Accuracy, precision and diagnostic accuracy of oral thermometry in pediatric patients.

PURPOSE: To determine the accuracy and precision of oral thermometry in pediatric patients, along with its sensitivity and specificity for detecting fever and hypothermia, with rectal thermometry as reference standard. DESIGN AND METHODS: This method-comparison study enrolled patients aged between 6 and 17 years, admitted to the surgical ward during a 21-month period. KD-2150 and IVAC Temp Plus II were used for oral and rectal temperature measurements respectively. Fever and hypothermia were defined as core temperature ≥38.0 °C and ≤ 35.9 °C respectively. Accuracy and precision of oral thermometry were determined by the Bland-Altman method. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, and correct classification of oral temperature cutoffs for detecting fever and hypothermia were calculated. RESULTS: Based on power analysis, 100 pediatric patients were enrolled. The mean difference between oral and rectal temperatures was -0.34 °C, with 95 % limits of agreement ranging between -0.52 and -0.16. Sensitivity and specificity of oral thermometry for detecting fever were 0.50 and 1.0 respectively; its sensitivity and specificity for detecting hypothermia were 1.0 and 0.88 respectively. The oral temperature value of 37.6 °C provided excellent sensitivity for detecting fever, while the value of 35.7 °C provided optimal sensitivity and specificity for detecting hypothermia. CONCLUSIONS: Oral thermometry had low sensitivity for detecting fever and suboptimal specificity for detecting hypothermia; thus, temperature values <38.0 °C and <36.0 °C cannot exclude fever and confirm hypothermia respectively with high certainty. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Diagnostic accuracy of oral thermometry can be improved by the use of oral temperature thresholds <38.0 °C for detecting fever and <35.9 °C for detecting hypothermia.

Incidence of Carbapenem-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections in Critically Ill Patients with COVID-19 as Compared to Non-COVID-19 Patients: A Prospective Case-Control Study.

Introduction: Critically ill COVID-19 patients hospitalized in intensive care units (ICU) are immunosuppressed due to SARSCoV-2-related immunological effects and are administered immunomodulatory drugs. This study aimed to determine whether these patients carry an increased risk of multi-drug resistant (MDR) and especially carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative (CRGN) bacterial infections compared to other critically ill patients without COVID-19. Materials and Methods: A prospective case-control study was conducted between January 2022 and August 2023. The ICU patients were divided into two groups (COVID-19 and non-COVID-19). Differences in the incidence of CRGN infections from Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter spp., and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were investigated. In addition, an indicator of the infection rate of the patients during their ICU stay was calculated. Factors independently related to mortality risk were studied. Results: Forty-two COVID-19 and 36 non-COVID-19 patients were analyzed. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of CRGN between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients. The infection rate was similar in the two groups. Regarding the aetiological agents of CRGN infections, Pseudomonas aeruginosa was significantly more common in non-COVID-19 patients (p=0.007). COVID-19 patients had longer hospitalisation before ICU admission (p=0.003) and shorter ICU length of stay (LOS) (p=0.005). ICU COVID-19 patients had significantly higher mortality (p < 0.001) and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score (p < 0.001) compared to non-COVID-19 patients. Μortality secondary to CRGN infections was also higher in COVID-19 patients compared to non-COVID-19 patients (p=0.033). Male gender, age, ICU LOS, and hospital LOS before ICU admission were independent risk factors for developing CRGN infections. Independent risk factors for patients' mortality were COVID-19 infection, obesity, SOFA score, total number of comorbidities, WBC count, and CRP, but not infection from CRGN pathogens. Conclusions: The incidence of CRGN infections in critically ill COVID-19 patients is not different from that of non-COVID-19 ICU patients. The higher mortality of COVID-19 patients in the ICU is associated with higher disease severity scores, a higher incidence of obesity, and multiple underlying comorbidities, but not with CRGN infections.

Intubation Time, Lung Mechanics and Outcome in COVID-19 Patients Suffering Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Single-Center Study.

