Hemocompatibility-related Adverse Events in Patients With Temporary Mechanical Circulatory Support: The Scoring Haemostasis Events and Assessment for Risk (SHEAR) Score.

Evaluation of treatment outcomes in patients supported by temporary mechanical circulatory support (tMCS) currently relies mainly on mortality, which may not sufficiently address other patient benefits or harms. Bleeding and thrombosis are major contributors to mortality. Still, current bleeding scores are not designed for critically ill patients undergoing tMCS, only consider selected populations, and do not account for the high heterogeneity among bleeding and thrombotic adverse events. To improve clinical management, a group of European experts has proposed a revised scoring system based on the MOMENTUM 3 Hemocompatibility Score and the Society of Cardiac Angiography and Interventions (SCAI)classification of cardiogenic shock. The new system termed the Scoring Haemostasis Events and Assessment for Risk (SHEAR) score, is divided into a baseline characterization stage and four escalating scoring stages encompassing all aspects of clinical relevance. This report summarizes the literature on hemocompatibility-related adverse events associated with tMCS, including bleeding, stroke, vascular access complications, hemolysis, thrombosis, and device failure. The SHEAR score provides a simple and rapid bedside scoring system aiming to provide a univocal tool to increase physician awareness of hemocompatibility complications at baseline and beyond, improve clinical research, and enable the capture of device-related complications that will inform relevant outcomes beyond mortality.

Frailty as a sequela of burn injury: a post hoc analysis of the "RE-ENERGIZE" multicenter randomized-controlled trial and the National Health Interview Survey.

BACKGROUND: With advancements in burn treatment and intensive care leading to decreased mortality rates, a growing cohort of burn survivors is emerging. These individuals may be susceptible to frailty, characterized by reduced physiological reserve and increased vulnerability to stressors commonly associated with aging, which significantly complicates their recovery process. To date, no study has investigated burns as a potential risk factor for frailty. This study aimed to determine the short-term prevalence of frailty among burn survivors' months after injury and compare it with that of the general population. METHODS: A post hoc analysis was conducted on the Randomized Trial of Enteral Glutamine to Minimize the Effects of Burn Injury (RE-ENERGIZE) trial, an international randomized-controlled trial involving 1200 burn injury patients with partial- or full-thickness burns. Participants who did not complete the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire were excluded. Data for the general population were obtained from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Frailty was assessed using the FRAIL (Fatigue, Resistance, Ambulation, Illness, Loss of weight) scale. Due to lack of data on loss of weight, for the purposes of this study, malnutrition was used as the fifth variable. Illness and malnutrition were based on admission data, while fatigue, resistance, and ambulation were determined from post-discharge responses to the SF-36. The burn cohort and general population groups were matched using propensity score matching and compared in terms of frailty status. Within the burn group, patients were divided into different subgroups based on their frailty status, and the differences in their (instrumental) activities of daily living (iADL and ADL) were compared. A multivariable analysis was performed within the burn cohort to identify factors predisposing to frailty as well as compromised iADL and ADL. RESULTS: Out of the 1200 burn patients involved in the study, 600 completed the required questionnaires [follow-up time: (5.5 ± 2.3) months] and were matched to 1200 adults from the general population in the U.S. In comparison to the general population, burn patients exhibited a significantly higher likelihood of being pre-frail (42.3% vs. 19.8%, P < 0.0001), or frail (13.0% vs. 1.0%, P < 0.0001). When focusing on specific components, burn patients were more prone to experiencing fatigue (25.8% vs. 13.5%, P < 0.0001), limited resistance (34.0% vs. 2.7%, P < 0.0001), and restricted ambulation (41.8% vs. 3.8%, P < 0.0001). Conversely, the incidence rate of illness was observed to be higher in the general population (1.2% vs. 2.8%, P = 0.03), while no significant difference was detected regarding malnutrition (2.3% vs. 2.6%, P = 0.75). Furthermore, in comparison with robust burn patients, it was significantly more likely for pre-frail and frail patients to disclose compromise in ADL and iADL. The frail cohort reported the most pronounced limitation. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest a higher incidence of post-discharge frailty among burn survivors in the short-term following injury. Burn survivors experience compromised fatigue, resistance, and ambulation, while rates of illness and malnutrition were lower or unchanged, respectively. These results underscore the critical need for early identification of frailty after a burn injury, with timely and comprehensive involvement of a multidisciplinary team including burn and pain specialists, community physicians, physiotherapists, nutritionists, and social workers. This collaborative effort can ensure holistic care to address and mitigate frailty in this patient population.

