Delirium and COVID-19: a narrative review of emerging evidence.

Delirium is a common condition affecting hospital inpatients, including those having surgery and on the intensive care unit. Delirium is also common in patients with COVID-19 in hospital settings, and the occurrence is higher than expected for similar infections. The short-term outcomes of those with COVID-19 delirium are similar to that of classical delirium and include increased length of stay and increased mortality. Management of delirium in COVID-19 in the context of a global pandemic is limited by the severity of the syndrome and compounded by the environmental constraints. Practical management includes effective screening, early identification and appropriate treatment aimed at minimising complications and timely escalation decisions. The pandemic has played out on the national stage and the effect of delirium on patients, relatives and healthcare workers remains unknown but evidence from the previous SARS outbreak suggests there may be long-lasting psychological damage.

Mobilização precoce em unidade de terapia intensiva adulto: revisão de literatura e proposta de protocolo assistencial / Arly mobilization in an adult intensive care unit: literature review and proposal of a care protocol

Introdução: A mobilização precoce impacta diretamente no aumento da sobrevida em pacientes críticos, diminui a chance de complicações pulmonares, reduz o tempo de desmame de ventilação mecânica e impulsiona o processo de recuperação. A justificativa deste estudo reside na ausência de um protocolo de mobilização precoce (PMP) na unidade de terapia intensiva (UTI) em que atuam os autores. Objetivo: Desenvolver um PMP para uma UTI adulto, a partir de uma revisão sobre protocolos disponíveis na literatura. Metodologia: Foi realizada uma revisão da literatura dos últimos 10 anos, utilizando os descritores: mobilização precoce e unidade de terapia intensiva, nas bases de dados Medline/PubMed, Lilacs e Scielo. Resultados: Foram identificados 302 artigos, dos quais foram incluídos cinco ensaios clínicos que aplicaram protocolos de mobilização diversos em relação aos exercícios incluídos, dosimetria das intervenções, tempos de aplicação e características sociodemográficas e clínicas dos pacientes incluídos. Foi verificada homogeneidade nos critérios de progressão das intervenções dos protocolos, sendo o nível de consciência e a força muscular periférica, os critérios mais utilizados. Conclusão: A partir desta revisão, foi desenvolvido um PMP para uma UTI adulta, baseado em níveis de progressão das intervenções, considerando características clínicas como nível de sedação, necessidade de suporte ventilatório invasivo, nível cognitivo e funcionalidade.

Introduction: Early mobilization has a direct impact on the increased survival in critically ill patients, reduces the chance of pulmonary complications, reduces the time to weaning from mechanical ventilation, and boosts the recovery process. This study is necessary since there is an absence of an early mobilization protocol (EMP) in the intensive care unit (ICU) where the authors work. Objective: To develop an EMP for an adult ICU, based on a review of protocols available in the literature. Methodology: A literature review of the last 10 years was performed, using the descriptors: early mobilization and intensive care unit on the Medline/PubMed, Lilacs, and Scielo databases. Results: From a total of 302 articles identified, five clinical trials were included in the analysis. These five trials applied different mobilization protocols regarding the included exercises, intervention dosimetry, application times, and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the included pa-tients. Homogeneity was verified in the criteria for the progression of the interventions in the protocols. Also, the level of consciousness and peripheral muscle strength were the most used criteria. Conclusion: From this review, an EMP was developed for an adult ICU based on levels of progression of interventions, based on clinical characteristics such as level of sedation, need for invasive ventilatory support, cognitive level, and functionality.

