A Canadian survey of perceptions and practices related to ordering of blood tests in the intensive care unit.

PURPOSE: The ordering of routine blood test panels in advance is common in intensive care units (ICUs), with limited consideration of the pretest probability of finding abnormalities. This practice contributes to anemia, false positive results, and health care costs. We sought to understand practices and attitudes of Canadian adult intensivists regarding ordering of blood tests in critically ill patients. METHODS: We conducted a nationwide Canadian cross-sectional survey consisting of 15 questions assessing three domains (global perceptions, test ordering, daily practice), plus 11 demographic questions. The target sample was one intensivist per adult ICU in Canada. We summarized responses using descriptive statistics and present data as mean with standard deviation (SD) or count with percentage as appropriate. RESULTS: Over seven months, 80/131 (61%) physicians responded from 77 ICUs, 50% of which were from Ontario. Respondents had a mean (SD) clinical experience of 12 (9) years, and 61% worked in academic centres. When asked about their perceptions of how frequently unnecessary blood tests are ordered, 61% responded "sometimes" and 23% responded "almost always." Fifty-seven percent favoured ordering complete blood counts one day in advance. Only 24% of respondents believed that advanced blood test ordering frequently led to changes in management. The most common factors perceived to influence blood test ordering in the ICU were physician preferences, institutional patterns, and order sets. CONCLUSION: Most respondents to this survey perceived that unnecessary blood testing occurs in the ICU. The survey identified possible strategies to decrease the number of blood tests.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: La prescription à l'avance de tests sanguins de routine est courante dans les unités de soins intensifs (USI), avec une prise en compte limitée de la probabilité de découverte d'anomalies avant le test. Cette pratique contribue à l'anémie, aux résultats faussement positifs et aux coûts des soins de santé. Nous avons cherché à comprendre les pratiques et les attitudes des intensivistes pour adultes au Canada en ce qui concerne la prescription d'analyses sanguines chez la patientèle gravement malade. MéTHODE: Nous avons mené un sondage transversal à l'échelle nationale au Canada en posant 15 questions évaluant trois domaines (perceptions globales, commande de tests, pratique quotidienne), ainsi que 11 questions démographiques. L'échantillon cible était composé d'un·e intensiviste par unité de soins intensifs pour adultes au Canada. Nous avons résumé les réponses à l'aide de statistiques descriptives et présenté les données sous forme de moyennes avec écarts type (ET) ou de dénombrements avec pourcentages, selon le cas. RéSULTATS: Sur une période de sept mois, 80 médecins sur 131 (61%) ont répondu dans 77 unités de soins intensifs, dont 50% en Ontario. Les répondant·es avaient une expérience clinique moyenne (ET) de 12 (9) ans, et 61% travaillaient dans des centres universitaires. Lorsqu'on leur a demandé ce qu'ils ou elles pensaient de la fréquence à laquelle des tests sanguins inutiles étaient prescrits, 61% ont répondu « parfois ¼ et 23% ont répondu « presque toujours ¼. Cinquante-sept pour cent étaient en faveur de la réalisation d'une formule sanguine complète un jour à l'avance. Seulement 24% des personnes interrogées estimaient que la prescription de tests sanguins à l'avance entraînait fréquemment des changements dans la prise en charge. Les facteurs les plus souvent perçus comme influençant la prescription d'analyses sanguines à l'unité de soins intensifs étaient les préférences des médecins, les habitudes institutionnelles et les ensembles d'ordonnances. CONCLUSION: La plupart des répondant·es à ce sondage ont l'impression que des tests sanguins inutiles sont prescrits aux soins intensifs. L'enquête a permis d'identifier des stratégies possibles pour réduire le nombre de tests sanguins.

Incidence and Outcomes of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Brain-Injured Patients Receiving Invasive Ventilation: A Secondary Analysis of the ENIO Study.

