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Purpose: To provide a 360-degree description of ICU-to-ward transfers.Methods: Prospective cohort study of 451 adults transferred from a medical-surgical ICU to a hospital ward in 10 Canadian hospitals July 2014-January 2016. Transfer processes documented in the medical record. Patient (or delegate) and provider (ICU/ward physician/nurse) perspectives solicited by survey 24-72 h after transfer.Results: Medical records (100%) and survey responses (ICU physicians-80%, ICU nurses-80%, ward physicians-46%, ward nurses-64%, patients-74%) were available for most transfers. The median time from initiation to completion of transfer was 25 h (IQR 6-52). ICU physicians and nurses reported communicating with counterparts via telephone (78 and 75%) when transfer was requested (82 and 24%) or accepted (31 and 59%) and providing more elements of clinical information than ward physicians (mean 4.7 vs. 3.9, p < 0.001) and nurses (5.0 vs. 4.4, p < 0.001) reported receiving. Patients were more likely to report satisfaction with the transfer when they received more information (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.18-1.48), had their questions addressed (OR 3.96, 95% CI 1.33-11.84), met the ward physician prior to transfer (OR 4.61, 95% CI 2.90-7.33), and were assessed by a nurse within 1 h of ward arrival (OR 4.70, 95% CI 2.29-9.66). Recommendations for improvement included having a documented care plan travel with the patient (all stakeholders), standardized face-to-face handover (physicians), avoiding transfers at shift change (nurses) and informing patients about pending transfers in advance (patients).Conclusions: ICU-to-ward transfers are characterized by failures of patient flow and communication; experienced differently by patients, ICU/ward physicians and nurses, with distinct suggestions for improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess family satisfaction in the intensive care unit (ICU) and areas for improvement using quantitative and qualitative analyses. Methods: Prospective cohort study performed in four (mixed surgical, neurological, and cardiological) intensive care units of a university hospital in Germany, using a translated and validated version of the Family Satisfaction in the ICU (FS-ICU) questionnaire, with questions answerable on a rating scale and three open-ended questions about strengths and weaknesses. Quantitative analysis was performed to identify items with low performance and high importance. For qualitative analysis, comments were coded and analyzed to identify important themes. Patient-related data were obtained from an electronic patient data management system. Results: Participants were 215 family members visiting adult intensive care patients with length of stay over 48 h. Response rate was 28 %. Respondents were highly satisfied; summary scores were 78.3 ± 14.3 [mean ± standard deviation (SD)] on a scale of 0 (poor) to 100 (excellent). Regression analysis failed to identify association with patient- or family-related factors. The following themes for possible improvement emerged from both quantitative and qualitative analyses: patient agitation-consistency, clarity and completeness of information-emotional support-respect and compassion towards families. Families were also dissatisfied with the waiting room, ICU atmosphere, and amenities for visiting relatives. Conclusions: Families report high satisfaction with intensive care. Nevertheless, there is room for improvement, in particular regarding how ICU staff communicate with families and provide emotional support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Inflammatory markers may have a role in predicting severity of illness of intensive care unit (ICU) patients. The aim of this study is to determine whether low eosinophil count can predict 28-day mortality in medical ICU. Methods: A prospective study over a 4-month period. To evaluate the prognosis information provided by eosinophil count, we compared the variations in eosinophil count from ICU admission to seventh day between patients who survived and those who died. The best cutoff value was chosen using Younden's index for identification of patients with high risk of mortality. The patient outcome was 28-day mortality. Results: A total of 200 patients were eligible. Overall 28-day ICU mortality was 28% ( n = 56). At ICU admission, the median eosinophil count was significantly different in survivors [30 cells/mm³; interquartile range (IQR), 0-100 cells/mm³] and nonsurvivors (0 cells/mm³; IQR, 0-30 cells/mm³; P = 0.004). Absolute eosinophil counts remained significantly lower in nonsurvivors from admission to seventh day. The 28-day mortality was significantly higher in patients with eosinopenia <40 cells/mm ( P = 0.011). Multivariate analysis by Cox model with time-dependent covariates demonstrated that eosinophil count <40 cells/mm [hazard ratio (HR), 1.85; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01-3.42; P = 0.046], high Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score (HR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.01-1.14; P = 0.014), high Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score (HR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.03-1.25; P = 0.008), and use of mechanical ventilation (HR, 27.48; 95% CI, 12.12-62.28; P < 0.001) were independent predictors of 28-day all-cause mortality. Conclusion: This study suggests the possibility to use eosinophil cell count at admission and during the first 7 days as a prognosis marker of mortality in medical ICU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess the severity of intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired pneumonia (ICUAP) according to the bacteria involved, classified into seven groups: third-generation cephalosporin-resistant non-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli (resistant C3NF); sensitive C3NF; methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus; extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae; Enterobacteriaceae not producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamase; Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Methods: Over a 4-year period, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score was prospectively measured daily in 453 adult patients with ICUAP. ICUAP severity was evaluated by the severity of sepsis and by the occurrence of new organ dysfunctions or failures (OD/F) during ICUAP. Results: Septic shock occurred in 21% of all cases of ICUAP. The occurrence of new OD/F during ICUAP was similar regardless of the identified microorganism. These new OD/F represented less than 11% of SOFAmax, defined as the sum of all OD/F occurring at any time during the ICU stay. There was a significant association between SOFApreICUAP, defined as the sum of all the OD/F occurring before ICUAP, and ICUAP severity. In the multivariate analysis, the type of bacteria was not a risk factor (RF) for occurrence of septic shock and mortality. Age and SOFApreICUAP were RF for the sepsis severity. The ICUAP severity was an RF for ICU mortality. Conclusions: ICUAP was responsible for a minor proportion of OD/F occurring during the ICU stay. Severity of ICUAP was related to clinical status prior to ICUAP, but not to the type of bacteria. ICU mortality depended on the severity of ICUAP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Most centres in Europe have not introduced a rapid response team (RRT), partly because of concerns that data from other health-care systems may not be relevant. We tested whether patient characteristics and outcomes for deteriorating patients differ between two health-care systems separated by distance and culture. Methods: We obtained data from 3,063 RRT calls: 815 calls at Karolinska University Hospital (Sweden) and 2,248 calls at Austin Hospital (Australia) and compared demographic and clinical data, as well as outcomes for patients reviewed by a RRT. Results: At Karolinska, 46.9% of patients were female compared with 45.1% at Austin. Mean age was 66.5 years versus 69.4 years. The unit of admission was surgical/medical in 49.1%/50.9% versus 48.8%/51.1% of patients, respectively. Overall, 56.7% versus 55.8% of the calls were out-of-hours (1700-0800 