Development and validation of a clinico-biological score to predict outcomes in patients with drowning-associated cardiac arrest.

BACKGROUND: While several scoring systems have been developed to predict short-term outcome in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients, there is currently no dedicated prognostic tool for drowning-associated cardiac arrest (DACA) patients. METHODS: Patients experiencing DACA from two retrospective multicenter cohorts of drowning patients were included in the present study. Among the patients from the development cohort, risk-factors for day-28 mortality were assessed by logistic regression. A prediction score was conceived and assessed in patients from the validation cohort. RESULTS: Among the 103 included patients from the development cohort, the day-28 mortality rate reached 51% (53/103). Identified independent early risk-factors for day-28 mortality included cardiopulmonary resuscitation duration longer than 20 min (OR 6.40 [95% CI 1.88-23.32]; p = 0.003), temperature at Intensive Care Unit admission <34 °C (OR 8.84 [95% CI 2.66-32.92]; p < 0.001), need for invasive mechanical ventilation (OR 6.83 [95% CI 1.47-40.87]; p = 0.02) and lactate concentration > 7 mmol/L (OR 3.56 [95% CI 1.01-13.07]; p = 0.04). The Area Under the ROC Curve (AUC) of the developed score based on those variables reached 0.91 (95% CI, 0.86-0.97). The optimal cut-off for predicting poor outcomes was 4 points with a sensitivity of 92% (95% CI, 82-98%), a specificity of 82% (95% CI, 67-91%), a positive predictive value (PPV) of 84% (95% CI, 72-95%) and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 91% (95% CI, 79-96%). The assessment of this score on the validation cohort of 81 patients exhibited an AUC of 0.82. Using the same 4 points threshold, sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV values of the validation cohort were: 81%, 67%, 72% and 77%, respectively. CONCLUSION: In patients suffering from drowning induced initial cardiac arrest admitted to ICU with a DACA score ≥ 4, the likelihood of survival at day-28 is significantly lower. Prospective validation of the DACA score and assessment of its usefulness are warranted in the future.

Prevalence and risk factors of significant persistent pain symptoms after critical care illness: a prospective multicentric study.

BACKGROUND: Prevalence, risk factors and medical management of persistent pain symptoms after critical care illness have not been thoroughly investigated. METHODS: We performed a prospective multicentric study in patients with an intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay ≥ 48 h. The primary outcome was the prevalence of significant persistent pain, defined as a numeric rating scale (NRS) ≥ 3, 3 months after admission. Secondary outcomes were the prevalence of symptoms compatible with neuropathic pain (ID-pain score > 3) and the risk factors of persistent pain. RESULTS: Eight hundred fourteen patients were included over a 10-month period in 26 centers. Patients had a mean age of 57 (± 17) years with a SAPS 2 score of 32 (± 16) (mean ± SD). The median ICU length of stay was 6 [4-12] days (median [interquartile]). At 3 months, the median intensity of pain symptoms was 2 [1-5] in the entire population, and 388 (47.7%) patients had significant pain. In this group, 34 (8.7%) patients had symptoms compatible with neuropathic pain. Female (Odds Ratio 1.5 95% CI [1.1-2.1]), prior use of anti-depressive agents (OR 2.2 95% CI [1.3-4]), prone positioning (OR 3 95% CI [1.4-6.4]) and the presence of pain symptoms on ICU discharge (NRS ≥ 3) (OR 2.4 95% CI [1.7-3.4]) were risk factors of persistent pain. Compared with sepsis, patients admitted for trauma (non neuro) (OR 3.5 95% CI [2.1-6]) were particularly at risk of persistent pain. Only 35 (11.3%) patients had specialist pain management by 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: Persistent pain symptoms were frequent in critical illness survivors and specialized management remained infrequent. Innovative approaches must be developed in the ICU to minimize the consequences of pain. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT04817696. Registered March 26, 2021.

Multiple-site decontamination in mechanically ventilated ICU patients: A real-life study.

