Factors Associated with Early Withdrawal of Life-Sustaining Treatments After Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Subanalysis of a Randomized Trial of Prehospital Therapeutic Hypothermia.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to describe incidence and factors associated with early withdrawal of life-sustaining therapies based on presumed poor neurologic prognosis (WLST-N) and practices around multimodal prognostication after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). METHODS: We performed a subanalysis of a randomized controlled trial assessing prehospital therapeutic hypothermia in adult patients admitted to nine hospitals in King County with nontraumatic OHCA between 2007 and 2012. Patients who underwent tracheal intubation and were unconscious following return of spontaneous circulation were included. Our outcomes were (1) incidence of early WLST-N (WLST-N within < 72 h from return of spontaneous circulation), (2) factors associated with early WLST-N compared with patients who remained comatose at 72 h without WLST-N, (3) institutional variation in early WLST-N, (4) use of multimodal prognostication, and (5) use of sedative medications in patients with early WLST-N. Analysis included descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: We included 1,040 patients (mean age was 65 years, 37% were female, 41% were White, and 44% presented with arrest due to ventricular fibrillation) admitted to nine hospitals. Early WLST-N accounted for 24% (n = 154) of patient deaths and occurred in half (51%) of patients with WLST-N. Factors associated with early WLST-N in multivariate regressions were older age (odds ratio [OR] 1.02, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.03), preexisting do-not-attempt-resuscitation orders (OR 4.67, 95% CI: 1.55-14.01), bilateral absent pupillary reflexes (OR 2.4, 95% CI: 1.42-4.10), and lack of neurological consultation (OR 2.60, 95% CI: 1.52-4.46). The proportion of patients with early WLST-N among all OHCA admissions ranged from 19-60% between institutions. A head computed tomography scan was obtained in 54% (n = 84) of patients with early WLST-N; 22% (n = 34) and 5% (n = 8) underwent ≥ 1 and ≥ 2 additional prognostic tests, respectively. Prognostic tests were more frequently performed when neurological consultation occurred. Most patients received sedating medications (90%) within 24 h before early WLST-N; the median time from last sedation to early WLST-N was 4.2 h (interquartile range 0.4-15). CONCLUSIONS: Nearly one quarter of deaths after OHCA were due to early WLST-N. The presence of concerning neurological examination findings appeared to impact early WLST-N decisions, even though these are not fully reliable in this time frame. Lack of neurological consultation was associated with early WLST-N and resulted in underuse of guideline-concordant multimodal prognostication. Sedating medications were often coadministered prior to early WLST-N and may have further confounded the neurological examination. Standardizing prognostication, restricting early WLST-N, and a multidisciplinary approach including neurological consultation might improve outcomes after OHCA.

A Description of Mechanically Ventilated Patients Admitted From the Emergency Department With a Short Critical Care Stay.

BACKGROUND: Patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) requiring invasive mechanical ventilation who are discharged alive from the ICU within 24 h are poorly characterized in the literature. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to characterize a cohort of intubated emergency department (ED) patients who are extubated and discharged from the ICU within 24 h. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, observational cohort study at a single level I trauma center from January 2017 to December 2019. We included adults who were admitted to an ICU from the ED requiring invasive mechanical ventilation. Our primary outcome was the proportion of patients who were discharged from the ICU alive within 24 h. RESULTS: Of 13,374 ED patients admitted to an ICU during the study period, 2871 patients were intubated and ventilated in the prehospital or ED settings. Of these, 14% were discharged alive from the ICU within 24 h of admission. Only 21% of these patients were intubated in the ED. We identified the following two distinct subpopulations comprising 62% of this short-stay group: patients with a primary discharge diagnosis of intoxication (47%) and minimally injured trauma patients (53%), with 4% of patients in both subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: A total of 14% of patients receiving intubation with mechanical ventilation in the prehospital environment or in the ED were discharged alive from the ICU within 24 h. We identified two distinct subgroups of patients with a short stay in intensive care who may be candidates for ED extubation, including patients with intoxication and minimally injured trauma patients.

