Non-technical skills evaluation in the critical care air ambulance environment: introduction of an adapted rating instrument--an observational study.

BACKGROUND: In the isolated and dynamic health-care setting of critical care air ambulance transport, the quality of clinical care is strongly influenced by non-technical skills such as anticipating, recognising and understanding, decision making, and teamwork. However there are no published reports identifying or applying a non-technical skills framework specific to an intensive care air ambulance setting. The objective of this study was to adapt and evaluate a non-technical skills rating framework for the air ambulance clinical environment. METHODS: In the first phase of the project the anaesthetists' non-technical skills (ANTS) framework was adapted to the air ambulance setting, using data collected directly from clinician groups, published literature, and field observation. In the second phase experienced and inexperienced inter-hospital transport clinicians completed a simulated critical care air transport scenario, and their non-technical skills performance was independently rated by two blinded assessors. Observed and self-rated general clinical performance ratings were also collected. Rank-based statistical tests were used to examine differences in the performance of experienced and inexperienced clinicians, and relationships between different assessment approaches and assessors. RESULTS: The framework developed during phase one was referred to as an aeromedical non-technical skills framework, or AeroNOTS. During phase two 16 physicians from speciality training programmes in intensive care, emergency medicine and anaesthesia took part in the clinical simulation study. Clinicians with inter-hospital transport experience performed more highly than those without experience, according to both AeroNOTS non-technical skills ratings (p = 0.001) and general performance ratings (p = 0.003). Self-ratings did not distinguish experienced from inexperienced transport clinicians (p = 0.32) and were not strongly associated with either observed general performance (r(s) = 0.4, p = 0.11) or observed non-technical skills performance (r(s) = 0.4, p = 0.1). DISCUSSION: This study describes a framework which characterises the non-technical skills required by critical care air ambulance clinicians, and distinguishes higher and lower levels of performance. CONCLUSION: The AeroNOTS framework could be used to facilitate education and training in non-technical skills for air ambulance clinicians, and further evaluation of this rating system is merited.

Critical Care Basic Ultrasound Learning Goals for American Anesthesiology Critical Care Trainees: Recommendations from an Expert Group.

OBJECTIVE: In this review, we define learning goals and recommend competencies concerning focused basic critical care ultrasound (CCUS) for critical care specialists in training. DESIGN: The narrative review is, and the recommendations contained herein are, sponsored by the Society of Critical Care Anesthesiologists. Our recommendations are based on a structured literature review by an expert panel of anesthesiology intensivists and cardiologists with formal training in ultrasound. Published descriptions of learning and training routines from anesthesia-critical care and other specialties were identified and considered. Sections were written by groups with special expertise, with dissent included in the text. RESULTS: Learning goals and objectives were identified for achieving competence in the use of CCUS at a specialist level (critical care fellowship training) for diagnosis and monitoring of vital organ dysfunction in the critical care environment. The ultrasound examination was divided into vascular, abdominal, thoracic, and cardiac components. For each component, learning goals and specific skills were presented. Suggestions for teaching and training methods were described. DISCUSSION: Immediate bedside availability of ultrasound resources can dramatically improve the ability of critical care physicians to care for critically ill patients. Anesthesia--critical care medicine training should have definitive expectations and performance standards for basic CCUS interpretation by anesthesiology--critical care specialists. The learning goals in this review reflect current trends in the multispecialty critical care environment where ultrasound-based diagnostic strategies are already frequently applied. These competencies should be formally taught as part of an established anesthesiology-critical care medicine graduate medical education programs.

Fatigue in Air Medical Clinicians Undertaking High-acuity Patient Transports.

