Different nursing interventions on sleep quality among critically ill patients: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Critically ill patients in intensive care often struggle with disrupted sleep, a prevalent issue in this population. However, the question of which non-pharmacological intervention is most effective in enhancing sleep quality remains unanswered. This study was conducted to comprehensively evaluate and compare the efficacy of various non-pharmacological interventions aimed at improving sleep quality among critically ill individuals. METHODS: We conducted a search of PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) without language restrictions to identify articles published until July 15, 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated various nursing interventions designed to improve sleep quality in critically ill patients were included in this network meta-analysis. All analyses were performed using R software (version 3.4.3) with the "gemtc" package. RESULTS: A total of 2036 patients from 31 RCTs were included in the network meta-analysis, involving 11 different nursing interventions (routine care, relaxation combined with imagery (RI), nursel, music + earplugs + eye masks, music, eye masks, earplugs + eye masks, earplugs, aromatherapy, Warm footbath combined with acupoint exercise (WFA), Virtual reality meditation (VR)). Eye masks and earplugs + eye masks were associated with improved sleep quality compared to routine care intervention (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: In summary, eye masks and earplugs + eye masks stand out as the most effective interventions for enhancing sleep quality in critically ill patients. Therefore, critical care nurses should consider incorporating the use of eye masks alone or combining music with eye masks into the sleep care regimen for critically ill patients.

Analysis of the Nursing Effect of Respiratory Critical Illness Based on Refined Nursing Management.

In order to improve the nursing effect of respiratory critical illness, this paper combines the refined nursing method to explore the nursing plan of respiratory critical illness. Moreover, this paper uses the variable control method to explore the effects of nursing management, combines the hospital patient samples to conduct a controlled trial analysis, and conducts sample grouping according to the random grouping method. The patients in the control group are managed by traditional nursing management methods, the patients in the test group are managed by refined nursing management methods, and other conditions are basically the same. In addition, the experiment process variable control is carried out according to the mathematical statistics method, and the reasonable statistics and data processing are carried out. Through the comparison method, we can see that the refined management method proposed in this paper has a good effect in the nursing of respiratory critical illness.

The Impact of Volunteering at a Family Camp for Children and Adolescents With Cancer: The Experience of Pediatric Intensive Care Nurses.

OBJECTIVE: This study explored the experience of pediatric ICU (PICU) nurses who volunteered at a camp for families of children and adolescents with cancer. BACKGROUND: PICU nurses are at risk of developing symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, compassion fatigue, depression, and burnout due to exposure(s) to traumatic events. Spending time with patients, families, and nurse colleagues at camp may reduce the effects of this exposure. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted using content analysis. Fifteen nurse participants completed a precamp questionnaire and semistructured focus groups immediately following camp. Individual interviews were conducted 6 months after camp. RESULTS: Three categories emerged: 1) personal factors, changes in the nurses themselves; 2) patient and family factors, changes in how nurses perceived patients and families; and 3) work-related factors, relationships with colleagues. CONCLUSIONS: Supporting PICU nurses to participate with patients, families, and colleagues outside of the hospital may reduce burnout and support nurses' well-being.

CE: Monitoring Adult Patients for Intolerance to Gastric Tube Feedings.

ABSTRACT: Gastric tube feeding is a common and valuable intervention for patients in a variety of care settings. While tube feeding can save the lives of patients for whom oral feeding isn't possible, intolerance to tube feeding is a potential complication. This article discusses risk factors for feeding intolerance; the assessment of signs and symptoms of feeding intolerance; the various means of assessing gastric emptying, including the practice of monitoring gastric residual volume (GRV); the controversy surrounding GRV monitoring in assessing feeding tolerance; and the special considerations for monitoring feeding tolerance in acutely and critically ill adults with coronavirus disease 2019. The author, a nurse researcher with extensive experience in the area of enteral feeding, briefly summarizes recommendations and guidelines for enteral feeding published by national and international health care organizations between 2015 and 2020, and offers her perspective on best nursing practices for monitoring food tolerance in adults.

Baseline Frailty as a Predictor of Survival After Critical Care: A Retrospective Cohort Study of Older Adults Receiving Home Care in Ontario, Canada.