The role of lipid emulsions containing omega-3 fatty acids for medical and surgical critical care patients.

In critical illness the regulation of inflammation and oxidative stress can improve patient outcomes, and thus omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been used as part of parenteral nutrition (PN) owing to their potential anti-inflammatory effects. The international lipids in PN Summit, encompassed discussions and the production of consensus guidelines concerning PN intravenous lipid emulsion (ILE) use in critical care. The Lipid Summit participants agreed that the inclusion of fish oil in ILEs is associated with meaningful clinical benefits without signals of harm, based on a strong biological rationale and current clinical evidence. Decisions concerning ILE choice should be made based on current evidence, thus addressing clinical requirements for guidance, particularly as further definitive evidence seems unlikely to occur. In addition, a future of individualized ICU care is envisioned, yielding better clinical outcomes. This approach will require the greater use of intelligent study designs incorporating the use of biomarkers of omega-3 derivatives, inflammatory-resolving processes, and/or muscle protein breakdown.

Potassium Supplementation and Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery: The TIGHT K Randomized Clinical Trial.

IMPORTANCE: Supplementing potassium in an effort to maintain high-normal serum concentrations is a widespread strategy used to prevent atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery (AFACS), but is not evidence-based, carries risks, and is costly. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a lower serum potassium concentration trigger for supplementation is noninferior to a high-normal trigger. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This open-label, noninferiority, randomized clinical trial was conducted at 23 cardiac surgical centers in the United Kingdom and Germany. Between October 20, 2020, and November 16, 2023, patients with no history of atrial dysrhythmias scheduled for isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery were enrolled. The last study patient was discharged from the hospital on December 11, 2023. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly assigned to a strategy of tight or relaxed potassium control (only supplementing if serum potassium concentration fell below 4.5 mEq/L or 3.6 mEq/L, respectively). Patients wore an ambulatory heart rhythm monitor, which was analyzed by a core laboratory masked to treatment assignment. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The prespecified primary end point was clinically detected and electrocardiographically confirmed new-onset AFACS in the first 120 hours after CABG surgery or until hospital discharge, whichever occurred first. All primary outcome events were validated by an event validation committee, which was masked to treatment assignment. Noninferiority of relaxed potassium control was defined as a risk difference for new-onset AFACS with associated upper bound of a 1-sided 97.5% CI of less than 10%. Secondary outcomes included other heart rhythm-related events, clinical outcomes, and cost related to the intervention. RESULTS: A total of 1690 patients (mean age, 65 years; 256 [15%] females) were randomized. The primary end point occurred in 26.2% of patients (n = 219) in the tight group and 27.8% of patients (n = 231) in the relaxed group, which is a risk difference of 1.7% (95% CI, -2.6% to 5.9%). There was no difference between the groups in the incidence of at least 1 AFACS episode detected by any means or by ambulatory heart rhythm monitor alone, non-AFACS dysrhythmias, in-patient mortality, or length of stay. Per-patient cost for purchasing and administering potassium was significantly lower in the relaxed group (mean difference, $111.89 [95% CI, $103.60-$120.19]; P <.001). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: For AFACS prophylaxis, supplementation only when serum potassium concentration fell below 3.6 mEq/L was noninferior to the current widespread practice of supplementing potassium to maintain a serum potassium concentration greater than or equal to 4.5 mEq/L. The lower threshold of supplementation was not associated with any increase in dysrhythmias or adverse clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04053816.

Early protein delivery in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury: post hoc analysis of a multicenter cluster-randomized controlled trial.

