Follow-up short and long-term mortalities of tracheostomized critically ill patients in an Italian multi-center observational study.

The effects of tracheostomy on outcome as well as on intra or post-operative complications is yet to be defined. Admission of patients with tracheostomy to rehabilitation facility is at higher risk of suboptimal care and increased mortality. The aim of the study was to investigate ICU mortality, clinical outcome and quality of life up to 12 months after ICU discharge in tracheostomized critically ill patients. This is a prospective, multi-center, cohort study endorsed by Italian Society of Anesthesia, Analgesia, Reanimation, and Intensive Care (SIAARTI Prot. n° 643/13) registered in Clinicaltrial.gov (NCT01899352). Patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) and requiring elective tracheostomy according to physician in charge decision were included in the study. The primary outcome was ICU mortality. Secondary outcomes included risk factors for ICU mortality, prevalence of mortality at follow-up, rate of discharge from the hospital and rehabilitation, quality of life, performance status, and management of tracheostomy cannula at 3-, 6, 12-months from the day of tracheostomy. 694 critically ill patients who were tracheostomized in the ICU were included. ICU mortality was 15.8%. Age, SOFA score at the day of the tracheostomy, and days of endotracheal intubation before tracheostomy were risk factors for ICU mortality. The regression tree analysis showed that SOFA score at the day of tracheostomy and age had a preeminent role for the choice to perform the tracheostomy. Of the 694 ICU patients with tracheostomy, 469 completed the 12-months follow-up. Mortality was 33.51% at 3-months, 45.30% at 6-months, and 55.86% at 12-months. Patients with tracheostomy were less likely discharged at home but at hospital facilities or rehabilitative structures; and quality of life of patients with tracheostomy was severely compromised at 3-6 and 12 months when compared with patients without tracheostomy. In patients admitted to ICU, tracheostomy is associated with high mortality, difficult rehabilitation, and decreased quality of life. The choice to perform a tracheostomy should be carefully weighed on family burden and health-related quality of life.Clinical trial registration: Clinicaltrial.gov (NCT01899352).

SARS-COV-2 comorbidity network and outcome in hospitalized patients in Crema, Italy.

We report onset, course, correlations with comorbidities, and diagnostic accuracy of nasopharyngeal swab in 539 individuals suspected to carry SARS-COV-2 admitted to the hospital of Crema, Italy. All individuals underwent clinical and laboratory exams, SARS-COV-2 reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction on nasopharyngeal swab, and chest X-ray and/or computed tomography (CT). Data on onset, course, comorbidities, number of drugs including angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin-II-receptor antagonists (sartans), follow-up swab, pharmacological treatments, non-invasive respiratory support, ICU admission, and deaths were recorded. Among 411 SARS-COV-2 patients (67.7% males) median age was 70.8 years (range 5-99). Chest CT was performed in 317 (77.2%) and showed interstitial pneumonia in 304 (96%). Fatality rate was 17.5% (74% males), with 6.6% in 60-69 years old, 21.1% in 70-79 years old, 38.8% in 80-89 years old, and 83.3% above 90 years. No death occurred below 60 years. Non-invasive respiratory support rate was 27.2% and ICU admission 6.8%. Charlson comorbidity index and high C-reactive protein at admission were significantly associated with death. Use of ACE inhibitors or sartans was not associated with outcomes. Among 128 swab negative patients at admission (63.3% males) median age was 67.7 years (range 1-98). Chest CT was performed in 87 (68%) and showed interstitial pneumonia in 76 (87.3%). Follow-up swab turned positive in 13 of 32 patients. Using chest CT at admission as gold standard on the entire study population of 539 patients, nasopharyngeal swab had 80% accuracy. Comorbidity network analysis revealed a more homogenous distribution 60-40 aged SARS-COV-2 patients across diseases and a crucial different interplay of diseases in the networks of deceased and survived patients. SARS-CoV-2 caused high mortality among patients older than 60 years and correlated with pre-existing multiorgan impairment.

Intensive care for seriously ill patients affected by novel coronavirus sars - CoV - 2: Experience of the Crema Hospital, Italy.

