Transcranial Doppler and Color-Coded Doppler Use for Brain Death Determination in Adult Patients: A Pictorial Essay.

Transcranial Doppler (TCD) is a repeatable, at-the-bedside, helpful tool for confirming cerebral circulatory arrest (CCA). Despite its variable accuracy, TCD is increasingly used during brain death determination, and it is considered among the optional ancillary tests in several countries. Among its limitations, the need for skilled operators with appropriate knowledge of typical CCA patterns and the lack of adequate acoustic bone windows for intracranial arteries assessment are critical. The purpose of this review is to describe how to evaluate cerebral circulatory arrest in the intensive care unit with TCD and transcranial duplex color-coded doppler (TCCD).

A Comprehensive Perspective on Intracranial Pressure Monitoring and Individualized Management in Neurocritical Care: Results of a Survey with Global Experts.

BACKGROUND: Numerous trials have addressed intracranial pressure (ICP) management in neurocritical care. However, identifying its harmful thresholds and controlling ICP remain challenging in terms of improving outcomes. Evidence suggests that an individualized approach is necessary for establishing tolerance limits for ICP, incorporating factors such as ICP waveform (ICPW) or pulse morphology along with additional data provided by other invasive (e.g., brain oximetry) and noninvasive monitoring (NIM) methods (e.g., transcranial Doppler, optic nerve sheath diameter ultrasound, and pupillometry). This study aims to assess current ICP monitoring practices among experienced clinicians and explore whether guidelines should incorporate ancillary parameters from NIM and ICPW in future updates. METHODS: We conducted a survey among experienced professionals involved in researching and managing patients with severe injury across low-middle-income countries (LMICs) and high-income countries (HICs). We sought their insights on ICP monitoring, particularly focusing on the impact of NIM and ICPW in various clinical scenarios. RESULTS: From October to December 2023, 109 professionals from the Americas and Europe participated in the survey, evenly distributed between LMIC and HIC. When ICP ranged from 22 to 25 mm Hg, 62.3% of respondents were open to considering additional information, such as ICPW and other monitoring techniques, before adjusting therapy intensity levels. Moreover, 77% of respondents were inclined to reassess patients with ICP in the 18-22 mm Hg range, potentially escalating therapy intensity levels with the support of ICPW and NIM. Differences emerged between LMIC and HIC participants, with more LMIC respondents preferring arterial blood pressure transducer leveling at the heart and endorsing the use of NIM techniques and ICPW as ancillary information. CONCLUSIONS: Experienced clinicians tend to personalize ICP management, emphasizing the importance of considering various monitoring techniques. ICPW and noninvasive techniques, particularly in LMIC settings, warrant further exploration and could potentially enhance individualized patient care. The study suggests updating guidelines to include these additional components for a more personalized approach to ICP management.

Diaphragmatic morphological post-mortem findings in critically ill COVID-19 patients: an observational study.

Our study investigates the post-mortem findings of the diaphragm's muscular structural changes in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients. Diaphragm samples of the right side from 42 COVID-19 critically ill patients were analyzed and correlated with the type and length of mechanical ventilation (MV), ventilatory parameters, prone positioning, and use of sedative drugs. The mean number of fibers was 550±626. The cross-sectional area was 4120±3280 µm2, while the muscular fraction was 0.607±0.126. The overall population was clustered into two distinct populations (clusters 1 and 2). Cluster 1 showed a lower percentage of slow myosin fiber and higher fast fiber content than cluster 2, 68% versus 82%, p<0.00001, and 29.8% versus 18.8%, p=0.00045 respectively. The median duration of MV was 180 (41-346) hours. In cluster 1, a relationship between assisted ventilation and fast myosin fiber percentage (R2=-0.355, p=0.014) was found. In cluster 2, fast fiber content increased with increasing the length of the controlled MV (R2=0.446, p=0.006). A high grade of fibrosis was reported. Cluster 1 was characterized by fibers' atrophy and cluster 2 by hypertrophy, supposing different effects of ventilation on the diaphragm but without excluding a possible direct viral effect on diaphragmatic fibers.

Association between artificial nutrition in brain dead donors and early allograft function in liver transplant recipients: an observational study.