hours). There was a predominance of respiratory triggers at both centres and the 'worried' criterion was frequently used in both hospitals (17.2% versus 14.4%) as a trigger for RRT activation. Overall, 30-day mortality was 27.7% versus 29.4% and allocation of Limitations of Medical Treatment (LOMT) orders was 34.2% versus 30.8%. The allocation of LOMT orders was influenced by the RRT in 14.4% versus 12.6% of cases. Conclusion: In two different health-care systems separated by geography, language, culture and organizational features, the characteristics of deteriorating ward patients, their disposal and outcomes were similar, suggesting that the care of the deteriorating ward patient is a global problem in modern hospitals and confirming that their hospital mortality is high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To identify factors influencing triage decisions and investigate whether admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) could reduce mortality compared with treatment on the ward. Methods: A multicentre cohort study in 11 university hospitals from seven countries, evaluating triage decisions and outcomes of patients referred for admission to ICU who were either accepted, or refused and treated on the ward. Confounding in the estimation of the effect of ICU admission on mortality was controlled by use of a propensity score approach, which adjusted for the probability of being admitted. Variability across centres was accounted for in both analyses of factors influencing ICU admission and effect of ICU admission on mortality. Results: Eligible were 8,616 triages in 7,877 patients referred for ICU admission. Variables positively associated with probability of being admitted to ICU included: ventilators in ward; bed availability; Karnofsky score; absence of comorbidity; presence of haematological malignancy; emergency surgery and elective surgery (versus medical treatment); trauma, vascular involvement, liver involvement; acute physiologic score II; ICU treatment (versus ICU observation). Multiple triages during patient's hospital stay and age were negatively associated with ICU admission. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of the model was 0.83 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.81-0.84], with Hosmer-Lemeshow test P = 0.300. ICU admission was associated with a statistically significant reduction of both 28-day mortality [odds ratio (OR): 0.73; 95% CI: 0.62-0.87] and 90-day mortality (0.79; 0.66-0.93). The benefit of ICU admission increased substantially in patients with greater severity of illness. Conclusions: We suggest that intensivists take great care to avoid ICU admission of patients judged not severe enough for ICU or with low performance status, and they tend to admit surgical patients more readily than medical patients. Interestingly, they do not judge age per se as a reason for refusal of ICU admission. Admission to ICU was associated with a reduction of both 28- and 90-day mortality, particularly in patients with greater severity of illness at time of triage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Centralisation of critically ill children to paediatric intensive care units is supported by a strong rationale, but evidence is not overwhelming. To compare the outcome of children admitted to adult intensive care units (ICUs) in Italy between 2003 and 2007 with that of children admitted to paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in Italy between 1994 and 1995. Prospective, multicenter cohort study and historical controls. Risk of ICU mortality was assessed with the PRISM score in both study and historical control groups. Descriptive statistics, standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) with their 95% confidence intervals, and the calibration plots were reported. A total of 1,265 children admitted to 124 adult ICUs between 2003 and 2007 were compared with an historical control group formed by 1,533 children admitted to 26 PICUs between 1994 and 1995. The PRISM score slightly underestimated hospital deaths for low-risk patients in both groups. The overall SMR was 1.11 (95% CI 0.91–1.31) for adult ICUs and 1.04 (95% CI: 0.88–1.19) for PICUs. The level of care provided nowadays to children admitted to adult ICUs in Italy is similar to that provided by Italian PICUs 10 years earlier. On the other hand, there is evidence that Italian PICUs have improved the level of care in the same period. These findings, if confirmed, suggest a better quality of care for children admitted to PICUs as compared to adult ICUs and support the indication, when possible, of early referral to more specialized units in countries where paediatric intensive care is not centralised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop a new method to evaluate the performance of individual ICUs through the calculation and visualisation of risk profiles. The study included 102,561 patients consecutively admitted to 77 ICUs in Austria. We customized the function which predicts hospital mortality (using SAPS II) for each ICU. We then compared the risks of hospital mortality resulting from this function with the risks which would be obtained using the original function. The derived risk ratio was then plotted together with point-wise confidence intervals in order to visualise the individual risk profile of each ICU over the whole spectrum of expected hospital mortality. We calculated risk profiles for all ICUs in the ASDI data set according to the proposed method. We show examples how the clinical performance of ICUs may depend on the severity of illness of their patients. Both the distribution of 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. Our risk profile model makes it possible to evaluate ICUs on the basis of the specific risk for patients to die compared to a reference sample over the whole spectrum of hospital mortality. Thus, ICUs at different levels of severity of illness 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To provide recommendations and standard operating procedures for intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital preparations for an influenza pandemic or mass disaster with a specific focus on critical care triage. Based on a literature review and expert opinion, a Delphi process was used to define the essential topics including critical care triage. Key recommendations include: (1) establish an Incident Management System with Emergency Executive Control Groups at facility, local, regional/state or national levels to exercise authority and direction over resources; (2) developing fair and equitable policies may require restricting ICU services to patients most likely to benefit; (3) usual treatments and standards of practice may be impossible to deliver; (4) ICU care and treatments may have to be withheld from patients likely to die even with ICU care and withdrawn after a trial in patients who do not improve or deteriorate; (5) triage criteria should be objective, ethical, transparent, applied equitably and be publically disclosed; (6) trigger triage protocols for pandemic influenza only when critical care resources across a broad geographic area are or will be overwhelmed despite all reasonable efforts to extend resources or obtain additional resources; (7) triage of patients for ICU should be based on those who are likely to benefit most or a ‘first come, first served’ basis; (8) a triage officer should apply inclusion and exclusion criteria to determine patient qualification for ICU admission. Judicious planning and adoption of protocols for critical care triage are necessary to optimize outcomes during a pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To provide recommendations and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital preparations for an influenza pandemic or mass disaster with a specific focus on manpower. Based on a literature review and expert opinion, a Delphi process was used to define the essential topics including manpower. Key recommendations include: (1) plan to access, coordinate and increase labor resources for continued and expanded ICU care including increasing critical care specialists and expanded practice for non-critical care personnel; (2) develop an education, awareness, preparation and communication program to