The association of macronutrient deficit with functional status at discharge from the intensive care unit: a retrospective study from a single-center critical illness registry.

BACKGROUND: Nutrition is often thought to influence outcomes in critically ill patients. However, the relationship between macronutrient delivery and functional status is not well characterized. Our goal was to investigate whether caloric or protein deficit over the course of critical illness is associated with functional status at the time of intensive care unit (ICU) discharge. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of surgical ICU patients at a teaching hospital in Boston, MA. To investigate the association of caloric or protein deficit with Functional Status Score for the ICU (FSS-ICU), we constructed linear regression models, controlling for age, sex, race, body mass index, Nutritional Risk in the Critically Ill score, and ICU length of stay. We then dichotomized caloric as well as protein deficit, and performed logistic regressions to investigate their association with functional status, controlling for the same variables. RESULTS: Linear regression models (n = 976) demonstrated a caloric deficit of 238 kcal (237.88; 95%CI 75.13-400.63) or a protein deficit of 14 g (14.23; 95%CI 4.46-24.00) was associated with each unit decrement in FSS-ICU. Logistic regression models demonstrated a 6% likelihood (1.06; 95%CI 1.01-1.14) of caloric deficit ≥6000 vs. <6000 kcal and an 8% likelihood (1.08; 95%CI 1.01-1.15) of protein deficit ≥300 vs. <300 g with each unit decrement in FSS-ICU. CONCLUSION: In our cohort of patients, macronutrient deficit over the course of critical illness was associated with worse functional status at discharge. Future studies are needed to determine whether optimized macronutrient delivery can improve outcomes in ICU survivors.

Postoperative resuscitation with hypertonic saline or hyperoncotic albumin in patients following cardiac surgery: A review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Over-resuscitation in postcardiac surgery patients is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Accordingly, there is a growing interest in hyperoncotic albumin and hypertonic saline for resuscitation in patients following cardiac surgery. In this article, we will review the use of hyperosmolar fluid therapies for resuscitation in postcardiac surgical patients from the current literature. METHODS: A literature search was conducted in MEDLINE (PubMed) utilizing keywords, narrowing publications from 2009 to 2020. RESULTS: Patients receiving concentrated albumin after cardiac surgery required less fluid bolus therapy, less time on vasopressors, and had a lower positive fluid balance compared with patients receiving crystalloids. There was no difference in mortality in those given 20% albumin compared with crystalloids postcardiac surgery. Patients administered hypertonic saline following cardiac surgery had increased urinary output but its effect on total fluid and body weight was not significantly different compared with crystalloids. CONCLUSIONS: In this analysis, publications on resuscitation with hyperoncotic albumin and hypertonic saline in patients following cardiac surgery were reviewed. While there is data supporting the use of alternative fluid therapies in other critically ill populations, the limited literature focused on concentrated albumin and hypertonic saline for resuscitation following cardiac surgery is equivocal.

Vitamin D Status Is Associated With Development of Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries in Critically Ill Surgical Patients.

BACKGROUND: Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) typically develop following critical illness due to immobility and suboptimal perfusion. Vitamin D helps to maintain epithelial cell integrity, particularly at barrier sites such as skin. It is unclear whether vitamin D status is a modifiable risk factor for HAPIs in critically ill patients. Our goal was to investigate the relationship between admission 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels with the development of HAPIs in surgical intensive care unit (ICU) patients. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients admitted to surgical ICUs at a major teaching hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. To investigate the association of 25OHD levels with subsequent development of HAPIs, we performed logistic regression analyses, controlling for body mass index, Nutrition Risk in the Critically Ill score, ICU length of stay, and cumulative ICU caloric or protein deficit. RESULTS: A total of 402 patients comprised our analytic cohort. Each unit increment in 25OHD was associated with 11% decreased odds of HAPIs (odds ratio [OR] 0.89; 95% CI 0.840.95). When vitamin D status was dichotomized, patients with 25OHD <20 ng/mL were >2 times as likely to develop HAPIs (OR 2.51; 95% CI 1.065.97) compared with patients with 25OHD >20 ng/mL. CONCLUSION: In our cohort of critically ill surgical patients, vitamin D status at ICU admission was linked to subsequent development of HAPIs. Randomized, controlled trials are needed to assess whether optimizing 25OHD levels in the ICU can reduce the incidence of HAPIs and improve other clinically relevant outcomes in critically ill patients.

