Respiratory-like movements during an apnea test.

Background: Despite the possible occurrence of spontaneous movements during an apnea test, respiratory-like movements are rare. Case Presentation: A 51-year-old man was transferred to our hospital when a sudden disturbance of consciousness developed into cardiac arrest. After spontaneous circulation returned, we diagnosed bilateral cerebellar hemorrhage. He remained comatose with dilated pupils, absent brainstem reflexes, spontaneous breathing, and electrocerebral activity. After being considered brain dead, his family opted for organ donation. The first legal brain death examination on day 5 was aborted because of respiratory-like movements mimicking repetitive abdominal respiration during the apnea test. However, an enhanced magnetic resonance image of the head indicated no blood flow and somatosensory evoked potential testing revealed no brain-derived potentials. Conclusion: Respiratory-like movements can occur during the apnea test in patients considered brain dead. Further research is required to understand this phenomenon.

High versus low chloride load in adult hyperglycemic emergencies with acute kidney injury: a multicenter retrospective cohort study.

Hyperglycemic emergencies frequently lead to acute kidney injury (AKI) and require treatment with large amount of intravenous fluids. However, the effects of chloride loading on this population have not yet been investigated. We conducted a multicenter, retrospective, cohort study in 21 acute-care hospitals in Japan. The study included hospitalized adult patients with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic syndrome (HHS) who had AKI upon arrival. The patients were classified into high and low chloride groups based on the amount of chloride administered within the first 48 h of their arrival. The primary outcome was recovery from AKI; secondary outcome was major adverse kidney events within 30 days (MAKE30), including mortality and prolonged renal failure. A total of 390 patients with AKI, including 268 (69%) with DKA and 122 (31%) with HHS, were included in the study. Using the criteria of Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes, the severity of AKI in the patients was Stage 1 (n = 159, 41%), Stage 2 (n = 121, 31%), and Stage 3 (n = 110, 28%). The analysis showed no significant difference between the two groups in recovery from AKI (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.96; 95% CI 0.72-1.28; P = 0.78) and in MAKE30 (adjusted odds ratio, 0.91; 95% CI 0.45-1.76; P = 0.80). Chloride loading with fluid administration had no significant impact on recovery from AKI in patients with hyperglycemic emergencies.Trial Registration This study was registered in the UMIN clinical trial registration system (UMIN000025393, registered December 23, 2016).

Clinical profile of patients with diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome in Japan: a multicenter retrospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome (HHS) are life-threatening complications of diabetes mellitus. Their clinical profiles have not been fully investigated. METHODS: A multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted in 21 acute care hospitals in Japan. Patients included were adults aged 18 or older who had been hospitalized from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2016 due to DKA or HHS. The data were extracted from patient medical records. A four-group comparison (mild DKA, moderate DKA, severe DKA, and HHS) was performed to evaluate outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 771 patients including 545 patients with DKA and 226 patients with HHS were identified during the study period. The major precipitating factors of disease episodes were poor medication compliance, infectious diseases, and excessive drinking of sugar-sweetened beverages. The median hospital stay was 16 days [IQR 10-26 days]. The intensive care unit (ICU) admission rate was 44.4% (mean) and the rate at each hospital ranged from 0 to 100%. The in-hospital mortality rate was 2.8% in patients with DKA and 7.1% in the HHS group. No significant difference in mortality was seen among the three DKA groups. CONCLUSIONS: The mortality rate of patients with DKA in Japan is similar to other studies, while that of HHS was lower. The ICU admission rate varied among institutions. There was no significant association between the severity of DKA and mortality in the study population. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study is registered in the UMIN clinical Trial Registration System (UMIN000025393, Registered 23th December 2016).

Burnout and Turnover Intention in Critical Care Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan: A Cross-sectional Survey.

Rationale: The prevalence of burnout among critical care professionals during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic varies in different countries. Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of burnout and turnover intention in Japanese critical care professionals in March 2021. Methods: This cross-sectional study used a web-based survey of Japanese critical care professionals working in 15 intensive care units in 15 prefectures. Burnout was measured using the Mini Z 2.0 Survey. Intention to leave (turnover intention) was assessed by survey. Resilience was measured using the Brief Resilience Scale (Japanese version). Demographics and personal and workplace characteristics were also collected. Results: Of 1,205 critical care professionals approached, 936 (77.6%) completed the survey. Among these, 24.3%, 20.6%, and 14.2% reported symptoms of burnout, depression, and anxiety, respectively. A total of 157 respondents (16.8%) reported turnover intention. On multivariate analysis, higher resilience scores (odds ratio [OR], 0.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.84-0.95; and OR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.91-0.96) and perceived support from the hospital (OR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.44-0.93; and OR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.40-0.73) were associated with a lower odds of burnout and turnover intention, respectively. Conclusions: Approximately 24% and 17% of the Japanese critical care professionals surveyed had symptoms of burnout and turnover intention from critical care, respectively, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Such professionals require organizational support to cultivate both individual and organizational resilience to reduce burnout and turnover intention.

