Evaluation of gastric content in fasting patient during semaglutide use: an observational study.

BACKGROUND: The evident influence of GLP-1 agonists as semaglutide on gastric emptying even in adherence to recommended fasting protocols instigates debates. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of semaglutide on gastric content by gastric ultrasonography in volunteers. SETTING: Private hospital. METHODS: The present study is an observational, cross-sectional, and single-center study. We included 30 consecutive volunteers aged ≥18 years who had undergone a minimum fasting period of 8 hours for solid foods and 2 hours for clear, residue-free liquids. The intervention group consisted of 15 volunteers who had used semaglutide within the last 7 days, whereas the control group consisted of 15 volunteers who had never used semaglutide. The main objective was to determine whether the stomach was full or not. RESULTS: Between June 2023 and August 2023, a total of 30 adult volunteers were included in the study, and no participant was excluded. The semaglutide group exhibited a higher prevalence of full stomach (11 of 15 [73%] versus 1 of 15 [7%], P < .001; adjusted to age P = .003). The semaglutide group also exhibited a higher prevalence of early satiety (10 of 15 [67%] versus 0 of 15 [0%], P < .001), loss of appetite (10 of 15 [67%] versus 0 of 15 [0%], P < .001), gastric fullness (8 of 15 [53%] versus 0 of 15 [0%], P = .002), and nausea (7 of 15 [47%] versus 1 of 15 [7%], P = .035). Additionally, there is no case in the semaglutide group with no gastric contents. CONCLUSIONS: The use of semaglutide is associated with full stomach even after appropriate overnight fasting. Semaglutide is also associated with increased gastrointestinal symptoms such as loss of appetite, early satiety, gastric fullness, and nausea.

Peripheral muscular ultrasound as outcome assessment tool in critically ill patients on mechanical ventilation: An observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Survivors of critical illness experience significant skeletal muscle wasting that may predict clinical outcome. Ultrasound (US) is a noninvasive method that can measure muscle quadriceps muscle layer thickness (QMLT) at the bedside. The aim of this study was to determine the muscle loss assessed by ultrasonography (US) of the quadriceps femoris muscle in critically ill patients on mechanical ventilation and its relationship with hospital outcomes. METHODS: This study involved patients ≥18 years admitted to the intensive care unit who needed mechanical ventilation for at least 48 h. The quadriceps muscle layer thickness (QMLT) in the two-thirds of the thigh was quantified using bedside US. The QMLT of the left and right legs on the first (D1), third (D3), and seventh (D7) days were measured. RESULTS: US quadriceps thickness measurements were performed in 74 critically ill patients. The mean age was 62.3 ± 19.5 years, 54.1% of the patients were men, with a BMI of 25.5 ± 4.6 kg/m2, SAPS 3 of 55.2 ± 17.2, and NRS of 3.2 ± 1.0. The percentage muscle thickness declined at the right leg in 15% (95%CI, 10.5%-19.4%), and 12.7% (95%CI, 9.1%-16.3%) at the left leg from the first to the seventh day. Receiver operating characteristic showed cutoff value in muscle thickness of ≤1.64 cm on day 7 could predict survival (area under then curve = 0.7; 95% CI, 0.582-0.801). In Cox regression after adjusting, the probability of patients remaining on mechanical ventilation was higher with ≤1.64 cm loss of thigh muscle thickness on day 7; HR = 2.1 (95% CI 1.1-3.8, P = 0.017). The same occurred about ICU survival probability; HR = 3.7 (95% CI 1.2 to 11.5) and hospital survival probability; HR = 4.5 (95% CI 1.5 to 13.7). CONCLUSIONS: The measurement of QMLT using US showed that critically ill patients on mechanical ventilation presented with muscle wasting and greater loss of muscle thickness was associated with worse outcomes.

Intensive care unit patients' opinion on enrollment in clinical research: A multicenter survey.

BACKGROUND: In most emergency situations or severe illness, patients are unable to consent for clinical trial enrollment. In such circumstances, the decision about whether to participate in a scientific study or not is made by a legally designated representative. OBJECTIVE: To address the willingness of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) to be enrolled in a scientific study as volunteers, and to assess the agreement between patients' and their legal representatives' opinion concerning enrollment in a scientific study. METHODS: This survey was conducted in two hospitals in São Paulo, Brazil. Patients (≥18 years) with preserved cognitive functions accompanied by a surrogate admitted to the ICU were eligible for this study. A survey containing 28 questions for patients and 8 questions for surrogates was applied within the first 48h from ICU admission. The survey for patients comprised three sections: demographic characteristics, opinion about participation in clinical research and knowledge about the importance of research. The survey for legal representatives contained two sections: demographic characteristics and assessment of legal representatives' opinion in authorizing patients to be enrolled in research. RESULTS: Between January 2017 and May 2018, 208 pairs of ICU patients and their respective legal representatives answered the survey. Out of 208 ICU patients answering the survey, 73.6% (153/208) were willing to be enrolled in the study as volunteers. Of those patients, 65.1% (97/149) would continue participating in a research even if their legal representative did not support their enrollment. Agreement between patients' and surrogates' opinion concerning participation was poor [Kappa = 0.11 (IC95% -0.02 to 0.25)]. If a consent for study participation had been obtained, 69.1% (103/149) of patients would continue participating in the study until its conclusion, and 23.5% (35/149) would allow researchers to use data collected to date, but would withdraw from the study on that occasion. CONCLUSION: The majority of patients admitted to the ICU were willing to be enrolled in a scientific study as volunteers, also after a deferred informed consent procedure has been used. Nevertheless, contradictory opinions between patients and their and their legal representatives' concerning enrollment in a scientific study were often observed.