Background: We examined the effect of intubation time and the lung mechanics on clinical outcomes in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Methods: Based on the patient's hospital admission, intubation time was defined as early (≤ 2 days) or late (> 2 days). Patients were further divided into three groups; early (≤ 3 days), late (4 - 6 days), and very late (> 6 days) intubated. Results: A total of 194 patients were included; 66.5% male, median age 65 years. Fifty-eight patients (29.9%) were intubated early and 136 (70.1%) late. Early intubated patients revealed lower mortality (44.8% vs. 72%, P < 0.001), were younger (60 vs. 67, P = 0.002), had lower sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores (6 vs. 8, P = 0.002) and higher lung compliance on admission days 1, 6 and 12 (42 vs. 36, P = 0.006; 40 vs. 33, P < 0.001; and 37.5 vs. 32, P < 0.001, respectively). Older age (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.15, P < 0.001), intubation time (aOR = 1.15, P = 0.004), high SOFA scores (aOR = 1.81, P < 0.001), low partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2)/fractional inspired oxygen tension (FiO2) ratio (aOR = 0.96, P = 0.001), and low lung compliance on admission days 1 and 12 (aOR = 1.12, P = 0.012 and aOR = 1.14, P < 0.001, respectively) were associated with higher mortality. Very late and late intubated patients had higher mortality rates than patients intubated early (78.4% vs. 63.4% vs. 44.6%, respectively, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Among COVID-19 intubated patients, age, late intubation, high SOFA scores, low PaO2/FiO2 ratio, and low lung compliance are associated with higher intensive care unit (ICU) mortality.

GReek Anaesthesiologists's Burnout EPidemic within the COVID-19 pandemic (GRABEP study); a multicenter study on burn out prevalence among Greek anesthesiologists and association with personality traits.

COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an unprecedented crisis with extreme distress for the frontline physicians and increased risk of developing burnout. Burnout has a negative impact on patients and physicians, posing a substantial risk in patient safety, quality of care and physicians' overall wellbeing. We evaluated burnout prevalence and possible predisposing factors among anaesthesiologists in the COVID-19 referral university/tertiary hospitals in Greece. In this multicenter, cross-sectional study we have included anaesthesiologists, involved in the care of patients with COVID-19, during the fourth peak of the pandemic (11/2021), in the 7 referral hospitals in Greece. The validated Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) were used. The response rate was 98% (116/118). More than half of the respondents were females (67.83%, median age 46 years). The overall Cronbach's alpha for MBI and EPQ was 0.894 and 0.877, respectively. The majority (67.24%) of anaesthesiologists were assessed as "high risk for burnout" and 21.55% were diagnosed with burnout syndrome. Almost half participants experienced high levels of all three dimensions of burnout; high emotional exhaustion (46.09%), high depersonalization (49.57%) and high levels of low personal accomplishment (43.49%). Multivariate logistic analysis revealed that neuroticism was an independent factor predicting "high risk for burnout" as well as burnout syndrome, whereas the "Lie scale" of EPQ exhibited a protective effect against burnout. Burnout prevalence in Greek anaesthesiologists working in COVID-19 referral hospitals during the fourth peak of the pandemic was high. Neuroticism was predictive of both "high risk for burnout" and "burnout syndrome".

Increased incidence of candidemia in critically ill patients during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Patients with severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) are treated with corticosteroids. AIM: We aimed to evaluate the role of corticosteroid treatment in candidemia development during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted in a Greek ICU, from 2010 to August 2021, encompassing a pre-pandemic and a pandemic period (pandemic period: April 2020 to August 2021). All adult patients with candidemia were included. RESULTS: During the study period, 3,572 patients were admitted to the ICU, 339 patients during the pandemic period, of whom 196 were SARS-CoV-2-positive. In total, 281 candidemia episodes were observed in 239 patients, 114 in the pandemic period. The majority of candidemias in both periods were catheter-related (161; 50.4%). The incidence of candidemia in the pre-pandemic period was 5.2 episodes per 100 admissions, while in the pandemic period was 33.6 (p < 0.001). In the pandemic period, the incidence among COVID-19 patients was 38.8 episodes per 100 admissions, while in patients without COVID-19 incidence was 26.6 (p = 0.019). Corticosteroid administration in both periods was not associated with increased candidemia incidence. CONCLUSIONS: A significant increase of candidemia incidence was observed during the pandemic period in patients with and without COVID-19. This increase cannot be solely attributed to immunosuppression (corticosteroids, tocilizumab) of severe COVID-19 patients, but also to increased workload of medical and nursing staff.