BACKGROUND: The role of nutrition in donor after brain deaths (DBDs) has yet to be adequately discussed. The primary aim of this study was to investigate whether the nutritional intake in the 48 h before organ retrieval may play a role on the graft functional recovery assessed with Model for Early Allograft Function (MEAF) Score. METHODS: Single-center retrospective study evaluating all liver transplants performed at the University Hospital of Udine from January 2010 to August 2020. Patients receiving grafts from DBD donors fed with artificial enteral nutrition in the 48 h prior to organ procurement (EN-group) or who did not (No-EN-group). Caloric debt was calculated using the difference between the calculated caloric needs and the effective calories delivered through enteral nutrition. RESULTS: Livers from EN-group presented a lower mean MEAF score compared to the no-EN-group: 3.39 ± 1.46 versus 4.15 ± 1.51, respectively (p = .04). A positive correlation between caloric debt and the MEAF score was found within the overall population (r = .227, p = .043) as well as in EN-group (r = .306, p = .049). CONCLUSIONS: Donor's nutritional intake in the final 48 h before organ procurement correlates with MEAF score, and nutrition probably plays a positive role on the functional recovery of the graft. Large future randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm this preliminary results.

Diaphragm ultrasound evaluation during weaning from mechanical ventilation in COVID-19 patients: a pragmatic, cross-section, multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Diaphragmatic dysfunction is a major factor responsible for weaning failure in patients that underwent prolonged invasive mechanical ventilation for acute severe respiratory failure from COVID-19. This study hypothesizes that ultrasound measured diaphragmatic thickening fraction (DTF) could provide corroborating information for weaning COVID-19 patients from mechanical ventilation. METHODS: This was an observational, pragmatic, cross-section, multicenter study in 6 Italian intensive care units. DTF was assessed in COVID-19 patients undergoing weaning from mechanical ventilation from 1st March 2020 to 30th June 2021. Primary aim was to evaluate whether DTF is a predictive factor for weaning failure. RESULTS: Fifty-seven patients were enrolled, 25 patients failed spontaneous breathing trial (44%). Median length of invasive ventilation was 14 days (IQR 7-22). Median DTF within 24 h since the start of weaning was 28% (IQR 22-39%), RASS score (- 2 vs - 2; p = 0.031); Kelly-Matthay score (2 vs 1; p = 0.002); inspiratory oxygen fraction (0.45 vs 0.40; p = 0.033). PaO2/FiO2 ratio was lower (176 vs 241; p = 0.032) and length of intensive care stay was longer (27 vs 16.5 days; p = 0.025) in patients who failed weaning. The generalized linear regression model did not select any variables that could predict weaning failure. DTF was correlated with pH (RR 1.56 × 1027; p = 0.002); Kelly-Matthay score (RR 353; p < 0.001); RASS (RR 2.11; p = 0.003); PaO2/FiO2 ratio (RR 1.03; p = 0.05); SAPS2 (RR 0.71; p = 0.005); hospital and ICU length of stay (RR 1.22 and 0.79, respectively; p < 0.001 and p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: DTF in COVID-19 patients was not predictive of weaning failure from mechanical ventilation, and larger studies are needed to evaluate it in clinical practice further. Registered: ClinicalTrial.gov (NCT05019313, 24 August 2021).

Performing real time neuropsychological testing during awake craniotomy: are dexmedetomidine or propofol the same? A preliminary report.

PURPOSE: In awake surgery, the patient is sedated, but is also required to be sufficiently alert and collaborative during extensive neurocognitive testing. In the present preliminary report of a retrospective single-center study, a continuous series of 168 patients who underwent awake surgery for brain tumor located near eloquent areas, was investigated to observe the effect of dexmedetomidine (n = 58) compared with propofol (n = 110) on vigilance and collaboration required to perform extensive intra-operatory Real Time Neuropsychological Testing (RTNT). METHODS: We assigned a score to each patient, by using a scale that combines vigilance and collaboration in a 5 levels score (the higher score denoting higher level). RESULTS: The median interquartile range was significantly lower (range 3-5) for the dexmedetomidine group compared to the propofol one (range 4-5, p = .044). Patients with intra-operative seizures (p = .014) and/or electrocorticographic slow/epileptiform activity (p = .042), and patients in the propofol group who showed increased heart rate (p = .032) were those who obtained the lower scores (lower vigilance and collaboration level). CONCLUSION: The study shows that the effect of dexmedetomidine or propofol -based conscious sedation on ability to perform Real Time Neuropsychological Testing during awake surgery for supratentorial tumor resection is different. Although both permit high mean levels of vigilance and collaboration, the patient who received dexmedetomidine was more likely to show lower vigilance and collaboration during RTNT.