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is an important pulmonary complication in brain-injured patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). We aimed to evaluate the incidence and association between ARDS and clinical outcomes in patients with different forms of acute brain injury requiring IMV in the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: This was a preplanned secondary analysis of a prospective, multicenter, international cohort study (NCT03400904). We included brain-injured patients receiving IMV for ≥ 24 h. ARDS was the main exposure of interest and was identified during index ICU admission using the Berlin definition. We examined the incidence and adjusted association of ARDS with ICU mortality, ICU length of stay, duration of IMV, and extubation failure. Outcomes were evaluated using mixed-effect logistic regression and cause-specific Cox proportional hazards models. Results: 1492 patients from 67 hospitals and 16 countries were included in the analysis, of whom 137 individuals developed ARDS (9.2% of overall cohort). Across countries, the median ARDS incidence was 5.1% (interquartile range [IQR] 0-10; range 0-27.3). ARDS was associated with increased ICU mortality (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.29-5.48), longer ICU length of stay (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0.59; 95% CI, 0.48-0.73), and longer duration of IMV (adjusted HR 0.54; 95% CI, 0.44-0.67). The association between ARDS and extubation failure approached statistical significance (adjusted HR 1.48; 95% CI 0.99-2.21). Higher ARDS severity was associated with incrementally longer ICU length of stay and longer cumulative duration of IMV. Findings remained robust in a sensitivity analysis evaluating the magnitude of unmeasured confounding. Conclusions: In this cohort of acutely brain-injured patients, the incidence of ARDS was similar to that reported in other mixed cohorts of critically ill patients. Development of ARDS was associated with worse outcomes.

Physicians' beliefs and perceived importance of traumatic brain injury-associated agitation in critically ill patients: a survey of Canadian intensivists.

PURPOSE: Agitation is a common behavioural problem following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Intensive care unit (ICU) physicians' perspectives regarding TBI-associated agitation are unknown. Our objective was to describe physicians' beliefs and perceived importance of TBI-associated agitation in critically ill patients. METHODS: Following current standard guidance, we built an electronic, self-administrated, 42-item survey, pretested it for reliability and validity, and distributed it to 219 physicians working in 18 ICU level-1 trauma centres in Canada. We report the results using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 93/219 (42%), and 76/93 (82%) respondents completed the full survey. Most respondents were men with ten or more years of experience. Respondents believed that pre-existing dementia (90%) and regular recreational drug use (86%) are risk factors for agitation. Concerning management, 91% believed that the use of physical restraints could worsen agitation, 90% believed that having family at the bedside reduces agitation, and 72% believed that alpha-2 adrenergic agonists are efficacious for managing TBI agitation. Variability was observed in beliefs on epidemiology, sex, gender, age, socioeconomic status, and other pharmacologic options. Respondents considered TBI agitation frequent enough to justify the implementation of management protocols (87%), perceived the current level of clinical evidence on TBI agitation management to be insufficient (84%), and expressed concerns about acute and long-term detrimental outcomes and burden to patients, health care professionals, and relatives (85%). CONCLUSION: Traumatic brain injury-associated agitation in critically ill patients was perceived as an important issue for most ICU physicians. Physicians agreed on multiple approaches to manage TBI-associated agitation although agreement on epidemiology and risk factors was variable.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: L'agitation est un problème de comportement courant à la suite d'un traumatisme crânien (TC). Le point de vue des médecins des unités de soins intensifs (USI) sur l'agitation associée aux traumatismes crâniens est inconnu. Notre objectif était de décrire les croyances et l'importance perçue par les médecins de l'agitation associée aux traumatismes crâniens chez les patient·es gravement malades. MéTHODE: Conformément aux lignes directrices standard actuelles, nous avons élaboré un sondage électronique auto-administré de 42 questions, l'avons testé au préalable pour en vérifier la fiabilité et la validité, et l'avons distribué à 219 médecins travaillant dans les USI de 18 centres de traumatologie de niveau 1 au Canada. Les résultats sont présentés à l'aide de statistiques descriptives. RéSULTATS: Le taux de réponse global a été de 93 sur 219 (42 %) et 76 sur 93 (82 %) personnes interrogées ont répondu à l'ensemble du sondage. La plupart des répondant·es étaient des hommes comptant dix ans ou plus d'expérience. Les répondant·es sont d'avis que la démence préexistante (90 %) et la consommation régulière de drogues à des fins récréatives (86 %) sont des facteurs de risque d'agitation. En ce qui concerne la prise en charge, 91 % des répondant·es estiment que l'utilisation de contentions physiques peut aggraver l'agitation, 90 % croient que le fait d'avoir de la famille au chevet du patient ou de la patiente réduit l'agitation et 72 % pensent que les agonistes alpha-2 adrénergiques sont efficaces pour gérer l'agitation causée par les traumatismes crâniens. Une variabilité a été observée dans les croyances concernant l'épidémiologie, le sexe, le genre, l'âge, le statut socio-économique et d'autres options pharmacologiques. Les répondant·es considéraient que l'agitation liée aux traumatismes crâniens était suffisamment fréquente pour justifier la mise en œuvre de protocoles de prise en charge (87 %), estimaient que le niveau actuel de données probantes cliniques sur la prise en charge de l'agitation causée par un traumatisme crânien était insuffisant (84 %), et se sont dit·es préoccupé·es par les conséquences préjudiciables aiguës et à long terme et par le fardeau pour les patient·es, les professionnel·les de la santé et les proches (85 %). CONCLUSION: L'agitation associée à un traumatisme crânien chez les patient·es gravement malades était perçue comme un problème important pour la plupart des médecins des soins intensifs. Les médecins s'entendaient sur plusieurs approches pour gérer l'agitation associée aux traumatismes crâniens, bien que l'accord sur l'épidémiologie et les facteurs de risque était variable.