ensure a well-protected and prepared workforce with coordinated rapid manpower expansion; (3) maintain a central inventory of all clinical and non-clinical staff with their current roles along with possible emergency re-training possibilities; (4) coordinate all clinical and non-clinical staffing requirements and determine the hospital’s daily needs including a sick and no-show list together with ICU requirements; (5) provide clinical care to patients only with clinical staff and not with non-clinical staff; (6) delegate duties not within the scope of workers’ practice under crisis conditions with proper supervision and support from experienced clinicians to ensure patient safety; (7) intensivists should supervise nonintensivist physicians to expand the workforce if patient surge exceeds the number of available ICU-trained specialists. Judicious planning and adoption of protocols for providing adequate manpower are necessary to optimize outcomes during a pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To provide recommendations and standard operating procedures for intensive care unit and hospital preparations for an influenza pandemic or mass disaster with a specific focus on ensuring that adequate resources are available and appropriate protocols are developed to safely perform procedures in patients with and without influenza illness. Based on a literature review and expert opinion, a Delphi process was used to define the essential topics including performing medical procedures. Key recommendations include: (1) specify high-risk procedures (aerosol generating-procedures); (2) determine if certain procedures will not be performed during a pandemic; (3) develop protocols for safe performance of high-risk procedures that include appropriateness, qualifications of personnel, site, personal protection equipment, safe technique and equipment needs; (4) ensure adequate training of personnel in high-risk procedures; (5) procedures should be performed at the bedside whenever possible; (6) ensure safe respiratory therapy practices to avoid aerosols; (7) provide safe respiratory equipment; and (8) determine criteria for cancelling and/or altering elective procedures. Judicious planning and adoption of protocols for safe performance of medical procedures are necessary to optimize outcomes during a pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To provide recommendations and standard operating procedures for intensive care units and hospital preparedness for an influenza pandemic. Based on a literature review and expert opinion, a Delphi process was used to define the essential topics. Key recommendations include: Hospitals should increase their ICU beds to the maximal extent by expanding ICU capacity and expanding ICUs into other areas. Hospitals should have appropriate beds and monitors for these expansion areas. Establish a management system with control groups at facility, local, regional and/or national levels to exercise authority over resources. Establish a system of communication, coordination and collaboration between the ICU and key interface departments. A plan to access, coordinate and increase labor resources is required with a central inventory of all clinical and non-clinical staff. Delegate duties not within the usual scope of workers’ practice. Ensure that adequate essential medical equipment, pharmaceuticals and supplies are available. Protect patients and staff with infection control practices and supporting occupational health policies. Maintain staff confidence with reassurance plans for legal protection and assistance. Have objective, ethical, transparent triage criteria that are applied equitably and publically disclosed. ICU triage of patients should be based on the likelihood for patients to benefit most or a ‘first come, first served’ basis. Develop protocols for safe performance of high-risk procedures. Train and educate staff. Mortality, although inevitable during a severe influenza outbreak or disaster, can be reduced by adequate preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC or “the Campaign”) developed guidelines for management of severe sepsis and septic shock. A performance improvement initiative targeted changing clinical behavior (process improvement) via bundles based on key SSC guideline recommendations on process improvement and patient outcomes. A multifaceted intervention to facilitate compliance with selected guideline recommendations in the ICU, ED, and wards of individual hospitals and regional hospital networks was implemented voluntarily in the US, Europe, and South America. Elements of the guidelines were “bundled” into two sets of targets to be completed within 6 h and within 24 h. An analysis was conducted on data submitted from January 2005 through March 2008. Data from 15,022 subjects at 165 sites were analyzed to determine the compliance with bundle targets and association with hospital mortality. Compliance with the entire resuscitation bundle increased linearly from 10.9% in the first site quarter to 31.3% by the end of 2 years ( P < 0.0001). Compliance with the entire management bundle started at 18.4% in the first quarter and increased to 36.1% by the end of 2 years ( P = 0.008). Compliance with all bundle elements increased significantly, except for inspiratory plateau pressure, which was high at baseline. Unadjusted hospital mortality decreased from 37 to 30.8% over 2 years ( P = 0.001). The adjusted odds ratio for mortality improved the longer a site was in the Campaign, resulting in an adjusted absolute drop of 0.8% per quarter and 5.4% over 2 years (95% CI, 2.5–8.4%). The Campaign was associated with sustained, continuous quality improvement in sepsis care. Although not necessarily cause and effect, a reduction in reported hospital mortality rates was associated with participation. The implications of this study may serve as an impetus for similar improvement efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determined whether the implementation of an intubation management protocol leads to the reduction of intubation-related complications in the intensive care unit (ICU). Two-phase, prospective, multicenter controlled study. Three medical-surgical ICUs in two university hospitals. Two hundred three consecutive ICU patients required 244 intubations. All intubations performed during two consecutive phases (a 6-month quality control phase followed by a 6-month intervention phase based on the implementation of an ICU intubation bundle management protocol) were evaluated. The ten bundle components were: preoxygenation with noninvasive positive pressure ventilation, presence of two operators, rapid sequence induction, cricoid pressure, capnography, protective ventilation, fluid loading, preparation and early administration of sedation and vasopressor use if needed. The primary end points were the incidence of life-threatening complications occurring within 60 min after intubation (cardiac arrest or death, severe cardiovascular collapse and hypoxemia). Other complications (mild to moderate) were also evaluated. Baseline characteristics, including demographic data and reason for intubation (mainly acute respiratory failure), were similar in the two phases. The intubation procedure in the intervention phase ( n = 121) was associated with significant decreases in both life-threatening complications (21 vs. 34%, p = 0.03) and other complications (9 vs. 21%, p = 0.01) compared to the control phase ( n = 123). The implementation of an intubation management protocol can reduce immediate severe life-threatening complications associated with intubation of ICU patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the author's views on the role of patient-at-risk teams, medical emergency teams (METs) or rapid response teams (RRT) in detecting patients at risk on general wards. Topics discussed includes patients' outcomes after RRT implementation in one hospital and a study showing requirement of MET/RRT implementation.

The article presents the author's views on the role of rapid response teams to improve outcomes of patients. It mentioned that the aim of RRTs is to improve the safety of deteriorating ward patients. It further discussed effect of RRTs on cardiac arrests, mortality or intensive care unit (ICU) admissions.

