Monitoring and Outcomes of Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections in a Tertiary Care Intensive Care Unit.

Background Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) are significant healthcare-associated infections that increase morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. This study aims to analyze the frequency, microbiology, risk factors, and outcomes of CLABSI in an adult intensive care unit. Methods We conducted a hospital-based, prospective surveillance study in the critical care unit of a tertiary care hospital. We included patients with a central line (CL) from admission until discharge or line removal. Data collection focused on patient demographics, comorbidities, CL insertion site, and CLABSI rates. The incidence of CLABSI was calculated per 1,000 CL-days, and statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-square test. Results Of the 169 patients enrolled, 123 episodes of bloodstream infections were recorded, 56 (45.5%) of which were CLABSIs. The organisms most frequently isolated were Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 14; 24.6%), Enterobacter cloacae complex (n = 11; 19.3%), Klebsiella species (n = 7; 12.28%), and Acinetobacter baumannii (n = 7; 12.28%). The overall CLABSI rate was 24.70 per 1,000 CL-days. No significant association was found between CLABSI and patient age, gender, or the site of CL insertion. However, a significant relationship was observed between CLABSI and the presence of comorbid conditions (p = 0.001). The study also noted a high rate of antibiotic resistance among the isolated pathogens. Conclusions Our results emphasize the need for stringent infection control measures and suggest that comorbid conditions significantly increase the risk of CLABSI. Addressing antibiotic resistance and implementing effective prevention strategies are essential for reducing the burden of CLABSIs.

An Unusual Case of Post-Operative Functional Stridor After Emergence From General Anesthesia.

Post-anesthesia stridor due to laryngospasm, laryngeal edema, or any other organic cause is a life-threatening condition requiring immediate intervention. The very rare functional stridor or psychogenic stridor following emergence from general anesthesia may sometimes mimic stridor due to an organic cause, but it is neither fatal nor require immediate airway management. However, if the condition is not diagnosed timely, it may lead to unnecessary manipulation of the airway, such as endotracheal intubation or tracheostomy. We report herein a case of functional stridor in a 48-year-old woman who underwent abdominal-perineal resection for carcinoma rectum. The case was timely diagnosed by the attending anesthetist, and the patient recovered spontaneously, thus avoiding any unindicated airway handling and its associated complications.

Medium-chain Triglyceride Ketogenic Diet as a Treatment Strategy for Adult Super-refractory Status Epilepticus.

How to cite this article: Dutta K, Satishchandra P, Borkotokey M. Medium-chain Triglyceride Ketogenic Diet as a Treatment Strategy for Adult Super-refractory Status Epilepticus. Indian J Crit Care Med 2022;26(1):139-140.

Evaluation of Hematological Parameters in Predicting Intensive Care Unit Admission in COVID-19 Patients.

Hematological parameters like total leukocyte count (TLC), neutrophil, lymphocyte, and absolute eosinophil counts (AEC), and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) are known to predict the severity of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. In the present study, we aimed to study the role of complete blood count parameters in triaging these patients requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission. A retrospective study was done over a period of 2 months. Patients, who were ≥ 18 years of age with COVID-19 confirmed on SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and whose routine hematology counts were sent within 24 h of admission, were included in the study. Cut-off values of 47.5 years for age, 11.3 × 109/L for TLC, and 9.1 for NLR were predictive of disease severity among COVID-19 patients. Relative neutrophilia ≥ 70% (p < 0.007), relative lymphopenia ≤ 20% (p < 0.002), AEC ≤ 40/cumm (p < 0.001), and NLR ≥ 9.1 (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with ICU admission. Routine hematological parameters are cost-effective and fast predictive markers for severe COVID-19 patients, especially in resource-constrained health care settings to utilize limited ICU resources more effectively.

Tracheal Diverticulum in SARS-CoV-2 Patients on Non-Invasive Ventilation A not so "Spontaneous" Cause of Pneumomediastinum? An imaging Pictorial Presentation of Two Cases with Review of Literature.

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition, the incidence of which has showed an increase in patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, especially when they are on positive pressure ventilation. None of the reported cases of covid related pneumomediastinum had an associated tracheal diverticulum. Also, to the best of our knowledge, tracheal diverticulum has not been reported in patients on NIV. We report 2 cases of COVID-19 pneumonia on NIV with pneumomediastinum, which also had associated tracheal diverticulum, one of which developed after NIV. Though the establishment of causality needs further research, early detection of a tracheal diverticulum, which might be a harbinger of pneumomediastinum, can be a timely alarm to prompt titration of the pressure settings and judicious use of NIV. The role of inverted grey scale CT images in mediastinal window is a simple, yet hardly utilised radiological tool to increase detection of 'mediastinal air', let it be free air or air within a diverticulum. Through this case report, we would like to highlight the role of conventional and inverted CT imaging of pneumomediastinum and tracheal diverticulum in general and in SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia in particular, and to call for more objective research to throw light on the plausible relationship between pneumomediastinum and tracheal diverticulum.