Higher severity and risk of in-hospital mortality for COVID-19 patients with cancer during the year 2020 in Brazil: A countrywide analysis of secondary data.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and cancer are serious public health problems worldwide. However, little is known about the risk factors of in-hospital mortality among COVID-19 patients with and without cancer in Brazil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the risk factors of in-hospital mortality among COVID-19 patients with and without cancer and to compare mortality according to gender and topography during the year 2020 in Brazil. METHODS: This was a secondary data study of hospitalized adult patients with a diagnosis of COVID-19 by real-time polymerase chain reaction testing in Brazil. The data were collected from the Influenza Epidemiological Surveillance Information System. RESULTS: This study analyzed data from 322,817 patients. The prevalence of cancer in patients with COVID-19 was 2.3%. COVID-19 patients with neurological diseases and cancer had the most lethal comorbidities in both sexes. COVID-19 patients with cancer were more likely to be older (median age, 67 vs 62 years; P < .001), to have a longer hospital stay (13.1 vs 11.5 days; P < .001), to be admitted to the intensive care unit (45.3% vs 39.6%; P < .001), to receive more invasive mechanical ventilation (27.1% vs 21.9%), and to have a higher risk of death (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.94; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.83-2.06; P < .001) than those without cancer. Patients with hematological neoplasia (aOR, 2.85; 95% CI, 2.41-3.38; P < .001) had a higher risk of mortality than those with solid tumors (aOR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.72-1.95; P < .001) in both sexes. CONCLUSIONS: Brazilian COVID-19 patients with cancer have higher disease severity and a higher risk of mortality than those without cancer.

Clinical Trends Among U.S. Adults Hospitalized With COVID-19, March to December 2020 : A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused substantial morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE: To describe monthly clinical trends among adults hospitalized with COVID-19. DESIGN: Pooled cross-sectional study. SETTING: 99 counties in 14 states participating in the Coronavirus Disease 2019-Associated Hospitalization Surveillance Network (COVID-NET). PATIENTS: U.S. adults (aged ≥18 years) hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 during 1 March to 31 December 2020. MEASUREMENTS: Monthly hospitalizations, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, and in-hospital death rates per 100 000 persons in the population; monthly trends in weighted percentages of interventions, including ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, and vasopressor use, among an age- and site-stratified random sample of hospitalized case patients. RESULTS: Among 116 743 hospitalized adults with COVID-19, the median age was 62 years, 50.7% were male, and 40.8% were non-Hispanic White. Monthly rates of hospitalization (105.3 per 100 000 persons), ICU admission (20.2 per 100 000 persons), and death (11.7 per 100 000 persons) peaked during December 2020. Rates of all 3 outcomes were highest among adults aged 65 years or older, males, and Hispanic or non-Hispanic Black persons. Among 18 508 sampled hospitalized adults, use of remdesivir and systemic corticosteroids increased from 1.7% and 18.9%, respectively, in March to 53.8% and 74.2%, respectively, in December. Frequency of ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, and vasopressor use decreased from March (37.8%, 27.8%, and 22.7%, respectively) to December (20.5%, 12.3%, and 12.8%, respectively); use of noninvasive respiratory support increased from March to December. LIMITATION: COVID-NET covers approximately 10% of the U.S. population; findings may not be generalizable to the entire country. CONCLUSION: Rates of COVID-19-associated hospitalization, ICU admission, and death were highest in December 2020, corresponding with the third peak of the U.S. pandemic. The frequency of intensive interventions for management of hospitalized patients decreased over time. These data provide a longitudinal assessment of clinical trends among adults hospitalized with COVID-19 before widespread implementation of COVID-19 vaccines. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Epidemiologia, complicações e fatores associados à doença crítica crônica em pacientes hospitalizados por trauma em unidade de terapia intensiva / Epidemiology, complications, and factors associated with chronic critical illness in patients hospitalized by trauma in an intensive care unit

A doença crítica crônica (DCC) descreve pacientes que sobreviveram ao episódio inicial de doença crítica, mas que permanecem dependentes da unidade de terapia intensiva (UTI) por períodos prolongados ou pelo resto de suas vidas. O presente estudo objetivou caracterizar pacientes traumatizados e hospitalizados na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva com Doença Crítica Crônica. Foram coletados dados de internações por trauma UTI no interior do Paraná de 2013 a 2016, dessa maneira, foi traçado o perfil epidemiológico e realizado associações e comparação dos grupos analisados (total de pacientes traumatizados hospitalizados em UTI em comparação com os pacientes traumatizados que desenvolveram DCC). Notou-se que dos 417 indivíduos traumatizados investigados, 41 (9,8%) foram classificados com DCC. Além disso, o sexo masculino, menor índice de comorbidades, maior gravidade do trauma e ferimentos contusos estiveram relacionados ao desenvolvimento da DCC. Os pacientes com DCC apresentaram complicações cirúrgicas (87,8%), e 41,5% evoluíram a óbito. Portanto, os pacientes com DCC permanecem por longo período na UTI (com uma média de 19,88 dias), os quais necessitam de cuidados intensivos de enfermagem e da equipe multiprofissional.(AU)

