Intravenous to Oral Transition of Amiodarone (IOTA): Effect of Various Durations of Overlap on Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence After Cardiothoracic Surgery.

ABSTRACT: The use of amiodarone for postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) is widespread; however, there is a paucity of data on the optimal duration of overlap when transitioning from intravenous (IV) to oral amiodarone. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of varying durations of overlap when amiodarone IV infusion is transitioned to oral administration in cardiothoracic surgery patients. This retrospective, observational, single-center study included cardiothoracic surgery patients who were initiated on IV amiodarone for supraventricular arrhythmia and subsequently transitioned to oral amiodarone. The primary outcome was AF recurrence within 24 hours after IV amiodarone discontinuation. Safety outcomes include occurrence of bradycardia or hypotension while on amiodarone. A total of 184 patients were included for analysis. AF recurrence occurred in 24.5% of patients (n = 45). No significant association was found between various overlap durations and AF recurrence (odds ratio (OR) 1.00, 95% CI 1.00-1.01, P = 0.9). In addition, no significant association was found between duration of overlap and rates of bradycardia (OR 1.00, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.99-1.00, P = 0.08) or hypotension (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.99-1.00, P = 0.21), which occurred in 35.9% and 47.3% of patients, respectively. Our study suggests following conversion to normal sinus rhythm; cardiothoracic surgery patients can effectively and safely be transitioned from IV to oral amiodarone without the need for specific overlap duration or transition strategy.

Narrowing antibiotic spectrum of activity for trauma-associated pneumonia through the use of a disease-specific antibiogram.

BACKGROUND: Organism susceptibilities for trauma-associated pneumonia (TAP) differ from those in other patient populations, including the critically ill. The purpose of this study was to identify common organisms and their susceptibilities in the respiratory isolates of trauma patients diagnosed with pneumonia within the first 7 days of hospital admission, and to create a TAP-specific disease-state antibiogram to guide empiric antibiotic therapy in this patient population. METHODS: This study was a retrospective review of adult trauma patients with pneumonia admitted between September 1, 2015 and August 31, 2018. Patients included were diagnosed with and treated for pneumonia, with respiratory cultures drawn within the first 7 hospital-days; both culture-positive and culture-negative patients were included. Subgroup antibiograms were made for diagnosis made on days 1-3, 4-5, and 6-7. RESULTS: There were 131 patients included with a median age of 45; 85% were male, and 31% were illicit drug users. Most patients (63%) had ventilator-associated pneumonia, and most respiratory samples (77%) were obtained via bronchoalveolar lavage. Cultures were positive in 109 patients and negative in 22. There were 144 total isolates; 54% were Gram-negative bacteria. The most common Gram-negative pathogens were Haemophilus influenzae (16%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (15%). The most common Gram-positive pathogen was Staphylococcus aureus; methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) constituted 8% of all isolates. With culture-negative patients counted as susceptible, ceftriaxone monotherapy and ceftriaxone+vancomycin susceptibilities were 85% and 94%, respectively. Susceptibilities to cefazolin, ampicillin/sulbactam, cefepime, piperacillin/tazobactam, and levofloxacin were 49%, 69%, 91%, 90%, and 92%, respectively. Illicit drug use and day of pneumonia diagnosis did not appreciably affect antibiotic susceptibilities. CONCLUSIONS: For TAP diagnosed within the first 7 days of hospital admission, ceftriaxone monotherapy is adequate as empiric therapy, including in ventilated patients. The addition of vancomycin can be considered in patients with MRSA risk factors or who are critically ill. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, prognostic and epidemiological.

Mean arterial pressure maintenance following spinal cord injury: Does meeting the target matter?

