Prediction and Outcome of Intensive Care Unit-Acquired Paresis.

BACKGROUND: Intensive care unit-acquired paresis (ICUAP) is associated with poor outcomes. Our objective was to evaluate predictors for ICUAP and the short-term outcomes associated with this condition. METHODS: A secondary analysis of a prospective study including 4157 mechanically ventilated adults in 494 intensive care units from 39 countries. After sedative interruption, patients were screened for ICUAP daily, which was defined as the presence of symmetric and flaccid quadriparesis associated with decreased or absent deep tendon reflexes. A multinomial logistic regression was used to create a predictive model for ICUAP. Propensity score matching was used to estimate the relationship between ICUAP and short-term outcomes (ie, weaning failure and intensive care unit [ICU] mortality). RESULTS: Overall, 114 (3%) patients had ICUAP. Variables associated with ICUAP were duration of mechanical ventilation (relative risk ratio [RRR] per day, 1.10; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.08-1.12), steroid therapy (RRR 1.8; 95% CI, 1.2-2.8), insulin therapy (RRR 1.8; 95% CI 1.2-2.7), sepsis (RRR 1.9; 95% CI: 1.2 to 2.9), acute renal failure (RRR 2.2; 95% CI 1.5-3.3), and hematological failure (RRR 1.9; 95% CI: 1.2-2.9). Coefficients were used to generate a weighted scoring system to predict ICUAP. ICUAP was significantly associated with both weaning failure (paired rate difference of 22.1%; 95% CI 9.8-31.6%) and ICU mortality (paired rate difference 10.5%; 95% CI 0.1-24.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Intensive care unit-acquired paresis is relatively uncommon but is significantly associated with weaning failure and ICU mortality. We constructed a weighted scoring system, with good discrimination, to predict ICUAP in mechanically ventilated patients at the time of awakening.

Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock: 2016.

OBJECTIVE: To provide an update to "Surviving Sepsis Campaign Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock: 2012." DESIGN: A consensus committee of 55 international experts representing 25 international organizations was convened. Nominal groups were assembled at key international meetings (for those committee members attending the conference). A formal conflict-of-interest (COI) policy was developed at the onset of the process and enforced throughout. A stand-alone meeting was held for all panel members in December 2015. Teleconferences and electronic-based discussion among subgroups and among the entire committee served as an integral part of the development. METHODS: The panel consisted of five sections: hemodynamics, infection, adjunctive therapies, metabolic, and ventilation. Population, intervention, comparison, and outcomes (PICO) questions were reviewed and updated as needed, and evidence profiles were generated. Each subgroup generated a list of questions, searched for best available evidence, and then followed the principles of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system to assess the quality of evidence from high to very low, and to formulate recommendations as strong or weak, or best practice statement when applicable. RESULTS: The Surviving Sepsis Guideline panel provided 93 statements on early management and resuscitation of patients with sepsis or septic shock. Overall, 32 were strong recommendations, 39 were weak recommendations, and 18 were best-practice statements. No recommendation was provided for four questions. CONCLUSIONS: Substantial agreement exists among a large cohort of international experts regarding many strong recommendations for the best care of patients with sepsis. Although a significant number of aspects of care have relatively weak support, evidence-based recommendations regarding the acute management of sepsis and septic shock are the foundation of improved outcomes for these critically ill patients with high mortality.

