Balanced Crystalloids versus Saline in Critically Ill Adults.

BACKGROUND: Both balanced crystalloids and saline are used for intravenous fluid administration in critically ill adults, but it is not known which results in better clinical outcomes. METHODS: In a pragmatic, cluster-randomized, multiple-crossover trial conducted in five intensive care units at an academic center, we assigned 15,802 adults to receive saline (0.9% sodium chloride) or balanced crystalloids (lactated Ringer's solution or Plasma-Lyte A) according to the randomization of the unit to which they were admitted. The primary outcome was a major adverse kidney event within 30 days - a composite of death from any cause, new renal-replacement therapy, or persistent renal dysfunction (defined as an elevation of the creatinine level to ≥200% of baseline) - all censored at hospital discharge or 30 days, whichever occurred first. RESULTS: Among the 7942 patients in the balanced-crystalloids group, 1139 (14.3%) had a major adverse kidney event, as compared with 1211 of 7860 patients (15.4%) in the saline group (marginal odds ratio, 0.91; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.84 to 0.99; conditional odds ratio, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.82 to 0.99; P=0.04). In-hospital mortality at 30 days was 10.3% in the balanced-crystalloids group and 11.1% in the saline group (P=0.06). The incidence of new renal-replacement therapy was 2.5% and 2.9%, respectively (P=0.08), and the incidence of persistent renal dysfunction was 6.4% and 6.6%, respectively (P=0.60). CONCLUSIONS: Among critically ill adults, the use of balanced crystalloids for intravenous fluid administration resulted in a lower rate of the composite outcome of death from any cause, new renal-replacement therapy, or persistent renal dysfunction than the use of saline. (Funded by the Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research and others; SMART-MED and SMART-SURG ClinicalTrials.gov numbers, NCT02444988 and NCT02547779 .).

A Novel Method of Evaluating Key Factors for Success in a Multifaceted Critical Care Fellowship Using Data Envelopment Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The current system of summative multi-rater evaluations and standardized tests to determine readiness to graduate from critical care fellowships has limitations. We sought to pilot the use of data envelopment analysis (DEA) to assess what aspects of the fellowship program contribute the most to an individual fellow's success. DEA is a nonparametric, operations research technique that uses linear programming to determine the technical efficiency of an entity based on its relative usage of resources in producing the outcome. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: Critical care fellows (n = 15) in an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited fellowship at a major academic medical center in the United States. METHODS: After obtaining institutional review board approval for this retrospective study, we analyzed the data of 15 anesthesiology critical care fellows from academic years 2013-2015. The input-oriented DEA model develops a composite score for each fellow based on multiple inputs and outputs. The inputs included the didactic sessions attended, the ratio of clinical duty works hours to the procedures performed (work intensity index), and the outputs were the Multidisciplinary Critical Care Knowledge Assessment Program (MCCKAP) score and summative evaluations of fellows. RESULTS: A DEA efficiency score that ranged from 0 to 1 was generated for each of the fellows. Five fellows were rated as DEA efficient, and 10 fellows were characterized in the DEA inefficient group. The model was able to forecast the level of effort needed for each inefficient fellow, to achieve similar outputs as their best performing peers. The model also identified the work intensity index as the key element that characterized the best performers in our fellowship. CONCLUSIONS: DEA is a feasible method of objectively evaluating peer performance in a critical care fellowship beyond summative evaluations alone and can potentially be a powerful tool to guide individual performance during the fellowship.

Rapidly Progressing Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reaction With Acute Kidney Injury After Drug Exposure: An Uncommon Presentation.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis syndrome (TEN) is a rare severe cutaneous adverse drug reaction that involves skin and mucous membranes. We describe a case of TEN presenting with stage III acute kidney injury, rhabdomyolysis, and acute respiratory failure likely triggered by allopurinol for recently diagnosed gout. Prompt diagnosis, multidisciplinary management, including aggressive resuscitation, cardiorespiratory support, intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, and daily wound care resulted in a positive outcome despite a predicted mortality greater than 60%. Although allopurinol is a known triggering agent, TEN presenting with rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury is rare.

Identification of Major Adverse Kidney Events Within the Electronic Health Record.