BACKGROUND: The extent to which the degree of baseline frailty, as measured using standardized multidimensional health assessments before hospital admission, predicts survival among older adults after admission to an ICU remains unclear. RESEARCH QUESTION: Is baseline frailty an independent predictor of survival among older adults receiving care in an ICU? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of community-dwelling older adults (age, ≥ 65 years) receiving public home services who were admitted to any ICU in Ontario, Canada, between April 1, 2009, and March 31, 2015. All individuals underwent an interRAI Resident Assessment Instrument-Home Care (RAI-HC) assessment completed within 180 days of ICU admission. These assessments were linked to hospital discharge abstract records. Patients were categorized using frailty measures each calculated from the RAI-HC: a classification tree version of the Clinical Frailty Scale; the Frailty Index-Acute Care; and the Changes in Health, End-Stage Disease, Signs, and Symptoms Scale. One-year survival models were used to compare their performance. Patients were stratified based on the receipt of mechanical ventilation in the ICU. RESULTS: Of 24,499 individuals admitted to an ICU within 180 days of a RAI-HC assessment, 26.4% (n = 6,467) received mechanical ventilation. Overall, 43.0% (95% CI, 42.4%-43.6%) survived 365 days after ICU admission. In general, among the overall cohort and both mechanical ventilation subgroups, mortality hazards increased with the severity of baseline frailty. Models predicting survival 30, 90, and 365 days after admission to an ICU that adjusted for one of the frailty measures were more discriminant than reference models that adjusted only for age, sex, major clinical category, and area income quintile. INTERPRETATION: Severity of baseline frailty is independently associated with survival after ICU admission and should be considered when determining goals of care and treatment plans for people with critical illness.

Mobilization During Critical Illness: A Higher Level of Mobilization Improves Health Status at 6 Months, a Secondary Analysis of a Prospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the influence of active mobilization during critical illness on health status in survivors 6 months post ICU admission. DESIGN: Post hoc secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study conducted between November 2013 and March 2015. SETTING: Two tertiary hospital ICU's in Victoria, Australia. PATIENTS: Of 194 eligible patients admitted, mobility data for 186 patients were obtained. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were as per the original trial. INTERVENTIONS: The dosage of mobilization in ICU was measured by: 1) the Intensive Care Mobility Scale where a higher Intensive Care Mobility Scale level was considered a higher intensity of mobilization or 2) the number of active mobilization sessions performed during the ICU stay. The data were extracted from medical records and analyzed against Euro-quality of life-5D-5 Level version answers obtained from phone interviews with survivors 6 months following ICU admission. The primary outcome was change in health status measured by the Euro-quality of life-5D-5 Level utility score, with change in Euro-quality of life-5D-5 Level mobility domain a secondary outcome. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Achieving higher levels of mobilization (as per the Intensive Care Mobility Scale) was independently associated with improved outcomes at 6 months (Euro-quality of life-5D-5 Level utility score unstandardized regression coefficient [ß] 0.022 [95% CI, 0.002-0.042]; p = 0.033; Euro-quality of life-5D-5 Level mobility domain ß = 0.127 [CI, 0.049-0.205]; p = 0.001). Increasing the number of active mobilization sessions was not found to independently influence health status. Illness severity, total comorbidities, and admission diagnosis also independently influenced health status. CONCLUSIONS: In critically ill survivors, achieving higher levels of mobilization, but not increasing the number of active mobilization sessions, improved health status 6 months after ICU admission.

Cardiac Biomarker Abnormalities Are Closely Related to Prognosis in Patients with COVID-19.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is erupting and spreading globally. Cardiovascular complications secondary to the infection have caught notice. This study aims to delineate the relationship of cardiac biomarkers and outcomes in severe cases of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19). One hundred forty-eight critically ill adult patients with COVID-19 were enrolled. From these patients, the demographic data, symptoms, cardiac biomarkers, treatments, and clinical outcomes were collected. Data were compared between survivors and non-survivors. Four patients in the non-survivor group were selected, and their cardiac biomarkers were collected and analyzed. Among the 148 patients, the incidence of cardiovascular complications was 19 (12.8%). Five of them were survivors (5.2%), and 14 of them were non-survivors (26.9%). Compared with the survivors, the non-survivors had higher levels of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I, creatine kinase isoenzyme-MB, myoglobin, and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (P < 0.05). The occurrence of cardiovascular events began at 11-15 days after the onset of the disease and reached a peak at 14-20 days. COVID-19 not only is a respiratory disease but also causes damage to the cardiovascular system. Cardiac biomarkers have the potential for early warning and prognostic evaluation in patients with COVID-19. It is recommended that cardiac biomarker monitoring in patients with COVID-19 should be initiated at least from the 11th day of the disease course.

Nurse Leaders' Experiences and Learnings Navigating Through the Chaos of a Pandemic.