Despite an overall correlation between the bispectral index of the EEG (BIS) and clinical sedation assessment, unexpectedly high BIS values can be observed at deep sedation levels. We assessed the frequency, interindividual variability and clinical impact of high BIS values during clinically deep sedation. Prospective observational study in two university-affiliated intensive care units. Sixty-two mechanically ventilated patients requiring intravenous sedation and analgesia for ≥24 h. Paired measurements of BIS and sedation measured on the adaptation to intensive care environment (ATICE) score were obtained every 3 h until awakening. A paired measurement with BIS >60 at deep sedation (ATICE Awakeness ≤2) was defined as discordant. Patients were considered discordant if their individual ratio of number of discordant measurements to number of total measurements during deep sedation was above the median discordance ratio of the overall cohort. At least one discordant assessment was observed in 52 patients (83.9%). Median individual discordance ratio was 32% (14.3–50.0%). Time from awakening to first T-piece trial [16 h (4–34) vs. 46 h (9–109), p = 0.01] and to extubation [35 h (23–89) vs. 88 h (46–152 h), p = 0.05] were significantly shorter in discordant compared to concordant patients. BIS-ATICE discordance was independently associated with successful extubation within 48 h after awakening (OR 6.7, CI 95% 1.8–25.0, p = 0.005). The rate of ICU recall was not different in BIS-ATICE discordant and concordant patients. In mechanically ventilated ICU patients, discordance between high BIS values and deep clinical sedation is frequently observed and may suggest faster weaning from the ventilator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare patients’ psychological distress and memories from intensive care unit (ICU) treatment 4–6 weeks after ICU discharge with expectations of their relatives. Further, to explore the relationship between personality traits and ICU memories with psychological distress. A cross-sectional study of 255 patients and 298 relatives. The questionnaire included: hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), impact of event scale (IES), life orientation test, ICU memory tool and memory of ICU; technical procedures, pain, lack of control and inability to express needs. Relatives were assessed for their expectations of the patients’ memories and psychological distress. Twenty-five percent of the patients reported severe posttraumatic stress symptoms, IES-total ≥ 35. The levels of anxiety and depression were significantly higher than in the general population, mean anxiety was 5.6 versus 4.2 ( p < 0.001), and mean depression was 4.8 versus 3.5 ( p < 0.001). Relatives expected more psychological distress and the relatives thought the patient was less able to express needs than the patients reported ( p < 0.001). Higher age, unemployment, respirator treatment, pessimism, memory of pain, lack of control and inability to express needs were independent predictors of posttraumatic stress symptoms ( p < 0.01). Psychological distress symptoms were frequent among ICU survivors. Relatives expected the patients to be more distressed after ICU treatment than the patients reported. The strongest predictors of posttraumatic stress symptoms from the ICU were memoris about pain, lack of control and inability to express needs. Pessimism may be a reason for psychological distress and should be addressed during follow up, as pessimistic patients may need more motivation and support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The principles of ventilation and perfusion distribution in the lung form the foundation of pulmonary physiology and remain cornerstones in caring for critically ill patients. Due to improved imaging technologies with greater spatial resolution, our understanding of the determinants of local ventilation and blood flow have evolved over the past five decades. This review provides a brief history of how the concepts governing regional ventilation and perfusion have developed and presents the most recent studies that are shaping new perspectives on the determinants of ventilation and perfusion. How these new principles apply to acute lung injury and gas exchange in the intensive care unit (ICU) are reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the effects of acute hypercapnia induced by positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) variations at constant plateau pressure ( Pplat) in patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) on right ventricular (RV) function. Prospective observational study in two academic intensive care units enrolling 11 adults with severe ARDS (PaO2/FiO2 <150 mmHg at PEEP >5 cmH2O). We compared three ventilatory strategies, each used for 1 h, with Pplat at 22 (20–25) cmH2O: low PEEP (5.4 cmH2O) or high PEEP (11.0 cmH2O) with compensation of the tidal volume reduction by either a high respiratory rate (high PEEP/high rate) or instrumental dead space decrease (high PEEP/low rate). We assessed RV function (transesophageal echocardiography), alveolar dead space (expired CO2), and alveolar recruitment (pressure–volume curves). Compared to low PEEP, PaO2/FiO2 ratio and alveolar recruitment were increased with high PEEP. Alveolar dead space remained unchanged. Both high-PEEP strategies induced higher PaCO2 levels [71 (60–94) and 75 (53–84), vs. 52 (43–68) mmHg] and lower pH values [7.17 (7.12–7.23) and 7.20 (7.16–7.25) vs. 7.30 (7.24–7.35)], as well as RV dilatation, LV deformation and a significant decrease in cardiac index. The decrease in stroke index tended to be negatively correlated to the increase in alveolar recruitment with high PEEP. Acidosis and hypercapnia induced by tidal volume reduction and increase in PEEP at constant Pplat were associated with impaired RV function and hemodynamics despite positive effects on oxygenation and alveolar recruitment ( #NCT00236262). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate tidal volume ( VT) and leak measurements during continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in neonates using a commercial ventilatory device equipped with a flow sensor at the Y-piece. Randomized cross-over trial. Neonatal intensive care unit level III. Thirty-two infants, median (range) birth weight 1,435 (710–2,730) g, gestational age 30 (24–38) weeks. During nasopharyngeal CPAP, leak and VT were measured with and without occlusion of the contralateral nostril using the Leoni ventilator (Heinen & Löwenstein, Germany) and a recently developed algorithm to correct measured VT in the presence of leaks. The measuring range of the Leoni is limited to leaks <90%. Analyzable measurements with leaks <90% could be obtained in 12.5% of the patients with open nostril, and in 65.6% with occluded nostril. Calculated leak flow after nostril occlusion was 23 (3–77) ml min−1 with closed mouth. Leak flow increased significantly if mouth was opened (548 (0–1,394) ml min−1, p < 0.001), but was probably even higher where leaks exceeded 90%. Mean expiratory volume ± SD was 5.8 ± 1.3 ml kg−1 (corrected VT 5.9 ± 1.2 ml kg−1) for leaks <20%, and 3.7 ± 1.4 ml kg−1 (corrected VT 5.8 ± 2.2 ml kg−1) for leaks between 20 and 69%. Leak and corrected VT could be determined in the presence of leaks of up to 69%, but leaks during CPAP often exceeded the measuring range. Reliable volume and leak monitoring was not possible with the tested equipment during nasopharyngeal CPAP. Advanced equipment is necessary to further investigate the effects of leaks on neonatal CPAP therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I noticed it within minutes, and my reflex act of resuscitation with brief CPR and one mouth to mouth breath revived her rapidly. Close to the end of the first half of the Euro 2020 match between Denmark and Finland, the famous Denmark midfielder collapsed in the field. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was initiated in the field and with that the millions of other hearts trembled and quivered. [Extracted from the article]