Delayed Admission to the Intensive Care Unit and Mortality of Critically Ill Adults: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Delayed admission of patients to the intensive care unit (ICU) is increasing worldwide and can be followed by adverse outcomes when critical care treatment is not provided timely. This systematic review and meta-analysis appraised and synthesized the published literature about the association between delayed ICU admission and mortality of adult patients. Articles published from inception up to August 2021 in English-language, peer-reviewed journals indexed in CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched by using key terms. Delayed ICU admission constituted the intervention, while mortality for any predefined time period was the outcome. Risk for bias was evaluated with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and additional criteria. Study findings were synthesized qualitatively, while the odds ratios (ORs) for mortality with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were combined quantitatively. Thirty-four observational studies met inclusion criteria. Risk for bias was low in most studies. Unadjusted mortality was reported in 33 studies and was significantly higher in the delayed ICU admission group in 23 studies. Adjusted mortality was reported in 18 studies, and delayed ICU admission was independently associated with significantly higher mortality in 13 studies. Overall, pooled OR for mortality in case of delayed ICU admission was 1.61 (95% CI 1.44-1.81). Interstudy heterogeneity was high (I 2 = 66.96%). According to subgroup analysis, OR for mortality was remarkably higher in postoperative patients (OR, 2.44, 95% CI 1.49-4.01). These findings indicate that delayed ICU admission is significantly associated with mortality of critically ill adults and highlight the importance of providing timely critical care in non-ICU settings.

Diagnostic accuracy of oral thermometry for fever detection in adult patients: literature review and meta-analysis.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To synthesise the evidence on the accuracy and precision of oral thermometry in adult patients, as well as on its sensitivity and specificity for fever detection. BACKGROUND: Oral thermometry has long been used in various clinical settings thanks to its rapid, safe and convenient measurements, which are easy to obtain and minimally prone to operator errors. DESIGN: Literature review and meta-analysis that adhered to the PRISMA statement. METHODS: By using key terms, literature searches were conducted in CINAHL, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Cochrane Library. Method-comparison studies, which were published from January 1990 to December 2020 in English-language, peer-reviewed journals, compared oral temperature measurements with invasive thermometry ones, and were conducted on patients ≥18 years, were included. Methodological quality of selected studies was evaluated with QUADAS-2. RESULTS: Sixteen articles were selected for inclusion. Risk of bias was assessed as low in most of them. Quantitative synthesis indicated that pooled mean oral temperature was lower than core temperature by .07℃, with 95% limits of agreement ranging between -.22℃ and .08℃. Pooled sensitivity and specificity for fever detection (defined as core temperature ≥38℃ in most studies) were .53 (95% confidence interval, .39-.66) and .98 (95% confidence interval, .97-.99), respectively. Sensitivity analysis indicated larger temperature underestimation in case rectal temperature was used as reference standard. CONCLUSION: Despite its satisfactory accuracy, precision and specificity, oral thermometry has low sensitivity for fever detection, which entails a high number of false-negative readings and uncertainty for excluding fever in patients found to be non-febrile. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Oral thermometry cannot be recommended for replacing invasive thermometry methods in hospitalised adult patients, considering the high incidence of fever in them and possible negative effects of missing fever for patient diagnosis and outcomes.