This article explores the experiences and learnings of 2 ambulatory care nurse leaders on the front lines of the Covid-19 pandemic using the theory "navigating through chaos" as a framework.

Barreiras ao cuidado no final de vida em um serviço de urgência e emergência / Barreras al cuidado al final de la vida en un servicio de urgencia / Barriers to end-of-life care in an emergency service

Objetivo: descrever as barreiras vivenciadas e as estratégias ao seu enfrentamento utilizadas por profissionais de enfermagem para realizar o cuidado a pacientes em final de vida em um serviço de urgência e emergência. Materiais e Métodos: Trata-se de uma pesquisa descritiva, exploratória, de abordagem qualitativa, conduzida em um serviço de urgência e emergência no sul do Brasil, com um enfermeiro e dois técnicos por turno, totalizando 12 profissionais de enfermagem. Os dados foram produzidos entre maio e junho de 2018, por meio de entrevista semiestruturada e observação simples e, posteriormente, organizados por aproximação temática no programa Ethnograph v6, em sua versão de demonstração e submetidos à análise de conteúdos proposta por Laurence Bardin. Resultados: Foram elaboradas duas categorias: Barreiras aos cuidados às pessoas em final de vida e Estratégias para o enfrentamento das barreiras ao cuidado no final da vida. Os profissionais de enfermagem referiram que, embora o cenário do serviço de urgência e emergência seja adverso devido a fatores limitantes como rotina acelerada, por exemplo, buscam compreender e atender às necessidades dos pacientes dentro dos limites estruturais, de recursos humanos e institucionais. Assim, são realizados cuidados visando o alívio da dor e promoção de seu conforto. Conclusão: evidenciou-se conflito entre o idealizado e o realizado, pois os profissionais elencam aquilo que consideram prioridade para o cuidado no final da vida, mas nem sempre conseguem implementálo. Quando o fim da vida ocorre nos serviços de saúde é necessário movimentos de desconstrução das práticas atuais ofertadas, especialmente nos serviços de urgência e emergência.

Objetivo: describir las barreras experimentadas y las estrategias al su enfrentamiento utilizadas por los profesionales de enfermería para hacer el cuidado a los pacientes al final de la vida en un servicio de urgencia. Materiales y Métodos: investigación con enfoque cualitativo conducida en un servicio de urgencia y emergencia en el sur de Brasil con 12 profesionales de enfermería. Los datos fueron colectados entre mayo y junio de 2018 a través de entrevista semiestructurada y, luego, organizados en el programa Ethnograph, en su versión de demostración, y sometidos al análisis de contenido según Laurence Bardin. Resultados: fueron establecidas dos categorías: Barreras a los cuidados a las personas al final de la vida y Estrategias al enfrentamiento de las barreras al cuidado al final de la vida. Los profesionales de enfermería reportaron que, aunque el servicio de urgencia sea adverso debido a factores limitantes como rutina acelerada, por ejemplo, buscan comprender y atender a las necesidades de los pacientes dentro de los límites estructurales, de recursos humanos e institucionales. De esta forma realizan cuidados visando el alivio del dolor y la promoción de su confort. Conclusión: se concluye que existe confl icto entre lo idealizado y lo realizado puesto que los profesionales eligen aquello que consideran prioridad al cuidado en el final de la vida, si bien ni siempre logran implementarlo. Cuando el fin de la vida ocurre en los servicios de salud es necesario movimientos de desconstrucción de las prácticas actuales ofrecidas, especialmente en los servicios de urgencia.

Objective: to describe the barriers found and the strategies utilized by nursing professionals to face them to perform the care to end-of-life patients in an emergency medical service. Materials and Methods: we conducted a descriptive, exploratory, qualitative approach, in an emergency service in the south of Brazil, with 12 nursing professionals. We produced the data between May and June of 2018, through a semistructured interview and simple observation and, later, organized by the thematic approach in the program Ethnograph v6, in its version of demonstration and submitted to the content analysis proposed by Laurence Bardin. Results: we elaborated two categories: Barriers to care for people in the end-of-life and Strategies for coping with barriers to care at the end of life. Nursing professionals reported that, although the emergency service is adverse due to limiting factors such as an accelerated routine, for example, they seek to understand and meet patients' needs within the structural, human and institutional limits. Thus, care is taken to relieve pain and promote comfort. Conclusion: there was a conflict between the idealized and the realized, because the professionals list what they consider a priority for care at the end of life, but they are not always able to implement it. When the end of life occurs in health services, it is necessary to deconstruct the current practices offered, especially in emergency services.

