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Objective: To update the 2008 consensus statements for the diagnosis and management of critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency (CIRCI) in adult and pediatric patients., Participants: A multispecialty task force of 16 international experts in critical care medicine, endocrinology, and guideline methods, all of them members of the Society of Critical Care Medicine and/or the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine., Design/methods: The recommendations were based on the summarized evidence from the 2008 document in addition to more recent findings from an updated systematic review of relevant studies from 2008 to 2017 and were formulated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology. The strength of each recommendation was classified as strong or conditional, and the quality of evidence was rated from high to very low based on factors including the individual study design, the risk of bias, the consistency of the results, and the directness and precision of the evidence. Recommendation approval required the agreement of at least 80% of the task force members., Results: The task force was unable to reach agreement on a single test that can reliably diagnose CIRCI, although delta cortisol (change in baseline cortisol at 60 min of < 9 μg/dL) after cosyntropin (250 μg) administration and a random plasma cortisol of < 10 μg/dL may be used by clinicians. We suggest against using plasma-free cortisol or salivary cortisol level over plasma total cortisol (conditional, very low quality of evidence). For treatment of specific conditions, we suggest using IV hydrocortisone < 400 mg/day for ≥ 3 days at full dose in patients with septic shock that is not responsive to fluid and moderate- to high-dose vasopressor therapy (conditional, low quality of evidence). We suggest not using corticosteroids in adult patients with sepsis without shock (conditional recommendation, moderate quality of evidence). We suggest the use of IV methylprednisolone 1 mg/kg/day in patients with early moderate to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (PaO2/FiO2 < 200 and within 14 days of onset) (conditional, moderate quality of evidence). Corticosteroids are not suggested for patients with major trauma (conditional, low quality of evidence)., Conclusions: Evidence-based recommendations for the use of corticosteroids in critically ill patients with sepsis and septic shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and major trauma have been developed by a multispecialty task force.

Objective: To evaluate the response to noninvasive ventilation in a group of terminally ill patients with acute respiratory failure who refused endotracheal intubation., Design: Case series., Setting: Medical intensive care units (ICUs) in a university health science center., Patients: Eleven patients, nine with hypercapnic and two with hypoxemic acute respiratory failure. Mean age of patients was 64 yrs., Intervention: Mechanical ventilation was delivered via a face mask. The initial ventilatory setting was continuous positive airway pressure mode, with pressure-support ventilation of 10 to 20 cm H2O, titrated to achieve a respiratory rate of < 25 breaths/min and a tidal volume of 5 to 7 mL/kg. Ventilatory settings were adjusted based on results of arterial blood gases. Mean duration of mechanical ventilation was 44 hrs., Measurements and Main Results: Mechanical ventilation via face mask was effective in correcting gas exchange abnormalities in seven of 11 patients, all of whom survived and were discharged from the ICU. Four patients with hypercapnic acute respiratory failure died. Mechanical ventilation via face mask was effective in improving respiratory acidosis in three patients and had no effect in one patient. Two of the four patients could not be weaned from mechanical ventilation and opted for discontinuation of this method. Removal of the ventilator while retaining the mask for oxygen supplementation was a nontraumatic experience to the patient and family. Even when respiratory failure did not resolve, mechanical ventilation via face mask was effective in lessening dyspnea and allowed the patient to maintain autonomy and continuous verbal communication., Conclusions: We conclude that mechanical ventilation via face mask offers an effective, comfortable, and dignified method of supporting patients with end-stage disease and acute respiratory failure.