Admission 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels Are Associated With Functional Status at Time of Discharge from Intensive Care Unit in Critically Ill Surgical Patients.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D status is associated with length of stay (LOS) and discharge destination in critically ill patients. To further understand this relationship, we investigated whether admission 25-hydroxyvitaminD (25OHD) levels are associated with discharge functional status in the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: In this retrospective study, data from 2 surgical ICUs at a large teaching hospital were analyzed. 25OHD levels were measured within 24 hours of ICU admission and Functional Status Score for the ICU (FSS-ICU) was calculated within 24 hours of ICU discharge for all patients. To investigate the association of vitamin D status with FSS-ICU, we constructed linear and logistic regression models, controlling for body mass index, Nutrition Risk in the Critically Ill score, ICU LOS, and cumulative protein or caloric deficit during ICU admission. RESULTS: Mean 25OHD level and FSS-ICU was 19 (SD 8) ng/mL and 17 (SD 4), respectively, in the analytic cohort (n = 300). Each unit increase in 25OHD level was associated with a 0.2 increment in FSS-ICU (ß = .20; 95% CI 0.14-0.25). Patients with 25OHD levels <20 ng/mL had >3-fold risk of low FSS-ICU (<17) compared with patients with 25OHD >20 ng/mL (OR 3.45; 95% CI 1.96-6.08). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that vitamin D status at admission is associated with discharge FSS-ICU in critically ill surgical patients. Future studies are needed to validate our results, to build upon our findings, and to determine whether optimizing 25OHD levels can improve functional status and other important clinical outcomes in ICU patients.

Elevated Red Cell Distribution Width Is Associated With Decreased Ventilator-Free Days in Critically Ill Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Elevated red cell distribution width (RDW) is associated with mortality in a variety of respiratory conditions. Recent data also suggest that RDW is associated with mortality in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Although respiratory failure is common in the ICU, the relationship between RDW and pulmonary outcomes in the ICU has not been previously explored. Therefore, our goal was to investigate the association of admission RDW with 30-day ventilator-free days (VFDs) in ICU patients. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis from an ongoing prospective, observational study. Patients were recruited from medical and surgical ICUs of a large teaching hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. The RDW was assessed within 1 hour of ICU admission. Poisson regression analysis was used to investigate the association of RDW (normal: 11.5%-14.5% vs elevated: >14.5%) with 30-day VFD, while controlling for age, sex, race, body mass index, Nutrition Risk in the Critically Ill score, the presence of chronic lung disease, Pao2/Fio2 ratio, and admission levels of hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, phosphate, albumin, C-reactive protein, and creatinine. RESULTS: A total of 637 patients comprised the analytic cohort. Mean RDW was 15 (standard deviation 4%), with 53% of patients in the normal range and 47% with elevated levels. Median VFD was 16 (interquartile range: 6-25) days. Poisson regression analysis demonstrated that ICU patients with elevated admission RDW were likely to have 32% lower 30-day VFDs compared to their counterparts with RDW in the normal range (incidence rate ratio: 0.68; 95% confidence interval: 0.55-0.83: P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: We observed an inverse association of RDW and 30-day VFD, despite controlling for demographics, nutritional factors, and severity of illness. This supports the need for future studies to validate our findings, understand the physiologic processes that lead to elevated RDW in patients with respiratory failure, and determine whether changes in RDW may be used to support clinical decision-making.

Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infection or Sweet Syndrome: Surgery Versus No Surgery?: A Case Report.

The authors report a case of necrotizing Sweet syndrome in a 24-year-old transsexual male who presented with recurrent myonecrosis of the neck/upper chest. On index admission, computer tomography revealed gas and fat stranding of the sternocleidomastoid and pectoralis major muscle-findings suggestive of a necrotizing soft tissue infection. Despite debridement procedures and intravenous antibiotic therapy, myonecrosis of the affected areas persisted. Evaluation of tissue samples by dermatopathology revealed neutrophilic infiltration extending into the dermis and muscle necrosis, findings consistent with necrotizing Sweet syndrome. The initiation of IV corticosteroids, the gold-standard treatment for necrotizing Sweet syndrome, lead to significant clinical improvement. When soft tissue infections do not respond to debridement and broad-spectrum antimicrobial coverage, perioperative care providers should consider necrotizing Sweet syndrome as an underlying cause. By facilitating the early diagnosis and appropriate management of unique conditions such as necrotizing Sweet syndrome, anesthesiologists can not only play a more visible role as leaders in the emerging perioperative surgical home model, but they may also prevent significant patient morbidity and reduce unnecessary utilization of health care resources.

Association of Serum Phosphate Levels and Anemia in Critically Ill Surgical Patients.

BACKGROUND: Deranged serum phosphate (Phos) levels are associated with anemia in hospitalized patients, but their relevance to critical illness is unclear. Therefore, our goal was to investigate whether abnormal Phos on admission to the surgical intensive care unit (ICU) is associated with anemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of data from an ongoing study of nutrition in critical illness. Serum Phos and hemoglobin levels were obtained at ICU admission. Normal Phos was defined as 2.5-4.0 mg/dL. To investigate the association between Phos and anemia, we performed logistic regression analyses, while controlling for age, sex, race, body mass index, Nutrition Risk Screening score, Deyo-Charlson Comorbidity Index, creatinine, mean corpuscular volume, and serum albumin. RESULTS: In total, 510 patients comprised the analytic cohort; 62% were anemic, 30% had Phos >4.0 mg/dL, and 14% had levels <2.5 mg/dL. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated each unit increment in Phos was associated with a 25% higher likelihood of anemia (odds ratio [OR], 1.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-1.50). Moreover, patients with Phos >4.0 mg/dL had a 68% higher likelihood of anemia compared with those with normal levels (OR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.02-2.80). Patients with Phos <2.5 mg/dL were not more likely to be anemic compared with those with normal levels. CONCLUSION: Surgical ICU patients with admission Phos >4.0 mg/dL are more likely to be anemic compared with those with normal levels. Our findings support the need for studies to determine whether globally maintaining optimal Phos reduces the likelihood of anemia and whether ideal Phos during acute care hospitalization influences clinical outcomes.

