Nutritional risk and morbidity and mortality in intensive care unit patients with Coronavirus disease 2019.

INTRODUCTION: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spread rapidly, with 37 million cases and more than 699,000 deaths. Among intensive care unit (ICU) patients with COVID-19, a high incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) has been observed, ranging from 50 to 80%; furthermore, 85.9% were calculated to have high nutritional risk, which doubled their odds of death. The aim of the present study was to evaluate possible associations between nutritional risk, acute kidney injury, and morbidity and mortality in patients with COVID-19 admitted to an ICU. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of adult and older-adult patients hospitalized for >24 h in an ICU. The exposure was diagnosis of COVID-19, while the outcomes were mortality, acute kidney injury, dialysis, mechanical ventilation, and vasopressor use. The association of nutritional risk with outcomes was evaluated. The sample consisted of two secondary datasets. Individuals aged <18 years, those with dialytic chronic kidney disease, pregnant women, and those diagnosed with brain death were excluded. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 192 patients: 101 in the exposure group (positive for COVID-19) and 91 in the control group (no COVID-19 diagnosis). The COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 groups differed significantly in the variables weight, body mass index (BMI), nutritional risk, mNUTRIC-S score, and length of ICU stay. Our results suggest that the optimal mNUTRIC-S score cutoff to predict nutritional risk is <5 points. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 has a significant impact on patients' kidney function, increasing the incidence of AKI and the likelihood of death. Nutritional risk is a major factor in the mortality of patients with COVID-19. Therefore, use of the mNUTRIC-S scale could contribute to assessment of prognosis in this patient population.

Quality indicators in prolonged hemodialysis with regional citrate anticoagulation with the genius system: retrospective cohort of critical patients with acute kidney injury.

BACKGROUND: Prolonged hemodialysis (HD) is performed from 6 to 12 h and can last up to 24 h. To prevent system clotting some studies suggest that Regional Citrate Anticoagulation (RCA) use reduces bleeding rates relative to systemic heparin. However, there may be difficulties in the patient's clinical management and completing the prescribed HD with Genius system using RCA. OBJECTIVE: To analyze safety Quality Indicators (IQs) and follow up on prolonged HD with 4% sodium citrate solution in a Genius® hybrid system. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort conducted in an intensive care unit. RESULTS: 53 random sessions of prolonged HD with 4% sodium citrate solution of critically ill patients with AKI assessed. Evaluated safety indicators were dysnatremia and metabolic alkalosis, observed in 15% and 9.4% of the sessions, respectively. Indicators of effectiveness were system clotting which occurred in 17.3%, and the minimum completion of the prescribed HD time, which was 75.5%. CONCLUSION: The assessment of the indicators showed that the use of RCA with a 4% sodium citrate solution in prolonged HD with the Genius system in critically ill patients with AKI can be performed in a simple, safe, and effective way.

Accuracy of Thermographic Imaging in the Early Detection of Pressure Injury: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: To verify the accuracy of thermographic images in the early detection of pressure injury (PI) in adult patients. DATA SOURCES: Between March 2021 and May 2022, researchers searched 18 databases for relevant articles using nine keywords. In total, 755 studies were evaluated. STUDY SELECTION: Eight studies were included in the review. Studies were included if they evaluated individuals older than 18 years who were admitted to any healthcare setting; were published in English, Spanish, or Portuguese; examined the accuracy of thermal imaging in the early detection of PI, including suspected stage 1 PI or deep tissue injury; and they compared the region of interest to another area or control group, or to the Braden Scale or Norton Scale. Animal studies and reviews, studies with contact infrared thermography, and those including stages 2, 3, 4, and unstageable PIs were excluded. DATA EXTRACTION: Researchers examined sample characteristics and assessment measures related to image capture, including environmental, individual, and technical factors. DATA SYNTHESIS: Across the included studies, sample sizes ranged from 67 to 349 participants, and patients were followed up for periods ranging from a single assessment up to 14 days, or until the appearance of a PI, discharge, or death. Evaluation with the infrared thermography identified temperature differentials between regions of interest and/or in comparison with risk assessment scales. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence on the accuracy of thermographic imaging in the early detection of PI is limited.