Objective: To compare multiplanar reconstruction with operative techniques (bronchoscopy, surgery and/or autopsy) for the diagnosis of tracheobronchial rupture.Design: Prospective, observational study.Setting: Surgical intensive care unit.Patients and Participants: Tracheobronchial rupture was suspected on clinical grounds and from radiological findings.Interventions: An initial helical computed tomography scan was performed on all patients meeting the inclusion criteria, and operative techniques were then performed. Multiplanar reconstructions were reformatted and reviewed by two independent radiologists.Measurements and Results: Twenty-four consecutive patients met the inclusion criteria. Tracheobronchial rupture was diagnosed in 13 patients by at least one operative technique. Multiplanar reconstructions were positive in 15 patients. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of multiplanar reconstructions were 100% (95%CI, 85-100) and 82% (95%CI, 64-82), respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were 87% (95%CI, 74-87) and 100% (95%CI, 78-100), respectively. For tracheobronchial rupture, the positive and negative likelihood ratios were 5.5 (95%CI, 2.35-5.5) and 0 (95%CI, 0-0.24), respectively. The Kappa coefficients were 0.83 (95%CI, 0.6-1.06) for agreement between operative techniques and multiplanar reconstruction, and 0.91 (95%CI, 0.59-0.91) for agreement between the two radiologists.Conclusions: Multiplanar reconstruction appears to be a sensitive technique for the identification of tracheobronchial rupture because of its excellent negative likelihood ratio. In clinical practice, negative multiplanar reconstruction can exclude a diagnosis of tracheobronchial rupture, making bronchoscopy unnecessary. When multiplanar reconstruction is positive, tracheobronchial rupture should be confirmed by bronchoscopy.Descriptor: Trauma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the type and frequency of oral care practices in European ICUs and the attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge of health care workers.Design: An anonymous questionnaire was distributed to representatives of European ICUs. Results were obtained from 59 ICUs (one questionnaire per ICU) in seven countries 91% of respondents were registered nurses.Measurements and Results: Of the respondents 77% reported that they had received adequate training on providing oral care; most (93%) also expressed the desire to learn more about oral care. Oral care was perceived to be high priority in mechanically ventilated patients (88%). Cleaning the oral cavity was considered difficult by 68%, and unpleasant as well as difficult by 32%. In 37% of cases respondents felt that despite their efforts oral health worsens over time in intubated patients. Oral care practices are carried out once daily (20%), twice (31%) or three times (37%). Oral care consists principally of mouth washes (88%), mostly performed with chlorhexidine (61%). Foam swabs (22%) and moisture agents (42%) are used less frequently as well as manual toothbrushes (41%) although the literature indicates that these are more effective for thorough cleaning of the oral cavity. Electric toothbrushes were never used.Conclusions: In European ICUs oral care is considered very important. It is experienced as a task that is difficult to perform, and that does not necessarily succeed in ensuring oral health in patients with prolonged intubation. Oral care consists primarily of mouth washes. The use of toothbrushes should be given more attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Intensive insulin therapy reduces mortality in subgroups of intensive care unit (ICU) patients, and awareness of the importance of blood glucose level (BGL) control has increased among ICU physicians and nurses. The impact of insulin treatment strategies on mortality may be influenced by their efficacy in achieving the target BGL range. We assessed the efficacy of an insulin treatment strategy in maintaining BGL within the target range, and we compared ICU mortality in patients who did and did not reach the BGL target.Design: Prospective cohort study.Setting: 12-bed medical ICU in a tertiary teaching hospital.Patients and Participants: Adults consecutively admitted over a 9-month period to an ICU where standard care included an insulin treatment strategy aimed at maintaining BGLMeasurements and Main Results: 105 patients were included. Median SAPS II was 45 (31-54). Failure to control BGL (mean capillary BGL >7 mmol/l after initial hyperglycemia correction) occurred in 32 patients (31.1%) and was associated with a significant increase in ICU mortality (56.2 vs. 23.3% in patients with successful BGL control). In the multivariate analysis, failure to control BGL independently predicted death in the ICU (OR 5.9, 2.1-16.6, p<0.001).Conclusions: Failure to control BGL despite intensive insulin therapy was common and independently associated with ICU mortality. Failure to control BGL may considerably affect the overall impact of insulin treatment strategies on mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Physiological track-and-trigger warning systems are used to identify patients on acute wards at risk of deterioration, as early as possible. The objective of this study was to assess the inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of the physiological measurements, aggregate scores and triggering events of three such systems.Design: Prospective cohort study.Setting: General medical and surgical wards in one non-university acute hospital.Patients and Participants: Unselected ward patients: 114 patients in the inter-rater study and 45 patients in the intra-rater study were examined by four raters.Measurements and Results: Physiological observations obtained at the bedside were evaluated using three systems: the medical emergency team call-out criteria (MET); the modified early warning score (MEWS); and the assessment score of sick-patient identification and step-up in treatment (ASSIST). Inter-rater and intra-rater reliability were assessed by intra-class correlation coefficients, kappa statistics and percentage agreement. There was fair to moderate agreement on most physiological parameters, and fair agreement on the scores, but better levels of agreement on triggers. Reliability was partially a function of simplicity: MET achieved a higher percentage of agreement than ASSIST, and ASSIST higher than MEWS. Intra-rater reliability was better then inter-rater reliability. Using corrected calculations improved the level of inter-rater agreement but not intra-rater agreement.Conclusion: There was significant variation in the reproducibility of different track-and-trigger warning systems. The systems examined showed better levels of agreement on triggers than on aggregate scores. Simpler systems had better reliability. Inter-rater agreement might improve by using electronic calculations of scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of using a knowledge-based system designed to automatically titrate pressure support (PS) to maintain the patient in a "respiratory comfort zone" during noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in patients with acute respiratory failure.Design and Setting: Prospective crossover interventional study in an intensive care unit of a university hospital.Patients: Twenty patients.Interventions: After initial NIV setting and startup in conventional PS by the chest physiotherapist NIV was continued for 45 min with the automated PS activated.Measurements and Results: During automated PS minute-volume was maintained constant while respiratory rate decreased significantly from its pre-NIV value (20+/-3 vs. 25+/-3 bpm). There was a trend towards a progressive lowering of dyspnea. In hypercapnic patients PaCO(2) decreased significantly from 61+/-9 to 51+/-2 mmHg, and pH increased significantly from 7.31+/-0.05 to 7.35+/-0.03. Automated PS was well tolerated. Two system malfunctions occurred prompting physiotherapist intervention.Conclusions: The results of this feasibility study suggest that the system can be used during NIV in patients with acute respiratory failure. Further studies should now determine whether it can improve patient-ventilator interaction and reduce caregiver workload. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine whether severity and organ failure scores over the first 3 days in an ICU predict in-hospital mortality in onco-hematological malignancy patients.Design and Setting: Retrospective study in a 22-bed medical ICU.Patients: 92 consecutive patients with onco-hematological malignancies including 20 hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) patients (11 with allogenic HSCT).Measurements: Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS) II, Organ Dysfunction and/or Infection (ODIN) score, Logistic Organ Dysfunction System (LODS), and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score were recorded on admission. The change in each score (Delta score) during the first 3 days in the ICU was calculated as follows: severity or organ failure score on day 3 minus severity or organ failure score on day 1, divided by severity or organ failure score on day 1.Results: In-hospital mortality was 58%. Using multivariate analysis in-hospital mortality was predicted by all scores on day 1 and all Delta scores. Areas under the receiver operating characteristics curves were similar for SAPS II (0.78), ODIN (0.78), LODS (0.83), and SOFA (0.78) scores at day 1. They were also similar for DeltaSAPS II, DeltaODIN, DeltaLODS, and DeltaSOFA. Similar results were observed when excluding patients with allogenic HSCT.Conclusion: Severity and three organ failure scores on day 1 and Delta scores perform similarly in predicting in-hospital mortality in ICU onco-hematological malignancy patients but do not predict individual outcome. Decision to admit such patients to the ICU or to forgo life-sustaining therapies should not be based on these scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Diagnosis of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (also known as stress cardiomyopathy or acute left ventricular apical ballooning syndrome) can be challenging in patients who are being treated for other diseases in the intensive care unit, because symptoms could erroneously be attributed to the underlying disease or patients may not experience symptoms due to analgesia and sedation. The aim of our study was to assess clinical features of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy occurring in the intensive care unit.Design: Prospective observational study.Setting: University hospital.Patients: Six consecutive patients diagnosed with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy who were being treated for other diseases in the intensive care unit.Interventions: None.Measurements and Main Results: Sudden hemodynamic deterioration (i.e., sudden hypotension, tachycardia or drop in monitored stroke volume) requiring vasopressor support was the presenting symptom in five of the six patients. Only one patient was able to report angina-like chest pain, all others were unable to experience symptoms due to analgesia and sedation. The electrocardiogram was abnormal in all patients upon diagnosis, demonstrating either ST-segment elevation (n=2) and/or T-wave inversion (n=5). Mild elevation of cardiac enzymes disproportionate to the extent of wall motion abnormalities on left ventriculography was present in all patients. All patients survived their acute event.Conclusions: Sudden hemodynamic deterioration requiring vasopressor support and/or ECG abnormalities consisting of ST-segment elevation, ST-segment depression or T-wave inversion may be the presenting symptom of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in the intensive care unit and should be included in the diagnostic algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In mechanically ventilated patients with induced hypothermia, the efficacy of heat and moisture exchangers and heated humidifiers to adequately humidify the airway is poorly known. The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of different humidification devices during moderate hypothermia.Design: Prospective, cross-over randomized study.Settings: Medical Intensive Care Unit in a University Hospital.Patients and Participants: Nine adult patients hospitalized after cardiac arrest in whom moderate hypothermia was induced (33 degrees C for 24[Symbol: see text]h).Interventions: Patients were ventilated at admission (period designated "normothermia") with a heat and moisture exchanger, and were randomly ventilated during hypothermia with a heat and moisture exchanger, a heated humidifier, and an active heat and moisture exchanger.Measurements and Results: Core temperature, inspired and expired gas absolute and relative humidity were measured. Each system demonstrated limitations in its ability to humidify gases in the specific situation of hypothermia. Performances of heat and moisture exchangers were closely correlated to core temperature (r (2)[Symbol: see text]=[Symbol: see text]0.84). During hypothermia, heat and moisture exchangers led to major under-humidification, with absolute humidity below 25[Symbol: see text]mgH(2)O/l. The active heat and moisture exchanger slightly improved humidification. Heated humidifiers were mostly adequate but led to over-humidification in some patients, with inspiratory absolute humidity higher than maximal water content at 33 degrees C with a positive balance between inspiratory and expiratory water content.Conclusions: These results suggest that in the case of moderate hypothermia, heat and moisture exchangers should be used cautiously and that heated humidifiers may lead to over-humidification with the currently recommended settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Recent studies have shown significant cognitive problems some months after critical illness. However there has been no research examining cognitive function within the intensive care unit (ICU) in non-delirious patients.Design and Setting: A prospective study in an ICU.Patients and Participants: Using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB), 30 long-stay, tracheal-intubated ICU patients were tested. Prior to testing on ICU the Confusion Assessment Measure (CAM-ICU) was administered and only those patients clearly not delirious and off sedation for several days were tested. The CANTAB tests were repeated a week after ICU discharge on the general ward and then again at 2 months. Sixteen patients completed the follow-up.Results: While on ICU all 30 patients showed significant problems with strategic thinking and problem solving; 20 patients had some problems with memory. The degree of difficulty with problem solving on ICU was correlated with length of ICU stay (p=0.011), age (p=0.036) and length of hospital stay post ICU (p=0.044). Problems with memory in ICU and on the general ward were correlated with admission APACHE II score (p=0.004 and p=0.005 respectively). At the 2-month follow-up 5 of 16 patients (31%) scored below the 25 percentile for memory and 8 of 16 (50%) below the 25 percentile for problem solving (Slater TA, Jones C, Griffiths RD, Wilson S, Benjamin K (2004) Cognitive impairment during and after intensive care: a pilot study. Intensive Care Med 30 [Suppl 1]:S199).Conclusions: Difficulties with problem solving and poor memory remained a significant issue for 2 months after ICU discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Evidence that PS may facilitate weaning from mechanical ventilation (MV), although not confirmed by randomized trials, prompted us to investigate whether patients could be weaned with PS after failing a T-tube trial.Design and Setting: This was a prospective, non-randomized study in two French intensive care units.Patients and Participants: One hundred eighteen patients were enrolled and underwent a T-tube trial, after which 87 were extubated. Thirty-one underwent a further trial with PS, after which 21 were extubated.Interventions: All patients under MV >24 h meeting the criteria for a weaning test underwent a 30-min T-tube trial. If this was successful, they were immediately extubated. Otherwise, a 30-min trial with +7 cm H2O PS was initiated with an individualized pressurization slope and trigger adjustment. If all weaning criteria were met, the patients were extubated; otherwise, MV was reinstated.Measurements and Results: The extubation failure rate at 48 h did not differ significantly between the groups: 11/87 (13%) versus 4/21 (19%), P=0.39. The groups were comparable with regard to endotracheal tube diameter, MV duration, the use of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) after extubation, initial severity score, age and underlying pathology, except for COPD. A significantly higher percentage of patients with COPD was extubated after the trial with PS (8/21-38%) than after a single T-tube trial (11/87-13%) (P=0.003).Conclusions: Of the patients, 21/118 (18%) could be extubated after a trial with PS, despite having failed a T-tube trial. The reintubation rate was not increased. This protocol may particularly benefit patients who are most difficult to wean, notably those with COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the outcome in severely ill patients with hematological malignancies who receive intravenous chemotherapy in an intensive care unit (ICU) for a life-threatening malignancy-related complication.Design: Retrospective observational study of prospectively collected data.Patients: All 37 critically ill patients with hematological malignancies who received intravenous chemotherapy in the ICU between January 1997 and March 2005 (mean age 46+/-19 years; mean APACHE II 23+/-7).Measurements and Results: Thirty-seven (69%) patients received chemotherapy because of extensive disease with organ involvement (54%), extensive disease without organ involvement (19%), severe disseminated intravascular coagulation (11%), and other reasons (16%). In 41% there was concomitant infection when chemotherapy was initiated, in 86% a high-grade