Acute kidney injury is common among critically ill adults and is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. The Major Adverse Kidney Events by 30 days (MAKE30) composite of death, new renal replacement therapy, or persistent renal dysfunction is recommended as a patient-centered outcome for pragmatic trials involving acute kidney injury. Accurate electronic detection of the MAKE30 endpoint using data within the electronic health record (EHR) could facilitate the use of the EHR in large-scale kidney injury research. In an observational study using prospectively collected data from 200 admissions to a single medical intensive care unit, we tested the performance of electronically-extracted data in identifying the MAKE30 composite compared to the reference standard of two-physician manual chart review. The incidence of MAKE30 on manual-review was 16 %, which included 8.5 % for in-hospital mortality, 3.5 % for new renal replacement therapy, and 8.5 % for persistent renal dysfunction. There was strong agreement between the electronic and manual assessment of MAKE30 (98.5 % agreement [95 % CI 96.5-100.0 %]; kappa 0.95 [95 % CI 0.87-1.00]; P < 0.001), with only three patients misclassified by electronic assessment. Performance of the electronic MAKE30 assessment was similar among patients with and without CKD and with and without a measured serum creatinine in the 12 months prior to hospital admission. In summary, accurately identifying the MAKE30 composite outcome using EHR data collected as a part of routine care appears feasible.

Hypernatremia is a significant risk factor for acute kidney injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage: a retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: Hypertonic saline therapy is often used in critically ill subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients for indications ranging from control of intracranial hypertension to managing symptomatic hyponatremia. The risk factors for developing acute kidney injury (AKI) in this patient population are not well defined. SPECIFIC AIM: To study the role of serum sodium in developing AKI (based on the AKIN definition) in the SAH population admitted to a large academic neurocritical care unit. METHODS: This is an IRB-approved, retrospective cohort study of patients admitted to a tertiary neuro intensive care unit. We included adult (age ≥ 18 years) SAH patients admitted to the neuro intensive care unit for at least 72 h. Development of AKI after admission to the ICU was defined using the AKIN serum creatinine criteria between 72 h and 14 days following admission. A Cox proportional hazards survival model with multiple time varying covariates was developed to evaluate the effect of maximum sodium exposure on the risk of AKI. Sodium exposure was captured as the running maximum of daily maximum serum sodium concentration (mEq/L). Sodium exposure was used as a surrogate for hypertonic saline therapy. RESULTS: The final cohort of patients included 736 patients admitted to the neuro intensive care unit between 2006 and 2012. The number of patients who developed AKI was 64 (9 %). These patients had an increased length of stay (15.6 ± 9.4 vs. 12.5 ± 8.7 days). The odds of death were more than two fold greater among patients who developed AKI (odds ratio 2.33 95 % CI 1.27, 4.3). Sodium exposure was significantly associated with the hazard of developing AKI, adjusting for age, sex, preexisting renal disease, diabetes mellitus, radiocontrast exposure, number of days on mechanical ventilation, and admission Glasgow Coma Scale score. For each 1 mEq/L increase in the running maximum daily serum sodium, the hazard of developing AKI was increased by 5.4 % (95 % CI 1.4, 9.7). CONCLUSION: The maximum daily sodium is a significant risk factor for developing AKI in patients with SAH.

The effect of the pressure-volume curve for positive end-expiratory pressure titration on clinical outcomes in acute respiratory distress syndrome: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: Methods to optimize positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remain controversial despite decades of research. The pressure-volume curve (PVC), a graphical ventilator relationship, has been proposed for prescription of PEEP in ARDS. Whether the use of PVC's improves survival remains unclear. METHODS: In this systematic review, we assessed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing PVC-guided treatment with conventional PEEP management on survival in ARDS based on the search of the National Library of Medicine from January 1, 1960, to January 1, 2010, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Three RCTs were identified with a total of 185 patients, 97 with PVC-guided treatment and 88 with conventional PEEP management. RESULTS: The PVC-guided PEEP was associated with an increased probability of 28-day or hospital survival (odds ratio [OR] 2.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.5, 4.9) using a random-effects model without significant heterogeneity (I (2) test: P = .75). The PVC-guided ventilator support was associated with reduced cumulative risk of mortality (-0.24 (95% CI -0.38, -0.11). The PVC-managed patients received greater PEEP (standardized mean difference [SMD] 5.7 cm H2O, 95% CI 2.4, 9.0) and lower plateau pressures (SMD -1.2 cm H2O, 95% CI -2.2, -0.2), albeit with greater hypercapnia with increased arterial pCO2 (SMD 8 mm Hg, 95% CI 2, 14). Weight-adjusted tidal volumes were significantly lower in PVC-guided than conventional ventilator management (SMD 2.6 mL/kg, 95% CI -3.3, -2.0). CONCLUSION: This analysis supports an association that ventilator management guided by the PVC for PEEP management may augment survival in ARDS. Nonetheless, only 3 randomized trials have addressed the question, and the total number of patients remains low. Further outcomes studies appear required for the validation of this methodology.