Chronic critical illness (CCI) describes patients who survived the initial episode of critical illness, but who remain dependent of the intensive care unit (ICU) for extended periods or for the rest of their lives. This study aimed at characterizing traumatized patients hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit with Chronic Critical Illness. Data from ICU trauma hospitalizations in the interior of the state of Paraná were collected from 2013 to 2016, and with them, the epidemiological profile was drawn up, associations were made, and the analyzed groups were compared (total traumatized patients hospitalized in the ICU compared to traumatized patients who developed CCI). It was observed that from the 417 traumatized individuals investigated, 41 (9.8%) were classified as having CCI. In addition, it was observed that gender (male), a lower rate of comorbidities, greater severity of trauma, and blunt injuries were related to the development of CCI. Patients with CCI had surgical complications (87.8%), and 41.5% died. Therefore, CCI remain in the ICU for a long period (with an average of 19.88 days), which require intensive nursing care and the use of a multidisciplinary team.(AU)

Desempenho dos escores APACHE II e SOFA em pacientes com injúria renal aguda em uma unidade de terapia intensiva / Performance of APACHE II and SOFA scores in patients with acute kidney injury in an intensive care unit

Objetivo: Validar o desempenho dos escores APACHE II e SOFA para predizer a mortalidade em pacientes com injúria renal aguda em uma unidade de terapia intensiva. Métodos: Estudo observacional e retrospectivo realizado de janeiro de 2018 a setembro de 2020 em um hospital do Rio Grande do Sul. Foram incluídos 256 pacientes. Resultados: Ambos os escores apre- sentaram desempenho adequado para a discriminação da mortalidade em pacientes com injúria renal aguda (área sob a curva para APACHE II de 0,80 e para SOFA de 0,77). Conclusão: A injúria renal aguda é uma condição frequente em ambiente de unidade de terapia intensiva, e os resultados do presente estudo sugerem que ambos os índices são mais precisos quando aplicados em centros únicos e podem ser utilizados rotineiramente para predizer a mortalidade na população

Objective: To validate the performance of the APACHE II and SOFA scores to predict mortality in patients with acute kidney injury in an Intensive Care Unit. Methods: This is an observational and retrospective study conducted from January 2018 to September 2020 at a hospital in Rio Grande do Sul. A total of 256 patients were included. Results: Both scores showed adequate performance for the discrimination of mortality in acute kidney injury patients (area under the curve of 0.80 for APACHE II and 0.77 for SOFA). Conclusion: Acute kidney injury is a frequent condition in intensive care unit settings and the results of the present study suggest that both indices are more accurate when applied in single centers, and can be used routinely to predict mortality in the population

Comportamiento de la cardiopatía isquémica en una unidad de cuidados intensivos / Characteristics of ischemic heart disease in an intensive care unit

Introducción: La cardiopatía isquémica es frecuente, tiene diversas formas de manifestarse y predomina entre las enfermedades que motivan el ingreso de pacientes a unidades de emergencias, y que causan ingresos hospitalarios. Objetivo: Profundizar en el conocimiento de los pacientes con cardiopatía isquémica en una unidad de cuidados intensivos municipal. Método: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y transversal, de 528 pacientes que ingresaron en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos del Hospital General Docente Orlando Pantoja Tamayo, Contramaestre, Santiago de Cuba, con diagnóstico de cardiopatías isquémicas, desde enero de 2016 hasta junio de 2019. Las variables utilizadas fueron: grupo de edades, sexo, diagnostico al ingreso, antecedentes patológicos personales, estadía y estado al egreso. Se utilizó el porcentaje para resumir la información, así como el test chi cuadrado para identificar asociación estadística. Resultados: Hubo predominio del sexo masculino y edades entre 60-70 y 36-59 años, fueron más frecuentes el infarto agudo de miocardio y la combinación de 3 o más factores de riesgo. El mayor número de fallecimientos se ocurrió en los primeros 3 días de admitidos y en pacientes con ventilación mecánica invasiva. Conclusiones: El comportamiento de las enfermedades cardiovasculares continúa siendo un gran problema de salud, aparece en edades cada vez más tempranas. En casos severos la mortalidad puede ocurrir en las primeras 72 h(AU)