Targeted Temperature Management at 33 Versus 36 Degrees: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the association between targeted temperature management goal temperature of 33°C versus 36°C and neurologic outcome after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. DESIGN: This was a retrospective, before-and-after, cohort study. SETTING: Urban, academic, level 1 trauma center from 2010 to 2017. PATIENTS: Adults with nontraumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest who received targeted temperature management. INTERVENTIONS: Our primary exposure was targeted temperature management goal temperature, which was changed from 33°C to 36°C in April of 2014 at the study hospital. Primary outcome was neurologically intact survival to discharge. Secondary outcomes included hospital mortality and care processes. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Of 782 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients transported to the study hospital, 453 (58%) received targeted temperature management. Of these, 258 (57%) were treated during the 33°C period (targeted temperature management 33°C) and 195 (43%) were treated during the 36°C period (targeted temperature management 36°C). Patients treated during targeted temperature management 33°C were older (57 vs 52 yr; p < 0.05) and had more arrests of cardiac etiology (45% vs 35%; p < 0.05), but otherwise had similar baseline characteristics, including initial cardiac rhythm. A total of 40% of patients treated during targeted temperature management 33°C survived with favorable neurologic outcome, compared with 30% in the targeted temperature management 36°C group (p < 0.05). After adjustment for demographic and cardiac arrest characteristics, targeted temperature management 33°C was associated with increased odds of neurologically intact survival to discharge (odds ratio, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.09-2.94). Targeted temperature management 33°C was not associated with significantly improved hospital mortality. Targeted temperature management was implemented faster (1.9 vs 3.5 hr from 911 call; p < 0.001) and more frequently in the emergency department during the targeted temperature management 33°C period (87% vs 55%; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Comatose, adult out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients treated during the targeted temperature management 33°C period had higher odds of neurologically intact survival to hospital discharge compared with those treated during the targeted temperature management 36°C period. There was no significant difference in hospital mortality.

Point of care ultrasound for all by all: A multidisciplinary survey across a large quaternary care medical system.

PURPOSE: We sought to understand current POCUS practices and comfort as well as assess opinions about POCUS across our medical system via a survey to guide program development. METHODS: This study was conducted as a 19 question RedCap survey with multiple parts. Respondents were queried for demographics as well as experience with, attitudes toward, and clinical use of POCUS in common critical care scenarios. RESULTS: The survey was completed by 343 individuals, a response rate of 30%. Most respondents "agreed" that POCUS is a needed skill and helped them provide safer care (78% and 86% agreement). Most faculty and trainees reported some POCUS training (62% and 88%) and at least weekly use. Trainees rated themselves more comfortable than faculty for most exam types. The majority of faculty rated their POCUS education as inadequate while trainees had mixed responses. CONCLUSIONS: POCUS is a frequently used tool, yet users are less confident in their skills than expected. POCUS applications are viewed as needed for future practice but there is a substantial need for improved education among faculty and trainees. Pooling resources and sharing educational initiatives across multiple specialties may help improve POCUS implementation.

Energy Expenditure and Shivering Severity During Targeted Temperature Management at 36°C After Cardiac Arrest: A Case Series.

Patients undergoing targeted temperature management (TTM) after cardiac arrest are at risk for shivering, which increases energy expenditure (EE) and may attenuate TTM benefits. This article reports patterns of EE for patients with and without shivering who received TTM at 36°C after cardiac arrest. Based on 96 case assessments, there were 14 occasions when more than one 15-minute interval period was required to appropriately modify the Bedside Shivering Assessment Scale (BSAS) score. Investigators noted that although higher EE was related to higher BSAS scores, there may be opportunities for earlier detection of shivering.

Physician Variation in Time to Antimicrobial Treatment for Septic Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department.

OBJECTIVES: Delayed initiation of appropriate antimicrobials is linked to higher sepsis mortality. We investigated interphysician variation in septic patients' door-to-antimicrobial time. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Emergency department of an academic medical center. SUBJECTS: Adult patients treated with antimicrobials in the emergency department between 2009 and 2015 for fluid-refractory severe sepsis or septic shock. Patients who were transferred, received antimicrobials prior to emergency department arrival, or were treated by an attending physician who cared for less than five study patients were excluded. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We employed multivariable linear regression to evaluate the association between treating attending physician and door-to-antimicrobial time after adjustment for illness severity (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score), patient age, prehospital or arrival hypotension, admission from a long-term care facility, mode of arrival, weekend or nighttime admission, source of infection, and trainee involvement in care. Among 421 eligible patients, 74% received antimicrobials within 3 hours of emergency department arrival. After covariate adjustment, attending physicians' (n = 40) median door-to-antimicrobial times varied significantly, ranging from 71 to 359 minutes (p = 0.002). The percentage of each physician's patients whose antimicrobials began within 3 hours of emergency department arrival ranged from 0% to 100%. Overall, 12% of variability in antimicrobial timing was explained by the attending physician compared with 4% attributable to illness severity as measured by the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score (p < 0.001). Some but not all physicians started antimicrobials later for patients who were normotensive on presentation (p = 0.017) or who had a source of infection other than pneumonia (p = 0.006). The adjusted odds of in-hospital mortality increased by 20% for each 1 hour increase in door-to-antimicrobial time (p = 0.046). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with severe sepsis or septic shock receiving antimicrobials in the emergency department, door-to-antimicrobial times varied five-fold among treating physicians. Given the association between antimicrobial delay and mortality, interventions to reduce physician variation in antimicrobial initiation are likely indicated.