Breastfeeding support provided by lactation consultants in high-income countries for improved breastfeeding rates, self-efficacy, and infant growth: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.

BACKGROUND: It is well established that breast milk offers numerous health benefits for mother and child. Mothers are recommended to exclusively breastfeed their child until 6 months of age, with continued breastfeeding up to 1-2 years of age or beyond. Yet, these recommendations are met less than half of the time in high-income countries. Lactation consultants specialize in supporting mothers with breastfeeding and are a promising approach to improving breastfeeding rates. For lactation consultant interventions to be implemented widely as part of public health policy, a better understanding of their effect on breastfeeding rates and important health outcomes is needed. METHODS: The overall aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the effect of lactation consultant interventions provided to women, compared to usual care, on breastfeeding rates (primary outcome), maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy, and infant growth. A search strategy has been developed to identify randomized controlled trials published in any language between 1985 and April 2023 in CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science. We will also perform a search of the grey literature and reference lists of relevant studies and reviews. Two reviewers will independently extract data on study design, baseline characteristics, details of the interventions employed, and primary and secondary outcomes using a pre-piloted standardized data extraction form. Risk of bias and quality of evidence assessment will be done independently and in duplicate using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and GRADE approach, respectively. Where possible, meta-analysis using random-effects models will be performed, otherwise a qualitative summary will be provided. We will adhere to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. DISCUSSION: This review will fill an important gap in the lactation support literature. The findings will be of importance to policymakers who seek to implement interventions to improve breastfeeding rates. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This review has been registered in the PROSPERO database (ID: CRD42022326597).

Factors associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome in brain-injured patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is common in patients with acute brain injury admitted to the ICU. We aimed to identify factors associated with ARDS in this population. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central, Scopus, and Web of Science from inception to January 14, 2022. Three reviewers independently screened articles and selected English-language studies reporting risk factors for ARDS in brain-injured adult patients. Data were extracted on ARDS incidence, adjusted and unadjusted risk factors, and clinical outcomes. Risk of bias was reported using the Quality in Prognostic Studies tool. Certainty of evidence was assessed using GRADE. RESULTS: We selected 23 studies involving 6,961,284 patients with acute brain injury. The pooled cumulative incidence of ARDS after brain injury was 17.0% (95%CI 10.7-25.8). In adjusted analysis, factors associated with ARDS included sepsis (odds ratio (OR) 4.38, 95%CI 2.37-8.10; high certainty), history of hypertension (OR 3.11, 95%CI 2.31-4.19; high certainty), pneumonia (OR 2.69, 95%CI 2.35-3.10; high certainty), acute kidney injury (OR 1.44, 95%CI 1.30-1.59; moderate certainty), admission hypoxemia (OR 1.67, 95%CI 1.29-2.17; moderate certainty), male sex (OR 1.30, 95%CI 1.06-1.58; moderate certainty), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR 1.27, 95%CI 1.13-1.44; moderate certainty). Development of ARDS was independently associated with increased odds of in-hospital mortality (OR 3.12, 95% CI 1.39-7.00). CONCLUSIONS: Multiple risk factors are associated with ARDS in brain-injured patients. These findings could be used to develop prognostic models for ARDS or as prognostic enrichment strategies for patient enrolment in future clinical trials.