Adult-onset noncirrhotic hyperammonemic encephalopathy probably caused by splenorenal shunts.

This case illustrates adult-onset noncirrhotic hyperammonemic encephalopathy, which is most likely caused by splenorenal shunts and is a rare but potentially fatal cause of altered mentation in the critical care setting. Splenorenal shunts should be considered as a differential in cases of hyperammonemic encephalopathy without liver cirrhosis.

Diagnostic significance of fat globules in blood in fulminant-type fat embolism syndrome.

Fat globule detection in the blood in fat embolism syndrome (FES) diagnosis remains controversial. This case illustrates two life-threatening, possibly FES-related, episodes with dramatic increases in blood fat globule level. Future studies should aim at evaluating the significance of the quantitative changes in blood fat levels in diagnosing FES.

Translation and validation of the Japanese version of the measure of moral distress for healthcare professionals.

OBJECTIVES: Moral distress occurs when professionals cannot carry out what they believe to be ethically appropriate actions because of constraints or barriers. We aimed to assess the validity and reliability of the Japanese translation of the Measure of Moral Distress for Healthcare Professionals (MMD-HP). METHODS: We translated the questionnaire into Japanese according to the instructions of EORTC Quality of Life group translation manual. All physicians and nurses who were directly involved in patient care at nine departments of four tertiary hospitals in Japan were invited to a survey to assess the construct validity, reliability and factor structure. Construct validity was assessed with the relation to the intention to leave the clinical position, and internal consistency was assessed with Cronbach's alpha. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted. RESULTS: 308 responses were eligible for the analysis. The mean total score of MMD-HP (range, 0-432) was 98.2 (SD, 59.9). The score was higher in those who have or had the intention to leave their clinical role due to moral distress than in those who do not or did not have the intention of leaving (mean 113.7 [SD, 61.3] vs. 86.1 [56.6], t-test p < 0.001). The confirmatory factor analysis and Cronbach's alpha confirmed the validity (chi-square, 661.9; CMIN/df, 2.14; GFI, 0.86; CFI, 0.88; CFI/TLI, 1.02; RMSEA, 0.061 [90%CI, 0.055-0.067]) and reliability (0.91 [95%CI, 0.89-0.92]) of the instrument. CONCLUSIONS: The translated Japanese version of the MMD-HP is a reliable and valid instrument to assess moral distress among physicians and nurses.

Vertebral osteomyelitis concurrent with emphysematous pyelonephritis and psoas abscess.

Vertebral osteomyelitis associated with concurrent emphysematous pyelonephritis and psoas abscess is rare. Coexistence of these entities is a potentially life-threatening condition, necessitating aggressive intervention.

Clinical course of 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in individuals present during the outbreak on the Diamond Princess cruise ship.

We investigated the clinical course of individuals with 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) who were transferred from the Diamond Princess cruise ship to 12 local hospitals. The conditions and clinical courses of patients with pneumonia were compared with those of patients without pneumonia. Among 70 patients (median age: 67 years) analyzed, the major symptoms were fever (64.3%), cough (54.3%), and general fatigue (24.3%). Forty-three patients (61.4%) had pneumonia. Higher body temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate as well as higher of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and lower serum albumin level and lymphocyte count were associated with the presence of pneumonia. Ground-glass opacity was found in 97.7% of the patients with pneumonia. Patients were administered neuraminidase inhibitors (20%), lopinavir/ritonavir (32.9%), and ciclesonide inhalation (11.4%). Mechanical ventilation and veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was performed on 14 (20%) and 2 (2.9%) patients, respectively; two patients died. The median duration of intubation was 12 days. The patients with COVID-19 transferred to local hospitals during the outbreak had severe conditions and needed close monitoring. The severity of COVID-19 depends on the presence of pneumonia. High serum LDH, AST and CRP levels and low serum albumin level and lymphocyte count were found to be predictors of pneumonia. It was challenging for local hospitals to admit and treat these patients during the outbreak of COVID-19. Assessment of severity was crucial to manage a large number of patients.