Increased incidence of candidemia in critically ill patients during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic

Abstract Background Patients with severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) are treated with corticosteroids. Aim We aimed to evaluate the role of corticosteroid treatment in candidemia development during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This retrospective study was conducted in a Greek ICU, from 2010 to August 2021, encompassing a pre-pandemic and a pandemic period (pandemic period: April 2020 to August 2021). All adult patients with candidemia were included. Results During the study period, 3,572 patients were admitted to the ICU, 339 patients during the pandemic period, of whom 196 were SARS-CoV-2-positive. In total, 281 candidemia episodes were observed in 239 patients, 114 in the pandemic period. The majority of candidemias in both periods were catheter-related (161; 50.4%). The incidence of candidemia in the pre-pandemic period was 5.2 episodes per 100 admissions, while in the pandemic period was 33.6 (p < 0.001). In the pandemic period, the incidence among COVID-19 patients was 38.8 episodes per 100 admissions, while in patients without COVID-19 incidence was 26.6 (p= 0.019). Corticosteroid administration in both periods was not associated with increased candidemia incidence. Conclusions A significant increase of candidemia incidence was observed during the pandemic period in patients with and without COVID-19. This increase cannot be solely attributed to immunosuppression (corticosteroids, tocilizumab) of severe COVID-19 patients, but also to increased workload of medical and nursing staff.

Computed tomography angiography scoring systems and the role of skull defects in the confirmation of brain death.

To assess and compare all current computed tomography angiography (CTA) scoring systems for the diagnostic workup of brain death (BD) to digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and clinical tests. Fifty-two patients with a clinical suspicion of BD underwent CTA and subsequently DSA. The diagnostic performance of all current CTA scoring systems was compared to that of DSA, in all patients with a suspicion of BD. A comparison to clinical tests was made only in DSA-positive for BD patients (n = 49), since in DSA-negative BD patients (n = 3) clinical tests were not performed. Further subgroup analysis was performed in relation to skull defects (SDs) stratification. Statistical analysis was conducted by applying statistics-contingency tables, Cochran's-Q test and McNemar's test. The CTA -10, and -7- and all 4-point scoring systems, showed overall sensitivities of 81,6%, 87.8% and 95.9% respectively and 100% specificity, when compared to DSA. In patients with a clinical verification of BD, the CTA -10 and -7-point scoring systems were significantly inferior to clinical tests (p = 0.004 and p = 0.031), while the 4-point scoring systems showed no such difference (p = 0.5). All 4-point scoring systems showed 100% sensitivity in patients with a minor SD or no SD. In patients with a major SD, all CTA scoring systems (- 10, - 7- and all 4-point) were less sensitive (62.5%, 62.5% and 75% respectively). The presence of a major SD was associated with an 8 × relative risk for false negative results in all 4-point scoring systems. CTA showed excellent diagnostic performance in patients with a suspicion of BD. The 4-point CTA scoring systems are the most sensitive for the diagnosis of BD, although in patients with a major SD patient, the role of CTA is ambiguous.

Intestinal Barrier Biomarker ZO1 and Endotoxin Are Increased in Blood of Patients With COVID-19-associated Pneumonia.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The present study was undertaken to investigate (i) whether hospitalized patients with COVID-19 pneumonia present intestinal barrier dysfunction with consequent translocation of endotoxin into the systemic circulation and (ii) whether intestinal barrier biomarkers have any prognostic role in terms of progression to severe respiratory failure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this prospective study, 22 patients with COVID-19-associated pneumonia and 19 patients with non-COVID-19-related community-acquired pneumonia (CAP group) were studied while 12 healthy persons comprised the control group. Blood samples were collected on admission and analysed for serum levels of endotoxin and zonula occludens-1 (ZO1). Clinical courses regarding progression to severe respiratory failure (SRF) requiring mechanical ventilation were recorded. RESULTS: Patients with COVID-19-associated pneumonia and patients with CAP presented significantly higher serum endotoxin and ZO1 concentrations on admission as compared to healthy controls. There was no difference in endotoxin levels between patients with COVID-19-related pneumonia and patients with CAP. In patients with COVID-19-related pneumonia, serum endotoxin concentrations were positively correlated with C-reactive protein and ferritin values. There were no significant differences in serum endotoxin and ZO1 concentrations between patients with severe and not severe COVID-19-related pneumonia, nor between patients who developed SRF and those who did not Conclusion: Patients with COVID-19-related pneumonia present intestinal barrier dysfunction leading to systemic endotoxemia. Admission values of endotoxin and ZO1 do not have any prognostic role for progression to SRF.