Background: There is controversy over the optimal early protein delivery in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI). This study aims to evaluate whether the association between early protein delivery and 28-day mortality was impacted by the presence of AKI in critically ill patients. Methods: This is a post hoc analysis of data from a multicenter cluster-randomised controlled trial enrolling newly admitted critically ill patients (n = 2772). Participants without chronic kidney disease and with complete data concerning baseline renal function were included in this study. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality. Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyze the association between early protein delivery, reflected by mean protein delivery from day 3-5 after enrollment, 28-day mortality and whether baseline AKI stages interacted with this association. Results: Overall, 2552 patients were included, among whom 567 (22.2%) had AKI at enrollment (111 stage I, 87 stage II, 369 stage III). Mean early protein delivery was 0.60 ± 0.38 g/kg/day among the study patients. In the overall study cohort, each 0.1 g/kg/day increase in protein delivery was associated with a 5% reduction in 28-day mortality[hazard ratio (HR) = 0.95; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.92-0.98, p < 0.001]. The association between early protein delivery and 28-day mortality significantly interacted with baseline AKI stages (adjusted interaction p = 0.028). Each 0.1 g/kg/day increase in early protein delivery was associated with a 4% reduction in 28-day mortality (HR = 0.96; 95%CI 0.92-0.99, p = 0.011) among patients without AKI and 9% (HR = 0.91; 95%CI 0.84-0.99, p = 0.021) among those with AKI stage III. However, such associations cannot be observed among patients with AKI stages I and II. Conclusions: Increased early protein delivery (up to close to the guideline recommendation) was associated with reduced 28-day mortality in critically ill patients without AKI and with AKI stage III, but not in those with AKI stage I or II.

The effect of high-dose selenium on mortality and postoperative organ dysfunction in post-cardiotomy cardiogenic shock patients supported with mechanical circulatory support - A post-hoc analysis of the SUSTAIN CSX trial.

PURPOSE: Cardiac surgery, post-cardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCCS), and temporary mechanical circulatory support (tMCS) provoke substantial inflammation. We therefore investigated whether a selenium-based, anti-inflammatory strategy would benefit PCCS patients treated with tMCS in a post-hoc analysis of the sustain CSX trial. METHODS: Post-hoc analysis of patients receiving tMCS for PCCS in the Sustain CSX trial, which investigated the effects of high-dose selenium on postoperative organ dysfunction in cardiac surgery patients. PRIMARY OUTCOME: duration of tMCS therapy. SECONDARY OUTCOMES: postoperative organ dysfunction and 30-day mortality. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients were treated with tMCS for PCCS. There was no difference in the median duration of tMCS between the selenium and the placebo group (3 days [IQR: 1-6] vs. 2 days [IQR: 1-7], p = 0.52). Median dialysis duration was longer in the selenium group (1.5 days [0-21.8] vs. 0 days [0-1.8], p = 0.048). There was no difference in 30-day mortality (53% vs. 41%, OR 1.44, 95% CI 0.32-6.47, p = 0.62). CONCLUSION: In this explorative study, a perioperative high-dose selenium-supplementation did not show beneficial effects on organ dysfunctions and mortality rates in patients with PCCS receiving tMCS.

Vitamin C for all?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Vitamin C can be a potential adjunctive treatment option for critically ill individuals due to its pleiotropic effects as electron donor in many enzymatic reactions throughout the body. Recently, several important randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating vitamin C in critically ill patients have been published. RECENT FINDINGS: Two recent large RCTs administering high-dose vitamin C to patients with sepsis and COVID-19 showed signs of harm. Though performed at high standard, these trials had several limitations. Recent studies in cardiac surgery and burns showed decreased cardiac enzymes and improved clinical outcomes after cardiac surgery, and decreased fluid requirements, reduced wound healing time and in-hospital mortality after burns. Vitamin C may hold benefit in the management of other ischemia/reperfusion injury populations, including postcardiac arrest patients and after solid organ transplantation. Currently, covering basal vitamin C requirements during critical illness is recommended, though the exact dose remains to be determined. SUMMARY: Future work should address optimal vitamin C timing, since early versus late drug administration are likely distinct, and duration of therapy, where withdrawal-induced injury is possible. Additionally accurate assessment of body stores with determination of individual vitamin requirements is crucial to ascertain patient and subgroups most likely to benefit from vitamin C.

The effect of a selenium-based anti-inflammatory strategy on postoperative functional recovery in high-risk cardiac surgery patients - A nested sub-study of the sustain CSX trial.