Prognostic Factors Associated With Extubation Failure in Acutely Brain-Injured Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Extubation failure in brain-injured patients is associated with increased morbidity. Our objective was to systematically review prognostic factors associated with extubation failure in acutely brain-injured adult patients receiving invasive ventilation in an ICU. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Central were searched from inception to January 31, 2022. STUDY SELECTION: Two reviewers independently screened citations and selected English-language cohort studies and randomized trials examining the association of prognostic factors with extubation failure. Studies were considered if they included greater than or equal to 80% adult patients with acute brain injury admitted to the ICU and mechanically ventilated for greater than or equal to 24 hours. DATA EXTRACTION: Two reviewers extracted data on population, prognostic factors, extubation outcomes, and risk of bias (using the quality in prognostic factors tool). DATA SYNTHESIS: In the primary analysis, adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for each prognostic factor were pooled using random-effects models. Certainty of evidence was assessed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation. The search identified 7,626 citations, of which 21 studies met selection criteria. Moderate-certainty evidence suggested increased risk of extubation failure with older age (aOR, 3.0 for upper vs lower tertile; 95% CI, 1.78-5.07) and longer duration of mechanical ventilation (aOR, 3.47 for upper vs lower tertile; 95% CI, 1.68-7.19). Presence of cough (aOR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.28-0.57) and intact swallow (aOR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.21-0.54) probably decreased risk of extubation failure (moderate certainty). Associations of other factors with extubation failure were informed by low or very low certainty evidence. CONCLUSIONS: Patient age, duration of mechanical ventilation, and airway reflexes were associated with extubation failure in brain-injured patients with moderate certainty. Future studies are needed to determine the optimal application of these variables in clinical practice.

Noninvasive and invasive mechanical ventilation for neurologic disorders.

Patients with acute neurologic injuries frequently require mechanical ventilation due to diminished airway protective reflexes, cardiopulmonary failure secondary to neurologic insults, or to facilitate gas exchange to precise targets. Mechanical ventilation enables tight control of oxygenation and carbon dioxide levels, enabling clinicians to modulate cerebral hemodynamics and intracranial pressure with the goal of minimizing secondary brain injury. In patients with acute spinal cord injuries, neuromuscular conditions, or diseases of the peripheral nerve, mechanical ventilation enables respiratory support under conditions of impending or established respiratory failure. Noninvasive ventilatory approaches may be carefully considered for certain disease conditions, including myasthenia gravis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, but may be inappropriate in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome or when relevant contra-indications exist. With regard to discontinuing mechanical ventilation, considerable uncertainty persists about the best approach to wean patients, how to identify patients ready for extubation, and when to consider primary tracheostomy. Recent consensus guidelines highlight these and other knowledge gaps that are the focus of active research efforts. This chapter outlines important general principles to consider when initiating, titrating, and discontinuing mechanical ventilation in patients with acute neurologic injuries. Important disease-specific considerations are also reviewed where appropriate.

Prognostic factors for development of acute respiratory distress syndrome following traumatic injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Our purpose was to summarise the prognostic associations between various clinical risk factors and development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) following traumatic injury. METHODS: We conducted this review in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) and CHARMS (Critical Appraisal and Data Extraction for Systematic Reviews of Prediction Modeling Studies) guidelines. We searched six databases from inception through December 2020. We included English language studies describing the clinical risk factors associated with development of post-traumatic ARDS, as defined by either the American-European Consensus Conference or Berlin definition. We pooled adjusted odds ratios for prognostic factors using the random effects method. We assessed risk of bias using the QUIPS (Quality in Prognosis Studies) tool and certainty of findings using GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) methodology. RESULTS: We included 39 studies involving 5 350 927 patients. We identified the amount of crystalloid resuscitation as a potentially modifiable prognostic factor associated with development of post-traumatic ARDS (adjusted OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.15-1.24 for each additional litre of crystalloid administered within the first 6 h after injury; high certainty). Non-modifiable prognostic factors with a moderate or high certainty of association with post-traumatic ARDS included increasing age, non-Hispanic White race, blunt mechanism of injury, presence of head injury, pulmonary contusion or rib fracture and increasing chest injury severity. CONCLUSIONS: We identified one important modifiable factor, the amount of crystalloid resuscitation within the first 24 h of injury, and several non-modifiable factors associated with development of post-traumatic ARDS. This information should support the judicious use of crystalloid resuscitation in trauma patients and may inform development of risk stratification tools.

