Canadian public perception of anesthesiologists: results from a national survey.

PURPOSE: As Canadian health systems experience greater pressure to deliver timely perioperative care, public opinion is likely to influence health care policy decisions. Since Canadian public perception of anesthesiologists is unknown, the goal of this Canadian-wide survey was to begin to quantify public opinion regarding anesthesiologists in Canada. METHODS: The Maru/Blue international market research group was contracted to survey the Canadian public on their perceptions of anesthesiologists. The anonymous bilingual polling surveys were presented to consenting Canadians, who earn credits from Maru/Blue that provide financial reward for participation, by means of an online survey tool. Results were weighted by education, age, sex, region, and language to match census data with an estimated margin of error of ± 3.0%, 19 times out of 20. RESULTS: In August 2020, 1,511 randomly selected consenting Canadian adults recruited by the Maru/Blue research group in all ten provinces answered five sequential questions with variably presented answers. A total of 812 (54%) respondents identified as female. Most participants were from Ontario (38%) and Quebec (24%). The majority of participants, 778 (52%), were over 55 yr of age, with 496 (33%) having an annual income of between CAD 50,000 and 100,000. Only 41% (624/1,511) of respondents identified the most responsible anesthesia provider as a physician, with the next most frequent response being that the anesthesia provider was unknown (350/1,511; 23%). The median [interquartile range] impression of anesthesiologists was favourable [favourable-somewhat favourable], with 310/1,511 (21%) expressing an unknown impression. CONCLUSIONS: Over half of surveyed Canadians did not identify the most responsible anesthesia provider as a physician.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: Alors que les systèmes de santé canadiens subissent une pression accrue pour fournir des soins périopératoires en temps opportun, l'opinion publique est susceptible d'influencer les décisions stratégiques en matière de soins de santé. Comme la perception du public canadien à l'égard des anesthésiologistes est inconnue, l'objectif de cette enquête pancanadienne était de commencer à quantifier l'opinion publique à l'égard des anesthésiologistes au Canada. MéTHODE: Le groupe d'études de marché international Maru/Blue a été mandaté pour sonder le public canadien sur ses perceptions des anesthésiologistes. Les sondages bilingues anonymes ont été présentés à des personnes canadiennes consentantes, qui obtiennent des crédits de Maru/Blue qui offrent une récompense financière pour leur participation, au moyen d'un outil de sondage en ligne. Les résultats ont été pondérés en fonction de l'éducation, l'âge, le sexe, la région et la langue pour apparier les données du recensement avec une marge d'erreur estimative de ± 3,0 %, 19 fois sur 20. RéSULTATS: En août 2020, 1511 personnes adultes canadiennes consentantes sélectionnées au hasard et recrutées par le groupe de recherche Maru/Blue dans les dix provinces ont répondu à cinq questions séquentielles avec des réponses présentées de façon variable. Au total, 812 des personnes ayant répondu (54 %) se sont identifiées comme des femmes. La plupart des participant·es venaient de l'Ontario (38 %) et du Québec (24 %). La majorité des participant·es, 778 (52 %), avaient plus de 55 ans, et 496 (33 %) avaient un revenu annuel compris entre 50 000 et 100 000 CAD. Seulement 41 % (624/1511) des personnes ayant répondu ont indiqué que le/la prestataire d'anesthésie le/la plus responsable était un·e médecin, la réponse la plus fréquente étant que le/la prestataire d'anesthésie était inconnu·e (350/1511; 23 %). L'impression médiane [écart interquartile] des anesthésiologistes était favorable [favorable - plutôt favorable], 310/1511 (21 %) exprimant une impression inconnue. CONCLUSION: Plus de la moitié des Canadiennes et Canadiens interrogé·es n'ont pas identifié le/la prestataire d'anesthésie le/la plus responsable comme étant un·e médecin.

The care of critically ill adults with COVID-19 in Ontario pediatric intensive care units.