AIM: The cardiac surgery-related ischemia-reperfusion-related oxidative stress triggers the release of cytotoxic reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, contributing to organ failure and ultimately influencing patients' short- and long-term outcomes. Selenium is an essential co-factor for various antioxidant enzymes, thereby contributing to the patients' endogenous antioxidant and anti-inflammatory defense mechanisms. Given these selenium's pleiotropic functions, we investigated the effect of a high-dose selenium-based anti-inflammatory perioperative strategy on functional recovery after cardiac surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study constituted a nested sub-study of the SUSTAIN CSX trial, a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled multicenter trial to investigate the impact of high-dose selenium supplementation on high-risk cardiac surgery patients' postoperative recovery. Functional recovery was assessed by 6-min walk distance, Short Form-36 (SF-36) and Barthel Index questionnaires. KEY FINDINGS: 174 patients were included in this sub-study. The mean age (SD) was 67.3 (8.9) years, and 78.7 % of the patients were male. The mean (SD) predicted 30-day mortality by the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation II score was 12.6 % (9.4 %). There was no difference at hospital discharge and after three months in the 6-min walk distance between the selenium and placebo groups (131 m [IQR: not performed - 269] vs. 160 m [IQR: not performed - 252], p = 0.80 and 400 m [IQR: 299-461] vs. 375 m [IQR: 65-441], p = 0.48). The SF-36 and Barthel Index assessments also revealed no clinically meaningful differences between the selenium and placebo groups. SIGNIFICANCE: A perioperative anti-inflammatory strategy with high-dose selenium supplementation did not improve functional recovery in high-risk cardiac surgery patients.

Antiseptic management of critical wounds: differential bacterial response upon exposure to antiseptics and first insights into antiseptic/phage interactions.

BACKGROUND: With the antibiotic crisis, the topical antibacterial control including chronic wounds gains increasing importance. However, little is known regarding tolerance development when bacteria face repetitive exposure to the identical antiseptics as commonly found in clinical practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical isolates foremost of chronic wounds were exposed in vitro to dilutions of two antiseptics used for wound therapy: polyhexanide or octenidine. Adaptive response was determined by growth/kill curves, minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), and whole genome sequencing. Antiseptic/bacteriophage combinations were studied by liquid-infection assays and bacterial plating. RESULTS: Polyhexanide acted stronger against Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis while octenidine was more potent against Staphylococcus aureus . Otherwise, the antiseptic efficacy varied across isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , and Acinetobacter baumannii . Upon repetitive exposure with constant antiseptic concentrations P. aeruginosa and P. mirabilis adaptation was evident by a reduced lag-phase and a twofold increased MIC. Under increasing octenidine concentrations, P. aeruginosa adapted to an eightfold higher dosage with mutations in smvA , opgH , and kinB affecting an efflux pump, alginate and biofilm formation, respectively. S. aureus adapted to a fourfold increase of polyhexanide with a mutation in the multiple peptide resistance factor MprF, also conferring cross-resistance to daptomycin. Antiseptic/bacteriophage combinations enhanced bacterial inhibition and delayed adaptation. CONCLUSION: Different bacterial species/strains respond unequally to low-level antiseptic concentrations. Bacterial adaptation potential at phenotypic and genotypic levels may indicate the necessity for a more nuanced selection of antiseptics. Bacteriophages represent a promising yet underexplored strategy for supporting antiseptic treatment, which may be particularly beneficial for the management of critical wounds.

Expert consensus report on lipid mediators: Role in resolution of inflammation and muscle preservation.

This meeting report presents a consensus on the biological aspects of lipid emulsions in parenteral nutrition, emphasizing the unanimous support for the integration of lipid emulsions, particularly those containing fish oil, owing to their many potential benefits beyond caloric provision. Lipid emulsions have evolved from simple energy sources to complex formulations designed to improve safety profiles and offer therapeutic benefits. The consensus highlights the critical role of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), notably eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), found in fish oil and other marine oils, for their anti-inflammatory properties, muscle mass preservation, and as precursors to the specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs). SPMs play a significant role in immune modulation, tissue repair, and the active resolution of inflammation without impairing host defense mechanisms. The panel's agreement underscores the importance of incorporating fish oil within clinical practices to facilitate recovery in conditions like surgery, critical illness, or immobility, while cautioning against therapies that might disrupt natural inflammation resolution processes. This consensus not only reaffirms the role of specific lipid components in enhancing patient outcomes, but also suggests a shift towards nutrition-based therapeutic strategies in clinical settings, advocating for the proactive evidence-based use of lipid emulsions enriched with omega-3 PUFAs. Furthermore, we should seek to apply our knowledge concerning DHA, EPA, and their SPM derivatives, to produce more informative randomized controlled trial protocols, thus allowing more authoritative clinical recommendations.