INTRODUCTION: Decontamination regimen decreases acquired infection (ICU-AI) incidence but has remained controversial, mostly because it contains a course of intravenous antibiotic. Multiple-site decontamination (MSD), which does not include systemic antibiotics, has been less widely studied but is associated with lower risks of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), bloodstream infection (BSI) and multidrug resistant micro-organism (MDRO) acquisition. We aimed to confirm these favorable outcomes. METHODS: A prospective pre/post-observational study was conducted in 5 ICUs in western France. Among them, 4 implemented MSD, whereas the fifth applied standard care (SC) throughout the study period. Patients who required intubation were eligible for study and divided into two groups: the MSD group if they were admitted to an ICU that already implemented MSD, or the SC group. The primary objective was to measure ICU-AI incidence. RESULTS: Close to 1400 (1346) patients were available for analysis (334 in the MSD and 1012 patients in the SC group). In a multivariable Poisson regression model, MSD was independently associated with decreased incidence of ICU-AI (IRR = 0.33; 95 %CI [0.18-0.60] p < 0.001). Non-parsimonious propensity-score matching resulted in 334 patient-pairs with well-balanced baseline characteristics. There was a lower incidence of ICU-AI(6.3 % vs 20.7 % p < 0.001), VAP (3.6 % vs 16.2 % p < 0.001) and BSI (3.0 % vs 7.2 % p = 0.029) in the MSD group as compared with the SC group. Five (1.5 %) and 11 (3.3 %) patients respectively acquired MDRO (p = 0.206). CONCLUSION: MSD is associated with decreased risk of ICU-AI, VAP and BSI, with no increase in MDRO acquisition.

Clinical and microbiological features of drowning-associated pneumonia: a retrospective multicentre cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Pneumonia is the most frequent infectious complication in patients who have experienced drowning that requires intensive care unit (ICU) admission. We aimed to describe clinical, microbiological, and therapeutic data as well as predictors and impacts of such pneumonia on patients' outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, multicentre study (2013-2020) of 270 consecutive patients admitted for drowning to 14 ICUs in Western France. Their baseline characteristics and outcomes were compared according to the occurrence of drowning-associated pneumonia (DAP), defined as pneumonia diagnosed within 48 hours of ICU admission. A Cox regression model was used to compare survival on day 28, and logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for DAP. Microbiological characteristics and empirical antibacterial treatment were also analysed. RESULTS: Among the 270 patients admitted to the ICU for drowning, 101 (37.4%) and 33 (12.2%) experienced pneumonia and microbiologically proven DAP, respectively. The occurrence of pneumonia was associated with higher severity scores at ICU admission (median Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, 34 [interquartile range {IQR}, 25-55] vs. 45 [IQR, 28-67]; p 0.006) and longer ICU length of stay (2 days [IQR, 1-3] vs. 4 days [IQR, 2-7]; p < 0.001). The 28-day mortality rate was higher among these patients (29/101 [28.7%] vs. 26/169 [15.4%]; p 0.013). Microbiologically proven DAP remained associated with higher 28-day mortality after adjustments for cardiac arrest and water salinity (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.86 [95% CI, 1.06-3.28]; p 0.03). A microbiological analysis of respiratory samples showed a high proportion of gram-negative bacilli (23/56; 41.1%), with a high prevalence of amoxicillin-clavulanate resistance (12/33; 36.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Pneumonia is a common complication in patients admitted in the ICU for drowning and is associated with increased mortality.

Impact of targeted hypothermia in expanded-criteria organ donors on recipient kidney-graft function: study protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial (HYPOREME).