Cervical Spine Movement During Awake Orotracheal Intubation With Fiberoptic Scope and McGrath Videolaryngoscope in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Cervical Spine Instability: A Randomized Control Trial.

BACKGROUND: Cervical spine movement during intubation with direct laryngoscopy can predispose to new-onset neurological deficits in patients with cervical spine instability. While fiberoptic-guided intubation (FGI) is mostly preferred in such patients, this is not always possible. Videolaryngoscopy results in less cervical spine movement than direct laryngoscopy and may be an alternative to FGI in patients with cervical spine instability. The objective of this study was to compare cervical spine movement during awake FGI with those during awake McGrath videolaryngoscope-guided intubation (VGI) in patients undergoing surgery for cervical spine instability. METHODS: Forty-six adult patients with upper cervical spine instability scheduled for stabilization surgery were randomized to awake FGI or awake VGI. Cervical spine movement during intubation was assessed by changes in lateral fluoroscopic-measured angles (α and ß at C1/C2 and C3 levels, respectively) at 3 time points: T1, preintubation; T2, during intubation; T3, postintubation. Motor power was assessed before and after intubation. RESULTS: Patient demographics and airway characteristics were similar between the 2 groups. Cervical spine motion (in degrees) during intubation was significantly greater with VGI than FGI at C1/C2 (T3-T1, -8.02±8.11 vs. -1.47±3.31; P<0.001) but not at C3 (T3-T1, -2.17±5.16 vs. -1.85±3.29; P=0.960). No patient developed new-onset motor deficits following intubation in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with FGI, VGI results in a greater degree of cervical spine movement at C1/C2 but not at C3.

Comparison of Efficacy of Lateral Branch Pulsed Radiofrequency Denervation and Intraarticular Depot Methylprednisolone Injection for Sacroiliac Joint Pain.

BACKGROUND: Sacroiliac joint dysfunctional pain has always been an enigma to the pain physician, whether it be the diagnosis or the treatment. Diagnostic blocks are the gold standard way to diagnose this condition. Radiofrequency neurotomy of the nerves supplying the sacroiliac joint has shown equivocal results due to anatomical variation. Intraarticular depo-steroid injection is a traditional approach to treating sacroiliac joint pain. For long-term pain relief, however, lesioning the sacral lateral branches may be a better approach. OBJECTIVE: This study compared the efficacy of intraarticular depo-methylprednisolone injection to that of pulsed radiofrequency ablation for sacroiliac joint pain. STUDY DESIGN: This study used a randomized, prospective design. SETTING: Thirty patients with diagnostic block-confirmed sacroiliac joint dysfunctional pain were randomly assigned to 2 groups. One group received intraarticular methylprednisolone and another group underwent pulsed radiofrequency of the L4 medial branch, the L5 dorsal rami, and the lateral sacral branches. RESULTS: Reduction in Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for pain at 1 month post-procedure remained similar in Group A, while in Group B few patients reported a further decrease in the NRS score (3.333 ± 0.4880 and 2.933 ± 0.5936, respectively). At 3 months post-procedure, the NRS score began to rise in most patients in group A, while in Group B, the NRS score remained the same since the last visit (4.400 ± 0.9856 and 3.067 ± 0.8837, respectively). At 6 months post-procedure, the NRS score began to rise further in most patients in group A. In Group B, the NRS score remained the same in most of the patients since the last visit (5.400 ± 1.549 and 3.200 ± 1.207). There was a marked difference between the 2 groups in Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores at 3 months post-procedure (Group A, 12.133 ± 4.486 vs Group B, 9.133 ± 3.523) and at 6 months post-procedure there was a significant (P = 0.0017) difference in ODI scores between Group A and Group B (13.067 ± 4.284 and 8.000 ± 3.703, respectively). Global Perceived Effect (GPE) was assessed in both groups at 3 months post-procedure Only 33.3% (Confidence Interval (CI) of 11.8- 61.6 ) of patients in Group A had positive GPE responses whereas in Group B, 86.67% (CI of 59.5- 98.3 ) of patients had positive GPE responses. At 6 months post-procedure, the proportion of patients with positive GPE declined further in Group A, while in Group B, positive GPE responses remained the same (20% with a CI of 4.30- 48.10 and 86.67% with a CI of 59.5- 98.3, respectively ). LIMITATIONS: Small sample size. CONCLUSION: This comparative study shows that pulsed radiofrequency denervation of the L4 and L5 primary dorsal rami and S1-3 lateral branches provide significant pain relief and functional improvement in patients with sacroiliac joint pain. KEY WORDS: Low back pain, sacroiliac joint dysfunctional pain, radiofrequency, intraarticular injection.