PURPOSE: To describe and review the experience of two pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in Ontario, Canada, adapting and providing care to critically ill adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. CLINICAL FEATURES: At a time of extreme pressure to adult intensive care unit (ICU) capacity, two PICUs provided care to critically ill adults with COVID-19 pneumonia. Substantial yet rapid planning was required to facilitate safe delivery of critical care to adult patients while maintaining PICU services, including thoughtful development of care pathways and patient selection. To prepare clinical staff, several communication strategies, knowledge translation, skill consolidation, and system-adaptation mechanisms were developed. There was iterative adaptation of operational processes, including staffing models, specialist consultation, and the pharmacy. Care provided by the interprofessional teams was reoriented as appropriate to the needs of critically ill adults in close collaboration with adult ICU teams. Forty-one adults were admitted to the two PICUs over a 12-week period. In total, 36 patients (88%) received invasive ventilation, eight patients (20%) were supported with venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and six patients (15%) received continuous renal replacement therapy. Four died in the PICU during this period. Feedback from staff included anxiety around reorienting practice to the care of critically ill adults, physical exhaustion, and psychological distress. Importantly, staff also reported a renewed sense of purpose with participation in the program. CONCLUSION: Though challenging, the experience has provided opportunity to enhance collaboration with partner institutions and improve the care of older children and adolescents in the PICU.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: Nous avions pour objectif de décrire et examiner l'expérience de deux unités de soins intensifs pédiatriques (USIP) en Ontario, au Canada, qui se sont adaptées et ont fourni des soins aux adultes gravement malades pendant la pandémie de COVID-19. CARACTéRISTIQUES CLINIQUES: À l'époque où la capacité des unités de soins intensifs (USI) pour adultes était extrêmement sollicitée, deux USIP ont prodigué des soins à des adultes gravement malades souffrant de pneumonie liée à la COVID-19. Une planification substantielle mais rapide a été nécessaire pour faciliter la prestation sécuritaire de soins intensifs à une patientèle adulte tout en maintenant les services de l'USIP, y compris l'élaboration réfléchie des trajectoires de soins et la sélection de la patientèle. Pour préparer le personnel clinique, plusieurs stratégies de communication, d'application des connaissances, de consolidation des compétences et de mécanismes d'adaptation du système ont été élaborées. Il y a eu une adaptation progressive des processus opérationnels, y compris des modèles de dotation, des consultations de spécialistes et de la pharmacie. Les soins fournis par les équipes interprofessionnelles ont été réorientés en fonction des besoins des adultes gravement malades en étroite collaboration avec les équipes adultes de soins intensifs. Quarante et une personnes adultes ont été admises dans les deux unités de soins intensifs pédiatriques sur une période de 12 semaines. Au total, 36 adultes (88 %) ont bénéficié d'une ventilation invasive, huit personnes (20 %) ont reçu une oxygénation par membrane extracorporelle veino-veineuse, et six (15 %) ont reçu un traitement substitutif de l'insuffisance rénale en continu. Quatre personnes sont décédées à l'USIP au cours de cette période. Les commentaires du personnel comprenaient de l'anxiété liée à la réorientation de leur pratique vers des soins à des adultes gravement malades, l'épuisement physique et la détresse psychologique. Fait important, le personnel a également signalé un regain de motivation lié à la participation de leur USIP à ce programme. CONCLUSION: Bien que difficile, l'expérience a permis d'améliorer la collaboration avec les établissements partenaires et d'améliorer les soins aux enfants plus âgé·es et aux adolescent·es de l'USIP.

Dynamic Assessment of Fluid Responsiveness in Surgical ICU Patients Through Stroke Volume Variation is Associated With Decreased Length of Stay and Costs: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Static indices, such as the central venous pressure, have proven to be inaccurate predictors of fluid responsiveness. An emerging approach uses dynamic assessment of fluid responsiveness (FT-DYN), such as stroke volume variation (SVV) or surrogate dynamic variables, as more accurate measures of volume status. Recent work has demonstrated that goal-directed therapy guided by FT-DYN was associated with reduced intensive care unit (ICU) mortality; however, no study has specifically assessed this in surgical ICU patients. This study aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis on the impact of employing FT-DYN in the perioperative care of surgical ICU patients on length of stay in the ICU. As secondary objectives, we performed a cost analysis of FT-DYN and assessed the impact of FT-DYN versus standard care on hospital length of stay and mortality. We identified all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) through MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL that examined adult patients in the ICU who were randomized to standard care or to FT-DYN from inception to September 2017. Two investigators independently reviewed search results, identified appropriate studies, and extracted data using standardized spreadsheets. A random effect meta-analysis was carried out. Eleven RCTs were included with a total of 1015 patients. The incorporation of FT-DYN through SVV in surgical patients led to shorter ICU length of stay (weighted mean difference [WMD], -1.43d; 95% confidence interval [CI], -2.09 to -0.78), shorter hospital length of stay (WMD, -1.96d; 95% CI, -2.34 to -1.59), and trended toward improved mortality (odds ratio, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.30-1.03). There was a decrease in daily ICU-related costs per patient for those who received FT-DYN in the perioperative period (WMD, US$ -1619; 95% CI, -2173.68 to -1063.26). Incorporation of FT-DYN through SVV in the perioperative care of surgical ICU patients is associated with decreased ICU length of stay, hospital length of stay, and ICU costs.