Obesity and post-cardiopulmonary bypass-associated acute kidney injury: a single-center retrospective analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The authors specifically explored the association of obesity (based on body mass index [BMI]) and the risk of developing acute kidney injury after cardiopulmonary bypass (AKICPB). DESIGN: Single-center retrospective study. SETTING: Academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS: After IRB approval, 376 eligible adults who underwent cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass between 2006-2010 were included in the final retrospective analysis. Patients undergoing "off-pump" procedures, cardiac transplants, repair of congenital heart disease, and patients with preoperative circulatory assist devices were excluded. RESULTS: The overall incidence of developing AKICPB in this population based on the Acute Kidney Injury Network serum creatinine criteria was 39% (147 of 376). Among the BMI classes, the morbidly obese cohort (ie, BMI>40 kg/m(2)) had a significantly greater risk of developing AKICPB than those in lower BMI classes. BMI>40 kg/m(2) was significantly associated with development of AKICPB even after accounting for covariates (ie, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, age, severity of illness, and CPB time) (overall p = 0.018). The odds ratio of AKICPB in the BMI>40 kg/m(2) cohort relative to BMI<25 kg/m(2) was 2.39 (95% CI: 0.98, 5.82; p = 0.055), with no significant difference in risk of developing AKICPB among the 4 lower BMI classes. CONCLUSION: BMI>40 kg/m(2) is associated with a significantly higher risk of developing of AKICPB.

How we created a targeted teaching tool using blog architecture for anesthesia and critical care education--the A/e anesthesia exchange blog.

BACKGROUND: The time constraints on a clinical educator have increased immensely over the past decade. Technology has served to significantly bridge the challenge over the past decade. WHAT WE DID: We created a method of delivering targeted educational content for point of care learning in anesthesia and critical care. Our blog platform allows clinician-educators to deliver content as videopodcasts and presentations to learners in a straightforward and easily accessible manner both on the web and through mobile platforms. The A/e Anesthesia exchange "pushed" content at predetermined time intervals to learners and content was based on timely topics that were clinically relevant to their daily practice. The A/e Blog allowed multiple authors across disciplines to contribute content, thus providing learners potentially access to resources of knowledge from the entire team of clinician-educators at an institution. During the pilot phase of A/e blog implementation, the authors gained valuable insights into the use and limitations of web-based technology as a teaching tool. These included challenges with faculty and student participation, managing techno stress of faculty not fluent with the technology, tailoring content based on analytics data and web platform robustness and spam protection. CONCLUSION: With these insights in hand, we anticipate the launch of an even more robust A/e: Anesthesia Exchange (version 2.0) by the end of 2013.

Stress cardiomyopathy with an "inverse" takotsubo pattern in a patient with acute aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) induced myocardial dysfunction (often labeled neurogenic stunned myocardium) encompasses a spectrum of clinical presentations ranging from an isolated elevation of cardiac enzymes to cardiogenic shock. OBJECTIVE: We describe a case of stress cardiomyopathy in a patient following acute aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage that showed an "inverse" or reverse takotsubo pattern on echocardiography. CASE REPORT: The patient was a 46-year-old female who presented with acute cardiogenic shock following acute subarachnoid hemorrhage necessitating aggressive cardiorespiratory in the ICU. Her admission echo showed a depressed left ventricular ejection fraction of 25%. The basal 2/3 of the left ventricle (LV) was severely hypokinetic and the apical 1/3 of the LV was hypercontractile, i.e. the reverse or inverse takotsubo pattern of regional wall motion abnormality. With ongoing aggressive support her cardiovascular function steadily improved and on day 6 her follow up echo showed LV ejection fraction increased to 60-65% with resolution of the previous regional wall motion abnormality. The patient was discharged to a neuro-rehabilitation facility on day 16. SUMMARY: The "inverse" or "reverse" takotsubo pattern of regional wall motion abnormalities, i.e. with preserved apical LV contractility and hypokinesis of the basal walls of the LV is more common in patients following acute SAH.

