Time-of-day dependent effects of midazolam administration on myocardial injury in non-cardiac surgery.

Background: Animal studies have shown that midazolam can increase vulnerability to cardiac ischemia, potentially via circadian-mediated mechanisms. We hypothesized that perioperative midazolam administration is associated with an increased incidence of myocardial injury in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery (MINS) and that circadian biology may underlie this relationship. Methods: We analyzed intraoperative data from the Multicenter Perioperative Outcomes Group for the occurrence of MINS across 50 institutions from 2014 to 2019. The primary outcome was the occurrence of MINS. MINS was defined as having at least one troponin-I lab value ≥0.03 ng/ml from anesthesia start to 72 h after anesthesia end. To account for bias, propensity scores and inverse probability of treatment weighting were applied. Results: A total of 1,773,118 cases were available for analysis. Of these subjects, 951,345 (53.7%) received midazolam perioperatively, and 16,404 (0.93%) met criteria for perioperative MINS. There was no association between perioperative midazolam administration and risk of MINS in the study population as a whole (odds ratio (OR) 0.98, confidence interval (CI) [0.94, 1.01]). However, we found a strong association between midazolam administration and risk of MINS when surgery occurred overnight (OR 3.52, CI [3.10, 4.00]) or when surgery occurred in ASA 1 or 2 patients (OR 1.25, CI [1.13, 1.39]). Conclusion: Perioperative midazolam administration may not pose a significant risk for MINS occurrence. However, midazolam administration at night and in healthier patients could increase MINS, which warrants further clinical investigation with an emphasis on circadian biology.

Telemedicine to Expand Access to Critical Care Around the World.

This multiauthored communication gives a state-of-the-art global perspective on the increasing adoption of tele-critical care. Exponentially increasing sophistication in the deployment of Computers, Information, and Communication Technology has ensured extending the reach of limited intensivists virtually and reaching the unreached. Natural disasters, COVID-19 pandemic, and wars have made tele-intensive care a reality. Concerns and regulatory issues are being sorted out, cross-border cost-effective tele-critical care is steadily increasing Components to set up a tele-intensive care unit, and overcoming barriers is discussed. Importance of developing best practice guidelines and retraining is emphasized.

A Survey of Tele-Critical Care State and Needs in 2019 and 2020 Conducted among the Members of the Society of Critical Care Medicine.

The study's objective was to assess facilitators and barriers of Tele-Critical Care (TCC) perceived by SCCM members. By utilizing a survey distributed to SCCM members, a cross-sectional study was developed to analyze survey results from December 2019 and July 2020. SCCM members responded to the survey (n = 15,502) with a 1.9% response rate for the first distribution and a 2.54% response rate for the second survey (n = 9985). Participants (n = 286 and n = 254) were almost equally distributed between non-users, providers, users, and potential users of TCC services. The care delivery models for TCC were similar across most participants. Some consumers of TCC services preferred algorithmic coverage and scheduled rounds, while reactive and on-demand models were less utilized. The surveys revealed that outcome-driven measures were the principal form of TCC performance evaluation. A 1:100 (provider: patients) ratio was reported to be optimal. Factors related to costs, perceived lack of need for services, and workflow challenges were described by those who terminated TCC services. Barriers to implementation revolved around lack of reimbursement and adequate training. Interpersonal communication was identified as an essential TCC provider skill. The second survey introduced after the onset pandemic demonstrated more frequent use of advanced practice providers and focus on performance measures. Priorities for effective TCC deployment include communication, knowledge, optimal operationalization, and outcomes measurement at the organizational level. The potential effect of COVID-19 during the early stages of the pandemic on survey responses was limited and focused on the need to demonstrate TCC value.