Necesidades en familiares de pacientes críticos de una institución de IV nivel en Montería, Colombia / Needs in relatives of critical patients of a IV level institution in Monteria, Colombia

OBJETIVO: Determinar las necesidades en familiares de pacientes críticos de una institución de IV nivel en Montería, Colombia. METODOLOGÍA: Investigación descriptiva, transversal con enfoque cuantitativo. Para la recolección de la información se aplicó el Cuestionario de Necesidades de los Familiares de Pacientes de Cuidados Intensivos y una cédula de datos sociodemográficos. RESULTADOS: Las necesidades que se determinaron fueron la información sincera respecto al estado y progreso del paciente y recibir explicación del equipamiento que está utilizándose. La dimensión que presentó mayores necesidades fue la de comunicación. CONCLUSIONES: El familiar de una persona ingresada en un servicio de cuidado intensivo debe ser tomado en cuenta en el proceso de atención

OBJECTIVE: To determine the needs in relatives of critically ill patients of an IV level institution in Montería, Colombia. METHODOLOGY: Descriptive, cross-sectional research with a quantitative approach. For the collection of information, the Questionnaire of Needs of the Relatives of Intensive Care Patients and a sociodemographic data card were applied. RESULTS: The needs that were determined were honest information regarding the state and progress of the patient and receive an explanation of the equipment being used. The dimension that presented the greatest needs was that of communication. CONCLUSIONS: The family of a person admitted to an intensive care service should be taken into account in the care process

The role of non-invasive ventilation in weaning and decannulating critically ill patients with tracheostomy: A narrative review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) is associated with several complications. Placement of a long-term airway (tracheostomy) is also associated with short and long-term risks for patients. Nevertheless, tracheostomies are placed to help reduce the duration of IMV, facilitate weaning and eventually undergo successful decannulation. METHODS: We performed a narrative review by searching PubMed, Embase and Medline databases to identify relevant citations using the search terms (with synonyms and closely related words) "non-invasive ventilation", "tracheostomy" and "weaning". We identified 13 publications comprising retrospective or prospective studies in which non-invasive ventilation (NIV) was one of the strategies used during weaning from IMV and/or tracheostomy decannulation. RESULTS: In some studies, patients with tracheostomies represented a subgroup of patients on IMV. Most of the studies involved patients with underlying cardiopulmonary comorbidities and conditions, and primarily involved specialized weaning centres. Not all studies provided data on decannulation, although those which did, report high success rates for weaning and decannulation when using NIV as an adjunct to weaning patient off ventilatory support. However, a significant percentage of patients still needed home NIV after discharge. CONCLUSIONS: The review supports a potential role for NIV in weaning patients with a tracheostomy either off the ventilator and/or with its decannulation. Additional research is needed to develop weaning protocols and better characterize the role of NIV during weaning.

Adaptation and Validation of a Chart-Based Delirium Detection Tool for the ICU (CHART-DEL-ICU).

OBJECTIVE: To adapt and validate a chart-based delirium detection tool for use in critically ill adults. DESIGN: Validation study. SETTING: Medical-surgical intensive care unit (ICU) in an academic hospital. MEASUREMENTS: A chart-based delirium detection tool (CHART-DEL) was adapted for use in critically ill adults (CHART-DEL-ICU) and compared with prospective delirium assessments (i.e., clinical assessments (reference standard) by a research nurse trained by a neuropsychiatrist and routine delirium screening tools Confusion Assessment Method (CAM-ICU)) and (Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (ICDSC)). The original CHART-DEL tool was adapted to include physician-reported ICDSC score (for probable delirium) and Richmond-Agitation Sedation Scale score (for altered level of consciousness and agitation). Two trained chart abstractors blinded to all delirium assessments manually abstracted delirium-related information from medical charts and electronic medical records and rated if delirium was present (four levels: uncertain, possible, probable, definite) or absent (no evidence). RESULTS: Charts were manually abstracted for delirium-related information for 213 patients who were included in a prospective cohort study that included prospective delirium assessments. The CHART-DEL-ICU tool had excellent interrater reliability (kappa = 0.90). Compared to the reference standard, the sensitivity was 66.0% (95% CI = 59.3-72.3%) and specificity was 82.1% (95% CI = 78.0-85.7%), with a cut-point that included definite, probable, possible, and uncertain delirium. The AUC of the CHART-DEL-ICU alone is 74.1% (95% CI = 70.4-77.8%) compared with the addition of the CAM-ICU and ICDSC (CAM-ICU/CHART-DEL-ICU: 80.9% (95% CI = 77.8-83.9%), P = .01; ICDSC/CHART-DEL-ICU: 79.2% (95% CI = 75.9-82.6%), P = .03). CONCLUSION: A chart-based delirium detection tool has improved diagnostic accuracy when combined with routine delirium screening tools (CAM-ICU and ICDSC), compared to a chart-based method on its own. This presents a potential for retrospective detection of delirium from medical charts for research or to augment routine delirium screening methods to find missed cases of delirium.

