Incidence and risk factors associated with early death in patients with emergency department septic shock.

BACKGROUND: Limited research has explored early mortality among patients presenting with septic shock. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence and factors associated with early death following emergency department (ED) presentation of septic shock. METHODS: A prospective registry of patients enrolled in an ED septic shock clinical pathway was used to identify patients. Patients were compared across demographic, comorbid, clinical, and treatment variables by death within 72 hours of ED presentation. RESULTS: Among the sample of 2,414 patients, overall hospital mortality was 20.6%. Among patients who died in the hospital, mean and median time from ED presentation to death were 4.96 days and 2.28 days, respectively. Death at 24, 48, and 72 hours occurred in 5.5%, 9.5%, and 11.5% of patients, respectively. Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that the following factors were independently associated with early mortality: age (odds ratio [OR], 1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-1.05), malignancy (OR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.11-2.11), pneumonia (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.02-1.88), urinary tract infection (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.44-0.89), first shock index (OR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.27-2.70), early vasopressor use (OR, 2.16; 95% CI, 1.60-2.92), initial international normalized ratio (OR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.07-1.27), initial albumin (OR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.44-0.69), and first serum lactate (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.16-1.26). CONCLUSIONS: Adult septic shock patients experience a high rate of early mortality within 72 hours of ED arrival. Recognizable clinical factors may aid the identification of patients at risk of early death.

Modifying Provider Vitamin D Screening Behavior in Primary Care.

PURPOSE: Clinical evidence shows minimal benefit to vitamin D screening and subsequent treatment in the general population. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of 2 light-touch interventions on reducing vitamin D test orders. METHODS: The outcomes were weekly average vitamin D rates, computed from adult primary care encounters (preventive or nonpreventive) with a family medicine (FM) or internal medicine (IM) provider from June 14, 2018 through December 12, 2018. We conducted an interrupted time series analysis and estimated the cost impact of the interventions. The interventions consisted of an educational memo (August 9, 2018) distributed to providers and removal of the vitamin D test (FM: August 15, 2018; IM: October 17, 2018) from the providers' quick order screen in the electronic health record. Change in order rates were analyzed among physicians (MDs and DOs), physician assistants (PAs), and nurse practitioners (NPs). RESULTS: There were 587,506 primary care encounters (FM = 367,947; IM = 219,559). Vitamin D order rates decreased from 6.9% (FM = 5.1%; IM = 9.9%) to 5.2% (FM = 4% [P < .01], IM = 7.9% [P < .01]). For FM, the vitamin D test order rate continued to fall at a 0.08% per week rate after the interventions (end of study: 2.73%). The education intervention showed a relative decrease in each provider type (FM-physician = 16% [P < .01], FM-PA = 47% [P < .01], FM-NP = 20% [P = .01], IM-physician = 14% [P = .02], IM-PA = 52% [P < .01], IM-NP = 34% [P = .04]). Annualized savings was approximately 1 million dollars. CONCLUSIONS: Emailed evidence-based provider education may be an effective tool for modifying providers' vitamin D test ordering behavior. The lack of the effectiveness of the vitamin D test removal from the quick order screen found for IM highlights the challenges facing simple electronic health record interventions when multiple alternate ordering pathways exist.

Impact of shift duration on alertness among air-medical emergency care clinician shift workers.

BACKGROUND: Greater than half of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) shift workers report fatigue at work and most work long duration shifts. We sought to compare the alertness level of EMS shift workers by shift duration. METHODS: We used a multi-site, 14-day prospective observational cohort study design of EMS clinician shift workers at four air-medical EMS organizations. The primary outcome was behavioral alertness as measured by psychomotor vigilance tests (PVT) at the start and end of shifts. We stratified shifts by duration (< 24 h and 24 h), night versus day, and examined the impact of intra-shift napping on PVT performance. RESULTS: One hundred and twelve individuals participated. The distribution of shifts <24 h and 24 h with complete data were 54% and 46%, respectively. We detected no differences in PVT performance measures stratified by shift duration (P > 0.05). Performance for selected PVT measures (lapses and false starts) was worse on night shifts compared to day shifts (P < 0.05). Performance also worsened with decreasing time between waking from a nap and the end of shift PVT assessment. CONCLUSIONS: Deficits in performance in the air-medical setting may be greatest during night shifts and proximal to waking from an intra-shift nap. Future research should examine alertness and performance throughout air-medical shifts, as well as investigate the timing and duration of intra-shift naps on outcomes.