Epidemiology and Microbiology of Sepsis Syndromes in a University-Affiliated Urban Teaching Hospital and Level-1 Trauma and Burn Center.

PURPOSE: To use the 2010 to 2011 data collected by structured chart review to provide a detailed up-to-date description of the epidemiology and microbiology of the sepsis syndromes. METHODS: Prospective observational study conducted at a university-affiliated urban teaching hospital and level-1 trauma and burn center. All adult patients who triggered a Code Sepsis in the emergency department (ED) between January 2010 and December 2011 were included. RESULTS: One hundred eighty four patients presented with a verified sepsis syndrome and triggered a Code Sepsis in the ED during the studied time period. The mean hospital and intensive care unit length of stays (LOSs) were 15.4 (interquartile range [IQR] = 14) and 6.7 (IQR = 5) days, respectively. The total inpatient mortality was 19% (n = 35). Patients with an unspecified source of infection and those without an isolated pathogen had the highest inpatient mortality, 42.1% (n = 8) and 23.3% (n = 10), respectively. CONCLUSION: Hospital mortality and hospital LOS of sepsis are similar to those reported in other observational studies. Our study confirms a decline in the mortality of sepsis predicted by earlier longitudinal studies and should prompt a resurgence of epidemiological research of the sepsis syndromes in the United States.

Pediatric Intubation by Paramedics in a Large Emergency Medical Services System: Process, Challenges, and Outcomes.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Pediatric intubation is a core paramedic skill in some emergency medical services (EMS) systems. The literature lacks a detailed examination of the challenges and subsequent adjustments made by paramedics when intubating children in the out-of-hospital setting. We undertake a descriptive evaluation of the process of out-of-hospital pediatric intubation, focusing on challenges, adjustments, and outcomes. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of EMS responses between 2006 and 2012 that involved attempted intubation of children younger than 13 years by paramedics in a large, metropolitan EMS system. We calculated the incidence rate of attempted pediatric intubation with EMS and county census data. To summarize the intubation process, we linked a detailed out-of-hospital airway registry with clinical records from EMS, hospital, or autopsy encounters for each child. The main outcome measures were procedural challenges, procedural success, complications, and patient disposition. RESULTS: Paramedics attempted intubation in 299 cases during 6.3 years, with an incidence of 1 pediatric intubation per 2,198 EMS responses. Less than half of intubations (44%) were for patients in cardiac arrest. Two thirds of patients were intubated on the first attempt (66%), and overall success was 97%. The most prevalent challenge was body fluids obscuring the laryngeal view (33%). After a failed first intubation attempt, corrective actions taken by paramedics included changing equipment (33%), suctioning (32%), and repositioning the patient (27%). Six patients (2%) experienced peri-intubation cardiac arrest and 1 patient had an iatrogenic tracheal injury. No esophageal intubations were observed. Of patients transported to the hospital, 86% were admitted to intensive care and hospital mortality was 27%. CONCLUSION: Pediatric intubation by paramedics was performed infrequently in this EMS system. Although overall intubation success was high, a detailed evaluation of the process of intubation revealed specific challenges and adjustments that can be anticipated by paramedics to improve first-pass success, potentially reduce complications, and ultimately improve clinical outcomes.