Introduction: Ischemic heart disease is frequent, has different manifestation forms, and predominates among diseases leading to patient admission into emergency units and hospital admissions in general. Objective: To deepen the knowledge of patients with ischemic heart disease in a municipal intensive care unit. Method: A descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out of 528 patients who were admitted into the intensive care unit of Orlando Pantoja Tamayo General Teaching Hospital in Contramaestre Municipality, Santiago de Cuba, with a diagnosis of ischemic heart disease, from January 2016 to June of 2019. The variables used were age group, sex, diagnosis at admission, personal pathological history, hospital stay, and status at discharge. We used percentage to summarize the information, as well as the chi-square test to identify statistical association. Results: There was a predominance of males and ages between 60-70 and 36-59 years. Acute myocardial infarction and the combination of three or more risk factors were more frequent. The highest number of deaths occurred in the first three days after admission and among patients with invasive mechanical ventilation. Conclusions: The characteristics of cardiovascular diseases continues to be a major health concern, as long as they are appearing at increasingly earlier ages. In severe cases, mortality can occur in the first seventy-two hours(AU)

Effect of Dexmedetomidine on Delirium in Elderly Surgical Patients: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this meta-analysis is to assess the effect of dexmedetomidine on delirium in elderly surgical patients. DATA SOURCES: The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar were searched (January 1, 2000, to February 4, 2020) for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: RCTs without language restrictions were included if delirium incidence was assessed in elderly surgical patients receiving dexmedetomidine. Intervention and basic information were extracted. DATA SYNTHESIS: 21 studies were included. Dexmedetomidine reduced delirium occurrence (risk ratio [RR] = 0.55; 95% CI = 0.45 to 0.67) in elderly surgical patients with sufficient evidence from trial sequential analysis. Dexmedetomidine did not prevent delirium incidence for cardiac surgery (RR = 0.71; 95% CI = 0.44 to 1.15) with insufficient evidence. Dexmedetomidine decreased mortality incidence (RR = 0.47; 95% CI = 0.25 to 0.89), shortened the length of intensive care unit (ICU; standard mean difference [SMD] = -0.46) and hospital stays (SMD = -0.41), and increased bradycardia incidence (RR = 1.60). RELEVANCE TO PATIENT CARE AND CLINICAL PRACTICE: This review revealed that dexmedetomidine could reduce delirium incidence for elderly noncardiac surgical patients, and the effect of dexmedetomidine on delirium for elderly cardiac surgical patients needs further studies to guide clinicians. CONCLUSION: Dexmedetomidine reduced delirium incidence in elderly surgical patients. The efficacy of dexmedetomidine on delirium for elderly cardiac surgical patients warrants further studies. Furthermore, dexmedetomidine was associated with an increased bradycardia incidence, shorter length of ICU/hospital stays, and a lower incidence of mortality.

The impact of tracheostomy timing on clinical outcomes and adverse events in intubated patients with infratentorial lesions: early versus late tracheostomy.