Management and outcome of mechanically ventilated patients after cardiac arrest.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to describe and compare the changes in ventilator management and complications over time, as well as variables associated with 28-day hospital mortality in patients receiving mechanical ventilation (MV) after cardiac arrest. METHODS: We performed a secondary analysis of three prospective, observational multicenter studies conducted in 1998, 2004 and 2010 in 927 ICUs from 40 countries. We screened 18,302 patients receiving MV for more than 12 hours during a one-month-period. We included 812 patients receiving MV after cardiac arrest. We collected data on demographics, daily ventilator settings, complications during ventilation and outcomes. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to calculate odds ratios, determining which variables within 24 hours of hospital admission were associated with 28-day hospital mortality and occurrence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and pneumonia acquired during ICU stay at 48 hours after admission. RESULTS: Among 812 patients, 100 were included from 1998, 239 from 2004 and 473 from 2010. Ventilatory management changed over time, with decreased tidal volumes (VT) (1998: mean 8.9 (standard deviation (SD) 2) ml/kg actual body weight (ABW), 2010: 6.7 (SD 2) ml/kg ABW; 2004: 9 (SD 2.3) ml/kg predicted body weight (PBW), 2010: 7.95 (SD 1.7) ml/kg PBW) and increased positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) (1998: mean 3.5 (SD 3), 2010: 6.5 (SD 3); P <0.001). Patients included from 2010 had more sepsis, cardiovascular dysfunction and neurological failure, but 28-day hospital mortality was similar over time (52% in 1998, 57% in 2004 and 52% in 2010). Variables independently associated with 28-day hospital mortality were: older age, PaO2 <60 mmHg, cardiovascular dysfunction and less use of sedative agents. Higher VT, and plateau pressure with lower PEEP were associated with occurrence of ARDS and pneumonia acquired during ICU stay. CONCLUSIONS: Protective mechanical ventilation with lower VT and higher PEEP is more commonly used after cardiac arrest. The incidence of pulmonary complications decreased, while other non-respiratory organ failures increased with time. The application of protective mechanical ventilation and the prevention of single and multiple organ failure may be considered to improve outcome in patients after cardiac arrest.

Nonelective surgery at night and in-hospital mortality: Prospective observational data from the European Surgical Outcomes Study.

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that sleep deprivation associated with night-time working may adversely affect performance resulting in a reduction in the safety of surgery and anaesthesia. OBJECTIVE: Our primary objective was to evaluate an association between nonelective night-time surgery and in-hospital mortality. We hypothesised that urgent surgery performed during the night was associated with higher in-hospital mortality and also an increase in the duration of hospital stay and the number of admissions to critical care. DESIGN: A prospective cohort study. This is a secondary analysis of a large database related to perioperative care and outcome (European Surgical Outcome Study). SETTING: Four hundred and ninety-eight hospitals in 28 European countries. PATIENTS: Men and women older than 16 years who underwent nonelective, noncardiac surgery were included according to time of the procedure. INTERVENTION: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality; the secondary outcome was the duration of hospital stay and critical care admission. RESULTS: Eleven thousand two hundred and ninety patients undergoing urgent surgery were included in the analysis with 636 in-hospital deaths (5.6%). Crude mortality odds ratios (ORs) increased sequentially from daytime [426 deaths (5.3%)] to evening [150 deaths (6.0%), OR 1.14; 95% confidence interval 0.94 to 1.38] to night-time [60 deaths (8.3%), OR 1.62; 95% confidence interval 1.22 to 2.14]. Following adjustment for confounding factors, surgery during the evening (OR 1.09; 95% confidence interval 0.91 to 1.31) and night (OR 1.20; 95% confidence interval 0.9 to 1.6) was not associated with an increased risk of postoperative death. Admittance rate to an ICU increased sequentially from daytime [891 (11.1%)], to evening [347 (13.8%)] to night time [149 (20.6%)]. CONCLUSION: In patients undergoing nonelective urgent noncardiac surgery, in-hospital mortality was associated with well known risk factors related to patients and surgery, but we did not identify any relationship with the time of day at which the procedure was performed. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT01203605.

Evolution of mortality over time in patients receiving mechanical ventilation.

RATIONALE: Baseline characteristics and management have changed over time in patients requiring mechanical ventilation; however, the impact of these changes on patient outcomes is unclear. OBJECTIVES: To estimate whether mortality in mechanically ventilated patients has changed over time. METHODS: Prospective cohort studies conducted in 1998, 2004, and 2010, including patients receiving mechanical ventilation for more than 12 hours in a 1-month period, from 927 units in 40 countries. To examine effects over time on mortality in intensive care units, we performed generalized estimating equation models. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We included 18,302 patients. The reasons for initiating mechanical ventilation varied significantly among cohorts. Ventilatory management changed over time (P < 0.001), with increased use of noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation (5% in 1998 to 14% in 2010), a decrease in tidal volume (mean 8.8 ml/kg actual body weight [SD = 2.1] in 1998 to 6.9 ml/kg [SD = 1.9] in 2010), and an increase in applied positive end-expiratory pressure (mean 4.2 cm H2O [SD = 3.8] in 1998 to 7.0 cm of H2O [SD = 3.0] in 2010). Crude mortality in the intensive care unit decreased in 2010 compared with 1998 (28 versus 31%; odds ratio, 0.87; 95% confidence interval, 0.80-0.94), despite a similar complication rate. Hospital mortality decreased similarly. After adjusting for baseline and management variables, this difference remained significant (odds ratio, 0.78; 95% confidence interval, 0.67-0.92). CONCLUSIONS: Patient characteristics and ventilation practices have changed over time, and outcomes of mechanically ventilated patients have improved. Clinical trials registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01093482).