Abstract Background. Fatigue is likely to be a significant issue for air medical transport clinicians due to the challenging nature of their work, but there is little published evidence for this. Objective. To prospectively assess the levels and patterns of fatigue in air medical transport teams and determine whether specific mission factors influenced clinician fatigue. Methods. Physicians and flight nurses from two intensive care interhospital transport teams routinely completed fatigue report forms before and after patient transport missions over a 4-month period. Data collected included subjective ratings of fatigue (Samn-Perelli and visual analog scale), mission difficulty and performance. Multivariate hierarchical logistic and linear models were used to evaluate the influence of various mission characteristics on post-mission fatigue. Results. Clinicians returned 403 fully complete fatigue report forms at an estimated overall return rate of 73%. Fatigue increased significantly over the course of missions, and on 1 of every 12 fatigue reports returned clinicians reported severe post-mission fatigue (that is, levels of 6 or 7 on the Samn-Perelli scale). Factors that impacted significantly on clinician fatigue were the pre-mission fatigue level of the clinician, night work, mission duration, and mission difficulty. Poorer self-rated performance was significantly associated with higher levels of fatigue (r = -0.4, 95% CI -0.5 to -0.3), and for the 6-month period leading up to the study clinicians reported a total of 22 occasions on which they should have declined a mission due to fatigue. Conclusions. These results suggest that clinicians undertaking interhospital transports of even moderate duration experience high levels of fatigue on a relatively frequent basis. In the unique and challenging environment of air medical transport, prior fatigue, long or difficult missions, and the disadvantageous effect of night work on normal circadian rhythms are a combination where there are minimal safety margins for clinicians' performance capacity. Fatigue prevention or fatigue resistance measures could positively affect air medical clinicians in this context.

Accidental cold-related injury leading to hospitalization in northern Sweden: an eight-year retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: Cold injuries are rare but important causes of hospitalization. We aimed to identify the magnitude of cold injury hospitalization, and assess causes, associated factors and treatment routines in a subarctic region. METHODS: In this retrospective analysis of hospital records from the 4 northernmost counties in Sweden, cases from 2000-2007 were identified from the hospital registry by diagnosis codes for accidental hypothermia, frostbite, and cold-water drowning. Results were analyzed for pre-hospital site events, clinical events in-hospital, and complications observed with mild (temperature 34.9 - 32°C), moderate (31.9 - 28°C) and severe (<28°C), hypothermia as well as for frostbite and cold-water drowning. RESULTS: From the 362 cases, average annual incidences for hypothermia, frostbite, and cold-water drowning were estimated to be 3.4/100,000, 1.5/100,000, and 0.8/100,000 inhabitants, respectively. Annual frequencies for hypothermia hospitalizations increased by approximately 3 cases/year during the study period. Twenty percent of the hypothermia cases were mild, 40% moderate, and 24% severe. For 12%, the lowest documented core temperature was 35°C or higher, for 4% there was no temperature documented. Body core temperature was seldom measured in pre-hospital locations. Of 362 cold injury admissions, 17 (5%) died in hospital related to their injuries. Associated co-factors and co-morbidities included ethanol consumption, dementia, and psychiatric diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of accidental hypothermia seems to be increasing in this studied sub-arctic region. Likely associated factors are recognized (ethanol intake, dementia, and psychiatric diagnosis).

Ischaemic preconditioning reduces myocardial calcium overload in coronary-occluded pig hearts shown by continuous in vivo assessment using microdialysis.