Effect of oral chlorhexidine de-adoption and implementation of an oral care bundle on mortality for mechanically ventilated patients in the intensive care unit (CHORAL): a multi-center stepped wedge cluster-randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: Oral chlorhexidine is used widely for mechanically ventilated patients to prevent pneumonia, but recent studies show an association with excess mortality. We examined whether de-adoption of chlorhexidine and parallel implementation of a standardized oral care bundle reduces intensive care unit (ICU) mortality in mechanically ventilated patients. METHODS: A stepped wedge cluster-randomized controlled trial with concurrent process evaluation in 6 ICUs in Toronto, Canada. Clusters were randomized to de-adopt chlorhexidine and implement a standardized oral care bundle at 2-month intervals. The primary outcome was ICU mortality. Secondary outcomes were time to infection-related ventilator-associated complications (IVACs), oral procedural pain and oral health dysfunction. An exploratory post hoc analysis examined time to extubation in survivors. RESULTS: A total of 3260 patients were enrolled; 1560 control, 1700 intervention. ICU mortality for the intervention and control periods were 399 (23.5%) and 330 (21.2%), respectively (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.82 to 1.54; P = 0.46). Time to IVACs (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.06; 95% CI 0.44 to 2.57; P = 0.90), time to extubation (aHR 1.03; 95% CI 0.85 to 1.23; P = 0.79) (survivors) and oral procedural pain (aOR, 0.62; 95% CI 0.34 to 1.10; P = 0.10) were similar between control and intervention periods. However, oral health dysfunction scores (- 0.96; 95% CI - 1.75 to - 0.17; P = 0.02) improved in the intervention period. CONCLUSION: Among mechanically ventilated ICU patients, no benefit was observed for de-adoption of chlorhexidine and implementation of an oral care bundle on ICU mortality, IVACs, oral procedural pain, or time to extubation. The intervention may improve oral health.

Short- and Long-term Health Care Resource Utilization and Costs Following Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the short- and long-term resource use and costs associated with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) taken from an entire population. We in addition sought to evaluate the association of oral anticoagulation (OAC) and health care costs. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of adult patients (≥18 years) with ICH in the entire population of Ontario, Canada (2009-2017). We captured outcomes through linkage to health administrative databases. We used generalized linear models to identify factors associated with total cost. Analysis of OAC use was limited to patients ≥66 years of age. The primary outcome was total 1-year direct health care costs in 2020 US dollars. RESULTS: Among 16,248 individuals with ICH (mean age 71.2 years, male 52.3%), 1-year mortality was 46.0%, and 24.2% required mechanical ventilation. The median total 1-year cost was $26,886 (interquartile range [IQR] $9,641-$62,907) with costs for those who died in hospital of $7,268 (IQR $4,031-$14,966) vs $44,969 (IQR $20,264-$82,414, p < 0.001) for survivors to discharge. OAC use (analysis limited to individuals ≥66 years old) was associated with higher total 1-year costs (cost ratio 1.06 [95% confidence interval 1.01-1.11]). Total 1-year costs for the entire cohort exceeded $120 million per year over the study period. CONCLUSIONS: ICH is associated with significant health care costs, and the median cost of a patient with ICH is roughly 10 times the median inpatient cost in Ontario. Costs were higher among survivors than deceased patients. OAC use is independently associated with increased costs. To maximize cost-effectiveness, future therapies for ICH must aim to reduce disability, not only improve mortality.

How do we identify the crashing traumatic brain injury patient - the intensivist's view.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Over 40% of patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) show clinically significant neurological worsening within the acute admission period. This review addresses the importance of identifying the crashing TBI patient, the difficulties appreciating clinical neurological deterioration in the comatose patient and how neuromonitoring may provide continuous real-time ancillary information to detect physiologic worsening. RECENT FINDINGS: The latest editions of the Brain Trauma Foundation's Guidelines omitted management algorithms for adult patients with severe TBI. Subsequently, three consensus-based management algorithms were published using a Delphi method approach to provide a bridge between the evidence-based guidelines and integration of the individual treatment modalities at the bedside. These consensus statements highlight the serious situation of critical deterioration requiring emergent evaluation and guidance on sedation holds to obtain a neurological examination while balancing the potential risks of inducing a stress response. SUMMARY: One of the central tenets of neurocritical care is to detect the brain in trouble. The first and most fundamental neurological monitoring tool is the clinical exam. Ancillary neuromonitoring data may provide early physiologic biomarkers to help anticipate, prevent or halt secondary brain injury processes. Future research should seek to understand how data integration and visualization technologies may reduce the cognitive workload to improve timely detection of neurological deterioration.

