ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To describe the prevalence and associated risk factors of new onset anisocoria (new pupil size difference of at least 1 mm) and its subtypes: new onset anisocoria accompanied by abnormal and normal pupil reactivities in patients with acute neurologic injuries. DESIGN: We tested the association of patients who experienced new onset anisocoria subtypes with degree of midline shift using linear regression. We further explored differences between quantitative pupil characteristics associated with first-time new onset anisocoria and nonnew onset anisocoria at preceding observations using mixed effects logistic regression, adjusting for possible confounders. SETTING: All quantitative pupil observations were collected at two neuro-ICUs by nursing staff as standard of care. PATIENTS: We conducted a retrospective two-center study of adult patients with intracranial pathology in the ICU with at least a 24-hour stay and three or more quantitative pupil measurements between 2016 and 2018. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We studied 221 patients (mean age 58, 41% women). Sixty-three percent experienced new onset anisocoria. New onset anisocoria accompanied by objective evidence of abnormal pupil reactivity occurring at any point during hospitalization was significantly associated with maximum midline shift (ß = 2.27 per mm; p = 0.01). The occurrence of new onset anisocoria accompanied by objective evidence of normal pupil reactivity was inversely associated with death (odds ratio, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.16-0.71; p = 0.01) in adjusted analyses. Subclinical continuous pupil size difference distinguished first-time new onset anisocoria from nonnew onset anisocoria in up to four preceding pupil observations (or up to 8 hr prior). Minimum pupil reactivity between eyes also distinguished new onset anisocoria accompanied by objective evidence of abnormal pupil reactivity from new onset anisocoria accompanied by objective evidence of normal pupil reactivity prior to first-time new onset anisocoria occurrence. CONCLUSIONS: New onset anisocoria occurs in over 60% of patients with neurologic emergencies. Pupil reactivity may be an important distinguishing characteristic of clinically relevant new onset anisocoria phenotypes. New onset anisocoria accompanied by objective evidence of abnormal pupil reactivity was associated with midline shift, and new onset anisocoria accompanied by objective evidence of normal pupil reactivity had an inverse relationship with death. Distinct quantitative pupil characteristics precede new onset anisocoria occurrence and may allow for earlier prediction of neurologic decline. Further work is needed to determine whether quantitative pupillometry sensitively/specifically predicts clinically relevant anisocoria, enabling possible earlier treatments.
Subject(s)
Anisocoria/complications , Brain/pathology , Reflex, Pupillary/physiology , Adult , Anisocoria/epidemiology , Brain/physiopathology , Cohort Studies , Female , Humans , Intensive Care Units/organization & administration , Intensive Care Units/statistics & numerical data , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
La pandemia en Chile generó un desafío de modernización y gestión de los Cuidados Intensivos, haciendo necesario que las unidades de pacientes críticos realizaran un aumento de su capacidad hospitalaria, lo que requiere preparar una infraestructura, un equipamiento mínimo, protocolos y un equipo humano preparado y alineado, para garantizar la seguridad y calidad de atención a los pacientes. Una forma de lograrlo es la incorporación de la estrategia militar de Sistema de Comando de Incidentes, utilizado para enfrentar distintos tipos de desastres, con una estructura modular de comando y sus seccionales de trabajo, con diferentes equipos y líderes para hacer frentes a los variados desafíos. El objetivo de este artículo es describir la instauración del sistema de comando de incidentes en un hospital privado, detallando su conformación y los resultados logrados.
The pandemic in Chile has been a real challenge in terms of modernization and management of intensive care. Critical care units have been forced to increase their hospital capacity in terms of infrastructure, equipment, protocols and human team, while guaranteeing safety and high-quality patient care.One approach to achieve this objective is to develop the army strategy called incident command system that has been used to face different types of disaster. A modular command structure is developed based on the creation of teams each lead by an expert in different areas in order to cope with a variety of upcoming challenges.The objective of this article is to describe the setting up of a successful incident command system in a private hospital, detailing its formation and results obtained.
Subject(s)
Humans , Health Systems/organization & administration , COVID-19 , Intensive Care Units/organization & administration , Chile , Hospitals, Private/organization & administration , Critical Care , Disaster Planning , Pandemics , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
La pandemia SARS-CoV-2 ha desafiado el despliegue de todo el equipo de salud, movilizando no solo un recurso humano, también equipamiento, insumos y una infraestructura, que permita responder una alta demanda de pacientes críticos, que requirió abrir más camas críticas, manejada por un personal sanitario sin experiencia en UCI y con equipamiento e insumos limitados. El trabajo en equipo, la comunicación efectiva y el liderazgo en enfermería, son competencias esenciales en la primera ola de la pandemia, por lo que el objetivo de este artículo es describir la innovación de la orgánica estructural de enfermería, especialmente en las áreas de hospitalización de paciente crítico, para velar por el cuidado del paciente, la familia y el equipo de salud.