Therapeutic alternatives and strategies for drug conservation in the intensive care unit during times of drug shortage: a report of the Ontario COVID-19 ICU Drug Task Force.

During the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) global pandemic, urgent strategies to alleviate shortages are required. Evaluation of the feasibility, practicality, and value of drug conservation strategies and therapeutic alternatives requires a collaborative approach at the provincial level. The Ontario COVID-19 ICU Drug Task Force was directed to create recommendations suggesting drug conservation strategies and therapeutic alternatives for essential drugs at risk of shortage in the intensive care unit during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recommendations were rapidly developed using a modified Delphi method and evaluated on their ease of implementation, feasibility, and supportive evidence. This article describes the recommendations for drug conservation strategies and therapeutic alternatives for drugs at risk of shortage that are commonly used in the care of critically ill patients. Recommendations are identified as preferred and secondary ones that might be less desirable. Although the impetus for generating this document was the COVID-19 pandemic, recommendations should also be applicable for mitigating drug shortages outside of a pandemic. Proposed provincial strategies for drug conservation and therapeutic alternatives may not all be appropriate for every institution. Local implementation will require consultation from end-users and hospital administrators. Competing equipment shortages and available resources should be considered when evaluating the appropriateness of each strategy.

RéSUMé: Pendant la pandémie mondiale du coronavirus (COVID-19), des stratégies urgentes pour réduire les pénuries sont nécessaires. L'évaluation de la faisabilité, de l'aspect pratique et du mérite des stratégies de préservation des médicaments et des alternatives thérapeutiques nécessite une approche collaborative au niveau provincial. Le Groupe de travail ontarien sur les médicaments à l'USI pendant la COVID-19 a reçu comme mandat d'élaborer des recommandations proposant des stratégies de préservation des médicaments et des alternatives thérapeutiques pour les médicaments essentiels utilisés dans les unités de soins intensifs courant un risque de pénurie pendant la pandémie de COVID-19. Des recommandations ont été rapidement élaborées en utilisant une méthode Delphi modifiée, puis évaluées selon leur facilité de mise en œuvre, leur faisabilité et les données probantes les préconisant. Cet article décrit les recommandations quant aux stratégies de préservation des médicaments et aux alternatives thérapeutiques aux médicaments possiblement à risque de pénurie fréquemment utilisés pour les soins des patients en état critique. Les recommandations sont identifiées comme 'à privilégier' ou 'secondaires' si moins souhaitables. Bien que la pandémie de la COVID-19 ait été l'impulsion incitant la création de ce document, ces recommandations devraient également être applicables pour réduire les pénuries de médicaments en contexte normal. Les stratégies provinciales proposées pour la préservation des médicaments et les alternatives thérapeutiques pourraient ne pas être adaptées pour toutes les institutions. La mise en œuvre locale nécessitera la consultation des utilisateurs et des administrateurs hospitaliers. Il faudrait tenir compte des pénuries de matériel concurrentes et des ressources disponibles lors de l'évaluation de la faisabilité de chaque stratégie.

Ethical failings of CPSO policy and the health care consent act: case review.

End-of-life disputes in Ontario are currently overwhelmingly assessed through the singular lens of patient autonomy. The current dispute resolution mechanism(s) does not adequately consider evidence-based medical guidelines, standards of care, the patient's best interests, expert opinion, or distributive justice. We discuss two cases adjudicated by the Consent and Capacity board of Ontario that demonstrate the over emphasis on patient autonomy. Current health care policy and the Health Care Consent Act also place emphasis on patient autonomy without considering other ethically defensible factors. We argue that current policy and legislation require amendment, and unless there are measures undertaken to modify them, both the quality of care provided and the long-term capabilities of the health care system to remain publicly-funded, comprehensive and equitable, are at stake.