Considerations for medical nutrition therapy management of the critically ill patient with hematological malignancies: A narrative review.

Patients with hematological malignancies (HMs) are more frequently admitted now than in the past to the intensive care unit (ICU) due to more aggressive approaches in primary therapy of HMs and the need for critical care support. Pathophysiological alterations derived from HMs and the different hematological therapies, such as chemotherapy, negatively affect gastrointestinal (GI) function, metabolism, and nutrition status. Further, malnutrition strongly influences outcomes and tolerance of the different hematological therapies. In consequence, these critically ill patients frequently present with malnutrition and pathophysiological alterations that create challenges for the delivery of medical nutrition therapy (MNT) in the ICU. Frequent screening, gauging tolerance, and monitoring nutrition status are mandatory to provide individualized MNT and achieve nutrition objectives. The present review discusses how HM impact GI function and nutrition status, the importance of MNT in patients with HM, and specific considerations for guidance in providing adequate MNT to these patients when admitted to the ICU.

Administration and effects of beta blockers and oxandrolone in severely burned adults: a post hoc analysis of the RE-ENERGIZE trial.

Background: Prospective randomized trials in severely burned children have shown the positive effects of oxandrolone (OX), beta blockers (BB) and a combination of the two (BBOX) on hypermetabolism, catabolism and hyperinflammation short- and long-term post-burn. Although data on severely burned adults are lacking in comparison, BB, OX and BBOX appear to be commonly employed in this patient population. In this study, we perform a secondary analysis of an international prospective randomized trial dataset to provide descriptive evidence regarding the current utilization patterns and potential treatment effects of OX, BB and BBOX. Methods: The RE-ENERGIZE (RandomizEd Trial of ENtERal Glutamine to minimIZE Thermal Injury, NCT00985205) trial included 1200 adult patients with severe burns. We stratified patients according to their receipt of OX, BB, BBOX or none of these drugs (None) during acute hospitalization. Descriptive statistics describe the details of drug therapy and unadjusted analyses identify predisposing factors for drug use per group. Association between OX, BB and BBOX and clinical outcomes such as time to discharge alive and 6-month mortality were modeled using adjusted multivariable Cox regressions. Results: More than half of all patients in the trial received either OX (n = 138), BB (n = 293) or BBOX (n = 282), as opposed to None (n = 487, 40.6%). Per study site and geographical region, use of OX, BB and BBOX was highly variable. Predisposing factors for the use of OX, BB and BBOX included larger total body surface area (TBSA) burned, higher acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II scores on admission and younger patient age. After adjustment for multiple covariates, the use of OX was associated with a longer time to discharge alive [hazard ratio (HR) 0.62, confidence interval (CI) (0.47-0.82) per 100% increase, p = 0.001]. A higher proportion of days on BB was associated with lower in-hospital-mortality (HR: 0.5, CI 0.28-0.87, p = 0.015) and 6-month mortality (HR: 0.44, CI 0.24-0.82, p = 0.01). Conclusions: The use of OX, BB and BBOX is common within the adult burn patient population, with its use varying considerably across sites worldwide. Our findings found mixed associations between outcomes and the use of BB and OX in adult burn patients, with lower acute and 6-month-mortality with BB and longer times to discharge with OX. Further research into these pharmacological modulators of the pathophysiological response to severe burn injury is indicated.