Mortality after surgery in Europe: a 7 day cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Clinical outcomes after major surgery are poorly described at the national level. Evidence of heterogeneity between hospitals and health-care systems suggests potential to improve care for patients but this potential remains unconfirmed. The European Surgical Outcomes Study was an international study designed to assess outcomes after non-cardiac surgery in Europe. METHODS: We did this 7 day cohort study between April 4 and April 11, 2011. We collected data describing consecutive patients aged 16 years and older undergoing inpatient non-cardiac surgery in 498 hospitals across 28 European nations. Patients were followed up for a maximum of 60 days. The primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcome measures were duration of hospital stay and admission to critical care. We used χ(2) and Fisher's exact tests to compare categorical variables and the t test or the Mann-Whitney U test to compare continuous variables. Significance was set at p<0·05. We constructed multilevel logistic regression models to adjust for the differences in mortality rates between countries. FINDINGS: We included 46,539 patients, of whom 1855 (4%) died before hospital discharge. 3599 (8%) patients were admitted to critical care after surgery with a median length of stay of 1·2 days (IQR 0·9-3·6). 1358 (73%) patients who died were not admitted to critical care at any stage after surgery. Crude mortality rates varied widely between countries (from 1·2% [95% CI 0·0-3·0] for Iceland to 21·5% [16·9-26·2] for Latvia). After adjustment for confounding variables, important differences remained between countries when compared with the UK, the country with the largest dataset (OR range from 0·44 [95% CI 0·19-1·05; p=0·06] for Finland to 6·92 [2·37-20·27; p=0·0004] for Poland). INTERPRETATION: The mortality rate for patients undergoing inpatient non-cardiac surgery was higher than anticipated. Variations in mortality between countries suggest the need for national and international strategies to improve care for this group of patients. FUNDING: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine, European Society of Anaesthesiology.

Patterns and early evolution of organ failure in the intensive care unit and their relation to outcome.

INTRODUCTION: Recognition of patterns of organ failure may be useful in characterizing the clinical course of critically ill patients. We investigated the patterns of early changes in organ dysfunction/failure in intensive care unit (ICU) patients and their relation to outcome. METHODS: Using the database from a large prospective European study, we studied 2,933 patients who had stayed more than 48 hours in the ICU and described patterns of organ failure and their relation to outcome. Patients were divided into three groups: patients without sepsis, patients in whom sepsis was diagnosed within the first 48 hours after ICU admission, and patients in whom sepsis developed more than 48 hours after admission. Organ dysfunction was assessed by using the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score. RESULTS: A total of 2,110 patients (72% of the study population) had organ failure at some point during their ICU stay. Patients who exhibited an improvement in organ function in the first 24 hours after admission to the ICU had lower ICU and hospital mortality rates compared with those who had unchanged or increased SOFA scores (12.4 and 18.4% versus 19.6 and 24.5%, P < 0.05, pairwise). As expected, organ failure was more common in sepsis than in nonsepsis patients. In patients with single-organ failure, in-hospital mortality was greater in sepsis than in nonsepsis patients. However, in patients with multiorgan failure, mortality rates were similar regardless of the presence of sepsis. Irrespective of the presence of sepsis, delta SOFA scores over the first 4 days in the ICU were higher in nonsurvivors than in survivors and decreased significantly over time in survivors. CONCLUSIONS: Early changes in organ function are strongly related to outcome. In patients with single-organ failure, in-hospital mortality was higher in sepsis than in nonsepsis patients. However, in multiorgan failure, mortality rates were not influenced by the presence of sepsis.