The acute effectiveness and safety of the constant-flow, pressure-volume curve to improve hypoxemia in acute lung injury.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of the constant-flow, pressure-volume curve (PVC) to prescribe positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) in acute lung injury (ALI) and risk of cardiopulmonary deterioration during the PVC process. DESIGN: A retrospective, cohort study. SETTING: A surgical intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary, university hospital. PATIENTS: Fifty consecutive ventilated patients diagnosed with ALI undergoing the PVC maneuver from 1999 to 2003. INTERVENTIONS: Titration of PEEP based on the lower inflection point of the constant-flow, pressure-volume curve. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Patients were divided into 2 groups based on PVC-guided PEEP changes of <3 cm H2O (PVC-NC or "no change") or ≥3 cm H2O (PVC-CHG or "change") from the initial empiric prescription. There was a greater increase in partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2)/fractional concentration of inspired oxygen (FiO2) in the PVC-CHG group, with a mean change of 80 ± 50 (95% confidence interval [CI] 61, 98) versus 42 ± 54 (95% CI 17, 67) in the PVC-NC group. Eighty-two percent of patients (41/50) showed an increase in ratio of partial pressure of arterial oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen (PaO2/FiO2) by 20% within 6 to 24 hours after the PVC test-greater in the PVC-CHG group (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.02, 2.01). Thirteen percent (4/30) within the PVC-CHG group and none within the PVC-NC group (0/20) required a 25% increase in vasoactive infusion rates (P = .089) in relation to the procedure. Univariate logistic regression showed that PVC-CHG was significantly associated with a 20% change in PaO2/FiO2 (OR 7.54, 95% CI 1.37, 41.41). Multivariate logistic modeling showed that PVC-guided PEEP changes of ≥3 cm H2O, age ≤65 years, and pre-PVC FiO2 ≥ .85 were significantly associated with a 20% increase in PaO2/FiO2 (receiver operator area under the curve = .86). CONCLUSIONS: In the setting of acute lung injury, use of the constant-flow, pressure-volume curve to prescribe PEEP appears associated with improvement in oxygenation with limited risk of acute, process-related, cardiopulmonary deterioration.

Association between postoperative acute kidney injury and duration of cardiopulmonary bypass: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This meta-analysis examined the association between cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time and acute kidney injury (AKI). DESIGN: Meta-analysis of previously published studies. SETTING: Each single-center study was conducted in a surgical intensive care unit and/or academic or university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Adult patients undergoing heart surgery with CPB. INTERVENTIONS: A systematic literature review was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases and Google Scholar from January 1980 through September 2009. Initial search results were refined to include human subjects, age >18 years, randomized controlled trials, and prospective and retrospective cohort studies, meet the Acute Kidney Injury Network definition of renal failure, and report times on CPB. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The length of time on CPB has been implicated as an independent risk factor for development of AKI after CPB (AKI-CPB). The 9 independent studies included in the final meta-analysis had 12,466 patients who underwent CPB. Out of these, 756 patients (6.06%) developed AKI-CPB. In 7 of the 9 studies, the mean CPB times were statistically longer in the AKI-CPB cohort compared with the control group (cohort without AKI). The absolute mean differences in CPB time between the 2 groups were 25.65 minutes with the fixed-effects model and 23.18 minutes with the random-effects model. CONCLUSIONS: Longer CPB times are associated with a higher risk of developing AKI-CPB, which, in turn, has a significant effect on overall mortality as reported by the individual studies.

The risks of long-term use of proton pump inhibitors: a critical review.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are among the most frequently prescribed medications. Their use is likely even higher than estimated due to an increase in the number of PPIs available without a prescription. Appropriate indications for PPI use include Helicobacter pylori infection, erosive esophagitis, gastric ulcers, and stress ulcer prevention in high-risk critically ill patients. Unfortunately, PPIs are often used off-label for extended periods of time. This increase in PPI usage over the past two decades has called into question the long-term effects of these medications. The association between PPI use and infection, particularly Clostridium difficile and pneumonia, has been the subject of several studies. It's proposed that the alteration in gastrointestinal microflora by PPIs produces an environment conducive to development of these types of infections. At least one study has suggested that long-term PPI use increases the risk of dementia. Drug interactions are an important and often overlooked consideration when prescribing any medication. The potential interaction between PPIs and antiplatelet agents has been the subject of multiple studies. One of the more recent concerns with PPI use is their role in the development or progression of chronic kidney disease. There is also some literature suggesting that PPIs contribute to the development of various micronutrient deficiencies. Most of the literature examining the potential adverse effects of PPI use is composed of retrospective, observation studies. There is a need for higher quality studies exploring this relationship.

Tension pneumomediastnum: A rare cause of acute intraoperative circulatory collapse in the setting of unremarkable TEE findings.

DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: Operating room. PATIENT: 25YF, ASA IV E who underwent an emergent decompressive craniectomy for refractory intracranial hypertension secondary to acute intracranial hemorhage. INTERVENTIONS: A 25Y caucasian female presented with acute intracranial hemorrhage with intraventricular extension secondary to Moya Moya disease. Post admisison, she underwent an emergent decompressive craniectomy for medically refractory intracranial hypertension. Introperatively (post dural closure and bone flap removal) the patient developed acutely worsening peak and plateau pressures followed by pulseless electrical activity necessitating CPR with epinephrine and Vasopressin before return of circulation before return of circulation. Intraoperative TEE done during return of circulation, was essentially non diagnostic, the patient had normal breath sounds throughout, and non-contributory bronchoscopy findings. MEASUREMENTS: EKG, arterial blood pressure, heart rate, resp. rate, introperative tranesophageal echocardiogram (TEE), Pulse oximetry, serial arterial blood gases, introperative bronchoscopy, ventilatory peak pressures. MAIN RESULTS: A post operative chest CT revealed extensive pneumomediastinum with subcutaneous emphysema. The focussed introperative echocardiogram showed preserved left ventricular function and no evidence of tamponade physiology. CONCLUSIONS: Tension pneumomediastinum was the likely etiologic factor for the acute hemodynamic collapse and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of intraoperative circulatory arrest.

ECMO in major burn patients: feasibility and considerations when multiple modes of mechanical ventilation fail.

BACKGROUND: We report two cases of acute respiratory distress syndrome in burn patients who were successfully managed with good outcomes with extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) after failing multiple conventional modes of ventilation, and review the relevant literature. CASE PRESENTATION: The two patients were a 39-year-old male and 53-year-old male with modified Baux Scores of 79 and 78, respectively, with no known inhalation injury. After the initial modified Parkland-based fluid resuscitation and partial escharotomy, both patients developed worsening hypoxemia and acute respiratory distress syndrome. The hypoxemia continued to worsen on multiple modes of ventilation including volume control, pressure regulated volume control, pressure control, airway pressure release ventilation and volumetric diffusive ventilation. In both cases, the PaO2 ≤ 50 mm Hg on a FiO2 100% during the trial of mechanical ventilation. The deterioration was rapid (<12 h since onset of worsening oxygenation) in both cases. A decision was made to trial the patients on ECMO. Veno-Venous ECMO (V-V ECMO) was successfully initiated following cannulation-under transesophgeal echo guidance-with the dual lumen Avalon® (Maquet, NJ, USA) cannula. ECMO support was maintained for 4 and 24 days, respectively. Both patients were successfully weaned off ECMO and were discharged to rehabilitation following their complex hospital course. CONCLUSION: Early ECMO for isolated respiratory failure in the setting on maintained hemodynamics resulted in a positive outcome in our two burn patients suffered from acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Fluid resuscitation mediates the association between inhalational burn injury and acute kidney injury in the major burn population.

BACKGROUND: It is known that acute respiratory distress syndrome and acute lung injury are independent risk factors for developing acute kidney injury (AKI) through complex pathophysiologic mechanisms. Our specific aim is to evaluate the risk factors for AKI postburn injury and whether inhalation thermal injury is an independent risk factor for developing AKI in the major burn population. METHODS: This is an institutional review board-approved, retrospective cohort study of patients admitted to a tertiary burn intensive care unit between 2011 and 2013. We included adults (age 18 years or older) with major burn injury greater than or equal to 20% total burn surface area (TBSA) and patients with confirmed inhalation injury (±major burn). Acute kidney injury was defined using the acute kidney injury network serum creatinine criteria up to 5 days after admission. Patient demographics and clinical data were compared across cohorts using the Wilcoxon rank sum test or Pearson χ2 test, as appropriate. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the effect of inhalation injury and major burn on the incidence of AKI, adjusting for clinical and demographic confounders. RESULTS: Two hundred fifty-four patient records (90 with inhalation injury and 164 with major burn only) were evaluated. The mean age on admission was 47±19 years and 72% of the cohort were men. There were more men in the major burn group (78% vs 62%; P=.007). No other significant differences were observed in the baseline demographics. The overall incidence of AKI was 28% (95% confidence interval, 22, 33). The unadjusted odds of AKI were nearly double (odds ratio, 1.99; 95% confidence interval, 1.13, 3.49) among those with inhalation injury relative to those with major burn only. However, there was no evidence of an independent inhalational injury effect after adjusting for potential confounders. In particular, TBSA (P=.051), daily 24-hour fluid balance (P<.001), and most recent 24-hour albumin transfusion status (P=.002) were all significantly associated with AKI in the adjusted analysis. Age and packed red blood cell transfusion status were not significant. CONCLUSION: Inhalation thermal injury is not an independent risk factor for AKI after adjusting for TBSA and surrogates for fluid resuscitation. In patients with major burns, intensity of fluid resuscitation may mediate the development of AKI.