Educational initiatives for electroencephalography in the critical care setting: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: We systematically reviewed existing critical care electroencephalography (EEG) educational programs for non-neurologists, with the primary goal of reporting the content covered, methods of instruction, overall duration, and participant experience. Our secondary goals were to assess the impact of EEG programs on participants' core knowledge, and the agreement between non-experts and experts for seizure identification. SOURCE: Major databases were searched from inception to 30 August 2020. Randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and descriptive studies were all considered if they reported an EEG curriculum for non-neurologists in a critical care setting. Data were presented thematically for the qualitative primary outcome and a meta-analysis using a random effects model was performed for the quantitative secondary outcomes. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Twenty-nine studies were included after reviewing 7,486 citations. Twenty-two studies were single centre, 17 were from North America, and 16 were published after 2016. Most EEG studies were targeted to critical care nurses (17 studies), focused on processed forms of EEG with amplitude-integrated EEG being the most common (15 studies), and were shorter than one day in duration (24 studies). In pre-post studies, EEG programs significantly improved participants' knowledge of tested material (standardized mean change, 1.79; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.86 to 2.73). Agreement for seizure identification between non-experts and experts was moderate (Cohen's kappa = 0.44; 95% CI, 0.27 to 0.60). CONCLUSIONS: It is feasible to teach basic EEG to participants in critical care settings from different clinical backgrounds, including physicians and nurses. Brief training programs can enable bedside providers to recognize high-yield abnormalities such as non-convulsive seizures.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: Nous avons réalisé une revue systématique des programmes éducatifs d'électroencéphalographie (EEG) en soins intensifs s'adressant aux non-neurologues, avec pour but principal de rapporter le contenu couvert, les méthodes d'enseignement, la durée globale et l'expérience des participants. Nos objectifs secondaires étaient d'évaluer l'impact des programmes d'EEG sur les connaissances de base des participants, et l'accord entre non-experts et experts pour l'identification des convulsions. MéTHODE: Les principales bases de données ont été consultées depuis leur création jusqu'au 30 août 2020. Les études randomisées contrôlées, les études de cohorte et les études descriptives ont toutes été prises en compte si elles décrivaient un programme de formation en EEG pour les non-neurologues en milieu de soins intensifs. Les données ont été présentées thématiquement en ce qui touchait notre critère d'évaluation principal qualitatif, et une méta-analyse utilisant un modèle à effets aléatoires a été exécutée pour les critères secondaires quantitatifs. CONSTATATIONS PRINCIPALES: Vingt-neuf études ont été incluses après avoir examiné 7486 citations. Vingt-deux études étaient monocentriques, 17 provenaient d'Amérique du Nord et 16 avaient été publiées après 2016. La plupart des études sur l'EEG visaient le personnel infirmier en soins intensifs (17 études); elles se concentraient sur les formes analysées d'EEG; l'EEG à amplitude intégrée était le thème le plus fréquemment abordé (15 études), et la plupart duraient moins d'un jour (24 études). Dans les études avant-après, les programmes d'EEG ont considérablement amélioré les connaissances des participants du matériel testé (changement moyen normalisé, 1,79; intervalle de confiance [IC] à 95 %, 0,86 à 2,73). L'accord en matière d''identification des convulsions entre non-experts et experts était modéré (kappa de Cohen = 0,44; IC 95 %, 0,27 à 0,60). CONCLUSION: Il est possible d'enseigner l'EEG de base dans des milieux de soins intensifs à des participants provenant de différents milieux cliniques, y compris les médecins et le personnel infirmier. De brefs programmes de formation peuvent permettre aux fournisseurs de soins au chevet de reconnaître les anomalies à haut impact comme par exemple des crises épileptiques non convulsives.

