Impact of Continuous Infusion Ketamine Compared to Continuous Infusion Benzodiazepines on Delirium in the Intensive Care Unit.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate rates of delirium or coma-free days between continuous infusion sedative-dose ketamine and continuous infusion benzodiazepines in critically ill patients. Materials and Methods: In this single-center, retrospective cohort adult patients were screened for inclusion if they received continuous infusions of either sedative-dose ketamine or benzodiazepines (lorazepam or midazolam) for at least 24 h, were mechanically ventilated for at least 48 h and admitted to the intensive care unit of a large quaternary academic center between 5/5/2018 and 12/1/2021. Results: A total of 165 patients were included with 64 patients in the ketamine group and 101 patients in the benzodiazepine group (lorazepam n = 35, midazolam n = 78). The primary outcome of median (IQR) delirium or coma-free days within the first 28 days of hospitalization was 1.2 (0.0, 3.7) for ketamine and 1.8 (0.7, 4.6) for benzodiazepines (p = 0.13). Patients in the ketamine arm spent a significantly lower proportion of time with RASS -3 to +4, received significantly higher doses and longer durations of propofol and fentanyl infusions, and had a significantly longer intensive care unit length of stay. Conclusions: The use of sedative-dose ketamine had no difference in delirium or coma-free days compared to benzodiazepines.

A Review of Thromboelastography for Nurses.

BACKGROUND: Thromboelastography is a viscoelastic test with multiple potential advantages over conventional coagulation tests in various disease states. Thromboelastography rapidly provides qualitative and quantitative information related to a patient's coagulation status. OBJECTIVE: To describe recent studies of the use of thromboelastography in various clinical states and how thromboelastography is used in coagulation management. METHODS: A literature review using the MEDLINE and PubMed databases was conducted. The updated methodology for integrated reviews by Whittemore and Knafl was followed. Coauthors evaluated separate areas that were independently reviewed by other coauthors to ensure appropriateness for inclusion. RESULTS: The use of thromboelastography for various clinical conditions with challenging hemostatic profiles has increased. This integrative review covers the use of thromboelastography in patients with trauma, medication-induced coagulopathy, acute and chronic liver failure, and cardiothoracic surgery. Potential future directions are also discussed. DISCUSSION: Thromboelastography has numerous potential benefits over conventional coagulation tests for assessing coagulation status in patients in various clinical states. Nurses can support clinical decisions to use the most appropriate test for their patients. CONCLUSIONS: Each team member should be involved in assessing the usefulness of thromboelastography. Critical care nurses and the multidisciplinary team must identify patients in whom its use is warranted, interpret the results, and provide appropriate interventions in response to the results and clinical status of the patient.

Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation: A primer for pharmacists.

PURPOSE: To describe the use of mechanical circulatory support in the setting of cardiac arrest and summarize pharmacists' role in extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR). SUMMARY: ECPR is increasingly used to reduce morbidity and improve mortality after cardiac arrest. ECPR employs venoarterial ECMO, which provides full circulatory perfusion and gas exchange in both adult and pediatric patients in cardiac arrest. After the emergency medicine team identifies potential candidates for ECPR, the ECMO team is consulted. If deemed a candidate for ECPR by the ECMO team, the patient is cannulated during ongoing standard cardiopulmonary resuscitation. A multidisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, perfusionists, pharmacists, and support staff is needed for successful ECPR. Pharmacists play a vital role in advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) prior to cannulation. Pharmacists intervene to make pharmacotherapy recommendations during ACLS, prepare medications, and administer medications as allowed by institutional and state regulations. Pharmacists also provide pharmacotherapy support in the selection of anticoagulation agents, ongoing vasopressor administration during ECMO cannulation, and the optimization of medication selection in the peri-ECPR period. CONCLUSION: With the growing use of ECPR, pharmacists should be aware of their role in medication optimization during ECPR.