During ischaemia, ATP depletion leads to insufficient fuelling for Na(+) /K(+) ATPase, decreased electrochemical potential and increased influx of calcium ions. This study demonstrated a means to assess the effects of ischaemic preconditioning (IP) on the free intracellular Ca(2+) pool during prolonged ischaemia. In a porcine myocardial ischaemia model, microdialysis (MD) was used for sampling of metabolic and injury markers in IP and non-IP (control) groups. (45) Ca(2+) was delivered in microperfusate locally to ischaemic myocardium, with distribution and uptake assessed by (45) Ca(2+) recovery in microdialysate. Cardiomyocytes in vitro were exposed to a Ca(2+) ionophore and tested for (45) Ca(2+) uptake. An accentuated myocardial calcium ion influx (observed as an increased microdialysate (45) Ca(2+) recovery in the extracellular milieu) was noted in control pigs compared with IP pigs during ischaemia. Suspended cardiomyocytes preincubated with a Ca(2+) ionophore to increase the intracellular calcium ion pool and subsequently incubated with (45) Ca(2+) , displayed lower (45) Ca(2+) uptake in cells compared with control cells not exposed to the ionophore, corroborating the idea of a strong relationship between degree of intracellular calcium overload and microdialysate (45) Ca(2+) recovery. The ischaemic insult was differentially verified by metabolic and injury markers. We introduce an in vivo method for serial assessment of myocardial calcium overload during ischaemia, using a MD technique and (45) Ca(2+) inclusion. IP leads to relatively less calcium overload as assessed by this new method, and we interpret this to mean that reduction in calcium overload is an important part of the IP protective effect.

Effect of heart rate on ventricular repolarization in healthy individuals applying vectorcardiographic T vector and T vector loop analysis.

BACKGROUND: Ventricular repolarization (VR) is strongly influenced by heart rate (HR) and autonomic nervous activity, both of which also are important for arrhythmogenesis. Their relative influence on VR is difficult to separate, but might be crucial for understanding while some but not other individuals are at risk for life-threatening arrhythmias at a certain HR. This study was therefore designed to assess the "pure" effect of HR increase by atrial pacing on the ventricular gradient (VG) and other vectorcardiographically (VCG) derived VR parameters during an otherwise unchanged condition. METHODS: In 19 patients with structurally normal hearts, a protocol with stepwise increased atrial pacing was performed after successful arrhythmia ablation. Conduction intervals were measured on averaged three-dimensional (3D) QRST complexes. In addition, various VCG parameters were measured from the QRS and T vectors as well as from the T loop. All measurements were performed after at least 3 minutes of rate adaptation of VR. RESULTS: VR changes at HR from 80 to 120 bpm were assessed. The QRS and QT intervals, VG, QRSarea, Tarea, and Tamplitude were markedly rate dependent. In contrast, the Tp-e/QT ratio was rate independent as well as the T-loop morphology parameters Tavplan and Teigenvalue describing the bulginess and circularity of the loop. CONCLUSIONS: In healthy individuals, the response to increased HR within the specified range suggests a decreased heterogeneity of depolarization instants, action potential morphology, and consequently of the global VR.

Exogenous carbon monoxide does not affect cell membrane energy availability assessed by sarcolemmal calcium fluxes during myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion in the pig.

Carbon monoxide is thought to be cytoprotective and may hold therapeutic promise for mitigating ischaemic injury. The purpose of this study was to test low-dose carbon monoxide for protective effects in a porcine model of acute myocardial ischaemia and reperfusion. In acute open-thorax experiments in anaesthetised pigs, pretreatment with low-dose carbon monoxide (5% increase in carboxyhaemoglobin) was conducted for 120 min before localised ischaemia (45 min) and reperfusion (60 min) was performed using a coronary snare. Metabolic and injury markers were collected by microdialysis sampling in the ventricular wall. Recovery of radio-marked calcium delivered locally by microperfusate was measured to assess carbon monoxide treatment effects during ischaemia/reperfusion on the intracellular calcium pool. Coronary occlusion and ischaemia/reperfusion were analysed for 16 animals (eight in each group). Changes in glucose, lactate and pyruvate from the ischaemic area were observed during ischaemia and reperfusion interventions, though there was no difference between carbon monoxide-treated and control groups during ischaemia or reperfusion. Similar results were observed for glycerol and microdialysate 45Ca(2+) recovery. These findings show that a relatively low and clinically relevant dose of carbon monoxide did not seem to provide acute protection as indicated by metabolic, energy-related and injury markers in a porcine myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion experimental model. We conclude that protective effects of carbon monoxide related to ischaemia/reperfusion either require higher doses of carbon monoxide or occur later after reperfusion than the immediate time frame studied here. More study is needed to characterise the mechanism and time frame of carbon monoxide-related cytoprotection.