Toxicology Screening Testing in Patients Undergoing Spine Surgery: A Prospective Observational Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Chronic opioid use and polypharmacy are commonly seen in chronic pain patients presenting for spine procedures. Substance abuse and misuse have also been reported in this patient population. Negative perioperative effects have been found in patients exposed to chronic opioid, alcohol, and recreational substances. Toxicology screening testing (TST) in the perioperative period provides useful information for adequate preoperative optimization and perioperative planning. METHODS: We designed a pilot study to understand this population's preoperative habits including accuracy of self-report and TST-detected prescribed and unprescribed medications and recreational substances. We compared the results of the TST to the self-reported medications using Spearman correlations. RESULTS: Inconsistencies between TST and self-report were found in 88% of patients. Spearman correlation was 0.509 between polypharmacy and intraoperative propofol use, suggesting that propofol requirement increased as the number of substances used increased. CONCLUSIONS: TST in patients presenting for spine surgery is a useful tool to detect substances taken by patients because self-report is often inaccurate. Discrepancies decrease the opportunity for preoperative optimization and adequate perioperative preparation.

Clinical Distancing and Mitigation of Coronavirus Disease 2019.

Social distancing as a technique to limit transmission of infectious disease has come into common parlance following the arrival and rapid spread of a novel coronavirus disease around the world in 2019 and 2020. But in the face of an emerging pandemic threat, it is crucial that we start to apply these principles to the clinic, the emergency department, and the hospital ward. We propose that this dynamic situation calls for a parallel "Clinical Distancing" in which we as a medical culture go against many of our fundamental instincts and, at least in the short term, begin to reduce unnecessary patient-care contacts for the benefit of our patients and our ability to continue to provide care to those who need it most. In this commentary, we provide specific recommendations for the rapid implementation of clinical distancing techniques.

Advanced Digital Health Technologies for COVID-19 and Future Emergencies.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to a national health care emergency in the United States and exposed resource shortages, particularly of health care providers trained to provide critical or intensive care. This article describes how digital health technologies are being or could be used for COVID-19 mitigation. It then proposes the National Emergency Tele-Critical Care Network (NETCCN), which would combine digital health technologies to address this and future crises. Methods: Subject matter experts from the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center examined the peer-reviewed literature and science/technology news to see what digital health technologies have already been or could be implemented to (1) support patients while limiting COVID-19 transmission, (2) increase health care providers' capability and capacity, and (3) predict/prevent future outbreaks. Results: Major technologies identified included telemedicine and mobile care (for COVID-19 as well as routine care), tiered telementoring, telecritical care, robotics, and artificial intelligence for monitoring. Several of these could be assimilated to form an interoperable scalable NETCCN. NETCCN would assist health care providers, wherever they are located, by obtaining real-time patient and supplies data and disseminating critical care expertise. NETCCN capabilities should be maintained between disasters and regularly tested to ensure continual readiness. Conclusions: COVID-19 has demonstrated the impact of a large-scale health emergency on the existing infrastructures. Short term, an approach to meeting this challenge is to adopt existing digital health technologies. Long term, developing a NETCCN may ensure that the necessary ecosystem is available to respond to future emergencies.