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has challenged the deployment of the entire health team, mobilizing not only a human resource, but also equipment, supplies and an infrastructure, which allows responding to a high demand for critical patients, which required opening more critical beds, managed by health personnel without ICU experience and with limited equipment and supplies. Teamwork, effective communication and leadership in nursing are essential competencies in the first wave of the pandemic, so the objective of this article is to describe the innovation of the structural nursing organization, especially in hospitalization areas. Critical patient, to ensure the care of the patient, the family and the health team
Subject(s)
Humans , Hospitals, Private/organization & administration , COVID-19 , Intensive Care Units/organization & administration , Nursing Care/organization & administration , Chile , Patient-Centered Care , Education, Nursing , Clinical Governance , Pandemics , Interprofessional Relations , Nurse-Patient RelationsABSTRACT
As Unidades de Terapia Intensiva representam um desafio para a gestão hospitalar, frente ao volume expressivo de recursos empregados e à necessidade de conciliar padrões elevados de assistência e custos de financiamento. A ocupação dos leitos e o seu impacto no fluxo de assistência têm representado um grave problema para as instituições de saúde, pois a discrepância entre a demanda e oferta gera a necessidade de priorização na tomada de decisão, envolvendo aspectos éticos, legais e sociais. Analisar o desempenho dessas unidades, na perspectiva de identificar uma maior otimização dos leitos, tem sido apontado como primordial. Esta investigação teve por objetivo avaliar a demanda por leitos de Unidade de Terapia Intensiva adulto (UTI) e a classificação do paciente segundo o sistema de prioridades de admissão adotado pela instituição. Tratase de pesquisa descritiva, abordagem quantitativa, realizada em duas UTIs de um hospital de ensino terciário, de grande porte e alta complexidade. A amostra foi composta pelas solicitações de vagas para internação nessas unidades, registradas no sistema eletrônico da instituição, no período de 01 de janeiro de 2014 a 31 de dezembro de 2018. Para categorização das indicações, utilizou-se a Portaria Ministerial nº 895, de 31 de março de 2017, a qual elenca os critérios de elegibilidade para admissão em UTI adulto. A coleta de dados ocorreu por meio de consulta a relatórios gerados pelo sistema e disponibilizados pelo Centro de Informação e Análise da instituição. Os dados foram analisados utilizando-se estatística descritiva. No período, houveram 8.483 solicitações de vaga para a UTI 1 (n=4.094) e UTI 2 (n=4.389), referente a pacientes com idade igual ou superior a 18 anos, independentemente de sexo, tipo de tratamento, diagnóstico ou unidade/especialidade solicitante. A taxa de ocupação média foi de 90% (dp=6,6) para a UTI 1 e 96,2% (dp=4,0) para a UTI 2, com predominância de solicitações para pacientes do sexo masculino de 54,3%(n=2.223) e 62,3% (n=2.735) e mediana de idade de 60,4 e 57,4 anos, respectivamente. Quanto à classificação segundo critério de prioridade, identificou-se, na UTI 1, P1 (19,3%); P2 (32,2%); P3 (24,6%); P4 (13,6%) e não informada (10,3%). Na UTI 2 encontrou-se para P1 (45,4%); P2 (32,6%); P3 (10,6%); P4 (7,8%) e não informada (3,5%). Em relação à UTI 1, o menor valor de mediana para o tempo de espera entre a priorização da vaga e a admissão correspondeu à prioridade 1 (2,95 horas) e o maior valor à prioridade 4 (11,4 horas). Para a UTI 2, o menor valor equivale à prioridade 4 (5,9 horas) e o maior valor à prioridade 3 (11,9 horas). Quanto à situação de atendimento da solicitação, na UTI 1, 59,5% não foram contempladas, sendo que 45,1% dos pacientes foram a óbito. Dos pacientes admitidos, 50,7% evoluíram para alta da internação hospitalar. Na UTI 2, 48,5% das solicitações foram atendidas e 60,5% de pacientes admitidos receberam alta da internação e, daqueles não admitidos, 49,2% tiveram óbito como desfecho. O diagnóstico de indicação da vaga "doença pulmonar ou de vias respiratórias" foi prevalente tanto para a UTI 1 (32%) como para a UTI 2 (38,8%). A decisão de admitir ou triar pacientes para as unidades de cuidados críticos é uma atividade complexa e permeada de dificuldades, principalmente frente à demanda elevada, devendo assegurar um processo transparente em relação aos critérios utilizados
Intensive Care Units represent a challenge for hospital management, given the significant volume of employed resources and the need to reconcile high standards of care and financing costs. The occupation of the beds and their impact on the care flow have represented a serious problem for health institutions, since the discrepancy between demand and supply generates the need for prioritization in decision making, involving ethical, legal and social aspects. Analyzing the performance of these units, in the perspective of identifying a greater optimization of the beds, has been pointed out as primordial. The objective of this research was to evaluate the demand for beds of the Adult Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the classification of the patient according to the system of admission priorities adopted by the institution. This is descriptive research, quantitative approach, performed in two ICUs of a tertiary teaching hospital, of large and high complexity. The sample consisted of requests for places for admission to these units, registered in the institution's electronic system, from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2018. In order to categorize the indications, Ministerial Order No. 895, dated March 31, 2017, was used, which lists eligibility criteria for admission to an adult ICU. The data collection was done through consultation of reports generated by the system and made available by the Information and Analysis Center of the institution. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. In the period, there were 8,483 vacancy requests for ICU 1 (n = 4,094) and ICU 2 (n = 4,389), referring to patients aged 18 or over, regardless of sex, type of treatment, diagnosis or unit/specialty applicant. The mean occupancy rate was 90% (dp = 6.6) for ICU 1 and 96.2% (dp = 4.0) for ICU 2, with a predominance of requests for male patients of 54.3 (n = 2223) and 62.3% (n = 2,735) and median age of 60.4 and 57.4 years, respectively. Regarding classification according to priority criteria, it was identified in ICU 1 P1 (19.3%); P2 (32.2%); P3 (24.6%); P4 (13.6%) and not informed (10.3%). In ICU 2 it was found for P1 (45.4%); P2 (32.6%); P3 (10.6%); P4 (7.8%) and not reported (3.5%). In relation to ICU 1, the lowest median value for the waiting time between vacancy prioritization and admission corresponded to priority 1 (2.95 hours) and the highest value to priority 4 (11.4 hours). For ICU 2, the lowest value corresponds to priority 4 (5.9 hours) and the highest value to priority 3 (11.9 hours). Regarding the request's attendance situation, in the ICU 1, 59.5% were not contemplated, and 45.1% of the patients died. Of the admitted patients, 50.7% evolved to discharge hospital admission. In ICU 2, 48.5% of the requests were answered and 60.5% of patients admitted were discharged from the hospital and 49.2% of those not admitted died. The diagnosis of indication of the vacancy "pulmonary or respiratory disease" was prevalent for both ICU 1 (32%) and ICU 2 (38.8%). The decision to admit or screen patients for critical care units is a complex and full of difficulties activity, especially in the face of high demand, and must ensure a transparent process in relation to the criteria used
Subject(s)
Triage/supply & distribution , Health Management , Health Services Needs and Demand , Intensive Care Units/organization & administrationABSTRACT
El SARS COV 2, tomó por sorpresa al mundo, con impacto en el sector salud, generándose una gran crisis sanitaria, golpeados por escasez de insumos, de equipos, de personal y capacidad instalada insuficiente para la atención de la contigencia. Ademas, la infodemia, el pánico y el miedo con sus respectivas consecuencias, se empodero de la sociedad civil, situación que no es ajena a sector salud, por ello, este relato de experiencia tuvo objetivo describir la gestión del servicio de medicina crítica de un hospital de Guayaquil- Ecuador durante la pandemia por el Coronavirus. En los centros asitenciales, el personal se enfrenta all desafío sanitario, principalmente en la gestión del servicio de medicina crítica. Al ser nombrado hospital centinela, con una capacidad instadala redujo de 494 a 200 camas, y se creó además el área de hospitalización de infectología; La interrelación de profesionales de la enfermería, médicos infectólogos, médicos neumólogos, servicios de terapia física y rehabilitación, servicios de nutrición, y los terapistas respiratorios, fue fundamental para afrontar la crisis, para vela por el bienestar del paciente, no solo en la parte física, sino psicología y de humanización. No obtante, el miedo a lo desconocido inherente a la especie humana, se transforma en pánico ante esta enfermedad provocando emociones, sentimientos, vivencias exacerbadas, y la inseguridad y desconfianza en que el sistema sanitario(AU)
SARS COV 2 took the world by surprise, with an impact on the health sector, generating a major health crisis, hit by a shortage of supplies, equipment, personnel and insufficient installed capacity for contingency care. In addition, the infodemic, panic and fear with their respective consequences, empowered civil society, a situation that is not unrelated to the health sector, therefore, this experience report aimed to describe the management of the critical medicine service of a Guayaquil-Ecuador hospital during the Coronavirus pandemic. In care centers, the staff faces the health challenge, mainly in the management of the critical medicine service. Being named a sentinel hospital, with an installed capacity it was reduced from 494 to 200 beds, and the infectious disease hospitalization area was also created; The interrelation of nursing professionals, infectious disease doctors, pulmonologists, physical therapy and rehabilitation services, nutrition services, and respiratory therapists, was essential to face the crisis, to ensure the well-being of the patient, not only in the physics, but psychology and humanization. However, the fear of the unknown inherent in the human species is transformed into panic in the face of this disease, causing emotions, feelings, exacerbated experiences, and insecurity and distrust in the health system(Au)