Cycling exercise classes may be bad for your (hearing) health.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: 1) Determine feasibility of smartphone-based mobile technology to measure noise exposure; and 2) measure noise exposure in exercise spin classes. STUDY DESIGN: Observational Study. METHODS: The SoundMeter Pro app (Faber Acoustical, Salt Lake City, UT) was installed and calibrated on iPhone and iPod devices in an audiology chamber using an external sound level meter to within 2 dBA of accuracy. Recording devices were placed in the bike cupholders of participants attending spin classes in Boston, Massachusetts (n = 17) and used to measure sound level (A-weighted) and noise dosimetry during exercise according to National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) guidelines. RESULTS: The average length of exposure was 48.9 ± 1.2 (standard error of the mean) minutes per class. Maximum sound recorded among 17 random classes was 116.7 dBA, which was below the NIOSH instantaneous exposure guideline of 140 dBA. An average of 31.6 ± 3.8 minutes were spent at >100 dBA. This exceeds NIOSH recommendations of 15 minutes of exposure or less at 100 dBA per day. Average noise exposure for one 45-minute class was 8.95 ± 1.2 times the recommended noise exposure dose for an 8-hour workday. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary data shows that randomly sampled cycling classes may have high noise levels with a potential for noise-induced hearing loss. Mobile dosimetry technology may enable users to self-monitor risk to their hearing and actively engage in noise protection measures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 127:1873-1877, 2017.

Elevated red cell distribution width at initiation of critical care is associated with mortality in surgical intensive care unit patients.

PURPOSE: Recent evidence suggests that red cell distribution width (RDW) is associated with mortality in mixed cohorts of critically ill patients. Our goal was to investigate whether elevated RDW at initiation of critical care in the intensive care unit (ICU) is associated with 90-day mortality in surgical patients. METHODS: We performed a retrospective, single-center cohort study. Normal RDW was defined as 11.5%-14.5%. To investigate the association of admission RDW with 90-day mortality, we performed a logistic regression analysis, controlling for age, sex, race, body mass index, Nutrition Risk Screening 2002 score, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, hospital length of stay, as well as levels of creatinine, albumin, and mean corpuscular volume. RESULTS: 500 patients comprised the analytic cohort; 47% patients had elevated RDW and overall 90-day mortality was 28%. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that patients with elevated RDW had a greater than two-fold increased odds of mortality (OR 2.28: 95%CI 1.20-4.33) compared to patients with normal RDW. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated RDW at initiation of care is associated with increased odds of 90-day mortality in surgical ICU patients. These data support the need for prospective studies to determine whether RDW can improve risk stratification in surgical ICU patients.

Addition of 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels to the Deyo-Charlson Comorbidity Index improves 90-day mortality prediction in critically ill patients.

BACKGROUND: The Deyo-Charlson Comorbidity Index (DCCI) has low predictive value in the intensive care unit (ICU). Our goal was to determine whether addition of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels to the DCCI improved 90-day mortality prediction in critically ill patients. METHODS: Plasma 25OHD levels, DCCI, and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) scores were assessed within 24 h of admission in 310 ICU patients. Receiver operating characteristic curves of the prediction scores, without and with the addition of 25OHD levels, for 90-day mortality were constructed and the areas under the curve (AUC) were compared for equality. RESULTS: Mean (standard deviation) plasma 25OHD levels, DCCI, and APACHE II score were 19 (SD 8) ng/mL, 4 (SD 3), and 17 (SD 9), respectively. Overall 90-day mortality was 19 %. AUC for DCCI vs. DCCI + 25OHD was 0.68 (95 % CI 0.58-0.77) vs. 0.75 (95 % CI 0.67-0.83); p < 0.001. AUC for APACHE II vs. APACHE II + 25OHD was 0.81 (95 % CI 0.73-0.88) vs. 0.82 (95 % CI 0.75-0.89); p < 0.001. There was a significant difference between the AUC for DCCI + 25OHD and APACHE II + 25OHD (p = 0.04) but not between the AUC for DCCI + 25OHD and APACHE II (p = 0.12). CONCLUSIONS: In our cohort of ICU patients, the addition of 25OHD levels to the DCCI improved 90-day mortality prediction compared to the DCCI alone. Moreover, the predictive capability of DCCI + 25OHD was comparable to that of APACHE II. Future prospective studies are needed to validate our findings and to determine whether the use of DCCI + 25OHD can influence clinical decision-making.