Admission and discharge of critically ill patients.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The intensive care unit (ICU) provides continuous surveillance and specialized care to acutely ill patients. The decisions on patient admission and discharge should be based on common clinical criteria in order to guarantee equity. RECENT FINDINGS: The survival benefit of early admission to intensive care has been demonstrated recently. Sometimes, the number of potential patients may exceed the available beds making triage of the patients necessary. The prioritization model based on the benefit that the patient can have from the admission is the most used. In the case of the outbreak peak of pandemic A H1N1 flu, a triage plan using Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score combined with inclusion and exclusion criteria to complement clinical judgment has been recommended. Nevertheless, studies have shown that this triage could lead to withdrawal of life support in patients who survive. Triage implies refusal of some patients, and refusal rates vary greatly even across the same country. Policies for discharge from intensive care show wide variability influenced by the availability of step-down facilities. SUMMARY: The decisions to admit and discharge patients depend on patient, structure and physician-related variables. Early ICU admission of the critically ill patient is beneficial. Future analysis should also investigate economic parameters.

Characterizing performance profiles of ICUs.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Benchmarking of the ICU was till last year based on the assumption that performance was independent of the severity of illness of the admitted patients. In the past years, this assumption has been challenged several times, but only last year a concrete method to evaluate the performance of individual ICUs through the calculation and visualization of risk profiles was proposed and experimentally tested in a cohort of 102 561 patients consecutively admitted to 77 ICUs in Austria, belonging to the Austrian Center of Documentation and Quality Assurance in Intensive Care Medicine. RECENT FINDINGS: The demonstration, although using the New Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS II), is independent of the specific general outcome prediction model used. The method allows the computation of individual risk profiles for all ICUs in the data set under analysis and both the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test statistics and the histogram of the corresponding P values demonstrated a good fit of the individual risk models. SUMMARY: The new method, the Risk Profile Management method, makes it possible to evaluate individual ICUs on the basis of the specific risk for patients to die compared with a reference sample over the whole spectrum of hospital mortality. This way, even ICUs operating with different levels of mean severity of illness of the admitted patients can be directly compared, giving a clear advantage over the use of the conventional single-point estimate of the overall observed-to-expected mortality ratio.

Sepsis mortality prediction based on predisposition, infection and response.

OBJECTIVE: To empirically test, based on a large multicenter, multinational database, whether a modified PIRO (predisposition, insult, response, and organ dysfunction) concept could be applied to predict mortality in patients with infection and sepsis. DESIGN: Substudy of a multicenter multinational cohort study (SAPS 3). PATIENTS: A total of 2,628 patients with signs of infection or sepsis who stayed in the ICU for >48 h. Three boxes of variables were defined, according to the PIRO concept. Box 1 (Predisposition) contained information about the patient's condition before ICU admission. Box 2 (Injury) contained information about the infection at ICU admission. Box 3 (Response) was defined as the response to the infection, expressed as a Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score after 48 h. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Most of the infections were community acquired (59.6%); 32.5% were hospital acquired. The median age of the patients was 65 (50-75) years, and 41.1% were female. About 22% (n=576) of the patients presented with infection only, 36.3% (n=953) with signs of sepsis, 23.6% (n=619) with severe sepsis, and 18.3% (n=480) with septic shock. Hospital mortality was 40.6% overall, greater in those with septic shock (52.5%) than in those with infection (34.7%). Several factors related to predisposition, infection and response were associated with hospital mortality. CONCLUSION: The proposed three-level system, by using objectively defined criteria for risk of mortality in sepsis, could be used by physicians to stratify patients at ICU admission or shortly thereafter, contributing to a better selection of management according to the risk of death.

Outcome prediction in critical care: the Simplified Acute Physiology Score models.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Outcome prediction models measuring severity of illness of patients admitted to the intensive care unit should predict hospital mortality. This review describes the state-of-the-art of Simplified Acute Physiology Score models from the clinical and managerial perspectives. Methodological issues concerning the effects of differences between new samples and original databases in which the models were developed are considered. RECENT FINDINGS: The progressive lack of fit of the Simplified Acute Physiology Score II in independent intensive care unit populations induced investigators to propose customizations and expansions as potential evolutions for Simplified Acute Physiology Score II. We do not know whether those solutions did solve the issue because there are no demonstrations of consistent good fit in new databases. The recently developed Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3 Admission Score with customization for geographical areas is discussed. The points shared by the Simplified Acute Physiology Score models and the pros and cons for each of them are introduced. SUMMARY: Comparisons of intensive care unit performance should take into account not only the patient severity of illness, but also the effect of the 'intensive care unit variable', that is, differences in human resources, structure, equipment, management and organization of the intensive care unit. In the future, moving from patient and geographical area adjustment to resource use could allow the user to adjust for differences in healthcare provision.