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Critical Care/methods , Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome/epidemiology , Pandemics , COVID-19/epidemiology , Hospitals , Intensive Care Units/organization & administration , Ecuador/epidemiologyABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Patients with high-consequence infectious diseases (HCID) are rare in Western Europe. However, high-level isolation units (HLIU) must always be prepared for patient admission. Case fatality rates of HCID can be reduced by providing optimal intensive care management. We here describe a single centre's preparation, its embedding in the national context and the challenges we faced during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. METHODS: Ten team leaders organize monthly whole day trainings for a team of doctors and nurses from the HLIU focusing on intensive care medicine. Impact and relevance of training are assessed by a questionnaire and a perception survey, respectively. Furthermore, yearly exercises with several partner institutions are performed to cover different real-life scenarios. Exercises are evaluated by internal and external observers. Both training sessions and exercises are accompanied by intense feedback. RESULTS: From May 2017 monthly training sessions were held with a two-month and a seven-month break due to the first and second wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, respectively. Agreement with the statements of the questionnaire was higher after training compared to before training indicating a positive effect of training sessions on competence. Participants rated joint trainings for nurses and doctors at regular intervals as important. Numerous issues with potential for improvement were identified during post processing of exercises. Action plans for their improvement were drafted and as of now mostly implemented. The network of the permanent working group of competence and treatment centres for HCID (Ständiger Arbeitskreis der Kompetenz- und Behandlungszentren für Krankheiten durch hochpathogene Erreger (STAKOB)) at the Robert Koch-Institute (RKI) was strengthened throughout the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. DISCUSSION: Adequate preparation for the admission of patients with HCID is challenging. We show that joint regular trainings of doctors and nurses are appreciated and that training sessions may improve perceived skills. We also show that real-life scenario exercises may reveal additional deficits, which cannot be easily disclosed in training sessions. Although the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic interfered with our activities the enhanced cooperation among German HLIU during the pandemic ensured constant readiness for the admission of HCID patients to our or to collaborating HLIU. This is a single centre's experience, which may not be generalized to other centres. However, we believe that our work may address aspects that should be considered when preparing a unit for the admission of patients with HCID. These may then be adapted to the local situations.
Subject(s)
Communicable Diseases/therapy , Critical Care/organization & administration , Intensive Care Units/organization & administration , Patient Isolation/organization & administration , COVID-19/epidemiology , Clinical Competence , Communicable Diseases/epidemiology , Education, Medical, Continuing/methods , Education, Medical, Continuing/organization & administration , Education, Nursing, Continuing/methods , Education, Nursing, Continuing/organization & administration , Environment Design , Germany/epidemiology , History, 21st Century , Humans , Pandemics , Patient Admission , Patient Care Team/organization & administration , Patient Isolation/methods , SARS-CoV-2/physiology , Simulation Training/organization & administration , WorkflowABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The threat of antimicrobial resistance driven by inappropriate and unnecessary use of antimicrobials is a global issue of great concern. Evidence-based approaches to optimising antimicrobial prescribing to improve patient care while reducing the rate of antimicrobial resistance continue to be implemented worldwide. However, the successes or failures of implementation of such approaches are seldom evaluated. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of an implemented antimicrobial stewardship programme (ASP) in reducing the spread of antimicrobial resistance in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a large academic hospital using the RE-AIM framework. METHODS: A descriptive quasi-experimental study was conducted with adult patients who had been admitted to the ICU of an academic hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa. Data were extracted from patients' records using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics of four RE-AIM dimensions (reach, effectiveness, adoption and implementation) and the overall impact of the implemented antimicrobial stewardship programme were calculated. RESULTS: From the 59 participant records, 21 patients (35.6%) developed hospital-acquired infections and all were prescribed antimicrobials during their stay in the ICU. Twenty-seven pathogens (bacterial species) were isolated from samples acquired from the patients, including Staphylococcus aureus (n=6; 22.2%), Escherichia coli (n=4; 14.8%), Acinetobacter baumannii (n=4; 14.8%) and Streptococcus pnuemoniae (n=3; 11.11%), as well as 10 other bacterial species (37.0%) including Corynebacterium species, Enterococcus faecium, Haemophilus influenzae, Klebsiella species, Clostridium difficile and Salmonella species. Of the 27 pathogens isolated, 19 (70.4 %) were resistant to the prescribed antimicrobials. The overall impact of the ASP implemented in the studied facility was 67.2%. CONCLUSIONS: An ASP requires both thorough implementation and leadership support to have an impact in the reduction of antimicrobial resistance. Lack of leadership support poses a significant challenge to sustainability. There is an urgent need for behavioural change in hospital leadership.