Addressing bullying behaviour by patients and families.

This article explores the ethical dilemma of maintaining patient experience and care team well-being when faced with coercive behaviour, specifically bullying by patients, families and substitute decision-makers, which is directed toward providers and health support workers. We discuss some of the contributing societal and environmental factors, the ethical implications for health leaders, and suggest some practical options for managing bullying situations in hospitals.

Implementation of a multimodal patient safety improvement program "SafetyLEAP" in intensive care units.

Purpose Patient safety remains a top priority in healthcare. Many organizations have developed systems to monitor and prevent harm, and have invested in different approaches to quality improvement. Despite these organizational efforts to better detect adverse events, efficient resolution of safety problems remains a significant challenge. The authors developed and implemented a comprehensive multimodal patient safety improvement program called SafetyLEAP. The term "LEAP" is an acronym that highlights the three facets of the program including: a Leadership and Engagement approach; Audit and feedback; and a Planned improvement intervention. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the implementation of the SafetyLEAP program in the intensive care units (ICUs) of three large hospitals. Design/methodology/approach A comparative case study approach was used to compare and contrast the adherence to each component of the SafetyLEAP program. The study was conducted using a convenience sample of three ( n=3) ICUs from two provinces. Two reviewers independently evaluated major adherence metrics of the SafetyLEAP program for their completeness. Analysis was performed for each individual case, and across cases. Findings A total of 257 patients were included in the study. Overall, the proportion of the SafetyLEAP tasks completed was 64.47, 100, and 26.32 percent, respectively. ICU nos 1 and 2 were able to identify opportunities for improvement, follow a quality improvement process and demonstrate positive changes in patient safety. The main factors influencing adherence were the engagement of a local champion, competing priorities, and the identification of appropriate resources. Practical implications The SafetyLEAP program allowed for the identification of processes that could result in patient harm in the ICUs. However, the success in improving patient safety was dependent on the engagement of the care teams. Originality/value The authors developed an evidence-based approach to systematically and prospectively detect, improve, and evaluate actions related to patient safety.

Drug shortages in Canadian anesthesia: a national survey.

BACKGROUND: Canadian physicians are faced with an increasing frequency of drug shortages. We hypothesized that drug shortages have a clinical impact on anesthesia care in Canada. METHODS: We conducted a self-administered survey of anesthesiologists in Canada using the membership list of the Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society. For survey development, we identified key domains, including types of drug shortages, impact on the ability of anesthesia practitioners to provide general anesthesia care, and impact on patient outcomes. We undertook assessments of face validity, clinical sensibility, and content validity. Respondents were surveyed from January-April 2012. RESULTS: Completed valid questionnaires were submitted by 1,187 respondents (61.4%), and 779 (65.7%) of respondents described a shortage of one or more anesthesia or critical care drugs. Changes in anesthesia practice resulting from drug shortages were common; 586 (49%) respondents thought they had given an inferior anesthetic, and 361 (30%) reported administering medications with which they were unfamiliar. Respondents also reported that drug shortages were, at times, responsible for changes in the conduct of patient care, with 28 (2.4%) noting cancellation or postponement of surgery and 92 (7.8%) witnessing a drug error. One hundred sixty-five (13.9%) respondents regarded drug shortages as having prolonged recovery from anesthesia, and 124 (10.5%) viewed drug shortages as resulting in an increased number of postoperative complications, such as postoperative nausea and vomiting. INTERPRETATION: Drug shortages are common in anesthetic practice in Canada. This state of affairs may have a negative effect on how anesthesiologists practice anesthesia and may be associated with adverse patient outcomes.

STAR VaS--Short Term Atorvastatin Regime for Vasculopathic Subjects: a randomized placebo-controlled trial evaluating perioperative atorvastatin therapy in noncardiac surgery.