AIMS: In this work, the survival and mortality data of 54 consecutive patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and suffering from severe respiratory insufficiency imputable to viral SARS - CoV - 2 infection were analyzed and shared, after a critical review of the evidence in order to optimize the most dedicated clinical and treatment strategy, for a future 'targeted' management in the care of the possible return flu outbreak. METHODS: At our Emergency Department of the Crema Hospital, from the beginning of the pandemic until the end of June 2020, 54 consecutive patients admitted to ICU suffering from severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) and severe respiratory distress (ARDS) attributable to viral SARS - CoV - 2 infection were recruited. The recruitment criterion was based on refractory hypoxia, general condition and clinical impairment, comorbidities and CT images. The incoming parameters of the blood chemistry and radiology investigations and the timing of the gold - tracheal intubation were compared. Medical therapy was based on the application of shared protocols. RESULTS: The onset of symptoms was varyng, i.e. within the range of 1-14 days. The average time from the admission to the emergency room to the admission to intensive care was approximately 120 h. The average number of days of hospitalization in the ICU was 28 days. With a majority of male patients, the most significant age group was between 60 and 69 years. There were 21 deaths and, compared to the survivors, the deceased ones were older at an average age of about 67 years (vs an average age of the survivors of about 59 years). From the available data entering the ICU, the surviving patients presented average better values of oximetry and blood gas analysis, with a lower average dosage of D-Dimer than the deceased. Ones with a presence of bilateral pneumonia in all patients, the worsening of the ARDS occurred in 31 patients. 9 out of 25 patients early intubated died, while 12 out of 23 patients died when intubation was performed after 24 h of non-invasive ventilation. The presence of multiple comorbidities was shown in 17 of 28 patients and revealed an additional adverse prognostic factor. Also, more than one complication in the same patient were detected; after respiratory worsening, renal failure was more frequently found in 16 patients. Some particular complications such as lesions induced by ventilation with barotrauma mechanism (VILI), ischemic heart disease and the appearance of central and peripheral neurological events were detected too. CONSIDERATIONS: SARS - CoV - 2 disease is caused by a new coronavirus that has its main route of transmission through respiratory droplets and close contact, resulting in a sudden onset of the clinical syndrome with acute respiratory infection (SARI) and severe respiratory distress (ARDS). But it can also appear with other symptoms such as gastrointestinal or neurological events, as to be considered as a disease with multisystem phenotype. This pathology evolves towards a serious form of systemic disease from an acute lung damage to venous and arterial thromboembolic complications and multi-organ failure, mostly associated with high mortality. All patients received empirical or targeted antibiotic therapy for prevention and control of infections of potential pathogens, together with low molecular weight heparin therapy. The majority of patients was subjected to the off - label protocol with antivirals and hydroxychloroquine therapy, we used cortisone support therapy under surveillance and in 3 cases the protocol with anti - IL6 monoclonal antibody (Tolicizumab). In a simplified classification of the tomographic examination of the chest, mostly 3D and 2C lesions were found in the deceased patients with a prevalence of severe and moderate forms, whilst in the survivors the distribution appears with a prevalence of medium and moderate forms. Among the intubated patients, 21 patients, all suffering from worsening ARDS, died whilst there was no mortality in patients subjected to non-invasive ventilation it so. The heterogeneity of the respiratory syndromes and the presence of multiple comorbidities represent an unfortunate prognostic factor. Among the complications, besides the respiratory worsening, renal failure, liver failure and the state of sepsis were most frequently found; less frequent complications were lesions induced by ventilation with a barotrauma mechanism, ischemic heart disease, the appearance of central neurological events of sensory alterations, meningo - encephalitis and cerebral hemorrhage, and peripheral neurological events with polyneuro - myopathies. Mechanical ventilation can adversely affect the prognosis due to lung damage induced, protective ventilation remains the necessary treatment during severe hypoxia in patients with SARS - CoV - 2. The essential prerequisite remains the search for optimal 'customized' values since conditions can vary from patient to patient and, in the same patient, during different times of ventilation. CONCLUSIONS: In these extraordinary circumstances, our reality was among the most affected and was able to hold the impact thanks to the immediate great response set in place by the operators, although it costed us an effort especially the one to try to guarantee a high quality level of assistance and care compared to the huge wave of patients in seriously bad conditions. Further research on this heterogeneous pathology and data sharing could help identify a more dedicated clinical decision-making and treatment pathway that, together with a resource planning, would allow us to better face any new disease outbreak.

Survey of Knowledge and Attitudes about Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Among Italian Anaesthetists.

OBJECTIVE: As the care of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) patients remains heterogeneous, we hypothesized that it may reflect insufficient OSA knowledge/awareness among clinicians. METHODS: OSA Knowledge/Attitude Questionnaire (OSAKA) was translated into Italian and distributed to anaesthetists attending SIAARTI National Congress and Airways courses and Hands-on Workshops from October 2012 to June 2013. RESULTS: In total, 370 anaesthetists returned the questionnaires (response rate, 62%); the median (interquartile range [IQR]) knowledge score was 12 (10-14), and the range was 1-17 with no difference by gender, age, professional title or years of practice. The knowledge items achieved a mean rate of corrected response of 66%±0.14%. With regard to attitude items, median (IQR) score was 15 (13-17) and range was 0-20. Females and anaesthetists with >15 years of practice reached higher scores, while anaesthesia residents showed a lower attitude score. Gender and professional title were statistically associated with the attitude score (gender: F=14.6, p=0.0002; professional title: F=4.72, p=0.0099), whereas a weak association was observed within years in practice and attitude score (F=2.6, p=0.0519). Knowledge score correlated positively with attitude score (r=0.4, p<0.0001). For knowledge domains, there was a positive correlation between pathophysiology (mid-grade: r=0.3, p<0.0001), symptoms (low grade: r=0.2, p<0.0001), diagnosis (mid grade: r=0.3, p<0.0001) and the attitude score. Correlation close to zero was observed for epidemiology and treatment domains (r=0.09, p=0.06; r=-0.01, p=0.78, respectively). CONCLUSION: The results of our survey demonstrate lack of knowledge about OSA and its treatment, revealing the need to update the syllabus of teaching in medical practice and in national health care policies to improve perioperative care.