N-acetyl-cysteine reduces the risk for mechanical ventilation and mortality in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia: a two-center retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) has been previously shown to exert beneficial effects in diverse respiratory diseases, through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions. Our aim was to evaluate NAC potential impact in hospitalised patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, in terms of progression to severe respiratory failure (SRF) and mortality. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective, two-centre cohort study included consecutive patients hospitalised with moderate or severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Patients who received standard of care were compared with patients who additionally received NAC 600 mg bid orally for 14 days. Patients' clinical course was recorded regarding (i) the development of SRF (PO2/FiO2 <150) requiring mechanical ventilation support and (ii) mortality at 14 and 28 days. RESULTS: A total of 82 patients were included, 42 in the NAC group and 40 in the control group. Treatment with oral NAC led to significantly lower rates of progression to SRF as compared to the control group (p < .01). Patients in the NAC group presented significantly lower 14- and 28-day mortality as compared to controls (p < .001 and p < .01 respectively). NAC treatment significantly reduced 14- and 28-day mortality in patients with severe disease (p < .001, respectively). NAC improved over time the PO2/FiO2 ratio and decreased the white blood cell, CRP, D-dimers and LDH levels. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, non-severe illness and NAC administration were independent predictors of 28-days survival. CONCLUSION: Oral NAC administration (1200 mg/d) in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia reduces the risk for mechanical ventilation and mortality. Our findings need to be confirmed by properly designed prospective clinical trials.

Continuous positive airway pressure in the treatment of COVID-19 patients with respiratory failure. A report of six cases with excellent outcome.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is currently considered a significant threat to global health and global economy. This new rapidly spreading virus causes enormous stress to healthcare systems as large number of patients present with respiratory failure, needing intubation and mechanical ventilation. While the industry is racing to meet the rising demand for ventilators, all the alternative respiratory support modalities are employed to save lives in hospitals around the globe. We hereby report 6 patients who were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 and treated with continuous positive airway pressure in a negative pressure isolated room in a tertiary center in western Greece. The rapid progression of mild flu-like symptoms to respiratory failure in all patients was controlled with the use of continuous positive airway pressure making this strategy a reasonable alternative to respiratory failure due to SARS-CoV-2 as it may avert intubation and mechanical ventilation.

Correlation of Immunoglobulins and Lymphocytes Levels With the Clinical and Microbiological Response of Septic Patients With Gram-Negative Bacteremia.

BACKGROUND: Immunoglobulins (Igs) and cells of the innate and adaptive immune systems play a critical role in a host's response to sepsis. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible differences in the levels of Igs, white blood cells (WBCs), and T and B lymphocytes cells in relation to the microbiological and clinical responses of patients with sepsis or septic shock from carbapenem non-susceptible Gram-negative bacteria (CnS-GNB). METHODS: This pilot cohort study involved 24 hospitalized patients with sepsis or septic shock due to bacteremia from CnS-GNB. The microbiological and clinical responses of the patients were evaluated in relation to their blood levels of IgA, IgE, IgM and IgG, as well as WBCs and subpopulations of T and B cells upon sepsis diagnosis. A microbiological response was determined as clearance of bacteremia at 14 days of active antibiotic treatment for the isolated bacterial pathogen. Clinical response was defined as the resolution of all clinical and laboratory signs of infection and sepsis at 14 days of active antibiotic treatment for the isolated pathogen. RESULTS: From the 24 patients included in the study 18 (75%) and six patients (25%) presented and did not present microbiological response respectively, while 16 patients presented clinical response (64%) and eight patients (36%) did not have clinical response. The levels of the Igs did not show statistically significant differences between patients with sepsis from CnS-GNB bacteremia who exhibited microbiological or clinical response. There were also no statistically significant differences in the levels of WBCs and the subpopulations of T and B cells levels for these patients (P > 0.05). According to this pilot study, peripheral blood Igs and lymphocyte subpopulations levels do not affect the clinical and microbiological response of septic patients with bacteremia from CnS-GNB. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with sepsis or septic shock from CnSGNB, there were no differences in the levels of Igs, circulating WBCs and T and B cells subpopulations between those with microbiological or clinical response and non-responders.