Subject(s)
Antimicrobial Stewardship/standards , Intensive Care Units/standards , Program Evaluation/standards , Academic Medical Centers/organization & administration , Academic Medical Centers/statistics & numerical data , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Antimicrobial Stewardship/organization & administration , Antimicrobial Stewardship/statistics & numerical data , Female , Humans , Inappropriate Prescribing/prevention & control , Inappropriate Prescribing/statistics & numerical data , Intensive Care Units/organization & administration , Intensive Care Units/statistics & numerical data , Male , Middle Aged , Program Evaluation/statistics & numerical data , South Africa/epidemiology , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The machine learning prediction model Pacmed Critical (PC), currently under development, may guide intensivists in their decision-making process on the most appropriate time to discharge a patient from the intensive care unit (ICU). Given the financial pressure on healthcare budgets, this study assessed whether PC has the potential to be cost-effective compared with standard care, without the use of PC, for Dutch patients in the ICU from a societal perspective. METHODS: A 1-year, 7-state Markov model reflecting the ICU care pathway and incorporating the PC decision tool was developed. A hypothetical cohort of 1000 adult Dutch patients admitted in the ICU was entered in the model. We used the literature, expert opinion, and data from Amsterdam University Medical Center for model parameters. The uncertainty surrounding the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was assessed using deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses and scenario analyses. RESULTS: PC was a cost-effective strategy with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of 18 507 per quality-adjusted life-year. PC remained cost-effective over standard care in multiple scenarios and sensitivity analyses. The likelihood that PC will be cost-effective was 71% at a willingness-to-pay threshold of 30 000 per quality-adjusted life-year. The key driver of the results was the parameter "reduction in ICU length of stay." CONCLUSIONS: We showed that PC has the potential to be cost-effective for Dutch ICUs in a time horizon of 1 year. This study is one of the first cost-effectiveness analyses of a machine learning device. Further research is needed to validate the effectiveness of PC, thereby focusing on the key parameter "reduction in ICU length of stay" and potential spill-over effects.
Subject(s)
Intensive Care Units/organization & administration , Machine Learning/economics , Patient Discharge/statistics & numerical data , Cost-Benefit Analysis , Decision Making , Humans , Intensive Care Units/economics , Markov Chains , Models, Economic , Netherlands , Patient Readmission/economics , Quality-Adjusted Life YearsSubject(s)
COVID-19/therapy , Health Care Rationing/statistics & numerical data , Oxygen/supply & distribution , COVID-19/epidemiology , Health Care Rationing/organization & administration , Hospitals/supply & distribution , Humans , India/epidemiology , Intensive Care Units/organization & administration , Intensive Care Units/supply & distribution , Oxygen/therapeutic useABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Lung- and diaphragm-protective ventilation is a novel concept that aims to limit the detrimental effects of mechanical ventilation on the diaphragm while remaining within limits of lung-protective ventilation. The premise is that low breathing effort under mechanical ventilation causes diaphragm atrophy, whereas excessive breathing effort induces diaphragm and lung injury. In a proof-of-concept study, we aimed to assess whether titration of inspiratory support based on diaphragm effort increases the time that patients have effort in a predefined "diaphragm-protective" range, without compromising lung-protective ventilation. DESIGN: Randomized clinical trial. SETTING: Mixed medical-surgical ICU in a tertiary academic hospital in the Netherlands. PATIENTS: Patients (n = 40) with respiratory failure ventilated in a partially-supported mode. INTERVENTIONS: In the intervention group, inspiratory support was titrated hourly to obtain transdiaphragmatic pressure swings in the predefined "diaphragm-protective" range (3-12 cm H2O). The control group received standard-of-care. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Transdiaphragmatic pressure, transpulmonary pressure, and tidal volume were monitored continuously for 24 hours in both groups. In the intervention group, more breaths were within "diaphragm-protective" range compared with the control group (median 81%; interquartile range [64-86%] vs 35% [16-60%], respectively; p < 0.001). Dynamic transpulmonary pressures (20.5 ± 7.1 vs 18.5 ± 7.0 cm H2O; p = 0.321) and tidal volumes (7.56 ± 1.47 vs 7.54 ± 1.22 mL/kg; p = 0.961) were not different in the intervention and control group, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Titration of inspiratory support based on patient breathing effort greatly increased the time that patients had diaphragm effort in the predefined "diaphragm-protective" range without compromising tidal volumes and transpulmonary pressures. This study provides a strong rationale for further studies powered on patient-centered outcomes.