INTRODUCTION: Expanded-criteria donors (ECDs) are used to reduce the shortage of kidneys for transplantation. However, kidneys from ECDs are associated with an increased risk of delayed graft function (DGF), a risk factor for allograft loss and mortality. HYPOREME will be a multicentre randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparing targeted hypothermia to normothermia in ECDs, in a country where the use of machine perfusion for organ storage is the standard of care. We hypothesise that hypothermia will decrease the incidence of DGF. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: HYPOREME is a multicentre RCT comparing the effect on kidney function in recipients of targeted hypothermia (34°C-35°C) and normothermia (36.5°C-37.5°C) in the ECDs. The temperature intervention starts from randomisation and is maintained until aortic clamping in the operating room. We aim to enrol 289 ECDs in order to analyse the kidney function of 516 recipients in the 53 participating centres. The primary outcome is the occurrence of DGF in kidney recipients, defined as a requirement for renal replacement therapy within 7 days after transplantation (not counting a single session for hyperkalemia during the first 24 hours). Secondary outcomes include the proportion of patients with individual organs transplanted in each group; the number of organs transplanted from each ECD and the vital status and kidney function of the recipients 7 days, 28 days, 3 months and 1 year after transplantation. An interim analysis is planned after the enrolment of 258 kidney recipients. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The trial was approved by the ethics committee of the French Intensive Care Society (CE-SRLF-16-07) on 26 April 2016 and by the competent French authorities on 20 April 2016 (Comité de Protection des Personnes-TOURS-Région Centre-Ouest 1, registration #2016-S3). Findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented during national and international scientific meetings. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03098706.

Clinical spectrum and risk factors for mortality among seawater and freshwater critically ill drowning patients: a French multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Drowning is a global threat and one of the leading causes of injury around the world. The impact of drowning conditions including water salinity on patients' prognosis remains poorly explored in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) patients. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective multicenter study on patients admitted to 14 ICUs in the west of France from January 2013 to January 2020. We first compared demographic and clinical characteristics at admission as well as clinical courses of these patients according to the salinity of drowning water. Then, we aimed to identify variables associated with 28-day survival using a Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: Of the 270 consecutive included patients, drowning occurred in seawater in 199 patients (73.7%) and in freshwater in 71 patients (26.3%). Day-28 mortality was observed in 55 patients (20.4%). Freshwater was independently associated with 28-day mortality (Adjusted Hazard Ratio (aHR) 1.84 [95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.03-3.29], p = 0.04). A higher proportion of freshwater patients presented psychiatric comorbidities (47.9 vs. 19.1%; p < 0.0001) and the etiology of drowning appeared more frequently to be a suicide attempt in this population (25.7 vs. 4.2%; p < 0.0001). The other factors independently associated with 28-day mortality were the occurrence of a drowning-related cardiac arrest (aHR 11.5 [95% CI 2.51-52.43], p = 0.0017), duration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (aHR 1.05 [95% CI 1.03-1.07], p < 0.0001) and SOFA score at day 1 (aHR 1.2 [95% CI 1.11-1.3], p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In this large multicenter cohort, freshwater drowning patients had a poorer prognosis than saltwater drowning patients. Reasons for such discrepancies include differences in underlying psychiatric comorbidity, drowning circumstances and severities. Patients with initial cardiac arrest secondary to drowning remain with a very poor prognosis.

Mental health and stress among ICU healthcare professionals in France according to intensity of the COVID-19 epidemic.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on mental health of professionals working in the intensive care unit (ICU) according to the intensity of the epidemic in France. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey was conducted in 77 French hospitals from April 22 to May 13 2020. All ICU frontline healthcare workers were eligible. The primary endpoint was the mental health, assessed using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire. Sources of stress during the crisis were assessed using the Perceived Stressors in Intensive Care Units (PS-ICU) scale. Epidemic intensity was defined as high or low for each region based on publicly available data from Santé Publique France. Effects were assessed using linear mixed models, moderation and mediation analyses. RESULTS: In total, 2643 health professionals participated; 64.36% in high-intensity zones. Professionals in areas with greater epidemic intensity were at higher risk of mental health issues (p < 0.001), and higher levels of overall perceived stress (p < 0.001), compared to low-intensity zones. Factors associated with higher overall perceived stress were female sex (B = 0.13; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.08-0.17), having a relative at risk of COVID-19 (B = 0.14; 95%-CI = 0.09-0.18) and working in high-intensity zones (B = 0.11; 95%-CI = 0.02-0.20). Perceived stress mediated the impact of the crisis context on mental health (B = 0.23, 95%-CI = 0.05, 0.41) and the impact of stress on mental health was moderated by positive thinking, b = - 0.32, 95% CI = - 0.54, - 0.11. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 negatively impacted the mental health of ICU professionals. Professionals working in zones where the epidemic was of high intensity were significantly more affected, with higher levels of perceived stress. This study is supported by a grant from the French Ministry of Health (PHRC-COVID 2020).