PURPOSE: Evidence suggests that statins reduce cardiovascular complications in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery, although questions remain regarding the mechanism of benefit and the preferred dosing strategy. In this trial, we evaluated the perioperative effects on C-reactive protein (CRP) that resulted from starting atorvastatin within seven days of noncardiac surgery. The objective was to identify anti-inflammatory effects of atorvastatin prior to conducting a large randomized trial with clinical end points. METHODS: In a single centre, parallel group, placebo-controlled trial, sixty high cardiac risk participants over age 45 yr undergoing noncardiac surgery were assigned randomly to one of three groups to receive atorvastatin 80 mg (A) and/or placebo (P). Group AA (n = 26) received atorvastatin seven days before surgery, the day of surgery, and for seven days post surgery. Group PA (n = 17) received placebo seven days before surgery, atorvastatin on the day of surgery, and atorvastatin for seven days post surgery. Group PP (n = 17) received placebo at all times. All participants, health care professionals, research assistants, and outcome adjudicators were masked to treatment allocation. Analyses were by intention to treat. The primary outcome was the C-reactive protein level at 48 hr. RESULTS: Fifty-six participants completed the 30-day follow-up. The mean (standard deviation) changes in CRP levels from baseline at 48 hr in Groups AA, PA, and PP were 141.0 (72.4), 153.5 (42.2), and 111.2 (84.6), respectively. The mean differences (95% confidence interval) at 48 hr for AA vs PA, AA vs PP, and PA vs PP were: -20.1 (-81.2 to 41.1), 22.7 (-31.7 to 77.2), and 42.8 (-20.0 to 105.7), respectively, adjusting for baseline CRP, type of procedure, presence of coronary artery disease, use of medications, and for multiple comparisons using Tukey's method. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of atorvastatin, initiated within seven days preoperatively, was not associated with clinically significant reductions in CRP levels.

Cost of Futile ICU Care in One Ontario Hospital.

Critical care is a costly and finite resource that provides the ability to manage patients with life-threatening illnesses in the most advanced forms available. However, not every condition benefits from critical care. There are unrecoverable health states in which it should not be used to perpetuate. Such situations are considered futile. The determination of medical futility remains controversial. In this study we describe the length of stay (LOS), cost, and long-term outcomes of 12 cases considered futile and that have been or were considered for adjudication by Ontario's Consent and Capacity Board (CBB). A chart review was undertaken to identify patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), whose care was deemed futile and cases were considered for, or brought before the CCB. Costs for each of these admissions were determined using the case-costing system of The Ottawa Hospital Data Warehouse. All 12 patients identified had a LOS of greater than 4 months (range: 122-704 days) and a median age 83.5 years. Seven patients died in hospital, while 5 were transferred to long term or acute care facilities. All patients ultimately died without returning to independent living situations. The total cost of care for these 12 patients was $7 897 557.85 (mean: $658 129.82). There is a significant economic cost of providing resource-intensive critical care to patients in which these treatments are considered futile. Clinicians should carefully consider the allocation of finite critical care resources in order to utilize them in a way that most benefits patients.

Efficiency and safety of a standardized protocol for intravenous insulin therapy in ICU patients with neurovascular or head injury.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the safety and efficiency of a protocol for glycemic control in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with neurovascular or head injury. METHODS: Two cohorts of 50 consecutive patients admitted to the ICU with an admission diagnosis of neurovascular or head injury before and after protocol implementation were evaluated. All patients in the interventional cohort received insulin using a standardized intravenous insulin infusion protocol targeting blood glucose levels of 7-9 mmol/l. Efficiency (time to reach and time within target range), safety (hypoglycemia), and nursing compliance (protocol violations) were evaluated. RESULTS: The median time to reach the target blood glucose range was shorter in the interventional cohort than the conventional cohort (5.0 h [0.5-20.5 h] vs. 12.9 h [1.3-90.3 h]; P < 0.001). More time was spent within target range in the interventional cohort than in the conventional cohort (36.4 +/- 16.3% vs. 27.1 +/- 19.0%; P < 0.001). The median prevalence of mild (<4.9 mmol/l) hypoglycemia (0 [0-1.11]% vs. 0.58 [0-2.79]%; P < 0.001) and moderate (<3.9) hypoglycemia (0[0-0.55]% vs. 0 [1-1.25]%; p < 0.001) was significantly lower in the interventional cohort. CONCLUSIONS: The intravenous insulin infusion protocol improved the safety and efficiency of glycemic control for ICU patients with neurovascular or head injury.