Differences in brand versus generic esmolol in the treatment of perioperative supraventricular tachycardia and hypertension: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Once a patent expires, generic analogue drugs are alternatives to brand name drugs. Because bioequivalence/biodistribution problems have been reported for many generic analogue drugs, we prospectively evaluated 31 patients to reveal the differences in the doses used and the efficacy and adverse events of two different intravenous esmolol formulations. METHODS: This was a prospective observational pilot study. Our aim was to reveal the possible differences in the required doses between two different formulations (brand name drug vs generic analogue drug) of intravenous esmolol in beats per minute, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure in intra- and postoperative patients with supraventricular tachycardia and hypertension. The patients were categorised into two groups according to the medication they received (brand name drug or generic analogue drug). RESULTS: Esmolol was given to 31 patients (16 generic analogue drug and 15 brand name drug). Although there was a statistically significant difference in bolus (mg/kg) and continued (mg/kg/h) drug dose used (brand name drug/generic analogue drug, mean (standard deviation), 0.3 (0.1) vs 0.38 (0.1), p = 0.03 for bolus dose, and 0.22 (0.09) vs 0.29 (0.08) for continued dose at 10 min (p = 0.03), 0.19 (0.06) vs 0.24 (0.05) at 20 min (p = 0.01) and 0.14 (0.05) vs 0.18 (0.05) at 30 min (p = 0.02)), there were no time-related statistical significant differences in the reduction rates of the two drugs (p = 0.47). There were no time-related statistically significant differences between the two groups in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure and beats per minute, nor in their adverse events. CONCLUSION: In this pilot study, smaller doses were given for controlling the patient's haemodynamics when a brand name drug was used. Because there were no significant time-related differences in the reduction rates of the two drugs nor in any haemodynamic differences between the two groups, optimal titration of the drug used could effectively control the patient's haemodynamics. The adverse events were also similar in both groups.

[Risk factors for mortality after subarachnoid hemorrhage: a retrospective observational study]. / Fatores de risco para mortalidade após hemorragia subaracnoidea: estudo observacional retrospectivo.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Subarachnoid haemorrhage is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. The aim of the study was to determine predictors of mortality among patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage hospitalized in an Intensive Care Unit. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of our institution during a 7 year period (2009-2015). Data were collected from the Intensive Care Unit computerized database and the patients' chart reviews. RESULTS: We included in the study 107 patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage. A ruptured aneurysm was the cause of subarachnoid haemorrhage in 76 (71%) patients. The overall mortality was 40% (43 patients), and was significantly associated with septic shock, midline shift on CT scan, inter-hospital transfer, aspiration pneumonia and hypernatraemia during the first 72 hours of Intensive Care Unit stay. Multivariate analysis of patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage following an aneurysm rupture revealed that mortality was significantly associated with septic shock and hypernatremia during the first 72 hours of Intensive Care Unit stay, while early treatment of aneurysm (clipping or endovascular coiling) within the first 72 hours was identified as a predictor of a good prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Transferred patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage had lower survival rates. Septic shock and hypernatraemia were important complications among critically ill patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage and were associated increased mortality.