An Innovative Biological Model for Ultrasound-Guided Central Venous Access Simulation.

INTRODUCTION: Simulation training is an increasingly used method to train medical students in the use of ultrasound guidance for vascular access positioning. Although very efficient for basic training, commercial simulators for vascular access do not reproduce real-life conditions. We developed a biological training model, using porcine liver, and compared it with an existing commercial model. METHODS: Whole porcine livers were used by perfusing the portal vein system after inferior vena cava clamping. Thirty-three practitioners accustomed to ultrasound-guided procedure were enrolled to perform an ultrasound-guided vascular procedure on both biological and commercial models. Procedure duration was recorded and 10-point scales were used to compare the 2 models regarding image quality, procedure feeling, and similarity with the real-life procedure. RESULTS: Participants reported a better image quality with the biological model (8.8 ± 1 vs. 7.7 ± 2, P = 0.007) as well as a significant difference in the procedure feeling (8.0 ± 1 vs. 6.9 ± 1.9, P = 0.002). Real-life likeness was significantly better for the biological model (8.4 ± 1.1 vs. 4.5 ± 6, P < 0.0001). Procedure duration was almost 3 times longer using the biological model than the commercial model (209.6 ± 189.0 vs. 59.8 ± 50.1, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This study validates our biological model of porcine's liver as an interesting training model, allowing closer real-life perception than its commercial counterpart. This model could complement and enhance simulation learning.

Clinical assessment and train-of-four measurements in critically ill patients treated with recommended doses of cisatracurium or atracurium for neuromuscular blockade: a prospective descriptive study.

BACKGROUND: Despite few studies, a monitoring of a neuromuscular blockade with a train of four (TOF) is recommended in intensive care unit (ICU). Our objective was to compare the results of ulnar and facial TOF measurements with an overall clinical assessment for neuromuscular blockade in ICU patients treated with recommended doses of atracurium or cisatracurium, including patients with acute respiratory disease syndrome (ARDS). METHODS: We prospectively included in two ICUs 119 patients, 94 with ARDS, who required a neuromuscular blockade for more than 24 h. Three levels of neuromuscular blockade were defined: "over-paralyzed" (TOF = 0), "well-paralyzed" (TOF = 1-2), and "under-paralyzed" (TOF = 3-4). Physicians blinded for TOF counts were asked to classify patients clinically as "over-paralyzed," "well-paralyzed," or "under-paralyzed". Patients were assessed two times daily. RESULTS: For the whole population 996 ulnar and facial TOF measurements and clinical assessments were obtained (846 with cisatracurium and 150 with atracurium). Proportions of patients classified as over-paralyzed, well-paralyzed, and under-paralyzed based on TOF measurements and clinical assessments differed significantly (p < 0.0001). The number of observed agreements between clinical assessments and facial TOF measurements was of 19.08% (κ = 0.06) and of 17.37% with ulnar TOF measurements (κ = 0.04), while it was of 62.75% between ulnar and facial TOF measurements (κ = 0.45). Results were similar for cisatracurium and atracurium. Repeated facial TOF measurements performed on the first 4 days of mechanical ventilation in ARDS patients showed that the proportion of patients TOF = 1-2 was around 8% and did not vary significantly with time (p = 0.9), proportion of patients TOF = 3-4 increased from 24 to 40% (p = 0.01), proportion of patients TOF = 0 decreased from 71 to 53% (p = 0.005) while objectives for protective ventilation were achieved. Proportions of facial and ulnar TOF = 0 were significantly higher among patients with ICU-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) versus those who did not develop ICU-AW (51 vs. 40%, p = 0.03, and 76 vs. 62%, p = 0.006, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The study provides data on clinical and TOF monitoring of neuromuscular blockade, which are widely divergent in ICU patients receiving recommended doses of benzylisoquinoliniums.