The Clinical Utility of Continuous QT Interval Monitoring in Patients Admitted With COVID-19 Compared With Standard of Care: A Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: QT interval monitoring has gained much interest during the COVID-19 pandemic because of the use of QT-prolonging medications and the concern about viral transmission with serial electrocardiograms (ECGs). We hypothesized that continuous telemetry-based QT monitoring is associated with better detection of prolonged QT episodes. METHODS: We introduced continuous cardiac telemetry (CCT) with an algorithm for automated QT interval monitoring to our designated COVID-19 units. The daily maximum automated heart rate-corrected QT (Auto-QTc) measurements were recorded. We compared the proportion of marked QTc prolongation (Long-QTc) episodes, defined as QTc ≥ 500 ms, in patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 who were admitted before and after CCT was implemented (control group vs CCT group, respectively). Manual QTc measurement by electrophysiologists was used to verify Auto-QTc. Charts were reviewed to describe the clinical response to Long-QTc episodes. RESULTS: We included 33 consecutive patients (total of 451 monitoring days). Long-QTc episodes were detected more frequently in the CCT group (69/206 [34%] vs 26/245 [11%]; P < 0.0001) and ECGs were performed less frequently (32/206 [16%] vs 78/245 [32%]; P < 0.0001). Auto-QTc correlated well with QTc measurement by electrophysiologists with an excellent agreement in detecting Long-QTc (κ = 0.8; P < 0.008). Only 28% of patients with Long-QTc episodes were treated with recommended therapies. There was 1 episode of torsade de pointes in the control group and none in the CCT group. CONCLUSIONS: Continuous QT interval monitoring is superior to standard of care in detecting episodes of Long-QTc with minimal need for ECGs. The clinical response to Long-QTc episodes is suboptimal.

INTRODUCTION: La surveillance de l'intervalle QT a suscité beaucoup d'intérêt durant la pandémie de la COVID-19 en raison de l'utilisation de médicaments prolongeant l'intervalle QT et les préoccupations quant à la transmission virale par les électrocardiogrammes (ECG) en série. Nous avons posé l'hypothèse que la surveillance en continu de l'intervalle QT par télémétrie était associée à une meilleure détection des épisodes de prolongation de l'intervalle QT. MÉTHODES: Nous avons introduit la télémétrie cardiaque en continu (TCC) à l'aide d'un algorithme de surveillance automatisée de l'intervalle QT dans nos unités de COVID-19. Les mesures automatisées quotidiennes de l'intervalle QT corrigé (auto-QTc) en fonction de la fréquence cardiaque maximale ont été enregistrées. Nous avons comparé la proportion des épisodes de prolongation marquée de l'intervalle QTc (QTc long), définie par un intervalle QTc ≥ 500 ms, chez les patients montrant une suspicion de COVID-19 ou ayant la COVID-19 qui avaient été admis avant et après la mise en place de la TCC (groupe témoin vs groupe de TCC, respectivement). La mesure manuelle de l'intervalle QTc par les électrophysiologistes a été utilisée pour vérifier les mesures auto-QTc. Nous avons passé en revue les dossiers pour décrire la réponse clinique aux épisodes de QTc long. RÉSULTATS: Nous avons sélectionné 33 patients consécutifs (total de 451 journées de surveillance). Les épisodes de QTc long étaient détectés plus fréquemment dans le groupe de TCC (69/206 [34 %] vs 26/245 [11 %]; p < 0,0001) et les ECG étaient moins fréquemment effectués (32/206 [16 %] vs 78/245 [32 %]; p < 0,0001). Les mesures auto-QTc corrélaient bien avec les mesures manuelles du QTc par les électrophysiologistes et montraient une excellente concordance dans la détection de QTc long (κ = 0,8; p < 0,008). Seuls 28 % des patients ayant des épisodes de QTc long ont reçu les thérapies recommandées. Il y a eu une épisode de torsade de pointes dans le groupe témoin et aucun dans le groupe de TCC. CONCLUSIONS: La surveillance en continu de l'intervalle QT est supérieure à la norme de soins dans la détection des épisodes de QTc long et exige peu d'ECG. La réponse clinique aux épisodes de QTc long est sous-optimale.

Substantial variation of both opinions and practice regarding perioperative fluid resuscitation.