Incidence and Risk Factors for Postcontrast Acute Kidney Injury in Survivors of Sudden Cardiac Arrest.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Survivors of sudden cardiac arrest may be exposed to iodinated contrast from invasive coronary angiography or contrast-enhanced computed tomography, although the effects on incident acute kidney injury are unknown. The study objective was to determine whether contrast administration within the first 24 hours was associated with acute kidney injury in survivors of sudden cardiac arrest. METHODS: This cohort study, derived from a prospective clinical trial, included patients with sudden cardiac arrest who survived for 48 hours, had no history of end-stage renal disease, and had at least 2 serum creatinine measurements during hospitalization. The contrast group included patients with exposure to iodinated contrast within 24 hours of sudden cardiac arrest. Incident acute kidney injury and first-time dialysis were compared between contrast and no contrast groups and then controlled for known acute kidney injury risk factors. RESULTS: Of the 199 survivors of sudden cardiac arrest, 94 received iodinated contrast. Mean baseline serum creatinine level was 1.3 mg/dL (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4 to 1.5 mg/dL) for the contrast group and 1.6 mg/dL (95% CI 1.4 to 1.7 mg/dL) for the no contrast group. Incident acute kidney injury was lower in the contrast group (12.8%) than the no contrast group (17.1%; difference 4.4%; 95% CI -9.2% to 17.5%). Contrast administration was not associated with significant increases in incident acute kidney injury within quartiles of baseline serum creatinine level or after controlling for age, sex, race, congestive heart failure, diabetes, and admission serum creatinine level by regression analysis. Older age was independently associated with acute kidney injury. CONCLUSION: Despite elevated baseline serum creatinine level in most survivors of sudden cardiac arrest, iodinated contrast administration was not associated with incident acute kidney injury even when other acute kidney injury risk factors were controlled for. Thus, although acute kidney injury is not uncommon among survivors of sudden cardiac arrest, early (<24 hours) contrast administration from imaging procedures did not confer an increased risk for acute kidney injury.

The process of prehospital airway management: challenges and solutions during paramedic endotracheal intubation.

OBJECTIVES: Endotracheal intubation success rates in the prehospital setting are variable. Our objective was to describe the challenges encountered and corrective actions taken during the process of endotracheal intubation by paramedics. DESIGN: Analysis of prehospital airway management using a prospective registry that was linked to an emergency medical services administrative database. SETTING: Emergency medical services system serving King County, Washington, 2006-2011. Paramedics in this system have the capability to administer neuromuscular blocking agents to facilitate intubation (i.e., rapid sequence intubation). PATIENTS: A total of 7,523 patients more than 12 years old in whom paramedics attempted prehospital endotracheal intubation. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: An intubation attempt was defined as the introduction of the laryngoscope into the patient's mouth, and the attempt concluded when the laryngoscope was removed from the mouth. Endotracheal intubation was successful on the first attempt in 77% and ultimately successful in 99% of patients (7,433 of 7,523). Paramedics used a rapid sequence intubation strategy on 54% of first attempts. Among the subset with a failed first attempt (n = 1,715), bodily fluids obstructing the laryngeal view (50%), obesity (28%), patient positioning (17%), and facial or spinal trauma (6%) were identified as challenges to intubation. A variety of adjustments were made to achieve intubation success, including upper airway suctioning (used in 43% of attempts resulting in success), patient repositioning (38%), rescue bougie use (19%), operator change (16%), and rescue rapid sequence intubation (6%). Surgical cricothyrotomy (0.4%, n = 27) and bag-valve-mask ventilation (0.8%, n = 60) were rarely performed by paramedics as final rescue airway strategies. CONCLUSIONS: Airway management in the prehospital setting has substantial challenges. Success can require a collection of adjustments that involve equipment, personnel, and medication often in a simultaneous fashion.

Effect of prehospital induction of mild hypothermia on survival and neurological status among adults with cardiac arrest: a randomized clinical trial.