malignancy, and 30% relapsing disease. Twenty-three (62%) patients received mechanical ventilation at the moment of or soon after initiation of chemotherapy for a median duration of 5 days (1-67), and 24% underwent renal replacement therapy during ICU stay. Only ventilation was associated with in-hospital mortality (odds ratio 9.3). ICU, in-hospital, and 6-month mortality rates in nonventilated vs. ventilated patients were 7% and 48%, 14% and 61%, and 54% and 74%, respectively.Conclusions: Starting chemotherapy in the ICU for a life-threatening malignancy related complication can be lifesaving even when infection or organ failure is present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare bacterial contamination associated with electronic faucets and manual faucets in wards admitting patients highly susceptible to infection.Design: Water samples from electronic faucets and manual faucets were taken according to the French recommendations on water surveillance in healthcare settings.Setting: Hematology and intensive care units (ICUs) of a 900-bed university hospital and a 500-bed general hospital.Measurements and Results: Overall 227 water samples were collected, 92 from electronic faucets and 135 from manual faucets. Thirty-six (39%) of the water samples from electronic faucets and 2 (1%) from manual faucets yielded pathogenic bacteria. In hematology wards 17 (30%) samples from electronic faucets and 2 (2%) from manual faucets were contaminated. In ICUs 19 (53%) samples from electronic faucets and none of 48 from manual faucets were contaminated. All samples were contaminated with various strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (8 to >100 CFU/100 ml). Despite hyperchlorination the electronic faucets remained contaminated. Replacing the contaminated electronic faucets by manual faucets led to a complete and sustained elimination of bacterial contamination. Contamination was not associated with a particular brand of electronic faucets.Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that electronic faucets are significantly more frequently contaminated than manual faucets and could be a major reservoir for P. aeruginosa. Wards admitting patients highly susceptible to infection and using electronic faucets should be aware of this potential threat. Moreover, units already equipped with these devices, should check water quality periodically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine whether the long-term benefit of an ICU requires prolonged patient follow-up we reviewed long-term survival of patients from general ICUs.Method: We carried out a computerised search of online databases Medline (1966-2004), Embase (1966-2004) and Cochrane Library (1966-2004) for studies reporting patients' long-term survival for greater than 12 months from general ICUs. SELECTED STUDIES: We identified 19 studies that met the selection criteria. The casemix and severity of illness varied. Differences included the services provided, investigator inclusion/exclusion criteria and proportion of medical patients (range 13-79%).Results: Mean reported ICU length of stay was 5.3 days. The study initiation time for follow-up varied (mostly from time of ICU admission), as did the duration of follow-up (16 months-13 years). ICU and hospital mortality rates ranged from 8% to 33% and 11% to 64%, respectively. The reported 5-year mortality ranged from 40% to 58%.Conclusions: Well designed studies on long-term outcomes are needed to demonstrate the value of intensive care. Deficiencies in design, methodology, and reporting make interpretation and comparison difficult. Recommendations are made for the reporting of outcome from the ICU. Optimum duration of follow-up has not been determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses key issues concerning the measurement of exposure and outcome in critical care medicine for patients in intensive care unit patients. Description of measurement as it relates to key elements of clinical studies; Principles and challenges of outcome measurement in critical care medicine; Recommendations for long-term outcomes research in the field of critical care medicine.

Objective: To determine the relationship between the Arg72Pro polymorphism of p53 and the outcome after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in humans.Design and Setting: A prospective study was carried out in a ten-bed surgical intensive care unit (SICU) of a university hospital.Patients: The study included 90 caucasian patients who had experienced a severe TBI within the previous 24 h. The exclusion criterion was a previous deficit in the central nervous system.Measurements and Results: The main recorded outcomes were values on the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) at discharge from the SICU (GOS-0) and 6 months later (GOS-6). A blood sample was taken from each patient and all samples were analyzed by an allele-specific polymerase chain reaction for detection of Arg72Pro polymorphism of p53. These polymorphisms were tested for their association with values of GOS-0 and GOS-6. A two-tailed value of p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. The frequency of the argine/argine (Arg/Arg) genotype was greater among the patients who had a bad outcome at GOS-0 (69 vs 31% in the bad-outcome group; p=0.029). A multiple logistic regression analysis showed that patients with the Arg/Arg variation had a 2.9-fold greater risk of having a bad outcome at discharge from the SICU (95% confidence interval, 1.05-8.31; p=0.039 ). There was no similar relationship with respect to GOS-6.Conclusion: The Arg/Arg genotype of the Arg72Pro polymorphism in p53 is associated with increased likelihood of a bad outcome at discharge from the SICU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To compare the experiences of parents and children during inpatient admission to either a paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) or a general paediatric ward (GPW) with a specific focus on identifying factors which may influence psychological outcome.Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews of 20 parents whose children had been admitted to hospital. Cases were sampled purposively to ensure representation of both groups (PICU and GPW admissions). Interviews were tape recorded, transcribed and subjected to a thematic analysis.Results: The experiences of parents were explored with regard to illness onset, admission to PICU or GPW and the discharge period. In the PICU group, the sources of stress differed according to the stage: at onset, they were mainly related to their child's illness; during admission, concerns were focused on their child's appearance; finally, on discharge, possible relapse of the illness, impact of the admission on the child and family and the lack of clear follow-up were the central themes. In the GPW group, parents reported similar themes but with lower levels of associated stress. Both groups identified good communication with the medical team and opportunities for participation as helpful in reducing stress.Conclusions: Admission to hospital is stressful for parents particularly if the child is admitted to PICU. Hospital staff should enhance communication with parents and maximise opportunities for parental participation in the child's treatment. Such interventions may reduce parents' experience of stress during the admission and have the potential to improve psychological outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study examined the incidence and mortality of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in intensive care units, evaluated the limitation of life support in these patients, and determined whether daily measurement of the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) is useful for decision making.Design and Setting: Prospective, observational study in 79 intensive care units.Patients and Participants: Of the 7,615 patients admitted during a 2-month period we found 1,340 patients to have MODS.Measurements and Results: We recorded mortality and length of stay in the intensive care unit and the hospital and the maximum and minimum total SOFA scores during MODS. Limitation of life support in MODS patients was also evaluated. Stepwise logistic regression was used to determine the factors predicting mortality. The in-hospital mortality rate in patients with MODS was 44.6%, and some type of limitation of life support was applied in 70.6% of the patients who died. The predictive model maximizing specificity included the following variables: maximum SOFA score, minimum SOFA score, trend of the SOFA for 5 consecutive days, and age over 60 years. The model diagnostic yield was: specificity 100%, sensitivity 7.2%, positive