Evaluation of Drug Wastage in the Operating Rooms and Intensive Care Units of a Regional Health Service.

BACKGROUND: Pharmacological treatments for critical processes in patients need to be initiated as rapidly as possible; for this reason, it is a standard of care to prepare the main anesthesia and emergency drugs in advance. As a result, 20%-50% of the prepared drugs remain unused and are then discarded. Decreasing waste by optimizing drug use is an attractive strategy for meeting both cost containment and environmental sustainability. The primary end point of this study was to measure the actual amount of drug wastage in the operating rooms (ORs) and intensive care units (ICUs) of a Regional Health Service (RHS). The secondary end point was to analyze and estimate the economic implications of this waste for the Health Service and to suggest possible measures to reduce it. METHODS: This prospective observational multicenter study was conducted across 12 hospitals, all of which belong to the same RHS in the north-east of Italy. Data collection took place in March 2018 and included patients admitted to ICUs, emergency areas, and ORs of the participating hospitals. Data concerning drug preparation and administration were collected for all consecutive patients, independent of case types and of whether operations were scheduled or unscheduled. Drug wastage was defined as follows: drugs prepared in ready-to-use syringes but not administered at all and discarded untouched. We then estimated the costs of wasted drugs for a 1-year period using the data from this study and the yearly regional pharmacy orders of drugs provided to the ORs and ICUs. We also performed a sensitivity analysis to validate the robustness of our assumptions and qualitative conclusions. RESULTS: We collected data for a total of 13,078 prepared drug syringes. Drug wastage varied from 7.8% (Urapidil, an alpha-1 antagonist antihypertensive) to 85.7% (epinephrine) of prepared syringes, with an overall mean wastage rate of 38%. The estimated yearly waste was 139,531 syringes, for a total estimated financial cost of €78,060 ($92,569), and an additional quantity of medical waste amounting to 4968 kg per year. The total provider time dedicated to the preparation of unused drugs was predicted to be 1512 working hours per year. CONCLUSIONS: The overall extent of drug wastage in ORs and ICUs is concerning. Interventions aimed at minimizing waste-related costs and improving the environmental sustainability of our practice are paramount. Effort should be put into designing a more efficient workflow that reduces this waste while providing for the emergency availability of these medications in the OR and ICU.

Intensive care unit discharge: mind the gap!

Mortality after intensive care discharge is a hot topic in critical care medicine. Many factors probably play a role: patient's comorbidities and severity of the disease may have great impact on mortality. However it should be taken into account also the level of care that characterizes the ward in which the patient is discharged to. A soft transition from intensive care units to the other hospital wards is desirable to avoid the traumatic step that the fragile post-ICU patient has to face with.

SUGAMMADEX versus neostigmine after ROCURONIUM continuous infusion in patients undergoing liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Rapid neuromuscular block reversal at the end of major abdominal surgery is recommended to avoid any postoperative residual block. To date, no study has evaluated sugammadex performance after rocuronium administration in patients undergoing liver transplantation. This is a randomized controlled trial with the primary objective of assessing the neuromuscular transmission recovery time obtained with sugammadex versus neostigmine after rocuronium induced neuromuscular blockade in patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation. METHODS: The TOF-Watch SX®, calibrated and linked to a portable computer equipped with TOF-Watch SX Monitor Software®, was used to monitor and record intraoperative neuromuscular block maintained with a continuous infusion of rocuronium. Anaesthetic management was standardized as per our institution's internal protocol. At the end of surgery, neuromuscular moderate block reversal was obtained by administration of 2 mg/kg of sugammadex or 50 mcg/kg of neostigmine (plus 10 mcg/kg of atropine). RESULTS: Data from 41 patients undergoing liver transplantation were analysed. In this population, recovery from neuromuscular block was faster following sugammadex administration than neostigmine administration, with mean times±SD of 9.4 ± 4.6 min and 34.6 ± 24.9 min, respectively (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Sugammadex is able to reverse neuromuscular block maintained by rocuronium continuous infusion in patients undergoing liver transplantation. The mean reversal time obtained with sugammadex was significantly faster than that for neostigmine. It is important to note that the sugammadex recovery time in this population was found to be considerably longer than in other surgical settings, and should be considered in clinical practice. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.govNCT02697929 (registered 3rd March 2016).

Liberal or restricted fluid administration: are we ready for a proposal of a restricted intraoperative approach?