BACKGROUND: There are no current standards of care guiding perioperative fluid administration, and clinicians continue to debate restrictive versus liberal fluid administration. We sought to simultaneously evaluate the opinions and practice of surgeons, intensivists and anesthesiologists in a single centre regarding perioperative fluid resuscitation. METHODS: A postal survey sent to surgeons, intensivists and anesthesiologists in a single academic health care centre presented case-based scenarios followed by questions on fluid requirements and 5-point Likert scales involving statements about resuscitation. We performed a retrospective chart review to evaluate amount and type of intra-and postoperative (72-h) fluid administration, urine output and postoperative ventilation time in patients undergoing uncomplicated esophagectomy or pneumonectomy. RESULTS: Seventy-four of 77 respondents (96%) agreed that precise fluid resuscitation diminishes the risk of adverse events. Surgeons overall gave less fluids than anesthesiologists or intensivists and used fewer resuscitation end points to estimate fluid requirements perioperatively. For right hemicolectomies, only 3% of surgeons chose a fluid rate greater than 150 mL/h, compared with 55% of intensivists. We reviewed 49 patients' charts (25 who had pneumonectomies, 24 who had esophagectomies) retrospectively. The coefficient of variation (COV = standard deviation divided by its mean) of fluid administration intraoperatively was 0.56 for pneumonectomy and 0.35 for esophagectomy; postoperatively, the COV was greater than 0.50 for the first 24 hours, but less than 0.50 after 24 hours postoperatively. CONCLUSION: The presence of substantial variability of both opinion and practice of perioperative fluid resuscitation in a single centre supports the need for further research to identify objective methods to define perioperative fluid requirements and standards of perioperative resuscitation.

An Analysis of Pay-for-Performance Schemes and Their Potential Impacts on Health Systems and Outcomes for Patients.

Pay-for-performance (P4P) programs have been introduced into the Canadian medical system in the last decades. This paper examines the underlying characteristics of P4P and describes both their advantages and drawbacks. Most P4P programs provide the advantage of rewarding medical acts, thus providing an incentive to take on complex patients. There is a variety of nuanced P4P initiatives, which provide financial incentive according to differing criteria, based on quality measures, incentives, and/or benchmark structures. However, there is no conclusive evidence demonstrating that P4P programs provide better value for money than traditional pay schemes, regardless of particular structural choices. Some evidence has even shown that P4P may be detrimental, especially in disadvantaged and high-risk populations. Additionally, there are a number of ethical and practical concerns that arise with the use of P4P, such as the risk of financial incentives being misused or misinterpreted and patients being refused or referred during treatment. P4P initiatives require careful examination and the creation of solid, evidence-based criteria for evaluation and implementation in Canadian medical systems.

Monitoring intensive care unit performance-impact of a novel individualised performance scorecard in critical care medicine: a mixed-methods study protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Patients admitted to a critical care medicine (CCM) environment, including an intensive care unit (ICU), are susceptible to harm and significant resource utilisation. Therefore, a strategy to optimise provider performance is required. Performance scorecards are used by institutions for the purposes of driving quality improvement. There is no widely accepted or standardised scorecard that has been used for overall CCM performance. We aim to improve quality of care, patient safety and patient/family experience in CCM practice through the utilisation of a standardised, repeatable and multidimensional performance scorecard, designed to provide a continuous review of ICU physician and nurse practice, as well as departmental metrics. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This will be a mixed-methods, controlled before and after study to assess the impact of a CCM-specific quality scorecard. Scorecard metrics were developed through expert consensus and existing literature. The study will include 19 attending CCM physicians and approximately 300 CCM nurses. Patient data for scorecard compilation are collected daily from bedside flow sheets. Preintervention baseline data will be collected for 6 months for each participant. After this, each participant will receive their scorecard measures. Following a 3-month washout period, postintervention data will be collected for 6 months. The primary outcome will be change in performance metrics following the provision of scorecard feedback to subjects. A cost analysis will also be performed, with the purpose of comparing total ICU costs prior to implementation of the scorecard with total ICU costs following implementation of the scorecard. The qualitative portion will include interviews with participants following the intervention phase. Interviews will be analysed in order to identify recurrent themes and subthemes, for the purposes of driving scorecard improvement. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This protocol has been approved by the local research ethics board. Publication of results is anticipated in 2019. If this intervention is found to improve patient- and unit-directed outcomes, with evidence of cost-effectiveness, it would support the utilisation of such a scorecard as a quality standard in CCM.