IMPORTANCE: Hospital cooling improves outcome after cardiac arrest, but prehospital cooling immediately after return of spontaneous circulation may result in better outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether prehospital cooling improves outcomes after resuscitation from cardiac arrest in patients with ventricular fibrillation (VF) and without VF. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A randomized clinical trial that assigned adults with prehospital cardiac arrest to standard care with or without prehospital cooling, accomplished by infusing up to 2 L of 4°C normal saline as soon as possible following return of spontaneous circulation. Adults in King County, Washington, with prehospital cardiac arrest and resuscitated by paramedics were eligible and 1359 patients (583 with VF and 776 without VF) were randomized between December 15, 2007, and December 7, 2012. Patient follow-up was completed by May 1, 2013. Nearly all of the patients resuscitated from VF and admitted to the hospital received hospital cooling regardless of their randomization. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcomes were survival to hospital discharge and neurological status at discharge. RESULTS: The intervention decreased mean core temperature by 1.20°C (95% CI, -1.33°C to -1.07°C) in patients with VF and by 1.30°C (95% CI, -1.40°C to -1.20°C) in patients without VF by hospital arrival and reduced the time to achieve a temperature of less than 34°C by about 1 hour compared with the control group. However, survival to hospital discharge was similar among the intervention and control groups among patients with VF (62.7% [95% CI, 57.0%-68.0%] vs 64.3% [95% CI, 58.6%-69.5%], respectively; P = .69) and among patients without VF (19.2% [95% CI, 15.6%-23.4%] vs 16.3% [95% CI, 12.9%-20.4%], respectively; P = .30). The intervention was also not associated with improved neurological status of full recovery or mild impairment at discharge for either patients with VF (57.5% [95% CI, 51.8%-63.1%] of cases had full recovery or mild impairment vs 61.9% [95% CI, 56.2%-67.2%] of controls; P = .69) or those without VF (14.4% [95% CI, 11.3%-18.2%] of cases vs 13.4% [95% CI,10.4%-17.2%] of controls; P = .30). Overall, the intervention group experienced rearrest in the field more than the control group (26% [95% CI, 22%-29%] vs 21% [95% CI, 18%-24%], respectively; P = .008), as well as increased diuretic use and pulmonary edema on first chest x-ray, which resolved within 24 hours after admission. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: Although use of prehospital cooling reduced core temperature by hospital arrival and reduced the time to reach a temperature of 34°C, it did not improve survival or neurological status among patients resuscitated from prehospital VF or those without VF. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00391469.

Inflammation, endothelial injury, and the acute respiratory distress syndrome after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is often seen in patients resuscitated from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). We aim to test whether inflammatory or endothelial injury markers are associated with the development of ARDS in patients hospitalized after OHCA. Methods: We conducted a prospective, cohort, pilot study at an urban academic medical center in 2019 that included a convenience sample of adults with non-traumatic OHCA. Blood and pulmonary edema fluid (PEF) were collected within 12 hours of hospital arrival. Samples were assayed for cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1, tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α], tumor necrosis factor receptor1 [TNFR1], IL-6), epithelial injury markers (pulmonary surfactant-associated protein D), endothelial injury markers (Angiopoietin-2 [Ang-2] and glycocalyx degradation products), and other proteins (matrix metallopeptidase-9 and myeloperoxidase). Patients were followed for 7 days for development of ARDS, as adjudicated by 3 blinded reviewers, and through hospital discharge for mortality and neurological outcome. We examined associations between biomarker concentrations and ARDS, hospital mortality, and neurological outcome using multivariable logistic regression. Latent phase analysis was used to identify distinct biological classes associated with outcomes. Results: 41 patients were enrolled. Mean age was 58 years, 29% were female, and 22% had a respiratory etiology for cardiac arrest. Seven patients (17%) developed ARDS within 7 days. There were no significant associations between individual biomarkers and development of ARDS in adjusted analyses, nor survival or neurologic status after adjusting for use of targeted temperature management (TTM) and initial cardiac arrest rhythm. Elevated Ang-2 and TNFR-1 were associated with decreased survival (RR = 0.6, 95% CI = 0.3-1.0; RR = 0.5, 95% CI = 0.3-0.9; respectively), and poor neurologic status at discharge (RR = 0.4, 95% CI = 0.2-0.8; RR = 0.4, 95% CI = 0.2-0.9) in unadjusted associations. Conclusion: OHCA patients have markedly elevated plasma and pulmonary edema fluid biomarker concentrations, indicating widespread inflammation, epithelial injury, and endothelial activation. Biomarker concentrations were not associated with ARDS development, though several distinct biological phenotypes warrant further exploration. Latent phase analysis demonstrated that patients with low biomarker levels aside from TNF-α and TNFR-1 (Class 2) fared worse than other patients. Future research may benefit from considering other tools to predict and prevent development of ARDS in this population.