Clinical features and outcomes of prolonged mechanical ventilation: a single-center retrospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Information on epidemiology of prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) patients in the acute care setting in Japan is totally lacking. We aimed to investigate clinical features, impact, and long-term outcomes of PMV patients. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study conducted in a tertiary care hospital. Adult patients who were admitted to our intensive care unit (ICU) from April 2009 to March 2014 and required mechanical ventilation (MV) for ≥ 2 days were included. PMV was defined as having MV for ≥ 21 consecutive days. RESULTS: Among 1282 MV patients, 93 (7.3%) required PMV, and median duration of MV was 37.0 days. Compared with the non-PMV patients, PMV patients had longer total ICU and high care unit (HCU) stay (34.0 vs. 7.0 days, p < 0.001), longer hospital stay (74.0 vs. 35.0 days, p < 0.001), and higher hospital mortality (54.8 vs. 21.4%, p < 0.001). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, emergency ICU admission and steroid use during MV were associated with PMV. The Kaplan-Meier curves for MV withdrawal and ICU/HCU discharge were almost identical. Among PMV patients, 52 (55.9%) died, 29 (31.2%) were successfully liberated from MV during hospitalization, and 12 (12.9%) still required MV at discharge. CONCLUSION: In this investigation, 7.3% of the patients with MV required PMV. Most PMV patients were liberated from MV during hospitalization, while occupying critical care beds for an extended period. A nationwide survey is required to further elucidate the overall picture of PMV patients and to discuss whether specialized weaning centers to treat PMV patients are required in Japan.

Early rehabilitation to prevent postintensive care syndrome in patients with critical illness: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: We examined the effectiveness of early rehabilitation for the prevention of postintensive care syndrome (PICS), characterised by an impaired physical, cognitive or mental health status, among survivors of critical illness. METHODS: We performed a systematic literature search of several databases (Medline, Embase and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) and a manual search to identify randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the effectiveness of early rehabilitation versus no early rehabilitation or standard care for the prevention of PICS. The primary outcomes were short-term physical-related, cognitive-related and mental health-related outcomes assessed during hospitalisation. The secondary outcomes were the standardised, long-term health-related quality of life scores (EuroQol 5 Dimension (EQ5D) and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey Physical Function Scale (SF-36 PF)). We used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach to rate the quality of evidence (QoE). RESULTS: Six RCTs selected from 5105 screened abstracts were included. Early rehabilitation significantly improved short-term physical-related outcomes, as indicated by an increased Medical Research Council scale score (standardised mean difference (SMD): 0.38, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.66, p=0.009) (QoE: low) and a decreased incidence of intensive care unit-acquired weakness (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.82, p=0.01, QoE: low), compared with standard care or no early rehabilitation. However, the two groups did not differ in terms of cognitive-related delirium-free days (SMD: -0.02, 95% CI -0.23 to 0.20, QoE: low) and the mental health-related Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale score (OR: 0.79, 95% CI 0.29 to 2.12, QoE: low). Early rehabilitation did not improve the long-term outcomes of PICS as characterised by EQ5D and SF-36 PF. CONCLUSIONS: Early rehabilitation improved only short-term physical-related outcomes in patients with critical illness. Additional large RCTs are needed.

Accuracy of the smaller superior mesenteric vein sign for the detection of acute superior mesenteric artery occlusion.

Aims: The smaller superior mesenteric vein (SMV) sign is a well-known computed tomography (CT) parameter for acute superior mesenteric artery (SMA) occlusion. This CT sign is potentially beneficial for the early diagnosis of acute SMA occlusion; however, few reports have documented this sign. The present study aimed to determine the accuracy of the smaller SMV sign for the detection of acute SMA occlusion. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed CT images from 20 patients with acute SMA occlusion and 1,216 controls. We measured the external diameters of the SMV and SMA, and calculated the SMV/SMA diameter ratio. A ratio ≤1 indicated a positive smaller SMV sign. Results: Of the 20 patients, 14 had the smaller SMV sign, whereas of the 1,216 controls, 88 had the smaller SMV sign. Of the 88 controls with a positive sign, 79 had apparent reasons for the decreased flow in the SMA and nine patients had no reason for the decreased flow. The sensitivity and specificity of the smaller SMV sign for acute SMA occlusion were 70% and 99.2%, respectively. Conclusion: The smaller SMV sign is an accurate and important CT parameter for the detection of acute SMA occlusion.