INTRODUCTION: Neurosurgical guidelines recommend maintaining mean arterial pressure (MAP) between 85 and 90 mm Hg following acute spinal cord injury (SCI). In our hospital, SCI patients receive orders for MAP targeting for 72 hours following admission, but it is unclear how often the patient's MAP meets the target and whether or not this affects outcome. We hypothesized that the proportion of MAP measurements ≥85 mm Hg would be associated with neurologic recovery. METHODS: Spinal cord injury patients with blunt mechanism of injury admitted between 2014 and 2019 were identified from the registry of a level 1 trauma center. Proportion of MAP values ≥85 mm Hg was calculated for each patient. Neurologic improvement, as measured by positive change in American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale by ≥1 level from admission to discharge was evaluated with respect to proportion of elevated MAP values. RESULTS: A total of 136 SCI patients were evaluated. Average proportion of elevated MAP values was 75%. Admission ASIA grades were as follows: A, 30 (22.1%); B, 20 (14.7%); C, 28 (20.6%); and D, 58 (42.6%). One hundred six patients (77.9%) required vasopressors to elevate MAP (ASIA A, 86.7%; B, 95.0%; C, 92.9%; D, 60.3%). Forty patients (29.4%) were observed to have improvement in ASIA grade by discharge (admission ASIA A, 15%; B, 33%; C, 40%; D, 13%). The proportion of elevated MAP values was higher for patients with neurologic improvement (0.81 ± 0.15 vs. 0.72 ± 0.25, p = 0.014). Multivariate modeling demonstrated a significant association between proportion of elevated MAP values and neurologic improvement (p = 0.028). An interaction revealed this association to be moderated by vasopressor dose (p = 0.032). CONCLUSION: The proportion of MAP measurements ≥85 mm Hg was determined to be an independent predictor of neurologic improvement. Increased vigilance regarding MAP maintenance above 85 mm Hg is warranted to optimize neurologic recovery following SCI. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic/care management, level IV.

Patient-Controlled Analgesia Following Lumbar Spinal Fusion Surgery Is Associated With Increased Opioid Consumption and Opioid-Related Adverse Events.

BACKGROUND: Optimal postoperative pain control is critical after spinal fusion surgery. There remains significant variability in the use of postoperative intravenous opioid patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) and few data evaluating its utility compared with nurse-controlled analgesia (NCA) among patients with lumbar fusion. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of postoperative PCA compared with NCA to improve opiate prescription practices. METHODS: A retrospective review from a single institution was conducted in consecutive patients treated with posterior lumbar spinal fusion for degenerative pathology. Patients were divided into cohorts on the basis of postoperative treatment with PCA or NCA. Postoperative pain scores, length of stay, and total opioid consumption data were collected. Patients were stratified according to preoperative opioid consumption as opioid naive (0 morphine milligram equivalents [MME] daily), low consumption (1-60 MME), high consumption (61-90 MME), or very high consumption (>90 MME). RESULTS: A total of 240 patients were identified, including 62 in the PCA group and 178 in the NCA group. PCA patients had higher mean preoperative opioid consumption than NCA patients (49.2 vs 24.3 MME, P = .009). PCA patients had higher mean opioid consumption in the first 72 h in all 4 of the preoperative opioid consumption subcategories. Pain control and adverse event rates were similar between PCA and NCA in the low to high preoperative opioid consumption groups. CONCLUSION: Postoperative PCA is associated with significantly more opioid consumption in the first 72 h after surgery and equal or worse postoperative pain scores compared with NCA after lumbar spinal fusion surgery.

Opioid exposure after injury in United States trauma centers: A prospective, multicenter observational study.

BACKGROUND: Efforts to reduce opioid use in trauma patients are currently hampered by an incomplete understanding of the baseline opioid exposure and variation in United States. The purpose of this project was to obtain a global estimate of opioid exposure following injury and to quantify the variability of opioid exposure between and within United States trauma centers. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective observational study was performed to calculate opioid exposure by converting all sources of opioids to oral morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs). To estimate variation, an intraclass correlation was calculated from a multilevel generalized linear model adjusting for the a priori selected variables Injury Severity Score and prior opioid use. RESULTS: The centers enrolled 1,731 patients. The median opioid exposure among all sites was 45 MMEs per day, equivalent to 30 mg of oxycodone or 45 mg of hydrocodone per day. Variation in opioid exposure was identified both between and within trauma centers with the vast majority of variation (93%) occurring within trauma centers. Opioid exposure increased with injury severity, in male patients, and patients suffering penetrating trauma. CONCLUSION: The overall median opioid exposure was 45 MMEs per day. Despite significant differences in opioid exposure between trauma centers, the majority of variation was actually within centers. This suggests that efforts to minimize opioid exposure after injury should focus within trauma centers and not on high-level efforts to affect all trauma centers. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Epidemiological, level III.

Catastrophic circulatory collapse after inadvertent subcutaneous injection of treprostinil.

