Comparison of APACHE II and APACHE IV score as predictors of mortality in patients with septic shock in intensive care unit: A prospective observational study.

Background and Aims: Prediction of outcome in intensive care unit (ICU) patients is of imperative importance. Our aim was to assess and compare the performance of Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II and APACHE IV scores in predicting mortality in adult patients suffering from septic shock admitted to our ICU. Material and Methods: This was a prospective observational study conducted in a 14-bedded medical ICU of a tertiary care center from January 2019 to March 2020; 128 patients suffering from septic shock were included and APACHE II and IV scores were calculated. We also calculated the predicted and actual mortality rates and standardized mortality ratios. The receiver operating characteristic curves were used to assess discrimination. Results: Out of the 128 patients, 63 patients (49.21%) died. The mean (± standard deviation) admission APACHE II score was 16.7 ± 5.53, while the mean APACHE IV score was 67.25 ± 25.99. The non-survivors had significantly higher APACHE II and IV scores when compared to those who survived (P < 0.001). APACHE II had a slightly better discriminative power (with the area under the Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of 0.78) than APACHE IV (with the area under the ROC curve of 0.74). The mean predicted mortality rate (PMR) of the patient population calculated on the basis of the APACHE II scoring system was 22.46 ± 15.76, and the mean PMR calculated as per the APACHE IV scoring system was 11.64 ± 15.59. Conclusion: Both APACHE II and APACHE IV underestimated mortality in septic shock patients. Both APACHE II and APACHE IV were comparable in differentiating survivors from non-survivors. However, there was a good correlation between the two models.

Assessment of impaired cerebral autoregulation and its correlation with neurological outcome in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: A prospective and observational study.

Background: Cerebral autoregulation (CA) is crucial for the maintenance of cerebral homeostasis. It can be assessed by measuring transient hyperemic response ratio (THRR) using transcranial Doppler (TCD). We aimed at assessing the incidence of impaired CA (ICA) and its correlation with the neurological outcome in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Methods: One hundred consecutive patients with aSAH scheduled for aneurysmal clipping were enrolled in this prospective and observational study. Preoperative and consecutive 5-day postoperative THRR measurements were taken. Primary objective of the study was to detect the incidence of ICA and its correlation with vasospasm (VS) postclipping, and neurological outcome at discharge and 1, 3, and 12 months was secondary objectives. Results: ICA (THRR < 1.09) was observed in 69 patients preoperatively, 74 patients on the 1st and 2nd postoperative day, 76 patients on 3rd postoperative day, and 78 patients on 4th and 5th postoperative day. Significant VS was seen in 13.4% and 61.5% of patients with intact THRR and deranged THRR, respectively (P < 0.000). Out of 78 patients who had ICA, 42 patients (53.8%) at discharge, 60 patients (76.9%) at 1 month, 54 patients (69.2%) at 3 month, and 55 patients (70.5%) at 12 months had unfavorable neurological outcome significantly more than those with preserved CA. Conclusion: Incidence of ICA assessed in aSAH patients varies from 69% to 78% in the perioperative period. The deranged CA was associated with significantly poor neurological outcome. Therefore, CA assessment using TCD-based THRR provides a simple, noninvasive bedside approach for predicting neurological outcome in aSAH.

Sterile Silicone Studs-A Nonpharmacologic Modality for Prevention of Hemodynamic Response to Skull Pin Insertion: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVE: Application of surgical skull pins causes hemodynamic fluctuations in neurosurgical procedures. To reduce this response, we describe the use of a novel nonpharmacologic method in the form of medical-grade sterile silicone studs to cushion the pressure of the skull pin in the adult population. This study aimed to evaluate the use of conventionally used fentanyl and medical-grade sterile silicone studs for the prevention of hemodynamic response to skull pin insertion. METHODS: A prospective randomized pilot study was conducted of 20 adult patients categorized as American Society of Anesthesiologists class I and II scheduled for elective craniotomy in November 2022 in a tertiary-care hospital in Chandigarh, India. Patients were randomized into 2 groups: fentanyl only (FO group; n = 10) and medical-grade silicone studs (SS group; n = 10). Heart rate and mean arterial pressure were recorded at the following intervals: T1, baseline; T2, before induction; T3, after intubation; T4, before skull pin insertion; T5, T6, T7, T8, T9, and T10 at 0, 1, 3, 4, and 5 minutes after skull pin insertion. RESULTS: Demographic data (e.g., sex, age, disease pathology) were comparable between the groups. Although changes in heart rate between the 2 groups were comparable, there was a statistically significant decrease in mean arterial pressure from 1 minute to 5 minutes after pinning in patients with silicone studs compared with patients who received only fentanyl. CONCLUSIONS: The use of medical-grade silicone studs causes fewer hemodynamic fluctuations compared with fentanyl on skull pinning. Further studies with larger sample sizes are required to confirm the findings of this pilot study.