Decline of multidrug-resistant Gram negative infections with the routine use of a multiple decontamination regimen in ICU.

OBJECTIVES: We have shown that the routine use of a multiple decontamination regimen with oropharyngeal and digestive polymyxin/tobramycin/amphotericin B plus mupirocin/chlorhexidine in intubated patients reduced all-cause acquired infections (AIs) in the intensive care unit (ICU). We now assessed the long-term impact of this strategy on AIs involving multidrug-resistant aerobic Gram negative bacilli (AGNB) and acquired episodes of extended-spectrum betalactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae rectal carriage. METHODS: This was an observational single center study of all patients admitted to an ICU over 5 years (study population). Decontamination was given for the period of intubation and standard care otherwise. AIs and colonization rates were prospectively recorded. AIs rates were compared between the study period and a 1-year pre-intervention period. During study, trends were analyzed by semester using a Poisson regression model. RESULTS: The incidence rate of multidrug-resistant AGNB AIs was lower during the study (1.59 per 1000 patient-days, versus pre-intervention: 5.43‰, p < 0.001) and declined with time (adjusted OR = 0.85, 95 percent confidence interval 0.77-0.93, p < 0.001). ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae acquired colonization episodes (OR = 0.94 [0.88-1.00] P = 0.04) and the use of five major antibiotics (p < 0.001) also declined. CONCLUSION: A multiple decontamination regimen did not favor the emergence of multidrug-resistant AGNB. In contrast, infection and colonization rates declined with time.

Liver Cirrhosis is Independently Associated With 90-Day Mortality in ARDS Patients.

BACKGROUND: In a few studies, cirrhosis has been associated with increased mortality in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). These studies were, however, conducted mostly before 2000. Over the last 15 years, the prognosis of cirrhotic patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) seems to have improved and major changes in the management of mechanical ventilation (MV) of ARDS have appeared. The aim of this study was to determine whether cirrhosis remains a factor for poor prognosis despite improvements in MV techniques and supportive therapies for ARDS. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of data recorded from 232 patients (42 with cirrhosis and 290 without cirrhosis) who received lung-protective ventilation for ARDS defined according to American-European Consensus Conference criteria and admitted from 2006 to 2013. Alcohol was the most common aetiology of the cirrhosis. The end point was mortality at day-90 from the diagnosis of ARDS, survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and we used a Cox-proportional hazard model to determine whether cirrhosis remained independently associated with mortality after adjustment for other prognostic variables for ARDS described previously. Organ dysfunctions were assessed based on the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) criteria, pulmonary and nonpulmonary dysfunctions were distinguished and compared between cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic patients on the first 3 days of VM. RESULTS: Comparison of survival curves showed that cirrhotic patients had a poorer 90-day prognosis than non-cirrhotic patients (P = 0.03 by the log-rank test). After adjusted analysis, cirrhosis remained independently associated with mortality at day 90 (adjusted hazard ratio 2.09, 95% CI, 1.27-3.45, P = 0.004). Non-pulmonary SOFA scores were significantly higher in cirrhotic patients than in non-cirrhotic patients on day 1 (P < 0.001), day 2 (P = 0.003), and day 3 (P = 0.002) of MV for ARDS whereas pulmonary SOFA scores did not differ significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Despite improvements in the management of cirrhotic patients admitted to the ICU and in the management of MV for the treatment of ARDS, cirrhosis remained associated with a poorer prognosis in ARDS patients. The prognosis of cirrhotic patients with ARDS appears related to extrapulmonary organ dysfunctions rather than pulmonary dysfunction.