PURPOSE: A case of life-threatening cardiovascular collapse after inadvertent subcutaneous injection of undiluted treprostinil is reported. SUMMARY: A 29-year-old, 76-kg woman with group 1 pulmonary arterial hypertension managed with subcutaneous treprostinil infusion arrived at the emergency department (ED) with headache, nausea, vomiting, and a syncopal episode. Her vital signs were stable on presentation. Admission orders were placed, and the appropriate 3-mL syringe containing 7.5 mg of treprostinil intended for use with the patient's home microinfusion pump was sent from inpatient pharmacy to the ED. The order in the electronic medical record stated to administer treprostinil as a subcutaneous injection rather than an infusion. The patient's nurse transferred the 7.5 mg (3 mL) of undiluted treprostinil to a standard syringe and administered it as a single subcutaneous injection. Within minutes the patient experienced cardiovascular collapse, with a blood pressure nadir of 50/20 mm Hg. Aggressive resuscitation measures were immediately implemented. Initial management included fluids, bolus-dose vasopressors, multiple high-dose vasopressor infusions, ondansetron, acetaminophen, and loperamide. Hemodynamic stability was achieved, and vasopressors were discontinued 16 hours after the overdose event. Subcutaneous treprostinil was restarted at a reduced dose 12 hours after the overdose event and was adjusted to the patient's home dose 24 hours after the initial event. She was discharged in stable condition 30 hours after the overdose event. CONCLUSION: A patient who received an inadvertent overdose of subcutaneous treprostinil experienced cardiovascular collapse requiring aggressive resuscitation measures. Successful management of the patient was largely supportive, including fluids, bolus-dose vasopressors, multiple high-dose vasopressor infusions, ondansetron, acetaminophen, and loperamide.

Hepatotoxicity in Obese Versus Nonobese Patients With Acetaminophen Poisoning Who Are Treated With Intravenous N-Acetylcysteine.

There is limited information regarding the outcomes associated with acetaminophen (APAP) poisoning in obese individuals. It is possible that patients who are obese are more susceptible to APAP-induced liver injury, thereby diminishing the efficacy of antidotes such as N-acetylcysteine (NAC). We evaluated the outcomes associated with APAP poisoning in obese versus nonobese adults who are treated with intravenous (IV) NAC. This was a retrospective cohort study conducted in a tertiary care, academic medical center. Adult patients with APAP toxicity, who were treated with IV NAC between June 2005 and August 2012, were included. The patients were categorized into 2 groups based on their body mass index (BMI): (1) obese (BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m) versus (2) nonobese (BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m). The primary outcome measure was the proportion of patients who developed hepatotoxicity (aspartate aminotransferase or alanine aminotransferase >1000 IU/L). A total of 80 patients were included in the final cohort (40 in each group). The median BMI for the obese and nonobese groups was 34.5 kg/m [interquartile range (IQR) 31.4-40.2] and 22.4 kg/m (IQR 21.2-23.9), respectively (P < 0.001). Other than more white patients being present in the nonobese group, there were no other baseline differences between groups with regard to demographics, liver function tests, or coagulation studies. Obese patients received a median IV NAC dose of 291.5 mg/kg (IQR 270.8-300.7) compared with 300 mg/kg (IQR 287.8-301.9) in the nonobese group (P = 0.07). Hepatotoxicity occurred in 27.5% of the obese patients and 37.5% of the nonobese patients (P = 0.34). No adverse drug effects were noted in either group. Obese and nonobese patients being treated with IV NAC for APAP toxicity experienced similar rates of hepatotoxicity.

Emerging pharmacological agents to improve survival from traumatic brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: To review emerging pharmacological agents for the treatment of traumatic brain injury with regard to survival outcomes and provide recommendations regarding their use. METHODS: An Ovid MEDLINE (up to May 2013) and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (up to May 2013) search was conducted to identify emerging pharmacological therapies for the treatment of traumatic brain injury. The search was limited to English language and humans. Pharmacological agents that were evaluated with respect to survival as an outcome were included. MAIN RESULTS: Based on the search, the investigators identified the following new therapies: beta-receptor antagonists, erythropoiesis stimulating agents, hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) and progesterone. With the exception of progesterone, which was studied in several small, randomized, controlled trials, the remaining agents were primarily studied in observational retrospective cohorts. For each of the agents identified, a potential increase in survival was noted. CONCLUSIONS: Emerging pharmacological agents represent promising treatment options for traumatic brain injury to improve survival. Most of these agents are commercially available for other indications. However, limitations in study design, sample size, duration of treatment, timing of treatment and inclusion of heterogeneous patient populations make it difficult to draw definitive conclusions from the literature.