Ultrasound-Guided Zygomaticotemporal Nerve Block for Refractory Temporal Headaches: A Case Series.

Landmark-guided zygomaticotemporal nerve blocks are a well-described modality to manage headaches in the temporal region. We report 3 cases in which ultrasound-guided zygomaticotemporal nerve blocks were performed for severe unilateral temporal headaches that failed to respond to standard treatment in the outpatient pain clinic. All the patients reported substantial and durable pain relief with no complications.

Goal-directed Fluid Therapy Versus Conventional Fluid Therapy During Craniotomy and Clipping of Cerebral Aneurysm: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Fluid imbalance is common after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and negatively impacts clinical outcomes. We compared intraoperative goal-directed fluid therapy (GDFT) using left ventricular outflow tract velocity time integral (LVOT-VTI) measured by transesophageal echocardiography with central venous pressure (CVP)-guided fluid therapy during aneurysm clipping in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients. METHODS: Fifty adults scheduled for urgent craniotomy for aneurysm clipping were randomly allocated to 2 groups: group G (n=25) received GDFT guided by LVOT-VTI and group C (n=25) received CVP-guided fluid management. The primary outcome was intraoperative mean arterial pressure (MAP). Secondary outcomes included volume of fluid administered and several other intraoperative and postoperative variables, including neurological outcome at hospital discharge and at 30 and 90 days. RESULTS: There was no difference in MAP between the 2 groups despite patients in group G receiving lower volumes of fluid compared with patients in group C (2503.6±534.3 vs. 3732.8±676.5 mL, respectively; P <0.0001). Heart rate and diastolic blood pressure were also comparable between groups, whereas systolic blood pressure was higher in group G than in group C at several intraoperative time points. Other intraoperative variables, including blood loss, urine output, and lactate levels were not different between the 2 groups. Postoperative variables, including creatinine, duration of postoperative mechanical ventilation, length of intensive care unit and hospital stay, and incidence of acute kidney injury, pneumonitis, and vasospasm were also comparable between groups. There was no difference in neurological outcome at hospital discharge (modified Rankin scale) and at 30 and 90 days (Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale) between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: Compared with CVP-guided fluid therapy, transesophageal echocardiography-guided GDFT maintains MAP with lower volumes of intravenous fluid in patients undergoing clipping of intracranial aneurysms with no adverse impact on postoperative complications.

Re-expansion Pulmonary Edema-A Rare Entity: A Thin Line between Pulmonary and Cardiac Decompensation.

Re-expansion pulmonary edema (RPE) is a rare complication that may occur after treatment of lung collapse caused by pneumothorax, atelectasis, or pleural effusion. The amount of fluid drained and the degree of pleural suction influence the development of RPE. We present a case of RPE in a critically ill patient of scrub typhus with rheumatic heart disease, after draining only 800 mL of pleural fluid, thereby proving that the complex cardiac and pulmonary interactions play an important role in the development of RPE. How to cite this article: Khanoria R, Chauhan R, Sarna R, Bloria S. Re-expansion Pulmonary Edema-A Rare Entity: A Thin Line between Pulmonary and Cardiac Decompensation. Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(3):343-345.

Fiberoptic bronchoscopy versus video laryngoscopy guided intubation in patients with craniovertebral junction instability: A cinefluroscopic comparison.

BACKGROUND: Manipulation during endotracheal intubation in patients with craniovertebral junction (CVJ) anomalies may cause neurological deterioration due to underlying instability. Fiberoptic-bronchoscopy (FOB) is better than video laryngoscope (VL) for minimizing cervical spine movement during intubation. However, evidence suggesting superiority of FOB in patients with CVJ instability is lacking. We prospectively compared dynamic movements of the upper cervical spine during intubation using FOB with VL in patients with CVJ anomalies. METHODS: A prospective, randomized, and clinical trial was conducted in 62 patients of American Society of Anaesthesiologist Grade I-II aged between 12 and 65 years with CVJ anomalies. Patients were randomized for intubation under general anesthesia with either VL or FOB. The intubation process was done with application of skeletal traction and recorded cinefluroscopically. The dynamic interrelationship of bony landmarks (horizontal, vertical, and diagonal distances between fixed points on posterior C1 and C2) was analyzed to indirectly calculate alteration of the upper cervical spinal canal diameter (at CVJ). Atlanto-dental interval (ADI) was calculated wherever possible. RESULTS: The alteration in canal diameter (using bony landmarks) at CVJ during intubation was not significant with the use of either VL or FOB (P > 0.05). In 41 patients, where ADI could be measured, ADI was reduced (increased spinal canal diameter) in a greater number of patients in VL group when compared to FOB group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Using rigid skull traction, intubation under general anesthesia with VL offers similar advantage as FOB in terms of the spinal kinematics in patients with CVJ anomalies/instability. Nevertheless, greater number of patients intubated with VL may have an advantage of increased cervical spinal canal diameter when compared to FOB.