Nursing perspectives from an Italian ICU.

ABSTRACT: In Europe, the novel coronavirus outbreak started in the northern regions of Italy at the end of February 2020. Initially, resources were insufficient to deal with the abrupt influx of critically ill patients requiring respiratory support. This article recounts the authors' experiences caring for patients with COVID-19 in an Italian ICU during this period in order to help colleagues in the international critical care nursing community successfully manage similar circumstances in the ongoing pandemic.

Impact of Intensivist and Nursing Staff on Critically Ill Patient Mortality: A Retrospective Analysis of the Korean NHIS Cohort Data, 2011-2015.

PURPOSE: Critical care medicine continues to evolve. However, critical care cases require increasing amount of medical resources. Intensive care unit (ICU) mortality significantly impacts the overall efficiency of healthcare resources within a system of limited medical resources. This study investigated the factors related to ICU mortality using long-term nationwide cohort data in South Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used data of 14905721 patients who submitted reimbursement claims to the Korean Health Insurance Service between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2015. A total of 1498102 patients who were admitted to all ICU types, except neonatal and long-term acute care hospitals, were enrolled. RESULTS: Of the total 1498102 participants, 861397 (57.5%) were male and 636705 (42.5%) were female. The mean age at admission was 63.4±18.2 years; most of the subjects were aged over 60 years. During the 5-year period, in-hospital mortality rate was 12.9%. In Cox analysis, both in-hospital and 28-day mortality rates were significantly higher in male patients and those of lower socioeconomic status. As age increased and the number of nursing staff decreased, the mortality risk increased significantly by two or three times. The mortality risk was lower in patients admitted to an ICU of a tertiary university hospital and an ICU where intensivists worked. CONCLUSION: The number of nursing staff and the presence of an intensivist in ICU were associated with the ICU mortality rate. Also, increasing the number of nursing staff and the presence of intensivist might reduce the mortality rate among ICU patients.

Percepción de estudiantes sobre la implementación del modelo de aula invertida en el componente de práctica en cuidado crítico / Perception of students on the implementation of the inverted classroom model in the component of practice in critical care / Percepção de alunos na implementação do modelo de sala de aula invertida no componente de prática na atenção crítica

Las competencias que deben desarrollar los profesionales de enfermería incluyen entre otras, el desarrollo de un pensamiento crítico, reflexivo, propositivo. Además, debe ser capaz de intervenir en el cuidado de la experiencia de la salud humana con compromiso y responsabilidad. OBJETIVO: Conocer las percepciones de estudiantes sobre la implementación del modelo de aula invertida en el componente de practica en enfermería en cuidado crítico Metodología. Estudio de abordaje cualitativo descriptivo con análisis de contenido basado en categorización de tipo inductivo. Se incluyeron 70 participantes estudiantes de enfermería que se encontraban en práctica de enfermería en cuidado crítico, la información se recolecto por medio de un cuestionario escrito. RESULTADOS: Surgieron tres categorías: 1. Comprender una fortaleza académica que se lleva a la práctica y estar enfocado en lo que necesito para seguir aprendiendo, 2. La autonomía en el aprendizaje, instrumento para vencer temores.3. Construir seguridad y canales de comunicación con el paciente y la familia. CONCLUSIONES: La metodología del aula invertida permitió a los estudiantes enfocarse en los vacíos de las competencias del saber específicas para el cuidado de los pacientes en el contexto del cuidado crítico. Por otra parte, se encuentra que esta metodología, dificulta el fortalecimiento de competencias del ser