Utility of sun-reactive skin typing and melanin index for discerning vitamin D deficiency.

BackgroundSkin color, a vitamin D status determinant, can be assessed subjectively by Fitzpatrick sun-reactive skin typing (FST) and objectively by melanin index (MI). FST was validated against MI for discerning vitamin D deficiency (serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) <20 ng/ml) in children.MethodsWe measured FST, MI, and serum 25(OH)D in healthy, 8- to 18-year-old children from one of two vitamin D trials. MI from forehead, hand, and upper arm split at the median of the more racially balanced study cohort and FST (I-III vs. IV-V) were used for discriminating vitamin D deficiency.ResultsA total of 296 participants (mean age, 12.3±2.3 years; black, 208; FST IV-V, 209; 25(OH)D <20 ng/ml, 159) were studied. MI and FST had a strong positive association. Serum 25(OH)D was negatively associated with MI and FST. Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values were similar for discriminating vitamin D deficiency between higher vs. lower MI and between FST I-III vs. IV-V. ROC area under the curves for FST (0.59) and MI (forehead (0.63); hand (0.62); and arm (0.64)) were similar.ConclusionsFST is comparable to MI for discerning vitamin D deficiency and can be deemed as an inexpensive, useful surrogate measure of skin color in the context of vitamin D research.

Morbidity and Mortality in Elective Total Hip Arthroplasty Following Surgical Care Improvement Project Guidelines.

BACKGROUND: Following evidence questioning the safety and efficacy of perioperative beta-blocker therapy in noncardiac surgery, the Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP) guidelines were retired in 2015. However, perioperative myocardial infarctions and cardiac complications remain leading causes of mortality following noncardiac surgery. The impact of the SCIP guidelines on reducing cardiac complications in patients undergoing elective total hip arthroplasty (THA) has not been evaluated. METHODS: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample was queried for 345,875 elective THA performed from 2003 to 2011. Patient demographics and morbidity as well as the incidence of nonfatal and fatal cardiac complications and overall mortality associated with cardiac complications were determined before and following SCIP implementation. RESULTS: Following the institution of the SCIP guidelines, the overall mortality following cardiac complications decreased by 41%. Although the incidence of nonfatal cardiac events after THA did increase 5% (primarily secondary to an increased incidence of nonfatal hypotension), the incidence of postoperative inpatient mortality, stroke, fatal hypotension, fatal myocardial infarction, and nonfatal and fatal cardiac arrest significantly decreased. CONCLUSION: Following the implementation of SCIP guidelines, there was a 41% reduction in mortality and a significant decrease in fatal cardiac complications, postoperative hypotension, myocardial infarction, and cardiac arrest. Despite SCIP guidelines being retired in 2015, evidence supports continuation of perioperative beta-blockade in primary elective total adult hip and knee arthroplasty.

Incorporating a Pharmacist Into the Discharge Process: A Unit-Based Transitions of Care Pilot.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of a multifaceted, pharmacy-driven, unit-based transitions of care (TOC) program on all-cause 30-day readmission rates and to assess readmission rates in predefined subgroup patient populations. Methods: This prospective study included adult patients who were discharged from the pilot unit from January 5 to January 30, 2015. Patients who expired during hospitalization, left the hospital against medical advice, or transferred to another unit or nonaffiliated hospital were excluded. Possible pharmacist interventions included daily medication profile review, delivery of discharge medications to the bedside, counseling, and communication of a discharge medication list to follow-up providers. Patients had a 30-day follow-up period from the date of discharge to assess for readmission. Results: A total of 131 patients were screened and 94 patients were included. The primary outcome evaluating 30-day readmission rates occurred in 12.8% of patients in the pilot group versus 18.8% of patients in the historical control group (p = .26). None of the patients who received all possible pharmacist interventions were readmitted. Secondary outcomes assessing readmission rates in predefined subgroup populations as well as length of stay were comparable between the 2 groups. All identified medication discrepancies were resolved prior to discharge. Conclusion: Readmission rates during the pilot were numerically lower but not statistically significant when compared with historical data. Enhancement of the pharmacy-driven TOC services through allocation of additional resources is in progress. Further investigation is warranted to determine the impact of a TOC pharmacist after the service is sustained.