We evaluated the association between the timing of tracheostomy and clinical outcomes in patients with infratentorial lesions. We performed a retrospective observational cohort study in a neurosurgical intensive care unit (ICU) at a tertiary academic medical center from January 2014 to December 2018. Consecutive adult patients admitted to the ICU who underwent resection of infratentorial lesions as well as tracheostomy were included for analysis. Early tracheostomy was defined as performed on postoperative days 1-10 and late tracheostomy on days 10-20 after operation. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to compare the characteristics and outcomes between both cohorts. A total of 143 patients were identified, and 96 patients received early tracheostomy. Multivariable analysis identified early tracheostomy as an independent variable associated with lower occurrence of pneumonia (odds ratio, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.09-0.73; p = 0.011), shorter stays in ICUs (hazard ratio, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.3-0.6; p = 0.03), and earlier decannulation (hazard ratio, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.4-0.8; p = 0.003). However, no significant differences were observed between the early and late tracheostomy groups regarding hospital mortality (p > 0.999) and the modified Rankin scale after 6 months (p = 0.543). We also identified postoperative brainstem deficits, including cough, swallowing attempts, and extended tongue as well as GCS < 8 at ICU admission as the risk factors independently associated with patients underwent tracheostomy. There is a significant association between early tracheostomy and beneficial clinical outcomes or reduced adverse event occurrence in patients with infratentorial lesions.

The comparison of the survival rates of intensive and palliative care units.

INTRODUCTION: Palliative care is a multidisciplinary therapy formed by physical, social, psychological, cultural and spiritual support of patients and families. The aim of the present study is to compare the survival rates of the intensive care unit (ICU) and palliative care unit (PCU). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective observational cohort study was performed using the database of an intensive care unit. Patients with terminal illness admitted to the intensive care unit or palliative care unit were included in the study. Demographic data, comorbidities, time of admission, discharge and death were recorded. The survival estimation was completed using Kaplan Meier survival analysis. RESULT: A total of 112 patients were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups where 60 patients (53.6%) were in Group ICU and 52 (46.4%) were in Group PCU. The Kaplan-Meier estimation of survival curves showed that the overall median time was 29 days. This result demonstrated that 50% of the patients was survived longer than 29 days, in which it was 12 days and 38 days for Group ICU and Group PCU, respectively (𝜒2= 3.475, p= 0.062). The cost of either intensive care unit or palliative care unit did not show any difference (p= 0.902). CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that long-term survival rates are similar in intensive care unit and palliative care unit.

How to ventilate obese patients in the ICU.

Obesity is an important risk factor for major complications, morbidity and mortality related to intubation procedures and ventilation in the intensive care unit (ICU). The fall in functional residual capacity promotes airway closure and atelectasis formation. This narrative review presents the impact of obesity on the respiratory system and the key points to optimize airway management, noninvasive and invasive mechanical ventilation in ICU patients with obesity. Non-invasive strategies should first optimize body position with reverse Trendelenburg position or sitting position. Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is considered as the first-line therapy in patients with obesity having a postoperative acute respiratory failure. Positive pressure pre-oxygenation before the intubation procedure is the method of reference. The use of videolaryngoscopy has to be considered by adequately trained intensivists, especially in patients with several risk factors. Regarding mechanical ventilation in patients with and without acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), low tidal volume (6 ml/kg of predicted body weight) and moderate to high positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), with careful recruitment maneuver in selected patients, are advised. Prone positioning is a therapeutic choice in severe ARDS patients with obesity. Prophylactic NIV should be considered after extubation to prevent re-intubation. If obesity increases mortality and risk of ICU admission in the overall population, the impact of obesity on ICU mortality is less clear and several confounding factors have to be taken into account regarding the "obesity ICU paradox".

Current status of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for ovarian cancer in the United States.

