ISCCM Position Statement for Improving Gender Balance in Critical Care Medicine.

Gender disparity in Critical Care Medicine (CCM) persists globally, with women being underrepresented. Female Intensivists remain a minority, facing challenges in academic and leadership positions at the workplace and within academic societies. The Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine (ISCCM) recognized the need for addressing issues related to gender parity and constituted its first Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee in 2023. Through a Delphi process involving 38 Panelists including 53% women, consensus and stability were achieved for 18 statements (95%). From these 18 consensus statements, 15 position statements were drafted to address gender balance issues in CCM. These statements advocate for equal opportunities in recruitment, workplace inclusivity, prevention of harassment, and improved female representation in leadership roles, nominated positions, and conferences. While the consensus reflects a significant step toward gender equity, further efforts are required to implement, advocate, and evaluate the impact of these measures. The ISCCM position statements offer valuable guidance for promoting gender balance within society and the CCM community. How to cite this article: Sathe P, Shukla U, Kapadia FN, Ray S, Chanchalani G, Nasa P, et al. ISCCM Position Statement for Improving Gender Balance in Critical Care Medicine. Indian J Crit Care Med 2024;28(S2):S288-S296.

Association between Urinary Potassium Excretion and Acute Kidney Injury in Critically Ill Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is defined in terms of serum creatinine (SrCrt) and urine output (UO). AKI occurs in 25% of critically ill patients, which increases the risk of morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis of AKI is challenging, as utility of biomarkers is limited. This study is the first of its kind to estimate urinary potassium (UrK) excretion and its association with AKI in an Indian intensive care unit (ICU). AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To study the association between UrK excretion and its ability to predict AKI in ICU patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: During this prospective observational study, the patient's urinary indices and renal function tests were measured on day 1 of the ICU admission. UrK excretion and creatinine clearance (CrCl) were calculated from a 2-hour morning urine sample. Association between 2-hour UrK excretion and calculated CrCl and their ability to predict AKI in the subsequent 7 days was evaluated by Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcome (KDIGO)-AKI grading. RESULTS: Hundred patients admitted to ICU with a mean age of 53.59 ± 15.8 years were studied. The mean UrK excretion of 4.39 ± 2.52 was correlated linearly with CrCl and has a better prediction to AKI with the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve value of 0.809 (CI 0.719-0.899), with a significant p-value (p <0.05). UrK excretion value of 3.49 on day 1 of ICU admission had 87% sensitivity and 74% specificity in predicting AKI. Thirty-one (31%) developed AKI, of which seven (22.58%) required renal replacement therapy (RRT), with 19% of all-cause mortality. CONCLUSION: Diagnosis of AKI with traditional methods is not promising. UrK excretion correlates well with CrCl, which can be considered as the simplest accessible marker for predicting AKI in ICUs. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Kumar NS, Kumar GN, Misra KC, Rao M, Chitithoti S, Prakash SY. Association between Urinary Potassium Excretion and Acute Kidney Injury in Critically Ill Patients. Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(7):768-772.

Challenges Faced in Managing an Adult Uncorrected Tetralogy of Fallot Patient with Pneumonia and Septic Shock in the Intensive Care Unit.

Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is the most common form of cyanotic congenital heart disease. We present a 61-year-old uncorrected TOF patient who presented with sepsis and acute respiratory failure. At presentation, the patient had tachypnea, tachycardia, and oxygen saturation (SpO2) 64%. Chest X-ray (CXR) showed bilateral basal opacities. 2D echo revealed left ventricular dysfunction, infundibulum stenosis, pulmonary atresia, overriding of the aorta, and ventricular septal defect. A provisional diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia with septic shock with uncorrected TOF was made. He received empirical antibiotics, ventilatory support, and supportive care. Ventilator weaning was done accepting an arbitrary baseline SpO2 of 70-75% and lactate-guided volume resuscitation led to a successful outcome. Coronary angiogram showed collaterals. This case report illustrates the dilemmas faced in treating a critically ill uncorrected TOF. To the best of our knowledge, this case could be the oldest surviving uncorrected TOF patient in the Indian population. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Prakash SY, Kartik M, Rao M, Harde YR. Challenges Faced in Managing an Adult Uncorrected Tetralogy of Fallot Patient with Pneumonia and Septic Shock in the Intensive Care Unit. Indian J Crit Care Med 2020;24(11):1135-1136.

Plasmodium vivax malaria: an unusual presentation.

Acute renal failure, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), hypoglycemia, coma, or epileptic seizures are manifestations of severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria. On the other hand, Plasmodium vivax malaria seldom results in pulmonary damage, and pulmonary complications are exceedingly rare. We report the case of a 42-year-old male living in a malaria-endemic area who presented with ARDS and was diagnosed as having Plasmodium vivax malaria. A diagnosis of Plasmodium vivax malaria was established by a positive Plasmodium LDH immunochromatographic assay while a negative PfHRP2 based assay ruled out P. falciparum malaria. After specific anti-plasmodial therapy and intensive supportive care, the patient recovered and was discharged from hospital. The use of NIPPV in vivax-malaria related ARDS was associated with a good outcome.

How correct is the correct length for central venous catheter insertion.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Central venous catheters (CVC) are important in the management of critically ill patients. Incorrect positioning may lead to many serious complications. Chest radiograph is a convenient means of determining the correct position of the catheter tip. The present study was designed to evaluate the depth of CVC placed through the right and left internal jugular vein (IJV) in order to achieve optimum placement of the catheter tip. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 107 patients in whom CVCs were put through either the right or left IJV through a central approach were included in this prospective study. Catheter tip position was observed in the post procedure chest radiograph. It was considered correct if the tip was just below the carina in the left-sided catheters and just above carina in the right-sided catheters. The catheters were repositioned based on the chest radiographs. The catheter depth leading to optimum tip placement was noted. RESULTS: In males, catheter repositioning was required in 13 of 58 patients (22.41%) in the right IJV catheters, whereas in 2 of 13 patients (15.38%) in the left IJV catheters. In females, repositioning was required in 12 of 25 patients (48%) in the right IJV catheters and 2 of 11 patients (18.18%) in the left IJV catheters. Repositioning rate was higher in females (14/36) compared with males (15/71), which was statistically significant (P = 0.05, 95% CI). Repositioning rates were significantly higher in females (12/25) as compared with males (13/58) in the right IJV catheters (P = 0.019, 95% CI). CONCLUSION: By cannulating the IJV through a central approach, the catheters can be fixed at a length of 12-13 cm in males and 11-12 cm in females in the right IJV and at a length of 13-14 cm in males and 12-13 cm in females in the left IJV in order to achieve correct positioning.