Safety and efficacy of oral Triclofos in the ophthalmic evaluation of children with pediatric glaucoma: An observational study.

Purpose: Oral Triclofos is widely used as a sedative agent in children. However, the role of Triclofos as a sedative agent in children undergoing ophthalmological procedures has not been adequately studied. The aim of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of oral Triclofos in children suffering from pediatric glaucoma who were undergoing ocular examination. Methods: 80 children aged less than 5 years were assessed for eligibility for the trial after taking hospital ethical committee approval. The children were administered 80 mg/kg of oral Triclofos and Ramsay sedation score was measured every 5 min starting from 20 min after administration of the drug. If the child was not adequately sedated after 30 min, additional dose of 05 mg/kg was administered every 5 min till 60 min of drug administration. The procedure was considered a failure and general anesthesia (GA) administered if Ramsay sedation score was ≤4 after 60 min of initial drug administration. Heart rate and arterial oxygen saturation were measured throughout the period of sedation. The duration of sedation and incidence of side effects was also noted. Results: A total of 73 patients underwent the study. The mean age of children was 23.4 months (SD - 14.72) and mean weight was 12 kg (SD - 3.84). The mean dose of Pedicloryl (Triclofos) used was 83.8 mg/kg and the median duration of onset was 25 min. 64 children completed examination successfully, 2 children had to be administered GA during the procedure. There were no major side effects. Conclusion: Administration of oral Triclofos in a dose of 80 mg/kg body weight was safe and effective in children less than 5 years of age undergoing ocular examination.

Comparison of Ketofol (Combination of Ketamine and Propofol) and Propofol Anesthesia in Aneurysmal Clipping Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Control Trial.

BACKGROUND: The maintenance of hemodynamic stability is of pivotal importance in aneurysm surgeries. While administering anesthesia in these patients, the fluctuations in blood pressure may directly affect transmural pressure, thereby precipitating rupture of aneurysm and various other associated complications. We aimed to compare the effects of ketofol with propofol alone when used as an induction and maintenance anesthetic agent during surgical clipping of intracranial aneurysms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty adult, good-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients posted for aneurysm neck clipping were included in the study. The patients were randomized into two groups. One group received a combination of ketamine and propofol (1:5 ratio) and the other group received propofol for induction and maintenance of anesthesia. Intraoperative hemodynamic stability, intraventricular pressure, and quality of brain relaxation were studied in both the groups. RESULTS: The patients were comparable with respect to demographic profile, Hunt and Hess grade, world federation of neurological surgeons (WFNS) grade, Fisher grade, duration of anesthesia, duration of surgery, optic nerve sheath diameter, and baseline hemoglobin. Intraoperative hemodynamics were better maintained in the ketofol group during induction, with only 15% of patients having >20% fall in mean arterial pressure (from baseline) intraoperatively, compared to 45% of patients receiving propofol alone (P = 0.038). The mean intraventricular pressure values in both the groups were in the normal range and the quality of brain relaxation was similar, with no significant difference (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Ketofol combination (1:5) as compared to propofol alone provides better hemodynamic stability on induction as well as maintenance anesthesia without causing an increase in intracranial pressure. Effect of ketofol on cerebral oxygenation and quality of emergence need to be evaluated further by larger multicentric, randomized control trials.

Comparison of Propofol and Sevoflurane on Cerebral Oxygenation Using Juglar Venous Oximetery (SjVo2) in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Traumatic Brain Injury.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) induces major insult to the normal cerebral physiology. The anesthetic agents may infrequently produce deleterious effects and further aggravate damage to the injured brain. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of propofol and sevoflurane on cerebral oxygenation, brain relaxation, systemic hemodynamic parameters and levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in patients with severe TBI undergoing decompressive craniectomy. METHODS: A prospective randomized comparative study was conducted on 42 patients undergoing surgery for severe TBI. Patients were randomized into two groups, Group P received propofol and Group S received sevoflurane for maintenance of anesthesia. All patients were induced with fentanyl, propofol, and vecuronium. The effect of these agents on cerebral oxygenation was assessed by jugular venous oxygen saturation (SjVO2). Hemodynamic changes and quality of intraoperative brain relaxation were also assessed. The serum levels of IL-6 were quantitated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. RESULTS: SjVO2 values were comparable and mean arterial pressure (MAP) was found to be significantly lower in Group P as compared to those in Group S (P < 0.05). Brain relaxation scores were comparable between the groups. The level of IL-6 decreased significantly at the end of surgery compared to baseline in patients receiving sevoflurane (P = 0.040). CONCLUSIONS: Cerebral oxygenation measured by SjVO2 was comparable when anesthesia was maintained with propofol or sevoflurane. However, significant reduction in MAP by propofol needs attention in patients with severe TBI. The decrease in IL-6 level reflects anti-inflammatory effect and probable neuroprotective potential of propofol and sevoflurane.