Perioperative and periprocedural airway management and respiratory safety for the obese patient: 2016 SIAARTI Consensus.

Proper management of obese patients requires a team vision and appropriate behaviors by all health care providers in hospital. Specialist competencies are fundamental, as are specific clinical pathways and good clinical practices designed to deal with patients whose Body Mass Index (BMI) is ≥30 kg/m2. Standards of care for bariatric and non-bariatric surgery and for the critical care management of this population exist but are not well defined nor clearly followed in every hospital. Thus every anesthesiologist is likely to deal with this challenging population. Obesity is a multisystem, chronic, proinflammatory disorder. Unfortunately many countries are facing a marked increase in the obese population, defined as "globesity". Obesity presents an added risk in hospital, leading health care organizations to call for action to avoid adverse events and preventable complications. Periprocedural assessment and critical care strategies designed specifically for obese patients are crucial for reducing morbidity and mortality during surgery and in emergency settings, critical care and other particular settings (e.g., obstetrics). Specific care is needed for airway management, as are proactive strategies to reduce the risk of cardiovascular, endocrine, metabolic and infective complications; any effort can be fruitful, including special attention to the science of human factors. The Italian Society of Anesthesia, Analgesia, Resuscitation and Intensive Care (SIAARTI) organized a consensus project involving other national scientific societies to increase risk awareness, define the best multidisciplinary approach for treating obese patients in election and emergency, and enable every hospital to provide appropriate levels of care and good clinical practices. The Obesity Project Task Force, a section of the SIAARTI Airway Management Study Group, used a formal consensus process to identify a series of notes, alerts and statements, to be adopted as bundles, to define appropriate clinical pathways for hospitalized obese patients. The consensus, approved by the Task Force and endorsed by several European scientific societies actively operating in this field, is presented herein.

The alveolar to arterial oxygen partial pressure difference is associated with pulmonary diffusing capacity in heart failure patients.

In chronic heart failure (HF), the alveolar-capillary membrane undergoes a remodeling process that negatively affects gas exchange. In case of alveolar-capillary gas diffusion impairment, arterial desaturation (SaO2) is rarely observed in HF patients. At play are 3 factors: overall pulmonary diffusing capacity (assessed as lung diffusion for CO, DLCO), global O2 consumption (VO2) and alveolar (A) to arterial (a) pO2 gradient (AaDO2). In 100 consecutive stable HF patients, DLCO, resting respiratory gases and arterial blood gases were measured to determine VO2, paO2, pAO2 and AaDO2. DLCO was poorly but significantly related to AaDO2. The correlation improved after correcting AaDO2 for VO2 (p<0.001, r=0.49). Both VO2 and AaDO2 were independently associated with DLCO (p<0.001). Patients with reduced DLCO showed no differences as regards paO2 and pAO2. AaDO2/VO2 showed a higher gradient in patients with lower DLCO. AaDO2 increase and VO2 reduction allow preventing low SaO2 in HF patients with reduced DLCO. Accordingly, we suggest considering AaDO2 and VO2 combined and reporting AaDO2/VO2.

Cardiopulmonary bypass duration is an independent predictor of morbidity and mortality after cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine if there is a direct relationship between the duration of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB time [CPBT]) and postoperative morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Cardiac surgery unit, university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Five thousand six patients, New York Heart Association classes 1 through 4, who underwent cardiac surgery between January 2002 and March 2008. INTERVENTIONS: All patients were subjected to CPB. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The mean CPBT was 115 minutes (median 106). One hundred thirty-one patients (2.6%) died during the same hospitalization. The postoperative median blood loss was 600 mL. Reoperations for bleeding occurred in 193 patients (3.9%), and 1,001 patients received 3 or more units of red blood cells. There were 108 patients (2.2%) with neurologic sequelae, 391 patients (7.8%) with renal complications, 37 patients (0.7%) with abdominal complications, and 184 patients (3.7%) with respiratory complications. Seventy-two patients (1.4%) had an infective complication, and 80 patients (1.6%) had a postoperative multiorgan failure. The multivariate analysis confirmed the role of CPBT, considered in 30-minute increments, as an independent risk factor for postoperative death (odds ratio [OR] = 1.57, p < 0.0001), pulmonary (OR = 1.17, p < 0.0001), renal (OR 1.31, p < 0.0001), and neurologic complications (OR = 1.28, p < 0.0001), multiorgan failure (OR = 1.21, p < 0.0001), reoperation for bleeding (OR = 1.1, p = 0.0165), and multiple blood transfusions (OR = 1.58, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged CPB duration independently predicts postoperative morbidity and mortality after cardiac surgery.