The competencies that nursing professionals must develop include, among others, the development of critical, reflective, and proactive thinking. In addition, you must be able to intervene in the care of the human health experience with commitment and responsibility. OBJECTIVE: To know the perceptions of students on the implementation of the inverted classroom model in the nursing practice component in critical care. METHODOLOGY: Descriptive qualitative approach study with content analysis based on inductive categorization. Seventy participants, nursing students who were in critical care nursing practice, were included, the information was collected through a written questionnaire. RESULTS: Three categories emerged: 1. Understanding an academic strength that is put into practice and being focused on what I need to continue learning, 2. Autonomy in learning, an instrument to overcome fears. 3. Build safety and communication channels with the patient and family. CONCLUSIONS: The inverted classroom methodology allowed students to focus on gaps in specific knowledge competencies for patient care in the context of critical care. On the other hand, it is found that this methodology hinders the strengthening of the being's competencies

As competências que os profissionais de enfermagem devem desenvolver incluem, entre outras, o desenvolvimento de pensamento crítico, reflexivo e proativo. Além disso, você deve poder intervir no cuidado da experiência em saúde humana com comprometimento e responsabilidade. OBJETIVO: Conhecer as percepções dos alunos sobre a implementação do modelo de sala de aula invertida no componente prática de enfermagem em terapia intensiva. MÉTODO: Estudo de abordagem qualitativa descritiva, com análise de conteúdo baseada em categorização indutiva. Foram incluídos 70 participantes, estudantes de enfermagem que estavam na prática de enfermagem em cuidados intensivos, e as informações foram coletadas por meio de um questionário escrito. RESULTADOS: Surgiram três categorias: 1. Compreendendo uma força acadêmica que é posta em prática e focada no que eu preciso para continuar aprendendo, 2. Autonomia na aprendizagem, um instrumento para superar medos. Crie canais de segurança e comunicação com o paciente e a família. Conclusões A metodologia de sala de aula invertida permitiu que os alunos se concentrassem em lacunas nas competências específicas de conhecimento para atendimento ao paciente no contexto de cuidados intensivos. Por outro lado, verifica-se que essa metodologia dificulta o fortalecimento das competências do ser

Outcomes and clinical practice in patients with COVID-19 admitted to the intensive care unit in Montréal, Canada: a descriptive analysis.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is responsible for millions of infections worldwide, and a substantial number of these patients will be admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Our objective was to describe the characteristics, outcomes and management of critically ill patients with COVID-19 pneumonia at a single designated pandemic centre in Montréal, Canada. METHODS: A descriptive analysis was performed on consecutive critically ill patients with COVID-19 pneumonia admitted to the ICU at the Jewish General Hospital, a designated pandemic centre in Montréal, between Mar. 5 and May 21, 2020. Complete follow-up data corresponding to death or discharge from hospital health records were included to Aug. 4, 2020. We summarized baseline characteristics, management and outcomes, including mortality. RESULTS: A total of 106 patients were included in this study. Twenty-one patients (19.8%) died during their hospital stay, and the ICU mortality was 17.0% (18/106); all patients were discharged home or died, except for 4 patients (2 awaiting a rehabilitation bed and 2 awaiting long-term care). Twelve of 65 patients (18.5%) requiring mechanical ventilation died. Prone positioning was used in 29 patients (27.4%), including in 10 patients who were spontaneously breathing; no patient was placed on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. High-flow nasal cannula was used in 51 patients (48.1%). Acute kidney injury was the most common complication, seen in 20 patients (18.9%), and 12 patients (11.3%) required renal replacement therapy. A total of 53 patients (50.0%) received corticosteroids. INTERPRETATION: Our cohort of critically ill patients with COVID-19 had lower mortality than that previously described in other jurisdictions. These findings may help guide critical care decision-making in similar health care systems in further COVID-19 surges.

Institutional Challenges and Solutions to Evidence-Based, Patient-Centered Practice: Implementing ICU Diaries.

BACKGROUND: Although diaries are an evidence-based practice that improves the quality of life of patients in an intensive care unit and their loved ones, centers in the United States are struggling to successfully implement diary programs in intensive care units. Currently, few published recommendations address how to facilitate implementation of a diary program, and how to effectively sustain it, in an intensive care unit. OBJECTIVES: To discuss challenges with implementing diary programs in intensive care units at 2 institutions in the United States, and to identify solutions that were operationalized to overcome these perceived difficulties. METHODS: The teams from the 2 institutions identified local barriers to implementing diaries in their intensive care units. Both groups developed standard operating procedures that outlined the execution and evaluation phases of their implementation projects. RESULTS: Barriers to implementation include liability and patient privacy, diary program development, and implementation and sustainability concerns. Various strategies can help maintain clinical and family member engagement. CONCLUSION: Through a team's sustained dedication and a diligent assessment of perceived obstacles, a diary program can indeed be implemented within an intensive care unit.