Enteral nutrition in septic shock: a call for a paradigm shift.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review is to identify contemporary evidence evaluating enteral nutrition in patients with septic shock, outline risk factors for enteral feeding intolerance (EFI), describe the conundrum of initiating enteral nutrition in patients with septic shock, appraise current EFI definitions, and identify bedside monitors for guiding enteral nutrition therapy. RECENT FINDINGS: The NUTRIREA-2 and NUTRIREA-3 trial results have better informed the dose of enteral nutrition in critically ill patients with circulatory shock. In both trials, patients with predominant septic shock randomized to receive early standard-dose nutrition had more gastrointestinal complications. Compared to other contemporary RCTs that included patients with circulatory shock, patients in the NUTRIREA-2 and NUTRIREA-3 trials had higher bowel ischemia rates, were sicker, and received full-dose enteral nutrition while receiving high baseline dose of vasopressor. These findings suggest severity of illness, vasopressor dose, and enteral nutrition dose impact outcomes. SUMMARY: The provision of early enteral nutrition preserves gut barrier functions; however, these benefits are counterbalanced by potential complications of introducing luminal nutrients into a hypo-perfused gut, including bowel ischemia. Findings from the NUTRIREA2 and NUTRIREA-3 trials substantiate a 'less is more' enteral nutrition dose strategy during the early acute phase of critical illness. In the absence of bedside tools to guide the initiation and advancement of enteral nutrition in patients with septic shock, the benefit of introducing enteral nutrition on preserving gut barrier function must be weighed against the risk of harm by considering dose of vasopressor, dose of enteral nutrition, and severity of illness.

Micronutrients as therapy in critical illness.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Recent large-scale randomized controlled trials (RCTs) challenged current beliefs about the potential role of micronutrients to attenuate the inflammatory response and improve clinical outcomes of critically ill patients. The purpose of this narrative review is to provide an overview and critical discussion about most recent clinical trials, which evaluated the clinical significance of a vitamin C, vitamin D, or selenium administration in critically ill patients. RECENT FINDINGS: None of the most recent large-scale RCTs could demonstrate any clinical benefits for a micronutrient administration in ICU patients, whereas a recent RCT indicated harmful effects, if high dose vitamin C was administered in septic patients. Following meta-analyses could not confirm harmful effects for high dose vitamin C in general critically ill patients and indicated benefits in the subgroup of general ICU patients with higher mortality risk. For vitamin D, the most recent large-scale RCT could not demonstrate clinical benefits for critically ill patients, whereas another large-scale RCT is still ongoing. The aggregated and meta-analyzed evidence highlighted a potential role for intravenous vitamin D administration, which encourages further research. In high-risk cardiac surgery patients, a perioperative application of high-dose selenium was unable to improve patients' outcome. The observed increase of selenium levels in the patients' blood did not translate into an increase of antioxidative or anti-inflammatory enzymes, which illuminates the urgent need for more research to identify potential confounding factors. SUMMARY: Current data received from most recent large-scale RCTs could not demonstrate clinically meaningful effects of an intervention with either vitamin C, vitamin D, or selenium in critically ill patients. More attention is needed to carefully identify potential confounding factors and to better evaluate the role of timing, duration, and combined strategies.

The long-term intercorrelation between post-burn pain, anxiety, and depression: a post hoc analysis of the "RE-ENERGIZE" double-blind, randomized, multicenter placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Despite the growing prevalence of burn survivors, a gap persists in our understanding of the correlation between acute burn trauma and the long-term impact on psychosocial health. This study set out to investigate the prevalence of long-term pain and symptoms of anxiety and depression in survivors of extensive burns, comparing this to the general population, and identify injury and demographic-related factors predisposing individuals to psychosocial compromise. METHODS: RE-ENERGIZE was an international, double-blinded, randomized-controlled trial that enrolled 1200 patients with partial- or full-thickness burns that required surgical treatment. For the post hoc analysis, we excluded participants who did not complete the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire. Normative data were taken from the 2021 National Health Interview Survey dataset. Propensity score matching was performed using the nearest-neighbor 1-to-1 method, and the two cohorts were compared in terms of chronic pain, and symptoms of anxiety and depression. A multivariable analysis was performed on the burns cohort to identify factors predicting post-discharge pain and symptoms of anxiety and depression. RESULTS: A total of 600 burn patients and 26,666 general population adults were included in this study. Following propensity score matching, both groups comprised 478 participants each, who were predominately male, white, overweight and between 20 and 60 years old. Compared to the general population, burn patients were significantly more likely to report the presence of moderate and a lot of pain (p = 0.002). Symptoms of anxiety were significantly higher in the burn population in two of four levels (most of the time; some of the time; p < 0.0001 for both). Responders in the burn population were significantly less likely to report the absence of depressive symptoms (p < 0.0001). Burn patients were also significantly more likely to report that their mental health affects their social life. TBSA, history of depression, and female sex were identified as independently associated factors for pain, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. The presence of chronic pain and anxiety symptoms independently predicted for symptoms of depression. CONCLUSIONS: Analyzing the largest multicenter cohort of patients with extensive burns, we find that burn injury is associated with chronic pain, and symptoms of anxiety and depression. In addition, TBSA-burned and history of depression directly correlate with the prevalence of chronic pain, and symptoms of anxiety and depression. Finally, pain, and symptoms of anxiety and depression are interrelated and may have interactive effects on the process of recovery following burn injury. Burn patients would, therefore, benefit from a multidisciplinary team approach with early mobilization of pain and mental health experts, in order to promptly prevent the development of psychosocial challenges and their consequences.