OBJECTIVES: 1.) To compare frequency of HIPEC use in ovarian cancer treatment before and after publication of the phase III study by van Driel et al. in January 2018. 2.) To compare associated rates of hospital-based outcomes, including length of stay, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, complications, and costs in ovarian cancer surgery with or without HIPEC. METHODS: We queried Vizient's administrative claims database of 550 US hospitals for ovarian cancer surgeries from January 2016-January 2020 using ICD-10 diagnosis and procedure codes. Sodium thiosulfate administration was used to identify HIPEC cases according to the published protocol. Student t-tests and relative risk (RR) were used to compare continuous variables and contingency tables, respectively. RESULTS: 152 ovarian cancer patients had HIPEC at 39 hospitals, and 20,014 ovarian cancer patients had surgery without HIPEC at 256 hospitals. Following the trial publication, 97% of HIPEC cases occurred. During the index admission, HIPEC patients had longer median length of stay (8.4 vs. 5.7 days, p < 0.001) and higher percentage of ICU admissions (63.1% vs. 11.0%, p < 0.001) and complication rates (RR = 1.87, p = 0.002). Index admission direct costs ($21,825 vs. $12,038, p < 0.001) and direct cost index (observed/expected costs) (1.87 vs. 1.11, p < 0.001) were also greater in the HIPEC patients. No inpatient deaths or 30-day readmissions were identified after HIPEC. CONCLUSIONS: Use of HIPEC for ovarian cancer increased in the US after publication of a phase III clinical trial in a high-impact journal, though the absolute number of cases remains modest. Incorporation of HIPEC was associated with increased cost, hospital length of stay, ICU admission, and hospital-acquired complication rates. Further studies are needed in order to evaluate long-term outcomes, including morbidity and survival.

Prospective multicentre multifaceted before-after implementation study of ICU delirium guidelines: a process evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to explore: the exposure of healthcare workers to a delirium guidelines implementation programme; effects on guideline adherence at intensive care unit (ICU) level; impact on knowledge and barriers, and experiences with the implementation. DESIGN: A mixed-methods process evaluation of a prospective multicentre implementation study. SETTING: Six ICUs. PARTICIPANTS: 4449 adult ICU patients and 500 ICU professionals approximately. INTERVENTION: A tailored implementation programme. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Adherence to delirium guidelines recommendations at ICU level before, during and after implementation; knowledge and perceived barriers; and experiences with the implementation. RESULTS: Five of six ICUs were exposed to all implementation strategies as planned. More than 85% followed the required e-learnings; 92% of the nurses attended the clinical classroom lessons; five ICUs used all available implementation strategies and perceived to have implemented all guideline recommendations (>90%). Adherence to predefined performance indicators (PIs) at ICU level was only above the preset target (>85%) for delirium screening. For all other PIs, the inter-ICU variability was between 34% and 72%. The implementation of delirium guidelines was feasible and successful in resolving the majority of barriers found before the implementation. The improvement was well sustained 6 months after full guideline implementation. Knowledge about delirium was improved (from 61% to 65%). The implementation programme was experienced as very successful. CONCLUSIONS: Multifaceted implementation can improve and sustain adherence to delirium guidelines, is feasible and can largely be performed as planned. However, variability in delirium guideline adherence at individual ICUs remains a challenge, indicating the need for more tailoring at centre level.

Effectiveness of remdesivir in patients with COVID-19 under mechanical ventilation in an Italian ICU.

BACKGROUND: Remdesivir is a prodrug with in vitro activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Its clinical efficacy in patients with COVID-19 under mechanical ventilation remains to be evaluated. METHODS: This study includes patients under mechanical ventilation with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection admitted to the ICU of Pesaro hospital between 29 February and 20 March 2020. During this period, remdesivir was provided on a compassionate use basis. Clinical characteristics and outcome of patients treated with remdesivir were collected retrospectively and compared with those of patients hospitalized in the same time period. RESULTS: A total of 51 patients were considered, of which 25 were treated with remdesivir. The median (IQR) age was 67 (59-75.5) years, 92% were men and symptom onset was 10 (8-12) days before admission to ICU. At baseline, there was no significant difference in demographic characteristics, comorbidities and laboratory values between patients treated and not treated with remdesivir. Median follow-up was 52 (46-57) days. Kaplan-Meier curves showed significantly lower mortality among patients who had been treated with remdesivir (56% versus 92%, P < 0.001). Cox regression analysis showed that the Charlson Comorbidity Index was the only factor that had a significant association with higher mortality (OR 1.184; 95% CI 1.027-1.365; P = 0.020), while the use of remdesivir was associated with better survival (OR 3.506; 95% CI 1.768-6.954; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In this study the mortality rate of patients with COVID-19 under mechanical ventilation is confirmed to be high. The use of remdesivir was associated with a significant beneficial effect on survival.