Variability in outcome and resource use in intensive care units.

OBJECTIVE: To examine variability in outcome and resource use between ICUs. Secondary aims: to assess whether outcome and resource use are related to ICU structure and process, to explore factors associated with efficient resource use. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cohort study, based on the SAPS 3 database in 275 ICUs worldwide. PATIENTS: 16,560 adults. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Outcome was defined by standardized mortality rate (SMR). Standardized resource use (SRU) was calculated based on length of stay in the ICU, adjusted for severity of acute illness. Each unit was assigned to one of four groups: "most efficient" (SMR and SRU < median); "least efficient" (SMR, SRU > median); "overachieving" (low SMR, high SRU), "underachieving" (high SMR, low SRU). Univariate analysis and stepwise logistic regression were used to test for factors separating "most" from "least efficient" units. Overall median SMR was 1.00 (IQR 0.77-1.28) and SRU 1.07 (0.76-1.58). There were 91 "most efficient", 91 "least efficient", 47 "overachieving", and 46 "underachieving" ICUs. Number of physicians, of full-time specialists, and of nurses per bed, clinical rounds, availability of physicians, presence of emergency department, and geographical region were significant in univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis only interprofessional rounds, emergency department, and geographical region entered the model as significant. CONCLUSIONS: Despite considerable variability in outcome and resource use only few factors of ICU structure and process were associated with efficient use of ICU. This suggests that other confounding factors play an important role.

Hemodynamic monitoring in shock and implications for management. International Consensus Conference, Paris, France, 27-28 April 2006.

OBJECTIVE: Shock is a severe syndrome resulting in multiple organ dysfunction and a high mortality rate. The goal of this consensus statement is to provide recommendations regarding the monitoring and management of the critically ill patient with shock. METHODS: An international consensus conference was held in April 2006 to develop recommendations for hemodynamic monitoring and implications for management of patients with shock. Evidence-based recommendations were developed, after conferring with experts and reviewing the pertinent literature, by a jury of 11 persons representing five critical care societies. DATA SYNTHESIS: A total of 17 recommendations were developed to provide guidance to intensive care physicians monitoring and caring for the patient with shock. Topics addressed were as follows: (1) What are the epidemiologic and pathophysiologic features of shock in the ICU? (2) Should we monitor preload and fluid responsiveness in shock? (3) How and when should we monitor stroke volume or cardiac output in shock? (4) What markers of the regional and micro-circulation can be monitored, and how can cellular function be assessed in shock? (5) What is the evidence for using hemodynamic monitoring to direct therapy in shock? One of the most important recommendations was that hypotension is not required to define shock, and as a result, importance is assigned to the presence of inadequate tissue perfusion on physical examination. Given the current evidence, the only bio-marker recommended for diagnosis or staging of shock is blood lactate. The jury also recommended against the routine use of (1) the pulmonary artery catheter in shock and (2) static preload measurements used alone to predict fluid responsiveness. CONCLUSIONS: This consensus statement provides 17 different recommendations pertaining to the monitoring and caring of patients with shock. There were some important questions that could not be fully addressed using an evidence-based approach, and areas needing further research were identified.

Association between ventilatory settings and development of acute respiratory distress syndrome in mechanically ventilated patients due to brain injury.

PURPOSE: In neurologically critically ill patients with mechanical ventilation (MV), the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality, but the role of ventilatory management has been scarcely evaluated. We evaluate the association of tidal volume, level of PEEP and driving pressure with the development of ARDS in a population of patients with brain injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a secondary analysis of a prospective, observational study on mechanical ventilation. RESULTS: We included 986 patients mechanically ventilated due to an acute brain injury (hemorrhagic stroke, ischemic stroke or brain trauma). Incidence of ARDS in this cohort was 3%. Multivariate analysis suggested that driving pressure could be associated with the development of ARDS (odds ratio for unit increment of driving pressure 1.12; confidence interval for 95%: 1.01 to 1.23) whereas we did not observe association for tidal volume (in ml per kg of predicted body weight) or level of PEEP. ARDS was associated with an increase in mortality, longer duration of mechanical ventilation, and longer ICU length of stay. CONCLUSIONS: In a cohort of brain-injured patients the development of ARDS was not common. Driving pressure was associated with the development of this disease.