Checklists and consistency of care after resuscitation from in-hospital cardiac arrest: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: In-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) with the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) is a clinical scenario associated with potentially devastating outcomes. OBJECTIVE: Inconsistencies in post-ROSC care exist and we sought to find a low cost way to decrease this variability. DESIGNS, SETTINGS, AND PARTICIPANTS: We obtained pre and post intervention metrics including percentage of IHCA with a timely electrocardiogram (ECG), arterial blood gas (ABG), physician documentation, and documentation of patient surrogate communication after ROSC. INTERVENTION: We developed and implemented a post-ROSC checklist for IHCA and measured post-ROSC clinical care delivery metrics at our hospital during a 1-year pilot period. MAIN OUTCOME AND RESULTS: After the introduction of the checklist, 83.7% of IHCA had an ECG within 1 h of ROSC, compared to a baseline of 62.8% (p = 0.01). The rate of physician documentation within 6 h of ROSC was 74.4% after introduction of the checklist, compared to a baseline of 49.5% (p < 0.01). The percentage of IHCA with ROSC that completed all four of the critical post-ROSC tasks after the introduction of the post-ROSC checklist was 51.1% as compared to 19.4% before implementation (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated improved consistency in completing post-ROSC clinical tasks after the introduction of a post-ROSC checklist to our hospital. This work suggests that the implementation of a checklist can have meaningful impacts on task completion in the post-ROSC setting. Despite this, considerable inconsistencies in post-ROSC care persisted after the intervention indicating the limits of checklists in this setting. Future work is needed to identify interventions that can further improve post-ROSC processes of care.

Positive predictive value of a sepsis-screening protocol for patients with tetraplegia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the positive predictive value (PPV) of a sepsis-screening protocol in patients with cervical spinal cord injury (SCI). DESIGN/METHOD: Retrospective review of all patients with cervical SCI who screened positive for two or more systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria while hospitalized in acute care or inpatient rehabilitation units over a 3.5-year period. Sepsis was defined by the occurrence of (1) any culture order followed by an intravenous (IV) antibiotic within 72 hours or (2) an IV antimicrobial followed by a culture order within 24 hours. RESULTS: A total of 134 patients screened positive for two or more SIRS criteria. Of these, 36 patients (26.9%) were diagnosed with sepsis. Factors associated with a true-positive SIRS screen on multivariable analysis included American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) grade A-C (vs. D; p < .001). The PPV of the screen was 38% in patients with AIS A-C and 9% in patients with AIS D. Altered mental status (AMS) was strongly associated with a diagnosis of sepsis; 16 of 18 (88.9%) of those with AMS had sepsis (p < .001). Age, sex, and neurologic level of injury were not associated with true-positive screening. For patients with new SCI, the first true-positive screen occurred a median of 31 days post-injury. The most common SIRS criteria combinations in patients with true-positive screens were elevated heart rate and either abnormal white blood cell count (43% of true positives) or abnormal temperature (26% of true positives). Abnormally low body temperature (<36°C) contributed to false-positive screening for 10 of 38 (26%) AIS D patients who screened positive. CONCLUSION: Sepsis screening using SIRS criteria in hospitalized patients with tetraplegia has a PPV of 26.9%; it is significantly higher in patients with AIS A-C versus D injuries. AMS, when combined with a positive SIRS screening, is strongly associated with sepsis.

Scoping review of echocardiographic parameters associated with diagnosis and prognosis after resuscitated sudden cardiac arrest.

AIM: Current international guidelines recommend early echocardiography after resuscitated sudden death despite limited data. Our aim was to analyze published data on early post-resuscitation echocardiography to identify cardiac causes of sudden death and prognostic implications. METHODS: We reviewed MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL databases to December 2021 for echocardiographic studies of adult patients after resuscitation from non-traumatic sudden death. Studies were included if echocardiography was performed <48 hours after resuscitation and reported (1) diagnostic accuracy to detect cardiac etiologies of sudden death or (2) prognostic outcomes. Diagnostic endpoints were associations of regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMA), ventricular function, and structural abnormalities with cardiac etiologies of arrest. Prognostic endpoints were associations of echocardiographic findings with survival to hospital discharge and favorable neurological outcome. RESULTS: Of 2877 articles screened, 16 (0.6%) studies met inclusion criteria, comprising 2035 patients. Two of six studies formally reported diagnostic accuracy for echocardiography identifying cardiac etiology of arrest; RWMA (in 5 of 6 studies) were associated with presumed cardiac ischemia in 17-89% of cases. Among 12 prognostic studies, there was no association of reduced left ventricular ejection fraction with hospital survival (v10) or favorable neurologic status (n = 5). Echocardiographic high mitral E/e' ratio (n = 1) and right ventricular systolic dysfunction (n = 2) were associated with poor survival. CONCLUSION: This scoping review highlights the limited data on early echocardiography in providing etiology of arrest and prognostic information after resuscitated sudden death. Further research is needed to refine the clinical application of early echocardiographic findings in post arrest care.