Subject(s)
Diaphragm/metabolism , Lung/metabolism , Respiration, Artificial/standards , Work of Breathing/physiology , Diaphragm/physiopathology , Female , Humans , Intensive Care Units/organization & administration , Intensive Care Units/statistics & numerical data , Lung/physiopathology , Male , Middle Aged , Netherlands/epidemiology , Respiration, Artificial/methods , Respiration, Artificial/statistics & numerical data , Respiratory Insufficiency/epidemiology , Respiratory Insufficiency/prevention & control , Respiratory Insufficiency/therapy , Work of Breathing/drug effectsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: In the general critical care patient population, restrictive transfusion regimen of RBCs has been shown to be safe and is yet implemented worldwide. However, in patients on venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, guidelines suggest liberal thresholds, and a clear overview of RBC transfusion practice is lacking. This study aims to create an overview of RBC transfusion in venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. DESIGN: Mixed method approach combining multicenter retrospective study and survey. SETTING: Sixteen ICUs worldwide. PATIENTS: Patients receiving venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation between January 2018 and July 2019. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The primary outcome was the proportion receiving RBC, the amount of RBC units given daily and in total. Furthermore, the course of hemoglobin over time during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was assessed. Demographics, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation characteristics, and patient outcome were collected. Two-hundred eight patients received venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, 63% male, with an age of 55 years (45-62 yr), mainly for acute respiratory distress syndrome. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation duration was 9 days (5-14 d). Prior to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, hemoglobin was 10.8 g/dL (8.9-13.0 g/dL), decreasing to 8.7 g/dL (7.7-9.8 g/dL) during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Nadir hemoglobin was lower on days when a transfusion was administered (8.1 g/dL [7.4-9.3 g/dL]). A vast majority of 88% patients received greater than or equal to 1 RBC transfusion, consisting of 1.6 U (1.3-2.3 U) on transfusion days. This high transfusion occurrence rate was also found in nonbleeding patients (81%). Patients with a liberal transfusion threshold (hemoglobin > 9 g/dL) received more RBC in total per transfusion day and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation day. No differences in survival, hemorrhagic and thrombotic complication rates were found between different transfusion thresholds. Also, 28-day mortality was equal in transfused and nontransfused patients. CONCLUSIONS: Transfusion of RBC has a high occurrence rate in patients on venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, even in nonbleeding patients. There is a need for future studies to find optimal transfusion thresholds and triggers in patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
Subject(s)
Erythrocyte Transfusion/standards , Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation/statistics & numerical data , Adult , Australia , Belgium , Cohort Studies , Croatia , Erythrocyte Transfusion/methods , Erythrocyte Transfusion/statistics & numerical data , Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation/methods , Female , Humans , Intensive Care Units/organization & administration , Intensive Care Units/statistics & numerical data , Italy , Male , Middle Aged , Netherlands , Retrospective Studies , Sweden , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Fluid therapy is an important component of intensive care management, however, optimal fluid management is unknown. The relationship between fluid balance and ventilator-associated events has not been well established. This study investigated the dose-response relationship between fluid balance and ventilator-associated events. DESIGN: Nested case-control study. SETTING: The study was based on a well-established, research-oriented registry of healthcare-associated infections at ICUs of West China Hospital system (Chengdu, China). PATIENTS: A total of 1,528 ventilator-associated event cases with 3,038 matched controls, who consistently underwent mechanical ventilation for at least 4 days from April 1, 2015, to December 31, 2018, were included. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We calculated cumulative fluid balance within 4 days prior to ventilator-associated event occurrence. A weighted Cox proportional hazards model with restricted cubic splines was used to evaluate the dose-response relationship. A nonlinear relationship between fluid balance and all three tiers of ventilator-associated events, patients with fluid balance between -1 and 0 L had the lowest risk (p < 0.05 for nonlinear test). The risk of ventilator-associated event was significantly higher in patients with positive fluid balance (4 d cumulative fluid balance: 1 L: 1.19; 3 L: 1.92; 5 L: 2.58; 7 L: 3.24), but not in those with negative fluid balance (-5 L: 1.34; -3 L: 1.14; -1 L: 0.98). CONCLUSIONS: There was nonlinear relationship between fluid balance and all three tiers of ventilator-associated event, with an fluid balance between -1 and 0 L corresponding to the lowest risk. Positive but not negative fluid balance increased the risk of ventilator-associated events, with higher positive fluid balance more likely to lead to ventilator-associated events.
Subject(s)
Respiration, Artificial/adverse effects , Ventilators, Mechanical/adverse effects , Water-Electrolyte Balance/physiology , Aged , Case-Control Studies , China/epidemiology , Female , Fluid Therapy/adverse effects , Fluid Therapy/methods , Fluid Therapy/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Intensive Care Units/organization & administration , Intensive Care Units/statistics & numerical data , Male , Middle Aged , Respiration, Artificial/instrumentation , Ventilators, Mechanical/statistics & numerical data , Water-Electrolyte Balance/drug effectsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To investigate electroencephalogram (EEG) features' relation with mortality or functional outcome after disorder of consciousness, stratifying patients between continuous EEG and routine EEG. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Multiple adult ICUs. PATIENTS: Data from 364 adults with acute disorder of consciousness, randomized to continuous EEG (30-48 hr; n = 182) or repeated 20-minute routine electroencephalogram (n = 182). INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Correlations between electrographic features and mortality and modified Rankin scale at 6 months (good 0-2) were assessed. Background continuity, higher frequency, and reactivity correlated with survival and good modified Rankin scale. Rhythmic and periodic patterns carried dual prognostic information: lateralized periodic discharges were associated with mortality and bad modified Rankin scale. Generalized rhythmic delta activity correlated with survival, good modified Rankin scale, and lower occurrence of status epilepticus. Presence of sleep-spindles and continuous EEG background was associated with good outcome in the continuous EEG subgroup. In the routine EEG group, a model combining background frequency, continuity, reactivity, sleep-spindles, and lateralized periodic discharges was associated with mortality at 70.91% (95% CI, 59.62-80.10%) positive predictive value and 63.93% (95% CI, 58.67-68.89%) negative predictive value. In the continuous EEG group, a model combining background continuity, reactivity, generalized rhythmic delta activity, and lateralized periodic discharges was associated with mortality at 84.62% (95%CI, 75.02-90.97) positive predictive value and 74.77% (95% CI, 68.50-80.16) negative predictive value. CONCLUSIONS: Standardized EEG interpretation provides reliable prognostic information. Continuous EEG provides more information than routine EEG.