ST changes and temporal relation to the J point during heart rate increase and myocardial ischemia.

There is no concensus concerning where in the ST segment to measure. We studied the relation between different J point intervals to ST results during tachycardia and ischemia. Symptomatic (anesthetized) patients with coronary artery disease were paced at ascending incremental levels until they became ischemic. ST vector magnitude and ST vector change from baseline (STC-VM) as well as the sum of ST changes from all 12 electrocardiogram (ECG) leads (ECG ST sum) were measured at J point 0 millisecond, J + 20, J + 60, and J + 80 milliseconds for 34 patients. ST segments increased in similar fashion during pacing and ischemia. There was no difference in ST results when measurement was performed at different time intervals for both STC-VM and ECG ST sum. We conclude that ST assessment by ST change from baseline is not affected by different J point intervals during increased heart rate and ischemia in this clinical model of pacing-induced ischemia and vectorcardiographic ST analysis.

The effect of lung inflation on absolute ventricular volume measurement by conductance.

BACKGROUND: Conductance catheter in vivo ventricular volume measurements during lung ventilation may provide important information on left ventricular (LV) function. Breathing potentially may alter parallel conductance (V(c)), complicating interpretation of the conductance-derived volume signals. The effects of controlled positive pressure lung inflation (PPLI) on measured parallel conductance with dual-field conductance volumetry were investigated. METHODS: Eight anaesthetized pigs were instrumented with an LV dual-field conductance volumetry catheter. V(c) was measured repeatedly, using the hypertonic saline injection method, at three different levels of lung insufflation: continuous positive airway pressure (PPLI) 0, 5, and 10 cm H(2)O. RESULTS: V(c)s measured at PPLI 0, 5 and 10 cm H(2)O were 70.9 +/- 4.8, 70.7 +/- 5.5 and 70.5 +/- 5.9 ml, respectively. The corresponding uncalibrated end-diastolic volumes (EDV(u)) were 115.5 +/- 7.1, 117.0 +/- 7.5 and 117.5 +/- 7.7 ml, respectively. Mean coefficients of variance for V(c) and EDV(u) at all three PPLI levels were 3.8% and 1.25%, respectively. DISCUSSION: Several levels of PPLI demonstrated no systematic change in parallel conductance for LV dual-field conductance volume signal. We concluded that lung inflation at these levels does not generate changes in V(c).

Vectorcardiographic ST deviations related to increased heart rate in the absence of ischemia in an experimental pig model.

The electrocardiographic ST segment may change when heart rate (HR) increases. We aimed to analyze vectorcardiographic ST relation and myocardial conditions during controlled HR increases in anesthetized pigs. The relative parameters ST change vector magnitude and ST change vector angle were calculated at paced HRs ranging from 85 to 175 beats per minute. ST change vector magnitude increased from baseline 6.3 +/- 1.3 to 26.0 +/- 3.1 microV (P < .01; range, 4-50 microV) at HR 175 beats per minute with similar changes in ST change vector angle, whereas the absolute parameter ST vector magnitude demonstrated a heterogeneous pattern without any systematic relation to HR changes. Microdialysis results from left ventricular wall, with analysis of glucose, lactate, and pyruvate, showed no sign of ischemia during pacing. Potassium concentrations did not change during pacing. We conclude that significant HR-related ST vector changes can occur in the absence of myocardial ischemia.

Myocardial systolic function increases during positive pressure lung inflation.