Morbidity and Mortality in Elective Total Knee Arthroplasty Following Surgical Care Improvement Project Guidelines.

BACKGROUND: Perioperative myocardial infarctions and cardiac complications are leading causes of mortality after noncardiac surgery. In an effort to improve patient safety, the Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP) implemented guidelines concerning administration of ß-blockers therapy aimed to reduce cardiac complications. METHODS: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample was queried for 759,819 elective total knee arthroplasties performed from 2003 to 2011. Incidence of cardiac complications, mortality, and risk factors for cardiac complications was determined before and after SCIP implementation. RESULTS: The incidence of cardiac events after total knee arthroplasty remained stable at 9%. The incidence and mortality of postoperative stroke, myocardial infarction, and cardiac arrest significantly decreased. Mortality after cardiac complications decreased by 50%. CONCLUSION: After the implementation of SCIP guidelines, there was a greater than 50% reduction in mortality and a significant decrease in fatal postoperative stroke, heart failure, and cardiac arrest.

Improving appropriate use of echocardiography and single-photon emission computed tomographic myocardial perfusion imaging: a continuous quality improvement initiative.

BACKGROUND: Appropriate use criteria for cardiovascular imaging have been published, but compliance in practice has been incomplete, with persistent high rates of inappropriate use. The aim of this study was to show the efficacy of a continuous quality improvement (CQI) initiative to favorably influence the appropriate use of outpatient transthoracic echocardiography and single-photon emission computed tomographic (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) in a large cardiovascular practice. METHODS: In this prospective study, a multiphase CQI initiative was implemented, and its impact on ordering patterns for outpatient transthoracic echocardiography and SPECT MPI was assessed. Between November and December 2010, a baseline analysis of the application of appropriate use criteria to indications for outpatient transthoracic echocardiographic studies (n = 203) and SPECT MPI studies (n = 205) was performed, with studies categorized as "appropriate," "inappropriate," "uncertain," or "unclassified." The CQI initiative was then begun, with (1) clinician education, including didactic lectures and case-based presentations with audience participation; (2) system changes in ordering processes, with redesigned image ordering forms; and (3) peer review and feedback. A follow-up analysis was then performed between June and August 2012, with categorization of indications for transthoracic echocardiographic studies (n = 206) and SPECT MPI studies (n = 206). RESULTS: At baseline, 73.9% of echocardiographic studies were categorized as appropriate, 16.7% as inappropriate, 5.9% as uncertain, and 3.4% as unclassified. Similarly, for SPECT MPI studies 71.7% were categorized as appropriate, 18.5% as inappropriate, 7.8% as uncertain, and 1.9% as unclassified. Separate analysis of the two most important categories, appropriate and inappropriate, demonstrated a significant improvement after the CQI initiative, with a 63% reduction in inappropriate echocardiographic studies (18.5% vs 6.9%, P = .0010) and a 46% reduction in inappropriate SPECT MPI studies (20.5% vs 11.1%, P = .010). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the effective and persistent positive impact of a CQI initiative to reduce inappropriate ordering of cardiovascular imaging.

Central vascular catheter placement evaluation using saline flush and bedside echocardiography.