Diagnostic yield, safety, and outcomes of Head-to-pelvis sudden death CT imaging in post arrest care: The CT FIRST cohort study.

AIM: Our aim was to test whether a head-to-pelvis CT scan improves diagnostic yield and speed to identify causes for out of hospital circulatory arrest (OHCA). METHODS: CT FIRST was a prospective observational pre-/post-cohort study of patients successfully resuscitated from OHCA. Inclusion criteria included unknown cause for arrest, age >18 years, stability to undergo CT, and no known cardiomyopathy or obstructive coronary artery disease. A head-to-pelvis sudden death CT (SDCT) scan within 6 hours of hospital arrival was added to the standard of care for patients resuscitated from OHCA (post-cohort) and compared to standard of care (SOC) alone (pre-cohort). The primary outcome was SDCT diagnostic yield. Secondary outcomes included time to identifying OHCA cause and time-critical diagnoses, SDCT safety, and survival to hospital discharge. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics between the SDCT (N = 104) and the SOC (N = 143) cohorts were similar. CT scans (either head, chest, and/or abdomen) were ordered in 74 (52%) of SOC patients. Adding SDCT scanning identified 92% of causes for arrest compared to 75% (SOC-cohort; p value < 0.001) and reduced the time to diagnosis by 78% (SDCT 3.1 hours, SOC alone 14.1 hours, p < 0.0001). Identification of critical diagnoses was similar between cohorts, but SDCT reduced delayed (>6 hours) identification of critical diagnoses by 81% (p < 0.001). SDCT safety endpoints were similar including acute kidney injury. Patient survival to discharge was similar between cohorts. DISCUSSION: SDCT scanning early after OHCA resuscitation safely improved the efficiency and diagnostic yield for causes of arrest compared to the standard of care alone. CLINICAL TRIALS NUMBER: NCT03111043.

Understanding of sepsis among emergency medical services: a survey study.

BACKGROUND: Emergency medical services (EMS) personnel commonly encounter sepsis, yet little is known about their understanding of sepsis. STUDY OBJECTIVES: To determine the awareness, knowledge, current practice, and attitudes about sepsis among EMS personnel. METHODS: We performed an anonymous, multi-agency, online survey of emergency medical technicians (EMTs), firefighter-emergency medical technicians (FF-EMTs), and paramedics in a metropolitan, 2-tier EMS system. We compared responses according to the level of EMS training and used multivariable logistic regression to determine the odds of correctly identifying the definition of sepsis, independent of demographic and professional factors. RESULTS: Overall response rate of study participants was 57% (786/1390), and was greatest among EMTs (79%; 276/350). A total of 761 respondents (97%) had heard of the term "sepsis." EMTs and FF-EMTs were at significantly reduced odds of correctly defining sepsis compared to paramedics, independent of age, sex, and years of experience (EMTs: odds ratio 0.44, 95% confidence interval 0.3-0.8; FF-EMTs: odds ratio 0.32, 95% confidence interval 0.2-0.6. Overall, knowledge of the clinical signs and symptoms and recommended treatments for sepsis was typically>75%, though better among paramedics than EMTs or FF-EMTs (p<0.01). The majority of respondents believed sepsis is not recognized by EMS "some" or "a lot" of the time (76%, 596/786). CONCLUSIONS: EMS personnel demonstrated an overall sound awareness of sepsis. Knowledge of sepsis was less among FF-EMTs and EMTs compared to paramedics. These results suggest that paramedics could be integrated into strategies of early identification and treatment of sepsis, and EMTs may benefit from focused education and training.

Determining consistency of care after resuscitation from in-hospital cardiac arrest, a retrospective analysis at a tertiary care academic medical center.