BACKGROUND: Fluid management in the perioperative period has been extensively studied but, despite that, "the right amount" still remains uncertain. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the state of the art of intraoperative fluid approach today. DISCUSSION: In the current medical literature there are only heterogeneous viewpoints that gives the idea of how confusing the situation is. The approach to the intraoperative fluid management is complex and it should be based on human physiology and the current evidence. SUMMARY: An intraoperative restrictive fluid approach in major surgery may be beneficial while Goal-directed Therapy should be superior to the liberal fluid strategy. Finally, we propose a rational approach currently used at our institution.

Methodologies and clinical applications of lower limb muscle ultrasound in critically ill patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Reduced muscle mass upon admission and development of muscle wasting are frequent in critically ill patients, and linked to unfavorable outcomes. Muscle ultrasound is a promising instrument for evaluating muscle mass. We summarized the findings of lower limb muscle ultrasound values and investigated how the muscle ultrasound parameters of the examination or the patient characteristics influence the results. METHODS: Systematic review and meta-analysis of studies of lower limb ultrasound critically ill adults. PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, PEDro and Web of Science were searched. PRISMA guidelines were followed, and studies evaluated with the appropriate NIH quality assessment tool. A meta-analysis was conducted to compare the values at admission, short and long follow-up during ICU stay, and the association between baseline values and patient characteristics or ultrasound parameters was investigated with a meta-regression. RESULTS: Sixty-six studies (3839 patients) were included. The main muscles investigated were rectus femoris cross-sectional area (RF-CSA, n = 33/66), quadriceps muscle layer thickness (n = 32/66), and rectus femoris thickness (n = 19/66). Significant differences were found in the anatomical landmark and ultrasound settings. At ICU admission, RF-CSA ranged from 1.1 [0.73-1.47] to 6.36 [5.45-7.27] cm2 (pooled average 2.83 [2.29-3.37] cm2) with high heterogeneity among studies (I2 = 98.43%). Higher age, higher BMI, more distal landmark and the use of probe compression were associated with lower baseline muscle mass. CONCLUSIONS: Measurements of muscle mass using ultrasound varied with reference to patient characteristics, patient position, anatomical landmarks used for measurement, and the level of compression applied by the probe; this constrains the external validity of the results and highlights the need for standardization. STUDY REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42023420376.

Noninvasive respiratory support in the perioperative setting: a narrative review.

The application of preoperative noninvasive respiratory support (NRS) has been expanding with increasing recognition of its potential role in this setting as a physiological optimization for patients with a high risk of developing atelectasis and postoperative pulmonary complications (PPC). The increased availability of high-performance anesthesia ventilator machines providing an easy way for NRS support in patients with reduced lung function should not be under-evaluated. This support can reduce hypoxia, restore lung volumes and theoretically reduce atelectasis formation after general anesthesia. Therapeutic purposes should also be considered in the perioperative setting, such as preoperative NRS to optimize treatment of patients' pre-existing diseases, e.g., sleep-disordered breathing. Finally, the recent guidelines for airway management suggest preoperative NRS application before anesthesia induction in difficult airway management to prolong the time needed to secure the airway with an orotracheal tube. This narrative review aims to revise all these aspects and to provide some practical notes to maximize the efficacy of perioperative noninvasive respiratory support.

Lung ultrasound and supine chest X-ray use in modern adult intensive care: mapping 30 years of advancement (1993-2023).

In critically ill patients with acute respiratory failure, thoracic images are essential for evaluating the nature, extent and progression of the disease, and for clinical management decisions. For this purpose, computed tomography (CT) is the gold standard. However, transporting patients to the radiology suite and exposure to ionized radiation limit its use. Furthermore, a CT scan is a static diagnostic exam for the thorax, not allowing, for example, appreciation of "lung sliding". Its use is also unsuitable when it is necessary to adapt or decide to modify mechanical ventilation parameters at the bedside in real-time. Therefore, chest X-ray and lung ultrasound are today's contenders for shared second place on the podium to acquire a thoracic image, with their specific strengths and limitations. Finally, electrical impedance tomography (EIT) could soon have a role, however, its assessment is outside the scope of this review. Thus, we aim to carry out the following points: (1) analyze the advancement in knowledge of lung ultrasound use and the related main protocols adopted in intensive care units (ICUs) over the latest 30 years, reporting the principal publications along the way, (2) discuss how and when lung ultrasound should be used in a modern ICU and (3) illustrate the possible future development of LUS.