Factors influencing the integration of a palliative approach in intensive care units: a systematic mixed-methods review.

BACKGROUND: While a palliative approach is generally perceived to be an integral part of the intensive care unit (ICU), the provision of palliative care in this setting is challenging. This review aims to identify factors (barriers and facilitators) influencing a palliative approach in intensive care settings, as perceived by health care professionals. METHOD: A systematic mixed-methods review was conducted. Multiple electronic databases were used, and the following search terms were utilized: implementation, palliative care, and intensive care unit. In total, 1843 articles were screened, of which 24 met the research inclusion/exclusion criteria. A thematic synthesis method was used for both qualitative and quantitative studies. RESULTS: Four key prerequisite factors were identified: (a) organizational structure in facilitating policies, unappropriated resources, multi-disciplinary team involvement, and knowledge and skills; (b) work environment, including physical and psychosocial factors; (c) interpersonal factors/barriers, including family and patients' involvement in communication and participation; and (d) decision-making, e.g., decision and transition, goal conflict, multidisciplinary team communication, and prognostication. CONCLUSION: Factors hindering the integration of a palliative approach in an intensive care context constitute a complex interplay among organizational structure, the care environment and clinicians' perceptions and attitudes. While patient and family involvement was identified as an important facilitator of palliative care, it was also recognized as a barrier for clinicians due to challenges in shared goal setting and communication.

Epidemiological trends of surgical admissions to the intensive care unit in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiologic assessment of surgical admissions into intensive care units (ICUs) provides a framework to evaluate health care system efficiency and project future health care needs. METHODS: We performed a 9-year (2008-2016), retrospective, cohort analysis of all adult admissions to 88 surgical ICUs using the prospectively and manually abstracted Cerner Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation Outcomes database. We stratified patients into 13 surgical cohorts and modeled temporal trends in admission, mortality, surgical ICU length of stay (LOS), and change in functional status (FS) using generalized mixed-effects and Quasi-Poisson models to obtain risk-adjusted outcomes. RESULTS: We evaluated 78,053 ICU admissions and observed a significant decrease in admissions after transplant and thoracic surgery, with a concomitant increase in admissions after otolaryngological and facial reconstructive procedures (all p < 0.05). While overall risk-adjusted mortality remained stable over the study period; mortality significantly declined in orthopedic, cardiac, urologic, and neurosurgical patients (all p < 0.05). Cardiac, urologic, gastrointestinal, neurosurgical, and orthopedic admissions showed significant reductions in LOS (all p < 0.05). The overall rate of FS deterioration increased per year, suggesting ICU-related disability increased over the study period. CONCLUSION: Temporal analysis demonstrates a significant change in the type of surgical patients admitted to the ICU over the last decade, with decreasing mortality and LOS in selected cohorts, but an increasing rate of FS deterioration. Improvement in ICU outcomes may highlight the success of health care advancements within certain surgical cohorts, while simultaneously identifying cohorts that may benefit from future intervention. Our findings have significant implications in health care systems planning, including resource and personnel allocation, education, and surgical training. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Economic/decision, level IV.Epidemiologic, level IV.

Keeping a 2009 Design Award-Winning Intensive Care Unit Current: A 13-Year Case Study.

In a complex medical center environment, the occupants of newly built or renovated spaces expect everything to "function almost perfectly" immediately upon occupancy and for years to come. However, the reality is usually quite different. The need to remediate initial design deficiencies or problems not noted with simulated workflows may occur. In our intensive care unit (ICU), we were very committed to both short-term and long-term enhancements to improve the built and technological environments in order to correct design flaws and modernize the space to extend its operational life way beyond a decade. In this case study, we present all the improvements and their background in our 20-bed, adult medical-surgical ICU. This ICU was the recipient of the Society of Critical Care Medicine's 2009 ICU Design Award Citation. Our discussion addresses redesign and repurposing of ICU and support spaces to accommodate expanding clinical or entirely new programs, new regulations and mandates; upgrading of new technologies and informatics platforms; introducing new design initiatives; and addressing wear and tear and gaps in security and disaster management. These initiatives were all implemented while our ICU remained fully operational. Proposals that could not be implemented are also discussed. We believe this case study describing our experiences and real-life approaches to analyzing and solving challenges in a dynamic environment may offer great value to architects, designers, critical care providers, and hospital administrators whether they are involved in initial ICU design or participate in long-term ICU redesign or modernization.