BACKGROUND: Few guidelines have focused on the care delivered after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Post ROSC best practice guidelines lack clarity about important tasks to accomplish in the first hours after ROSC. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of adults who had suffered an in hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) with ROSC over a two-year period to determine the completion rate of critical tasks in the immediate post-ROSC period: ECG within one hour, ABG within one hour, physician documentation within six hours, and surrogate communication within six hours. RESULTS: In the 113 reviewed cases, there was significant variance between completion of all four (19.4%), three (35.3%), two (32.7%), one (20.6%) and none (1.7%) of these critical post ROSC tasks. We observed that 62.8% of IHCA with ROSC had an ECG obtained within one hour of ROSC. The rate of obtaining an ABG within one hour of ROSC was 76.9%. 49.5% of cases had physician documentation of the resuscitation within six hours of ROSC. The rate of documenting surrogate communication within six hours of ROSC was 69.9%. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that the completion rates of critical tasks in the post ROSC setting were suboptimal within our patient cohort. This provides a baseline for the development of future best practice guidelines and clinical decision-making aids for post ROSC care after IHCA. This can lead to future research in coupling specific care tasks to post ROSC patient outcomes.

Interprofessional Education Module on Post-Intensive Care Syndrome for Internal Medicine Residents.

Background: Prevention of post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) in critically ill patients requires interprofessional collaboration among physicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and nutritionists. Interprofessional education promotes interprofessional collaborative practice, yet formalized interprofessional education during residency is uncommon. Objective: We sought to improve internal medicine residents' knowledge of interprofessional roles in the intensive care unit (ICU) and confidence in managing PICS by designing a virtual multimodal training module. Methods: We created a 3-hour virtual module with physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and nutrition experts. First, learners reviewed PICS and multidisciplinary interventions to optimize patient recovery. Second, attendees watched videos created by physical therapy and occupational therapy colleagues demonstrating mobility strategies to manage ICU-acquired weakness and delirium. Third, participants learned how speech-language pathology experts evaluate and manage swallowing disorders. Finally, attendees identified common nutritional therapy challenges with a trivia session. Participants completed pre- and postcourse assessments. Results: Thirty-four residents completed both pre- and postcourse assessments (52% response rate). The mean objective assessment score improved from 51% to 79% (P < 0.001). All respondents reported that their knowledge of PICS increased, and almost all (97%) believed that their knowledge of interprofessional roles increased. Respondents' confidence in facilitating discussions about critical illness recovery significantly improved, from 77% rating as either not very confident or not at all confident before the course to 94% rating as somewhat confident or very confident after the course (P < 0.001). Conclusion: This single-site pilot study suggests that integrating interprofessional training in PICS education using virtual platforms may improve residents' knowledge of interprofessional roles in the ICU and confidence in managing PICS.

Prevalence and Patterns of Resuscitation-Associated Injury Detected by Head-to-Pelvis Computed Tomography After Successful Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation.

Background Patients resuscitated from out-of-hospital circulatory arrest (OHCA) frequently have cardiopulmonary resuscitation injuries identifiable by computed tomography, although the prevalence, types of injury, and effects on clinical outcomes are poorly characterized. Methods and Results We assessed the prevalence of resuscitation-associated injuries in a prospective, observational study of a head-to-pelvis sudden-death computed tomography scan within 6 hours of successful OHCA resuscitation. Primary outcomes included total injuries and time-critical injuries (such as organ laceration). Exploratory outcomes were injury associations with mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation and survival to discharge. Among 104 patients with OHCA (age 56±15 years, 30% women), 58% had bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and total cardiopulmonary resuscitation time was 15±11 minutes. The prevalence of resuscitation-associated injury was high (81%), including 15 patients (14%) with time-critical findings. Patients with resuscitation injury were older (58±15 versus 46±13 years; P<0.001), but had otherwise similar baseline characteristics and survival compared with those without. Mechanical chest compression systems (27%) had more frequent sternal fractures (36% versus 12%; P=0.009), including displaced fractures (18% versus 1%; P=0.005), but no difference in survival (46% versus 41%; P=0.66). Conclusions In patients resuscitated from OHCA, head-to-pelvis sudden-death computed tomography identified resuscitation injuries in most patients, with nearly 1 in 7 with time-critical complications, and one-half with extensive rib-cage injuries. These data suggest that sudden-death computed tomography may have additional diagnostic utility and treatment implications beyond evaluating causes of OHCA. These important findings need to also be taken in context of the certain fatal outcome without resuscitation efforts. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT03111043.