[Treatment of Burn Shock - The First 24 hours and Beyond]. / Die Therapie des Verbrennungsschocks ­ die ersten 24 h und darüber hinaus.

Acute phase and resuscitation after burn trauma are challenging even for specialised burn centres due to the individual onset and differences compared with other forms of shock. The guidelines of the German Society of Burn Medicine (DGV) cover the scientific basis of modern burn treatment. Nevertheless, uncertainty remains regarding the detailed practical handling. This expert consensus focuses on best practices for the treatment of patients with major burns in specialised burn centres and by clinical first responders. The short version of this expert consensus can be downloaded at: https://verbrennungsmedizin.de/files/dgv_files/pdf/positionspapier/Pos%20Therapie%20des%20Verbrennungsschock%20AK%20Intensivmedizin%202023.pdf.

Immune-Enhancing Treatment among Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis Patients with Metabolic Abnormalities: A Post Hoc Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background/Aims: Metabolic syndrome is common in patients with acute pancreatitis and its components have been reported to be associated with infectious complications. In this post hoc analysis, we aimed to evaluate whether metabolic abnormalities impact the effect of immune-enhancing thymosin alpha-1 (Tα1) therapy in acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) patients. Methods: All data were obtained from the database for a multicenter randomized clinical trial that evaluated the efficacy of Tα1 in ANP patients. Patients who discontinued the Tα1 treatment prematurely were excluded. The primary outcome was 90-day infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN) after randomization. Three post hoc subgroups were defined based on the presence of hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, or both at the time of randomization. In each subgroup, the correlation between Tα1 and 90-day IPN was assessed using the Cox proportional-hazards regression model. Multivariable propensity-score methods were used to control potential bias. Results: Overall, 502 participants were included in this post hoc analysis (248 received Tα1 treatment and 254 received matching placebo treatment). Among them, 271 (54.0%) had hyperglycemia, 371 (73.9%) had hypertriglyceridemia and 229 (45.6%) had both. Tα1 therapy was associated with reduced incidence of IPN among patients with hyperglycemia (18.8% vs 29.7%: hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% confidence interval, 0.37 to 0.97; p=0.03), but not in the other subgroups. Additional multivariate regression models using three propensity-score methods yielded similar results. Conclusions: Among ANP patients with hyperglycemia, immune-enhancing Tα1 treatment was associated with a reduced risk of IPN (ClinicalTrials.gov, Registry number: NCT02473406).

Highlights in the clinical nutrition literature: A critical appraisal of current research.

Within the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN), the Physician Engagement Committee (PEC) was created in 2017 by the ASPEN Board of Directors with the goal of growing the physician community both nationally and internationally. The PEC meets each month throughout the year to develop educational and research initiatives. In 2022, the PEC began an initiative to systematically review and evaluate practice-changing literature annually with the overall aim to highlight these studies at the annual ASPEN conferences and to critically discuss the potential clinical implications. The objective of the held meeting session was to present identified key papers in the fields of critical care medicine, gastroenterology and hepatology, and adult internal medicine that were published in 2022, which would complement the knowledge of the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of nutrition topics as well as to identify areas of future research. Overall, several large-scale randomized controlled studies were identified in each of these sections, with practice-changing major results. This manuscript summarizes the information that was presented and the discussions that followed.