Intracerebral Hemorrhage Incidence, Mortality, and Association With Oral Anticoagulation Use: A Population Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a devastating form of stroke associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Recent epidemiological data on incidence, mortality, and association with oral anticoagulation are needed. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of adult patients (≥18 years) with ICH in the entire population of Ontario, Canada (April 1, 2009-March 30, 2019). We captured outcome data using linked health administrative databases. The primary outcome was mortality during hospitalization, as well as at 1 year following ICH. RESULTS: We included 20 738 patients with ICH. Mean (SD) age was 71.3 (15.1) years, and 52.6% of patients were male. Overall incidence of ICH throughout the study period was 19.1/100 000 person-years and did not markedly change over the study period. In-hospital and 1-year mortality were high (32.4% and 45.4%, respectively). Mortality at 2 years was 49.5%. Only 14.5% of patients were discharged home independently. Over the study period, both in-hospital and 1-year mortality reduced by 10.4% (37.5% to 27.1%, P<0.001) and 7.6% (50.0% to 42.4%, P<0.001), respectively. Use of oral anticoagulation was associated with both in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio 1.37 [95% CI, 1.26-1.49]) and 1-year mortality (hazard ratio, 1.18 [95% CI, 1.12-1.25]) following ICH. CONCLUSIONS: Both short- and long-term mortality have decreased in the past decade. Most survivors from ICH are likely to be discharged to long-term care. Oral anticoagulation is associated with both short- and long-term mortality following ICH. These findings highlight the devastating nature of ICH, but also identify significant improvement in outcomes over time.

The Neurocritical Care Society Gender Parity Analysis in Grants and Recognition Awards.

BACKGROUND: Several recent studies across the field of medicine have indicated gender disparity in the reception of prestigious awards and research grants, placing women in medicine at a distinct disadvantage. Gender disparity has been observed in neurology, critical care medicine and within various professional societies. In this study, we have examined the longitudinal trends of gender parity in awards and grants within the Neurocritical Care Society (NCS). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted of all available data longitudinally from 2004, when NCS first granted awards through 2019. We used self-identified gender in the membership roster to record gender for each individual. For individuals without recorded gender, we used a previously validated double verification method using a systematic web-based search. We collected data on six awards distributed by the NCS and divided these awards into two main categories: (1) scientific category: (a) Christine Wijman Young Investigator Award; (b) Best Scientific Abstract Award; (c) Fellowship Grant; (d) INCLINE Grant; and (2) non-scientific category: (a) Travel Grant; and (b) Presidential Citation. Available data were analyzed to evaluate longitudinal trends in awards using descriptive statistics and simple or multiple linear regression analyses, as appropriate. RESULTS: A total of 445 awards were granted between the years 2004 and 2019. Thirty-six awards were in the scientific category, while 409 awards were in the non-scientific category. Only 8% of women received NCS awards in the scientific awards category, whereas 44% of women received an award in the non-scientific category. Most notable in the scientific category are the Best Scientific Abstract Award and the Fellowship Grant, in which no woman has ever received an award to date, compared to 18 men between both awards. In contrast, women are well represented in the non-scientific awards category with an average of 5% increase per year in the number of women awardees. CONCLUSIONS: Our data reveal gender disparity, mainly for scientific or research awards. Prompt evaluation of the cause and further actions to address gender disparity in NCS grants and recognition awards is needed to establish gender equity in this area.

A Longitudinal Study of Gender Parity Trends of General Membership and Leadership in the Neurocritical Care Society between 2002 and 2019.

BACKGROUND: Several studies in critical care and neurology demonstrate women under-representation in professional societies; representation trends within the Neurocritical Care Society (NCS) are unknown. We examined longitudinal gender parity trends in membership and leadership within NCS. METHODS: A retrospective study of NCS membership and leadership rosters was conducted. To determine gender, self-reported binary gender was extracted. For individuals without recorded gender, a systematic Web-based search to identify usage of gender-specific pronouns in publicly available biographies was performed. According to previously published methods, available photographs were utilized to record presumed gender identification in the absence of available pronoun descriptors. We analyzed available data longitudinally from 2002 to 2019 and performed descriptive statistical and linear regression analyses. RESULTS: In overall membership, the proportion of women members demonstrated an average 11% increase between 2005 and 2018 (95% confidence interval (CI) - 8.1 to 30.1, p = 0.08). The proportion of women Board of Directors (BOD) members increased significantly over time to 50% in 2019. There was an increase in women Officers from 0% in the first 3 years (2002-2004) to 40% in 2019, with two women Presidents out of 17 from 2002 to 2019. For available Executive Committee rosters, there was a statistically significant nearly 3% increase per year (95% CI 1.5-4; p = 0.0007) in the proportion of women members. Rosters for Committee members and chairpersons were also incomplete, but in an analysis of the available data, there was a statistically significant increase of 5% per year analyzed (95% CI 0.5-9.7; p = 0.04) in the proportion of women Committee members. We also found a statistically significant 4.3% increase per year analyzed (95% CI 2.4-6.1; p = 0.003) in the proportion of women Committee chairpersons. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study of longitudinal gender parity trends within neurocritical care. We report that from 2002 to 2019, the NCS has undergone a significant increase in women representation in general membership, committee membership, and leadership positions.