Subject(s)
Electroencephalography/methods , Outcome Assessment, Health Care/statistics & numerical data , Seizures/diagnosis , Time Factors , Adult , Area Under Curve , Critical Illness/therapy , Electroencephalography/standards , Electroencephalography/statistics & numerical data , Female , Humans , Intensive Care Units/organization & administration , Intensive Care Units/statistics & numerical data , Male , Middle Aged , Outcome Assessment, Health Care/methods , Prognosis , ROC Curve , Retrospective Studies , Seizures/epidemiology , Seizures/physiopathologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: We investigated awakening time and characteristics of awakening compared nonawakening and factors contributing to poor neurologic outcomes in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors in no withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy settings. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of the Korean Hypothermia Network Pro registry. SETTING: Multicenter ICU. PATIENTS: Adult (≥ 18 yr) comatose out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors who underwent targeted temperature management at 33-36°C between October 2015 and December 2018. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We measured the time from the end of rewarming to awakening, defined as a total Glasgow Coma Scale score greater than or equal to 9 or Glasgow Coma Scale motor score equals to 6. The primary outcome was awakening time. The secondary outcome was 6-month neurologic outcomes (poor outcome: Cerebral Performance Category 3-5). Among 1,145 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors, 477 patients (41.7%) regained consciousness 30 hours (6-71 hr) later, and 116 patients (24.3%) awakened late (72 hr after the end of rewarming). Young age, witnessed arrest, shockable rhythm, cardiac etiology, shorter time to return of spontaneous circulation, lower serum lactate level, absence of seizures, and multisedative requirement were associated with awakening. Of the 477 who woke up, 74 (15.5%) had poor neurologic outcomes. Older age, liver cirrhosis, nonshockable rhythm, noncardiac etiology, a higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score, and higher serum lactate levels were associated with poor neurologic outcomes. Late awakeners were more common in the poor than in the good neurologic outcome group (38/74 [51.4%] vs 78/403 [19.4%]; p < 0.001). The awakening time (odds ratio, 1.005; 95% CIs, 1.003-1.008) and late awakening (odds ratio, 3.194; 95% CIs, 1.776-5.746) were independently associated with poor neurologic outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Late awakening after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest was common in no withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy settings and the probability of awakening decreased over time.
Subject(s)
Hypothermia, Induced/standards , Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest/complications , Time Factors , Withholding Treatment/statistics & numerical data , Aged , Cohort Studies , Female , Humans , Hypothermia, Induced/methods , Hypothermia, Induced/statistics & numerical data , Intensive Care Units/organization & administration , Intensive Care Units/statistics & numerical data , Male , Middle Aged , Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest/epidemiology , Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest/mortality , Republic of Korea/epidemiology , Retrospective Studies , Statistics, Nonparametric , Survivors/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To investigate healthcare system-driven variation in general characteristics, interventions, and outcomes in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients admitted to the ICU within one Western European region across three countries. DESIGN: Multicenter observational cohort study. SETTING: Seven ICUs in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine, one region across Belgium, The Netherlands, and Germany. PATIENTS: Consecutive COVID-19 patients supported in the ICU during the first pandemic wave. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics, laboratory values, and outcome data were retrieved after ethical approval and data-sharing agreements. Descriptive statistics were performed to investigate country-related practice variation. From March 2, 2020, to August 12, 2020, 551 patients were admitted. Mean age was 65.4 ± 11.2 years, and 29% were female. At admission, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores were 15.0 ± 5.5, 16.8 ± 5.5, and 15.8 ± 5.3 (p = 0.002), and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores were 4.4 ± 2.7, 7.4 ± 2.2, and 7.7 ± 3.2 (p < 0.001) in the Belgian, Dutch, and German parts of Euregio, respectively. The ICU mortality rate was 22%, 42%, and 44%, respectively (p < 0.001). Large differences were observed in the frequency of organ support, antimicrobial/inflammatory therapy application, and ICU capacity. Mixed-multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that differences in ICU mortality were independent of age, sex, disease severity, comorbidities, support strategies, therapies, and complications. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 patients admitted to ICUs within one region, the Euregio Meuse-Rhine, differed significantly in general characteristics, applied interventions, and outcomes despite presumed genetic and socioeconomic background, admission diagnosis, access to international literature, and data collection are similar. Variances in healthcare systems' organization, particularly ICU capacity and admission criteria, combined with a rapidly spreading pandemic might be important drivers for the observed differences. Heterogeneity between patient groups but also healthcare systems should be presumed to interfere with outcomes in coronavirus disease 2019.