Severe hypercapnia and outcome of mechanically ventilated patients with moderate or severe acute respiratory distress syndrome.

PURPOSE: To analyze the relationship between hypercapnia developing within the first 48 h after the start of mechanical ventilation and outcome in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a secondary analysis of three prospective non-interventional cohort studies focusing on ARDS patients from 927 intensive care units (ICUs) in 40 countries. These patients received mechanical ventilation for more than 12 h during 1-month periods in 1998, 2004, and 2010. We used multivariable logistic regression and a propensity score analysis to examine the association between hypercapnia and ICU mortality. MAIN OUTCOMES: We included 1899 patients with ARDS in this study. The relationship between maximum PaCO2 in the first 48 h and mortality suggests higher mortality at or above PaCO2 of ≥50 mmHg. Patients with severe hypercapnia (PaCO2 ≥50 mmHg) had higher complication rates, more organ failures, and worse outcomes. After adjusting for age, SAPS II score, respiratory rate, positive end-expiratory pressure, PaO2/FiO2 ratio, driving pressure, pressure/volume limitation strategy (PLS), corrected minute ventilation, and presence of acidosis, severe hypercapnia was associated with increased risk of ICU mortality [odds ratio (OR) 1.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.32 to 2.81; p = 0.001]. In patients with severe hypercapnia matched for all other variables, ventilation with PLS was associated with higher ICU mortality (OR 1.58, CI 95% 1.04-2.41; p = 0.032). CONCLUSIONS: Severe hypercapnia appears to be independently associated with higher ICU mortality in patients with ARDS. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier, NCT01093482.

Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock: 2016.

OBJECTIVE: To provide an update to "Surviving Sepsis Campaign Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock: 2012". DESIGN: A consensus committee of 55 international experts representing 25 international organizations was convened. Nominal groups were assembled at key international meetings (for those committee members attending the conference). A formal conflict-of-interest (COI) policy was developed at the onset of the process and enforced throughout. A stand-alone meeting was held for all panel members in December 2015. Teleconferences and electronic-based discussion among subgroups and among the entire committee served as an integral part of the development. METHODS: The panel consisted of five sections: hemodynamics, infection, adjunctive therapies, metabolic, and ventilation. Population, intervention, comparison, and outcomes (PICO) questions were reviewed and updated as needed, and evidence profiles were generated. Each subgroup generated a list of questions, searched for best available evidence, and then followed the principles of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system to assess the quality of evidence from high to very low, and to formulate recommendations as strong or weak, or best practice statement when applicable. RESULTS: The Surviving Sepsis Guideline panel provided 93 statements on early management and resuscitation of patients with sepsis or septic shock. Overall, 32 were strong recommendations, 39 were weak recommendations, and 18 were best-practice statements. No recommendation was provided for four questions. CONCLUSIONS: Substantial agreement exists among a large cohort of international experts regarding many strong recommendations for the best care of patients with sepsis. Although a significant number of aspects of care have relatively weak support, evidence-based recommendations regarding the acute management of sepsis and septic shock are the foundation of improved outcomes for these critically ill patients with high mortality.

Predictors of early recovery of health status after intensive care.

OBJECTIVE: To identify factors predictive of good or poor recovery of health status and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) 90 days after admission to an intensive care unit (ICU). DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective international multicentre study in 19 ICUs participating in the HRQOL substudy of the SAPS 3 project. INTERVENTION: The EuroQol questionnaire (EQ) was administered to discharged ICU patients 90 days after admission. A question to compare present health status with that 3 months before ICU admission (same/better/worse) was added. PATIENTS: Six hundred and eighteen patients who spent >24h in an ICU and survived for 90 days. EQ data and health comparison were available in 559 (90.5%) of them. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Patients reported their general level of health to be better (33.8%), the same (31.1%), or worse (35.1%) in comparison with baseline. Recovery was considered to be good for answers "better" or "the same". Regression analysis showed that transplantation surgery [odds ratio (OR) 0.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.01-0.63], coronary artery bypass surgery without valvular repair (OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.17-0.92) and being admitted to the ICU from a ward or other location (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.31-0.95) predicted good recovery of health. Predictors of poor recovery (all present at the time of ICU admission) were unplanned ICU admission, hypothermia, serum creatinine level >or=2mg/dl, pH