The Japanese Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock 2016 (J-SSCG 2016)

The Japanese Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock 2016 (JSSCG 2016), a Japanese-specific set of clinical practice guidelines for sepsis and septic shock created jointly by the Japanese Society of Intensive Care Medicine and the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine, was first released in February 2017 in Japanese. An English-language version of these guidelines was created based on the contents of the original Japanese-language version. Members of the Japanese Society of Intensive Care Medicine and the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine were selected and organized into 19 committee members and 52 working group members. The guidelines were prepared in accordance with the Medical Information Network Distribution Service (Minds) creation procedures. The Academic Guidelines Promotion Team was organized to oversee and provide academic support to the respective activities allocated to each Guideline Creation Team. To improve quality assurance and workflow transparency, a mutual peer review system was established, and discussions within eachteam were open to the public. Public comments were collected once after the initial formulation of a clinical question (CQ), and twice during the review of the final draft. Recommendations were determined to have been adopted after obtaining support from a twothirds (>66.6%) majority vote of each of the 19 committee members. A total of 87 CQs were selected among 19 clinical areas, including pediatric topics and several other important areas not covered in the first edition of the Japanese guidelines (J-SSCG 2012). The approval rate obtained through committee voting, in additionto ratings of the strengths of the recommendation and its supporting evidence were also added to each recommendation statement.We conducted meta-analyses for 29 CQs. Thirty seven CQs contained recommendations in the form of an expert consensus due to insufficient evidence. No recommendations were provided for 5 CQs.Based on the evidence gathered, we were able to formulate Japanese-specific clinical practice guidelines that are tailored to the Japanese context in a highly transparent manner. These guidelines can easily be used not only by specialists, but also by non-specialists, general clinicians, nurses, pharmacists, clinical engineers, and other healthcare professionals.

Fatal delayed rupture of the subclavian artery in a patient with first-rib fracture caused by blunt trauma.

This case highlights the probable association of significantly displaced posterior first-rib fracture and jagged edges of the fracture line following blunt chest trauma with delayed ipsilateral subclavian artery rupture. Early angiography and first-rib repair should promptly be considered under such circumstances.

Early rehabilitation for the prevention of postintensive care syndrome in critically ill patients: a study protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Postintensive care syndrome (PICS) is defined as a new or worsening impairment in cognition, mental health and physical function after critical illness. There is little evidence regarding treatment of patients with PICS; new directions for effective treatment strategies are urgently needed. Early physiotherapy may prevent or reverse some physical impairments in patients with PICS, but no systematic reviews have investigated the effectiveness of early rehabilitation on PICS-related outcomes. The purpose of this systematic review is to evaluate whether early rehabilitative interventions in critically ill patients can prevent PICS and decrease mortality. METHODS: We will conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of early rehabilitation for the prevention of PICS in critically ill adults. We will search PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for published randomised controlled trials. We will screen search results and assess study selection, data extraction and risk of bias in duplicate, resolving disagreements by consensus. We will pool data from clinically homogeneous studies using a random-effects meta-analysis; assess heterogeneity of effects using the χ2 test of homogeneity; and quantify any observed heterogeneity using the I2 statistic. We will use the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach to rate the quality of evidence. DISCUSSION: This systematic review will present evidence on the prevention of PICS in critically ill patients with early rehabilitation. ETHICS: Ethics approval is not required. DISSEMINATION: The results will be disseminated via peer-reviewed journal publication, conference presentation(s) and publications for patient information. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42016039759.

Effects of low-dose atrial natriuretic peptide infusion on cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury: A multicenter randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) on renal function and medical costs in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) associated with cardiac surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Japanese trial for AKI in Post-cardiovascular surgery patients by ANP (JAPAN) was a prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study conducted in 11 hospitals in Japan. Acute kidney injury was defined as an increase in serum creatinine of at least 0.3 mg/dL within 48 hours. The patients were randomly assigned to receive ANP (0.02 µg kg-1 min-1) or placebo. The primary end point was a change in renal function. The secondary end points were a need for renal replacement therapy, the lengths of intensive care unit and hospital stays, and medical costs incurred over the 90-day follow-up. RESULTS: Of the 77 randomized patients, 37 were in the ANP group and 40 were in the placebo group. Although ANP significantly (P = .018) increased urine output, it did not significantly improve renal function compared with placebo. There were no significant differences between the groups in the renal replacement therapy rate, the lengths of the intensive care unit and hospital stays, or medical costs. CONCLUSION: Atrial natriuretic peptide infusion did not show a renoprotective effect or cost-saving effect in the treatment of cardiac surgery-associated AKI.

Isolated unilateral absence of the left pulmonary artery: a case report.

We report the case of a 37-year-old man with isolated unilateral absence of the pulmonary artery (UAPA), which was diagnosed upon the occurrence of hemoptysis. Plain chest radiography demonstrated decreased left pulmonary volume. Computed tomography of the chest revealed the complete absence of the left pulmonary artery. Angiography revealed marked dilation of the left bronchial artery, inferior phrenic artery, internal thoracic artery, and the arterial branches of the thyrocervical trunk. These arteries were considered as collateral circulation to the left lung. In cases with UAPA, collateral circulation should be evaluated by angiography to obtain useful information for treatment.