Trends in Prevalence and Prognosis in Subjects With Acute Chronic Respiratory Failure Treated With Noninvasive and/or Invasive Ventilation.

BACKGROUND: The pattern and outcome of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) use in patients with acute or chronic respiratory disease other than COPD is not well known. The aims of this study were to investigate trends over time in underlying respiratory diseases, use of NIV, and outcomes in COPD and non-COPD patients with acute respiratory failure. METHODS: We made a retrospective analysis of data recorded prospectively from 1,113 subjects admitted between 1998 and 2012. RESULTS: Subject diagnoses were distributed as follows: COPD, n=568 (51%); bilateral bronchiectasis, n=113 (10%); obesity, n=166 (15%); chronic diffuse interstitial lung disease, n=131 (12%); restrictive pulmonary disease, n=113 (10%); and asthma, n=22 (2%). The proportion of subjects with bilateral bronchiectasis significantly decreased (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.865-0.951, P<.001), whereas the proportion of subjects with obesity increased (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.001-1.063, P=.049) over time. The use of NIV (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.010-1.090, P=.01) and the proportion of subjects initially treated with NIV (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.013-1.094, P=.009) increased significantly in COPD subjects only. Time trend of mortality was not significant (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.95-1.01, P=.23), whereas the severity of illness in subjects significantly increased. Transition from NIV to invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.36-3.11, P=<.001), IMV (OR 10.49, 95% CI 4.88-10.56, P<.001) and diffuse interstitial lung disease (OR 10.63, 95% CI 5.43-20.83, P<.001) were independently associated with death in the ICU. CONCLUSIONS: Over time, respiratory diseases have changed in non-COPD subjects and trends in the use and efficacy of NIV differ between COPD and non-COPD subjects. Mortality remained stable while the severity of illness in subjects increased. In COPD and non-COPD subjects, transition from NIV to IMV was associated with a poorer prognosis.

At-risk drinking is independently associated with ICU and one-year mortality in critically ill nontrauma patients*.

OBJECTIVES: The impact of at-risk drinking on the outcomes of nontrauma patients is not well characterized. The aim of this study was to determine whether at-risk drinking is independently associated with the survival of nontrauma patients in an ICU and within 1 year following ICU discharge. DESIGN: Observational cohort study. SETTING: A 21-bed mixed ICU in a university hospital. PATIENTS: A total of 662 patients who experienced an ICU stay of 3 days or more and for whom alcohol consumption could be assessed. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: ICU-related variables were collected prospectively, and a 1-year follow-up was determined retrospectively. Analyses were adjusted based on prognostic determinants of short- and long-term outcomes, as previously described in ICU patients and alcohol abusers. Two hundred and eight patients (33%) were identified as at-risk drinkers according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism criteria. Additionally, 111 patients (17%) died in the ICU, and 97 (15%) died after ICU discharge. From the ICU admission until the end of the 1-year follow-up period, the at-risk drinkers exhibited poorer survival than the non-at-risk drinkers (p = 0.0004, as determined by the log-rank test). More specifically, 50 at-risk drinkers (24%) versus 61 non-at-risk drinkers (13%) died in the ICU (p = 0.0009 for the comparison). After adjustment, at-risk drinking remained independently associated with mortality in the ICU (adjusted odds ratio of 1.83; 95% CI of 1.16-2.89; p = 0.01) and with mortality within the year following ICU discharge (adjusted hazard ratio of 1.70; 95% CI of 1.15-2.52; p = 0.008). The causes of death in the at-risk and non-at-risk drinkers were similar. CONCLUSIONS: In this population of critically ill nontrauma patients, at-risk drinking was independently associated with death in the ICU and within the year following ICU discharge.