Preoperatively Screened Obstructive Sleep Apnea Is Associated With Worse Postoperative Outcomes Than Previously Diagnosed Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects up to 26% of US adults, is often undiagnosed, and increases perioperative morbidity. We hypothesized that patients screened on the day of surgery as moderate/high risk for OSA (S-OSA) present similar perioperative respiratory complications, hospital use, and mortality than patients with previously diagnosed OSA (D-OSA). Second, we hypothesized that both OSA groups have more respiratory complications than No-OSA patients. METHODS: The electronic medical database from 1 academic and 2 community hospitals was retrospectively queried to identify adults undergoing nonemergent inpatient surgery (January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2014). Based on the day-of-surgery preoperative assessment and STOP-BANG (Snoring, Tiredness, Observed apnea during sleep, high blood Pressure, Body mass index >35, Age >50 years, thick Neck, Gender male) score, they were classified as D-OSA, S-OSA, or No-OSA. Perioperative respiratory events and interventions, hospital use, and mortality were measured. The primary outcome composite (adverse respiratory events [AREs]) included perioperative hypoxemic events and difficult airway management. Hypoxemic event was defined as peripheral saturation of oxygen (SpO2) <90% by continuous pulse oximetry for ≥3 minutes, or if validated and/or manually entered into the medical chart. Hypoxemia was classified as mild (lowest SpO2 86%-89%) or moderate/severe (lowest SpO2 ≤85%). Secondary outcomes included postoperative respiratory interventions, intensive care unit admission, hospital length of stay, and 30-day and 1-year all-cause mortality. Outcomes were compared using linear and logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: A total of 28,912 patients were assessed: 3432 (11.9%) D-OSA; 1546 (5.3%) S-OSA; and 23,934 (82.8%) No-OSA patients. At least 1 ARE was present in 68.0% of S-OSA; 71.0% of D-OSA; and 52.1% of No-OSA patients (unadjusted P < .001), primarily ≥1 moderate/severe hypoxemic event after discharge from the postanesthesia care unit (PACU; 39.9% in S-OSA; 39.5% in D-OSA; and 27.1% in No-OSA patients). S-OSA patients compared to D-OSA patients presented lower rates of moderate/severe hypoxemia in the PACU but similar intraoperatively and postoperatively, higher difficult mask ventilation rates, and similar difficult intubation reports. After adjusting for demographic, health, and surgical differences and hospital type, the likelihood of ≥1 ARE was not different in S-OSA and D-OSA patients (adjusted odds ratio 0.90 [99% confidence interval, 0.75-1.09]; P = .15). S-OSA patients compared to D-OSA patients had significantly increased postoperative reintubation, mechanical ventilation, direct intensive care unit admission after surgery, hospital length of stay, and 30-day all-cause mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Patients classified as S-OSA have similar rates of AREs to D-OSA patients, but increased postoperative respiratory interventions, hospital use, and 30-day all-cause mortality. These worse postoperative outcomes in S-OSA patients than D-OSA patients could reflect the lack of awareness and appropriate management of this bedside S-OSA diagnosis after PACU discharge. Multidisciplinary interventions are needed for these high-risk patients.

Heated humidified high-flow nasal cannula oxygen after thoracic surgery - A randomized prospective clinical pilot trial.

BACKGROUND: Thoracic surgery patients are at high-risk for adverse pulmonary outcomes. Heated humidified high-flow nasal cannula oxygen (HHFNC O2) may decrease such events. We hypothesized that patients randomized to prophylactic HHFNC O2 would develop fewer pulmonary complications compared to conventional O2 therapy. METHODS AND PATIENTS: Fifty-one patients were randomized to HHFNC O2 vs. conventional O2. The primary outcome was a composite of postoperative pulmonary complications. Secondary outcomes included oxygenation and length of stay. Continuous variables were compared with t-test or Mann-Whitney-U test, categorical variables with Fisher's Exact test. RESULTS: There were no differences in postoperative pulmonary complications based on intention to treat [two in HHFNC O2 (n=25), two in control (n=26), p=0.680], and after exclusion of patients who discontinued HHFNC O2 early [one in HHFNC O2 (n=18), two in control (n=26), p=0.638]. Discomfort from HHFNC O2 occurred in 11/25 (44%); 7/25 (28%) discontinued treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary complications were rare after thoracic surgery. Although HHFNC O2 did not convey significant benefits, these results need to be interpreted with caution, as our study was likely underpowered to detect a reduction in pulmonary complications. High rates of patient-reported discomfort with HHFNC O2 need to be considered in clinical practice and future trials.

Disruption of Circadian Rhythms and Sleep in Critical Illness and its Impact on the Development of Delirium.

PURPOSE: This article reviews our current understanding of the relationships between critical illness, circadian disruption, and delirium. SUMMARY: Delirium is a common and morbid complication of hospitalization, particularly in the setting of critical illness and intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Critical illness involves a host of acute metabolic, hormonal and inflammatory responses that appear to disrupt normal sleep architecture and precipitate cerebral dysfunction. The intervention-heavy environment of the ICU further disrupts normal circadian rhythms and increases delirium risk. Despite strong evidence for correlation of sleep disruption, critical illness and delirium, causal relationships remain difficult to prove. Delirium is almost certainly a multifactorial condition. This article reviews proposed pathophysiologic mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets. In the absence of definitive pharmacologic therapy, interventions prioritizing maintenance of normal circadian, sleep, and behavioral patterns have shown promise in delirium risk reduction.