Approach to economic analysis in critical care.

There are 4 general economic analyses used in health care: cost minimization, cost-benefit, cost-effectiveness, and cost utility. In this review, we provide an overview of each of these analyses and examine their appropriateness and effectiveness in assessing critical care costs. In the intensive care unit setting, it is particularly important to consider the patients' quality of life following the treatment of critical illness and to adopt a societal perspective when conducting economic analyses. Therefore, of the 4 economic analyses we cover, we recommend the use of cost-effectiveness and cost utility analyses.

A comparison of global rating scale and checklist scores in the validation of an evaluation tool to assess performance in the resuscitation of critically ill patients during simulated emergencies (abbreviated as "CRM simulator study IB").

BACKGROUND: Crisis resource management (CRM) skills are a set of nonmedical skills required to manage medical emergencies. There is currently no gold standard for evaluation of CRM performance. A prior study examined the use of a global rating scale (GRS) to evaluate CRM performance. This current study compared the use of a GRS and a checklist as formal rating instruments to evaluate CRM performance during simulated emergencies. METHODS: First-year and third-year residents participated in two simulator scenarios each. Three raters then evaluated resident performance in CRM using edited video recordings using both a GRS and a checklist. The Ottawa GRS provides a seven-point anchored ordinal scale for performance in five categories of CRM, and an overall performance score. The Ottawa CRM checklist provides 12 items in the five categories of CRM, with a maximum cumulative score of 30 points. Construct validity was measured on the basis of content validity, response process, internal structure, and response to other variables. T-test analysis of Ottawa GRS scores was conducted to examine response to the variable of level of training. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) scores were used to measure inter-rater reliability for both scenarios. RESULTS: Thirty-two first-year and 28 third-year residents participated in the study. Third-year residents produced higher mean scores for overall CRM performance than first-year residents (P < 0.05), and in all individual categories within the Ottawa GRS (P < 0.05) and the Ottawa CRM checklist (P < 0.05). This difference was noted for both scenarios and for each individual rater (P < 0.05). No statistically significant difference in resident scores was observed between scenarios for both instruments. ICC scores of 0.59 and 0.61 were obtained for Scenarios 1 and 2 with the Ottawa GRS, whereas ICC scores of 0.63 and 0.55 were obtained with the Ottawa CRM checklist. Users indicated a strong preference for the Ottawa GRS given ease of scoring, presence of an overall score, and the potential for formative evaluation. CONCLUSION: Construct validity seems to be present when using both the Ottawa GRS and CRM checklist to evaluate CRM performance during simulated emergencies. Data also indicate the presence of moderate inter-rater reliability when using both the Ottawa GRS and CRM checklist.

No evidence for decreased incidence of aspiration after rapid sequence induction.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this structured, evidence-based, clinical update was to determine if rapid sequence induction is a safe or effective technique to decrease the risk of aspiration or other complications of airway management. SOURCE: In June 2006 a structured search of MEDLINE from 1966 to present using OVID software was undertaken with the assistance of a reference librarian. Medical subject headings and text words describing rapid sequence induction or intubation (RSI), crash induction or intubation, cricoid pressure and emergency airway intubation were employed. OVID's therapy (sensitivity) algorithm was used to maximize the detection of randomized trials while excluding non-randomized research. The bibliographies of eligible publications were hand-searched to identify trials not identified in the electronic search. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A total of 184 clinical trials were identified of which 163 were randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Of these clinical trials, 126 evaluated different drug regimens with 114 being RCTs. Only 21 clinical trials evaluated non-pharmacologic aspects of the RSI with 18 RCTs identified. A parallel search found 52 trials evaluating cricoid pressure (outside of the context of an RSI technique) with 44 classified as RCTs. Definitive outcomes such as prevention of aspiration and mortality benefit could not be evaluated from the trials. Likewise, the impact on adverse outcomes of the different components of RSI could not be ascertained. CONCLUSION: An absence of evidence from RCTs suggests that the decision to use RSI during management can neither be supported nor discouraged on the basis of quality evidence.