Efficacy and safety of neuromuscular electrical stimulation in the prevention of pressure injuries in critically ill patients: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Pressure injuries (PIs), especially in the sacral region are frequent, costly, and increase morbidity and mortality of patients in an intensive care unit (ICU). These injuries can occur as a result of prolonged pressure and/or shear forces. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) can increase muscle mass and improve local circulation, potentially reducing the incidence of PI. METHODS: We performed a randomized controlled trial to assess the efficacy and safety of NMES in preventing PI in critically ill patients. We included patients with a period of less than 48 h in the ICU, aged ≥ 18 years. Participants were randomly selected (1:1 ratio) to receive NMES and usual care (NMES group) or only usual care (control group-CG) until discharge, death, or onset of a PI. To assess the effectiveness of NMES, we calculated the relative risk (RR) and number needed to treat (NNT). We assessed the muscle thickness of the gluteus maximus by ultrasonography. To assess safety, we analyzed the effects of NMES on vital signs and checked for the presence of skin burns in the stimulated areas. Clinical outcomes were assessed by time on mechanical ventilation, ICU mortality rate, and length of stay in the ICU. RESULTS: We enrolled 149 participants, 76 in the NMES group. PIs were present in 26 (35.6%) patients in the CG and 4 (5.3%) in the NMES group (p ˂ 0.001). The NMES group had an RR = 0.15 (95% CI 0.05-0.40) to develop a PI, NNT = 3.3 (95% CI 2.3-5.9). Moreover, the NMES group presented a shorter length of stay in the ICU: Δ = - 1.8 ± 1.2 days, p = 0.04. There was no significant difference in gluteus maximus thickness between groups (CG: Δ = - 0.37 ± 1.2 cm vs. NMES group: Δ = 0 ± 0.98 cm, p = 0.33). NMES did not promote deleterious changes in vital signs and we did not detect skin burns. CONCLUSIONS: NMES is an effective and safe therapy for the prevention of PI in critically ill patients and may reduce length of stay in the ICU. Trial registration RBR-8nt9m4. Registered prospectively on July 20th, 2018, https://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-8nt9m4.

Does COVID-19 infection increase the risk of pressure injury in critically ill patients?: A narrative review.

ABSTRACT: Patients with severe COVID-19 may have endothelial dysfunction and a hypercoagulable state that can cause skin damage. In the presence of external pressure on the tissues, the local inflammatory process regulated by inflammatory cytokines can increase and prolong itself, contributing to the formation of pressure injury (PI). PI is defined as localized damage to the skin or underlying tissues. It usually occurs as a result of intense and/or prolonged pressure in combination with shear. The aim of the study is to perform a narrative review on the physiological evidence of increased risk in the development of PI in critically ill patients with COVID-19.In patients with severe COVID-19 a pattern of tissue damage consistent with complement-mediated microvascular injury was found in the lungs and skin of critically ill COVID-19 patients, suggesting sustained systemic activation of complement pathways. Theoretically, the same thrombogenic vascular changes related to COVID-19 that occur in the skin also occur in the underlying tissues, making patients less tolerant to the harmful effects of pressure and shear. Unlike the syndromes typical of acute respiratory illnesses and other pathologies that commonly lead to intensive care unit admission, COVID-19 and systemic viral spread show that local and systemic factors overlap. This fact may be justified by current epidemiological data showing that the prevalence of PI among intensive care unit patients with COVID-19 was 3 times higher than in those without COVID-19. This narrative review presents physiological evidence to suggesting an increased risk of developing PI in critically ill patients with COVID-19.

Prevalência de nefropatia induzida por contraste em pacientes cardíacos de um setor de hemodinâmica / Prevalence of contrast-induced nephropathy in cardiac patients in a hemodynamic sector / Prevalencia de nefropatía inducida por contraste en pacientes cardíacos de un sector de hemodinámica

Objetivo: Determinar a prevalência da nefropatia induzida por contraste em pacientes cardiopatas submetidos a procedimentos angiográficos de diagnóstico e/ou tratamento. Método: Estudo prospectivo, quantitativo, realizado no setor de hemodinâmica de um hospital de grande porte, situado na região norte do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. A amostra foi constituída por 79 participantes através do cálculo de tamanho amostral. Resultados: A amostra foi formada por 52 (65,8%) homens e 27 (34,2%) mulheres. A idade média foi de 65,9 ± 9,52 anos. A incidência de nefropatia induzida por contraste foi de 30,38%, totalizando 24 pacientes. Conclusão: Foi evidenciada uma alta prevalência de nefropatia por contraste, apesar dos pacientes apresentarem poucos fatores de risco, o que ressalta a necessidade de medidas preventivas e redução do volume de contraste

Objective: To determine the prevalence of contrast-induced nephropathy in cardiac patients undergoing diagnostic and / or treatment angiographic procedures. Method: A prospective, quantitative study in the hemodynamics sector of a large hospital, located in the northern region of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The sample consisted of 79 participants through the calculation of sample size. Results: The sample consisted of 52 (65.8%) men and 27 (34.2%) women. The mean age was 65.9 ± 9.52 years. The incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy was 30,38%, totaling 24 patients. Conclusion: A high prevalence of contrast nephropathy was evidenced, despite the fact that patients presented few risk factors, which highlights the need for preventive measures and reduction of contrast volume

Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia de la nefropatía inducida por contraste en pacientes cardiopatas sometidos a procedimientos angiográficos de diagnóstico y / o tratamiento. Método: Estudio prospectivo, cuantitativo, realizado en el sector de hemodinámica de un hospital de gran porte, situado en la región norte de Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. La muestra fue constituida por 79 participantes a través del cálculo de tamaño muestral. Resultados: La muestra fue formada por 52 (65,8%) hombres y 27 (34,2%) mujeres. La edad media fue de 65,9 ± 9,52 años. La incidencia de nefropatía inducida por contraste fue del 30,38%, totalizando 24 pacientes. Conclusión: Se evidenció una alta prevalencia de nefropatía por contraste, a pesar de que los pacientes presentaban pocos factores de riesgo, lo que resalta la necesidad de medidas preventivas y reducción del volumen de contraste