolute agreement between the two methods. IVC distensibility showed statistically significant negative correlation with corrected flow time (FTc) values both in supine and in prone positions. CONCLUSION: IVC variability can be observed in acute respiratory distress syndrome patients in prone position. Inferior Vena Cava Distensibility correlates with flow time in both the positions.

Disseminated Pyomyositis Due to Burkholderia cepacia: A Case Report.

Pyomyositis is a tropical infection affecting skeletal muscles manifesting as high-grade fever with pain in the affected limbs usually caused by Gram-positive microorganisms. Gram-negative organisms causing pyomyositis is uncommon but has been reported. Burkholderia cepacia is a Gram-negative nonfermenter causing opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients, has been reported to cause pyomyositis only once before. We report a case of B. cepacia pyomyositis in a patient with no history of immunocompromised status, manifesting as disseminated infection with hemophagocytic syndrome presenting to our intensive care unit.

Correlation of Neutrophil CD64 with Clinical Profile and Outcome of Sepsis Patients during Intensive Care Unit Stay.

INTRODUCTION: Neutrophil CD64 (nCD64) has been found to identify sepsis from nonseptic patients. It is also reported to be a predictor of survival and severity of sepsis. The goal of this study was to correlate serial nCD64 with Intensive Care Unit (ICU) outcome and severity of sepsis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted in 12-bedded critical care unit of a tertiary care center. Adult patients with sepsis were included in this study. Demographics, illness severity scores, clinical parameters, laboratory data, and 28-day outcome were recorded. Serial nCD64 analysis was done (on days 0, 4, and 8) in consecutive patients. RESULTS: Fifty-one consecutive patients were included in the study. Median Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II was 16 (12-20) and mean Sequential Organ Failure Assessment was 9 (8-10). Compared to survivors, nonsurvivors had higher nCD64 on day 8 (P = 0.001). nCD64 was higher in the septic shock group compared to sepsis group on days 0 and 8 (P < 0.05). Survivors showed improving trend of nCD64 over time while nonsurvivors did not. This trend was similar in the presence or absence of septic shock. nCD64 count was a good predictor of the septic shock on day 0 (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.747, P = 0.010) and moderate predictor at day 8 (AUC = 0.679, P = 0.028). CONCLUSION: Monitoring serial nCD64 during ICU stay may be helpful in determining the clinical course of septic patients.

Isolated Renal Mucormycosis in Immunocompetent Children: A Report of Two Cases.

Isolated renal mucormycosis is a rare entity in children. It is potentially fatal when not detected and managed early with antifungal therapy, and surgery as and when needed. We present two immunocompetent children who developed this infection and subsequently succumbed to it. The diagnosis was established postmortem on renal biopsy specimens. We also discuss the 9 cases of isolated renal involvement in children published in literature.

Comparison of i-gel supraglottic airway and LMA-ProSeal™ in pediatric patients under controlled ventilation.

BACKGROUND: i-gel™ and the ProSeal™ laryngeal mask airway (PLMA) are two supraglottic airway devices with gastric channel used for airway maintenance in anesthesia. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of i-gel compared with PLMA for airway maintenance in pediatric patients under general anesthesia with controlled ventilation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status 1 and 2 patients were included in the study and randomized to either i-gel or PLMA group. After induction of anesthesia using a standardized protocol for all the patients, one of supraglottic airway devices was inserted. Insertion parameters, ease of gastric tube insertion and fiber-optic scoring of the glottis were noted. Airway parameters such as end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2), peak airway pressures and leak airway pressures were noted. Patients were observed for any complications in the first 12 h of the post-operative period. RESULTS: Both groups were comparable in terms of ease of insertion, number of attempts and other insertion parameters. Ease of gastric tube insertion, EtCO2, airway pressures (peak and leak airway pressure) and fiber-optic view of the glottis were comparable in both groups. There were no clinically significant complications in the first 12 h of the post-operative period. CONCLUSION: i-gel is as effective as PLMA in pediatric patients under controlled ventilation.