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/therapy , Critical Care/methods , Intensive Care Units , APACHE , Aged , COVID-19/mortality , Cohort Studies , Europe/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Intensive Care Units/organization & administration , Intensive Care Units/statistics & numerical data , Logistic Models , Male , Middle Aged , Patient Acuity , Patient Transfer , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To determine the safety and efficacy of a rapidly deployed intensivist-led venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cannulation program in a preexisting extracorporeal membrane oxygenation program. DESIGN: A retrospective observational before-and-after study of 40 patients undergoing percutaneous cannulation for venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in an established cannulation program by cardiothoracic surgeons versus a rapidly deployed medical intensivist cannulation program. SETTING: An adult ICU in a tertiary academic medical center in Camden, NJ. PATIENTS: Critically ill adult subjects with severe respiratory failure undergoing percutaneous cannulation for venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. INTERVENTIONS: Percutaneous cannulation for venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation performed by cardiothoracic surgeons compared with cannulations performed by medical intensivists. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cannulation site attempts were retrospectively reviewed. Subject demographics, specialty of physician performing cannulation, type of support, cannulation configuration, cannula size, imaging guidance, success rate, and complications were recorded and summarized. Twenty-two cannulations were performed by three cardiothoracic surgeons in 11 subjects between September 2019 and February 2020. The cannulation program rapidly transitioned to an intensivist-led and performed program in March 2020. Fifty-seven cannulations were performed by eight intensivists in 29 subjects between March 2020 and December 2020. Mean body mass index for subjects did not differ between groups (33.86 vs 35.89; p = 0.775). There was no difference in days on mechanical ventilation prior to cannulation, configuration, cannula size, or discharge condition. There was no difference in success rate of cannulation on first attempt per cannulation site (95.5 vs 96.7; p = 0.483) or major complication rate per cannulation site (4.5 vs 3.5; p = 1). CONCLUSIONS: There is no difference between success and complication rates of percutaneous venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation canulation when performed by cardiothoracic surgeons versus medical intensivist in an already established extracorporeal membrane oxygenation program. A rapidly deployed cannulation program by intensivists for venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation can be performed with high success and low complication rates.
Subject(s)
Catheterization/statistics & numerical data , Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation/statistics & numerical data , Health Services/trends , Intensive Care Units/statistics & numerical data , Time Factors , Academic Medical Centers/organization & administration , Academic Medical Centers/statistics & numerical data , Aged , Catheterization/methods , Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation/methods , Female , Health Services/statistics & numerical data , Health Services/supply & distribution , Humans , Intensive Care Units/organization & administration , Internal Medicine/methods , Internal Medicine/statistics & numerical data , Male , Middle Aged , New Jersey , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To explore the experience of incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) as perceived by nurses, obstacles in the nursing process, and need for IAD training and management. METHODS: This single-setting descriptive qualitative study was conducted from June 5, 2018, to June 22, 2018. Ten nurses working in the respiratory ICU of a local hospital participated in semistructured interviews. The content analysis method was used to analyze, summarize, and refine the interview data. RESULTS: The experience of ICU nurses with IAD can be divided into four types: nursing based on experiential knowledge, seeking self-improvement, disunity of cleaning methods and wiping skills, and postponement of nursing care because of priority allocation. Obstacles in the nursing process include a lack of relevant nursing knowledge and awareness, as well as the medical supplies needed. The goals of training and management include establishing IAD preventive nursing procedures, providing IAD care products, enhancing the practicality of training content and diversifying training methods, and establishing an information system to assist nurses caring for patients with IAD. CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge and behavior of ICU nurses regarding IAD need to be improved. Training and management are imperative. Facilities and nurse managers should actively seek solutions to stated obstacles, formulate training methods suitable for clinical needs, and promote the standardization of nursing for IAD.
Subject(s)
Dermatitis, Contact/etiology , Teaching/statistics & numerical data , Adult , China , Education, Nursing, Continuing/methods , Fecal Incontinence/complications , Fecal Incontinence/physiopathology , Female , Humans , Intensive Care Units/organization & administration , Intensive Care Units/statistics & numerical data , Male , Middle Aged , Qualitative Research , Skin Care/methods , Skin Care/standards , Skin Care/statistics & numerical data , Teaching/standards , Urinary Incontinence/complications , Urinary Incontinence/physiopathologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To explore the predictors of knowledge of pressure injury (PI) prevention, attitudes on PI prevention, organization support for PI prevention, and the influence of a healthy work environment (HWE) on PI prevention practices among ICU nurses in China. METHODS: A descriptive, predictive, online survey was conducted among 510 ICU nurses in Guizhou province, China. A PI prevention knowledge questionnaire, PI prevention attitude questionnaire, organizational support for PI prevention questionnaire, HWE assessment tool, and PI prevention practice questionnaire were used for data collection. A hierarchical regression analysis was used to determine the influence of certain predictive factors. RESULTS: An HWE, organizational support for PI prevention, and positive attitudes toward PI prevention were significant predictors of good practice regarding PI prevention. However, knowledge of PI prevention was not a significant predictor. CONCLUSIONS: To achieve optimal nursing quality in terms of PI prevention, hospital and nursing administrators should develop strategies or interventions to create and sustain an HWE and supportive organizational culture for ICU nurses and enhance positive attitudes toward PI prevention.