Procainamide pharmacokinetics during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Procainamide is a useful agent for management of ventricular arrhythmia, however its disposition and appropriate dosing during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is unknown. We report experience with continuous procainamide infusion in a critically ill adult requiring venoarterial ECMO for incessant ventricular tachycardia. Pharmacokinetic analysis of procainamide and its metabolite, N-acetylprocainamide (NAPA), was performed using serum and urine specimens. Kidney function was preserved, and sequencing of the N-acetyltransferase 2 gene revealed the patient was a phenotypic slow acetylator. Procainamide volume of distribution and half-life were calculated and found to be similar to healthy individuals. However, despite elevated serum procainamide concentrations, NAPA concentrations remained far lower in the serum and urine. The magnitude of procainamide and NAPA discordance suggested alternative contributors to the deranged pharmacokinetic profile, and we hypothesized NAPA sequestration by the ECMO circuit. Ultimately, the patient received orthotopic cardiac transplantation and was discharged home in stable condition. Procainamide should be used cautiously during ECMO, with close therapeutic drug monitoring of serum procainamide and NAPA concentrations. The achievement of therapeutic NAPA concentrations while maintaining safe serum procainamide concentrations during ECMO support may be challenging.

Hemodynamic Effects of an Increased Midodrine Dosing Frequency.

In practice, midodrine has been used to reduce IV vasopressor requirements and decrease ICU length of stay. However, recent publications have failed to show clinical success when midodrine was administered every 8 hours. One possible reason for the lack of clinical efficacy at this dosing interval may be the pharmacokinetic properties of midodrine that support a more frequent dosing interval. Here, we report our institutional experience with midodrine at a dosing frequency of every 6 hours. DESIGN: Single, quaternary academic medical center, retrospective, descriptive study. SETTING: Floor and ICU patients admitted to Mayo Clinic, Rochester, from May 7, 2018, to September 30, 2020. PATIENTS: Adult patients with an order for midodrine with a dosing frequency of "every 6 hours" or "four times daily" were eligible for inclusion. INTERVENTIONS: No intervention performed. All data were abstracted retrospectively from the electronic medical record. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Forty-four unique patients were identified that met inclusion criteria. Patients were an average of 65 years and 63.6% were male. The individual doses of midodrine ranged from 5 to 20 mg. Twenty-three patients (52.3%) were receiving IV vasopressors at the time midodrine was ordered every 6 hours. Vasopressor requirements decreased from an average of 0.10 norepinephrine equivalents 24 hours prior to the every 6-hour order to 0.05 norepinephrine equivalents 24 hours after an order for midodrine every 6 hour was placed. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing the dosing frequency of midodrine to every 6 hours may optimize its pharmacokinetic profile without compromising safety. This midodrine dosing frequency should be prospectively evaluated as a primary strategy for accelerated IV vasopressor wean.

Safety and Tolerability of Fluoroquinolones in Patients with Staphylococcal Periprosthetic Joint Infections.

BACKGROUND: Fluoroquinolones (FQs) are known to be accompanied by significant risks. However, the incidence of adverse events (ADEs) resulting in unplanned drug discontinuation when used for periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) is currently unknown. METHODS: This study included 156 patients over the age of 18 treated for staphylococcal PJI with debridement, antibiotics, and implant retention between 1 January 2007 and 21 November 2019. Of the 156 patients, 64 had total hip arthroplasty (THA) and 92 had total knee arthroplasty (TKA) infections. The primary outcome was rate of unplanned drug discontinuation. Secondary outcomes included incidence of severe ADEs, unplanned rifamycin discontinuation, mean time to unplanned regimen discontinuation, and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Overall, unplanned drug discontinuation occurred in 35.6% of patients in the FQ group and 3% of patients in the non-FQ group. The rate of unplanned discontinuation of FQ regimens as compared with non-FQ regimens was 27.5% vs 4.2% (P = .021) in THA infections and 42% vs 2.4% (P < .001) in TKA infections. There was no significant difference in severe ADEs between FQ and non-FQ regimens in both THA and TKA infections. The overall rate of nonsevere ADEs in FQ compared with non-FQ regimens was 43.3% vs 6.1% (P < .001). FQs were associated with tendinopathy, myalgia, arthralgia, and nausea. CONCLUSIONS: A significantly higher rate of unplanned drug discontinuation was associated with FQ as compared with non-FQ regimens. This provides a real-world view of the implications of FQ-related ADEs on unplanned discontinuation when used in prolonged durations for the management of staphylococcal PJIs.