Lung inflation with positive airway pressure may have rapid and dynamic effects on myocardial contractile function. We designed this study to assess the magnitude and time to onset of myocardial function changes during the initiation of single positive pressure lung inflation at clinically relevant inflation pressures. In 8 anesthetized 40-kg pigs, left ventricular pressures and volumes were measured directly (conductance volumetry). A 15 cm H2O airway pressure plateau with lung inflation (PPLI-15) was performed, and 2 single beats from that sequence, one from resting apnea at zero airway pressure and the second from the point when the lungs were first maximally inflated, were selected for analysis. Systolic function variables for zero airway pressure and PPLI-15 were analyzed. Systolic elastance, derived from bilinear time-varying elastance curves, increased approximately 15% during PPLI-15 from zero airway pressure. This agreed with other systolic function variables that identified an increase in left ventricular contractile function for the lung inflation beat. Serial measurements of myocardial function should be conducted with constant airway pressure and lung inflation conditions.

ST-segment deviations during pacing-induced increased heart rate in patients without coronary artery disease.

INTRODUCTION: In order to interpret ST-segment changes as an indicator of ischemia in patients with higher heart rates (HRs), the relation between ST-segment levels and HR needs to be well defined in subjects without coronary artery disease. METHODS: Eighteen patients with normal ECGs in the catheterization laboratory, after radiofrequency ablation of AV nodal re-entry tachycardia or an accessory pathway were included. Computerized online vectorcardiography (VCG) was performed during step-wise atrial pacing-induced increases in HR up to 150 beats min(-1) (bpm). The ST-vector magnitude (ST-VM) and the relative ST change vector magnitude (STC-VM) were analysed at the J point, J + 20 and J + 60 ms. RESULTS: There was no divergence in the course of ST-VM or STC-VM based on J point + 0, 20, or 60 ms during increasing HR. The STC-VM mean values increased progressively during increases in HR above 100 bpm, with an average increase in STC-VM of 15-20 microV per 10 bpm increases in HR. The ST-VM response during HR increases showed a heterogeneous and unpredictable pattern. CONCLUSION: The STC-VM increases linearly with rising HRs above 100 bpm. The STC-VM can exceed widely recognized ischemic thresholds during higher HRs in the absence of ischemia. The choice of J point time to ST-VM measurements as tested here is not important for the STC-VM relation to HR at these HR levels. Further clinical testing is needed to improve the diagnostic specificity of STC-VM measurements during increased HRs.

Method of preload reduction during LVPVR analysis of systolic function: airway pressure elevation and vena cava occlusion.

BACKGROUND: A graded preload reduction during analysis of the left ventricular pressure-volume relationship (LVPVR) is required for derivation of end-systolic elastance (Ees) and preload recruitable stroke work (PRSW). The authors aimed to measure serial changes in these systolic function parameters before and during planned circulatory interventions using two different methods of preload alteration: a positive airway pressure plateau (APP) and inferior vena cava occlusion (IVCO). METHODS: In eight animals, measurements were made at 38 degrees, 30 degrees, 32 degrees, 34 degrees, and posthypothermia 38 degrees C. In an additional eight animals, isoflurane, adrenaline, and aorta occlusion (balloon catheter occluder) were administered in series, each with a preintervention control measurement. Left ventricular volume was measured by conductance. Paired measurements of the systolic function parameters Ees and PRSW, each derived with two preload methods, were analyzed for bias. RESULTS: Circulatory alterations were achieved with the temperature, isoflurane, adrenaline, and aorta occlusion interventions. Measured changes in Ees and PRSW from control to intervention showed a strong correlation and no significant bias for APP in relation to IVCO. The APP-derived absolute values for Ees and PRSW demonstrated a consistent positive bias compared with IVCO. CONCLUSION: The APP method for preload reduction during LVPVR analysis detected changes in Ees and PRSW during the circulatory interventions in this model that were not different than those detected using another preload reduction method, IVCO. APP and IVCO are not interchangeable methods for preload reductions during LVPVR absolute quantitation of systolic function, and each needs to be used serially.

The Role of Echocardiography in the Management of Patients with Massive Pulmonary Embolism.

Acute massive pulmonary embolus (PE) when undiagnosed may lead to hemodynamic compromise and death. Echocardiography offers several clues to the diagnosis of PE. We describe how transesophageal echo was used in the diagnosis and management of two patients with this disorder.