Preadmission Antiplatelet Use and Associated Outcomes and Costs Among ICU Patients With Intracranial Hemorrhage.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with intracranial hemorrhage (including intracerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and traumatic hemorrhage) are commonly admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Although indications for oral antiplatelet agents are increasing, the impact of preadmission use on outcomes in patients with intracranial hemorrhage admitted to the ICU is unknown. We sought to evaluate the association between preadmission oral antiplatelet use, in-hospital mortality, resource utilization, and costs among ICU patients with intracranial hemorrhage. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed a prospectively collected registry (2011-2016) and included consecutive adult patients from 2 hospitals admitted to ICU with intracranial hemorrhage. Patients were categorized on the basis of preadmission oral antiplatelet use. We excluded patients with preadmission anticoagulant use. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality and was analyzed using a multivariable logistic regression model. Contributors to total hospital cost were analyzed using a generalized linear model with log link and gamma distribution. RESULTS: Of 720 included patients with intracranial hemorrhage, 107 (14.9%) had been using an oral antiplatelet agent at the time of ICU admission. Oral antiplatelet use was not associated with in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio: 1.31 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.93-2.22]). Evaluation of total costs also revealed no association with oral antiplatelet use (adjusted ratio of means [aROM]: 0.92 [95% CI: 0.82-1.02, P = .10]). Total cost among patients with intracranial hemorrhage was driven by illness severity (aROM: 1.96 [95% CI: 1.94-1.98], P < .001), increasing ICU length of stay (aROM: 1.05 [95% CI: 1.05-1.06], P < .001), and use of invasive mechanical ventilation (aROM: 1.76 [95% CI: 1.68-1.86], P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Among ICU patients admitted with intracranial hemorrhage, preadmission oral antiplatelet use was not associated with increased in-hospital mortality or hospital costs. These findings have important prognostic implications for clinicians who care for patients with intracranial hemorrhage.

Educational initiatives and implementation of electroencephalography into the acute care environment: a protocol of a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Use of electroencephalography (EEG) is currently recommended by the American Clinical Neurophysiology Society for a wide range of indications, including diagnosis of nonconvulsive status epilepticus and evaluation of unexplained disorders of consciousness. Data interpretation usually occurs by expert personnel (e.g., epileptologists, neurophysiologists), with information relayed to the primary care team. However, data cannot always be read in time-sensitive fashion, leading to potential delays in EEG interpretation and patient management. Multiple training programs have recently been described to enable non-experts to rapidly interpret EEG at the bedside. A comprehensive review of these training programs, including the tools used, outcomes obtained, and potential pitfalls, is currently lacking. Therefore, the optimum training program and implementation strategy remain unknown. METHODS: We will conduct a systematic review of descriptive studies, case series, cohort studies, and randomized controlled trials assessing training programs for EEG interpretation by non-experts. Our primary objective is to comprehensively review educational programs in this domain and report their structure, patterns of implementation, limitations, and trainee feedback. Our secondary objective will be to compare the performance of non-experts for EEG interpretation with a gold standard (e.g., interpretation by a certified electroencephalographers). Studies will be limited to those performed in acute care settings in both adult and pediatric populations (intensive care unit, emergency department, or post-anesthesia care units). Comprehensive search strategies will be developed for MEDLINE, EMBASE, WoS, CINAHL, and CENTRAL to identify studies for review. The gray literature will be scanned for further eligible studies. Two reviewers will independently screen the search results to identify studies for inclusion. A standardized data extraction form will be used to collect important data from each study. If possible, we will attempt to meta-analyze the quantitative data. If heterogeneity between studies is too high, we will present meaningful quantitative comparisons of secondary outcomes as per the synthesis without meta-analysis (SWiM) reporting guidelines. DISCUSSION: We will aim to summarize the current literature in this domain to understand the structure, patterns, and pitfalls of EEG training programs for non-experts. This review is undertaken with a view to inform future education designs, potentially enabling rapid detection of EEG abnormalities, and timely intervention by the treating physician. PROSPERO REGISTRATION: Submitted and undergoing review. Registration ID: CRD42020171208 .