The Prognostic Role of Procalcitonin in Critically Ill Patients Admitted in a Medical Stepdown Unit: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Procalcitonin (PCT) is a a marker of bacterial infection. Its prognostic role in the critically-ill patient, however, is still object of debate. Aim of this study was to evaluate the capacity of admission PCT (aPCT) in assessing the prognosis of the critically-ill patient regardless the presence of bacterial infection. A single-cohort, single-center retrospective study was performed evaluating critically-ill patients admitted to a stepdown care unit. Age, sex, Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (SAPS-II), shock, troponin-I, aPCT, serum creatinine, cultures and clinical endpoints (in-hospital mortality or Intensive Care Unit (ICU) transfer) were collected. Time free from adverse event (TF-AE) was defined as the time between hospitalization and occurrence of one of the clinical endpoints, and calculated with Kaplan-Meier curves. We engineered a new predictive model (POCS) adopting aPCT, age and shock.We enrolled 1063 subjects: 450 reached the composite outcome of death or ICU transfer. aPCT was significantly higher in this group, where it predicted TF-AE both in septic and non-septic patients. aPCT and POCS showed a good prognostic performance in the whole sample, both in septic and non-septic patients. aPCT showed a good prognostic accuracy, adding informations on the rapidity of clinical deterioration. POCS model reached a performance similar to SAPS-II.

The evolution of open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair at a tertiary care center.

BACKGROUND: The characteristics of and indications for open abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair have evolved over time. We evaluated these trends through the experience at a tertiary care academic center. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted for patients undergoing open AAA repair (inclusive of type IV thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms) from 2005 to 2018 at an academic institution. Trends over time were evaluated using the Spearman test; Cox regression was used to determine predictors of mortality and to generate adjusted survival curves. RESULTS: There were 628 patients (71.5% male; 88.2% white) with a mean age of 70.5 ± 9.4 years who underwent open AAA repair with a mean aneurysm diameter of 6.2 ± 1.5 cm. The median length of stay was 10 days, and the median intensive care unit length of stay was 3 days. Urgent repair was undertaken in 21.1%; 22.3% were type IV thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repairs, and 9.9% were performed for explantation. Our series favored a retroperitoneal approach in the majority of cases (82.5%). The proximal clamp sites were supraceliac (46.1%), suprarenal (29.1%), and infrarenal (24.8%), with approximately a third requiring renal artery reimplantation. The average cross-clamp time was 25.5 ± 14.9 minutes; the mean renal ischemia time for supraceliac and suprarenal clamp sites was 28.4 ± 12.3 minutes and 23.5 ± 12.7 minutes, respectively. Postoperative renal dysfunction occurred in 19.6% of the overall cohort, with 6.2% requiring hemodialysis. Of those requiring postoperative hemodialysis, the majority (75%) received an urgent repair. The in-hospital mortality was 2.3% for elective cases vs 20.9% for urgent repair, and 29.8% of patients were discharged to rehabilitation, with an overall 30-day readmission rate of 7.9%. Over time, there were trends of increased aneurysm repair complexity, with decreasing infrarenal clamp sites, increasing supraceliac clamp sites, increasing proportion of explantations, and increasing need for bifurcated grafts. The acuity of aneurysm repair likewise changed, with the proportion of urgent repairs increasing over time, largely attributable to the rise in explantations. Clamp site influenced the frequency of perioperative complications. Urgent repairs and age at operation were associated with mortality, whereas mortality was not associated with need for explantation and clamp location. CONCLUSIONS: Aneurysm repair reflected increasing complexity over time, with the need for explantation among urgent repairs significantly on the rise. Urgency and clamp location independently predicted long-term mortality, even after adjustment for age. These findings underscore the changing landscape of open AAA repair in the current era.