OBJECTIVES: Central venous catheter (CVC) placement is a common procedure in critical care management. The authors set out to determine echocardiographic features during a saline flush of any type of CVC. The hypothesis was that the presence of a rapid saline swirl in the right atrium on bedside echocardiography would confirm correct placement of the CVC tip, similar to the accuracy of the postplacement chest radiograph (CXR). METHODS: This was a prospective convenience sample of emergency department (ED) and intensive care unit (ICU) patients who had CVCs placed. Investigators used subcostal or apical four-chamber echocardiography windows to evaluate the onset and appearance of turbulent flow in the right atrium when the distal port of the CVC was flushed with 10 mL of saline. Onset was rated as "immediate" (within 2 seconds), "delayed" (2 to 6 seconds), or "absent" (did not appear within 6 seconds). Appearance was rated as "prominent," "speckling," or "absent." Digital video review was used later to objectively determine precise timing of turbulence onset. The rapid atrial swirl sign (RASS) was defined as the echo appearance of turbulence entering the right atrium immediately (within 2 seconds) after the saline flush of the CVC distal port. The observance of RASS ("positive") was considered "negative" for CVC malposition. Echocardiographic results were compared to CVC tip locations within predetermined zones on the CXR. Superior vena cava (SVC) region was considered the optimal CVC tip position for subclavian and internal jugular CVC. Left CVC tips within the mid left innominate vein were also considered appropriately placed. RESULTS: A total of 142 patients enrolled, yielding 152 CVCs. Two CVCs were excluded from analysis due to incomplete data. Both CXR and echocardiographic images for 107 internal jugular CVCs and 28 subclavian CVCs were available for analysis. Saline flush echo evaluations were also performed on 15 femoral CVCs. Either 16-cm triple-lumen or 20-cm PreSep CVCs were used. CVC malposition was discovered on CXR in four of 135 (3.0%) of the subclavian and internal jugular CVCs. RASS for subclavian and internal jugular CVC evaluations versus CXR results for CVC tip malposition yielded 75% sensitivity, 100% specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) 100% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 29.24% to 100%), and negative predictive value (NPV) 99.24% (95% CI = 95.85% to 99.98%). Mean (±SD) time for onset of saline flush turbulence was 1.1 (±0.3) seconds for subclavian and internal jugular CVC tips within the target CXR zone. CONCLUSIONS: The rapid appearance of prominent turbulence in the right atrium on echocardiography after CVC saline flush serves as a precise bedside screening test of optimal CVC tip position.

Intracortical lesions by 3T magnetic resonance imaging and correlation with cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Accurate classification of multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions in the brain cortex may be important in understanding their impact on cognitive impairment (CI). Improved accuracy in identification/classification of cortical lesions was demonstrated in a study combining two magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences: double inversion recovery (DIR) and T1-weighted phase-sensitive inversion recovery (PSIR). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of intracortical lesions (IC) in MS-related CI and compare it with the role of mixed (MX), juxtacortical (JX), the sum of IC + MX and with total lesions as detected on DIR/PSIR images. Correlations between CI and brain atrophy, disease severity and disease duration were also sought. METHODS: A total of 39 patients underwent extensive neuropsychological testing and were classified into normal and impaired groups. Images were obtained on a 3T scanner and cortical lesions were assessed blind to the cognitive status of the subjects. RESULTS: Some 238 cortical lesions were identified (130 IC, 108 MX) in 82% of the patients; 39 JX lesions were also identified. Correlations between CI and MX lesions alone (p = 0.010) and with the sum of IC + MX lesions (p = 0.030) were found. A correlation between severity of CI and Expanded Disability Status Scale was also seen (p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: Cortical lesions play an important role in CI. However, our results suggest that lesions that remain contained within the cortical ribbon do not play a more important role than ones extending into the adjacent white matter; furthermore, the size of the cortical lesion, and not the tissue-specific location, may better explain their correlation with CI.

Protective role of hemoglobin and fetal hemoglobin in early kidney disease for children with sickle cell anemia.

Patients with sickle cell anemia are at risk for organ damage including kidney disease. Microalbuminuria may be an early marker of disease progression. This retrospective review analyzed laboratory and clinical findings in children with sickle cell anemia according to the presence or absence of MA during well clinic sickle cell visits. Results were analyzed in sum as well as by therapeutic intervention (not on therapy,hydroxyurea therapy, or chronic transfusion therapy). Thirty two of 144(22%) children had MA, including 20 of 82 (24%) children not on a therapeutic intervention (chronic transfusion or hydroxyurea). In children not on therapy, low hemoglobin, low fetal hemoglobin and high lactate dehydrogenase were associated with MA. Frequency of positive screens for MA for the different treatment groups were: Hydroxyurea 13%; chronic transfusion 26% and children on no treatment 24%. However,the difference between the hydroxyurea group and the chronic transfusion or no treatment groups did not reach statistical significance.Increased hemoglobin and fetal hemoglobin may provide protection against kidney disease in sickle cell anemia and should be evaluated in a randomized, prospective clinical trial.