predictive value 100%, and negative predictive value 57.3%; the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.807.Conclusions: This model showed that in our population with MODS those older than 60 years and with SOFA score higher than 9 for at least 5 days were unlikely to survive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As research focuses on long-term patient outcomes and the "real world" effectiveness of intensive care unit (ICU) therapies, the cohort study is increasingly being used in critical care research.Methods: Using examples of prior cohort studies in intensive care, we review the key elements of this research design and evaluate its advantages and limitations for critical care research. Furthermore, through a systematic search of the literature we summarize data from 70 prior published cohort studies of medium- and long-term outcomes in adult critical care medicine.Discussion: This research demonstrates that the prospective cohort study is a powerful research design that has not been fully leveraged to assess relationships between exposures and long-term outcomes of ICU survivors.Conclusions: We make recommendations for the design of future cohort studies to maximize the impact of this research in improving the long-term outcomes of critically ill patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Use of lung-protective mechanical ventilation (MV) by applying lower tidal volumes is recommended in patients suffering from acute lung injury (ALI) or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Recent data suggest that lung-protective MV may benefit non-ALI/ARDS patients as well. This study analyzed tidal volume settings in three ICUs in The Netherlands to determine the effect of feedback and education concerning use of lung-protective MV.Design and Setting: Observational study in one academic and two nonacademic "closed format" ICUs.Patients: Intubated mechanically ventilated subjects.Interventions: Feedback and education concerning lung-protective MV with special attention to the importance of closely adjusting tidal volumes to predicted body weight (PBW).Results: Tidal volumes declined significantly within 6 months after intervention (from 9.8+/-2.0 at baseline to 8.1+/-1.7 ml/kg PBW) as the percentage of undesirable ventilation data points, defined as tidal volumes greater than 8 ml/kg PBW (84% vs. 48%). There were no differences between patients meeting the international definition criteria for ALI/ARDS and those not. Only four patients received tidal volumes less than 6 ml/kg PBW. Lower tidal volumes were still used after 12 months. Tidal volumes in patients on mandatory MV and patients breathing on spontaneous modes were similar.Conclusions: Feedback and education improve physician compliance in use of lung-protective MV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the implementation and process of withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining treatment in an intensive care unit.Design and Setting: Prospective observational study in the medical intensive care unit of a university hospital in Lebanon.Patients: Forty-five consecutive adult patients admitted to the ICU for a 1-year period and for whom a decision to withholding and withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment was made.Measurements and Results: Patients were followed up until their death. Data regarding all aspects of the implementation and the process of withholding and withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment were recorded by a senior staff nurse. Withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining treatment was applied to 9.6% of all admitted patients to ICU. Therapies were withheld in 38% and were withdrawn in 7% of patients who died. Futility of care and poor quality of life were the two most important factors supporting these decisions. The nursing staff was not involved in 26% of the decisions to limit care. Families were not implicated in 21% of the cases. Decisions were not notified in the patients' medical record in 23% of the cases. Sixty-three percent of patients did not have a sedative or an analgesic to treat discomfort during end-of-life care.Conclusions: Life-sustaining treatment were frequently withheld or withdrawn from adult patients in the Lebanese ICU. Cultural differences and the lack of guidelines and official statements could explain the ethical limitations of the decision-making process recorded in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To study the effect of a high-protein enteral formula enriched with arginine, glutamine, and antioxidants and containing omega3 fatty acids and a mixture of fibers, on the clinical outcome of a heterogeneous intensive care (ICU) population.Design and Setting: A randomized, prospective, double blind, controlled, two-center clinical trial in two intensive care units in The Netherlands.Patients and Participants: A total of 597 adult ICU patients expected to require enteral tube feeding for more than 2 days were randomized to receive immunonutrition or an isocaloric control formula.Interventions: Patients received either the immunonutrition or the control feed.Measurements and Results: Intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses showed no statistically significant difference in clinical outcome parameters between the two groups. Results of the intention-to-treat analysis in control vs. immunonutrition were: median ICU length of stay in days, 8.0 (IQR 5.0-16.0) vs. 7.0 (4.0-14.0); median hospital length of stay in days, 20.0 (IQR 10.0-34.0) vs. 20.0 (10.0-35.0); median days of ventilation, 6.0 (IQR 3.0-12.0) vs. 6.0 (IQR 3.0-12.0); ICU mortality, 26.8% vs. 28.2%; in-hospital mortality, 36.4% vs. 38.5%; infectious complications, 41.7% vs. 43.0%.Conclusions: The results of this largest randomized, controlled trial found that in the general ICU population immunonutrition has no beneficial effect on clinical outcome parameters. These results are consistent with the literature that is currently available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the influence of tidal volume on the capacity of pulse pressure variation (ΔPP) to predict fluid responsiveness. Design: Prospective interventional study. Setting: A 31-bed university hospital medico-surgical ICU. Patients and participants: Sixty mechanically ventilated critically ill patients requiring fluid challenge, separated according to their tidal volume. Intervention: Fluid challenge with either 1,000 ml crystalloids or 500 ml colloids. Measurements and results: Complete hemodynamic measurements including ΔPP were obtained before and after fluid challenge. Tidal volume was lower than 7 ml/kg in 26 patients, between 7-8 ml/kg in 9 patients, and greater than 8 ml/kg in 27 patients. ROC curve analysis was used to evaluate the predictive value of ΔPP at different tidal volume thresholds, and 8 ml/kg best identified different behaviors. Overall, the cardiac index increased from 2.66 (2.00-3.47) to 3.04 (2.44-3.96) l/min m² ( P <0.001). It increased by more than 15% in 33 patients (fluid responders). Pulmonary artery occluded pressure was lower and ΔPP higher in responders than in non-responders, but fluid responsiveness was better predicted with ΔPP (ROC curve area 0.76±0.06) than with pulmonary artery occluded pressure (0.71±0.07) and right atrial (0.56±0.08) pressures. Despite similar response to fluid challenge in low (<8 ml/kg) and high tidal volume groups, the percent of correct classification of a 12% ΔPP was 51% in the low tidal volume group and 88% in the high tidal volume group. Conclusions: ΔPP is a reliable predictor of fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated patients only when tidal volume is at least 8 ml/kg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the impact of two different comorbidity measures on the 6-month mortality of severely ill cancer patients.Design and Setting: Prospective cohort study in a ten-bed oncological medical-surgical intensive care unit (ICU).Patients: A total of 772 consecutive patients were included over a 45-month period. The mean age was 57.6+/-16.4 years, and 642 (83%) patients had solid tumors.Measurements and Results: Data were collected on admission and during ICU stay. Comorbidities were evaluated using the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and the Adult Comorbidity Evaluation (ACE-27). The ICU, hospital, and 6-month mortality rates were 34%, 47%, and 58%, respectively. The most frequent comorbidities were hypertension (33%), diabetes mellitus (8%), and chronic pulmonary disease (7%). There were important differences between the two indices regarding the comorbidity evaluation. Using the ACE-27, 389 patients (50%) had comorbid ailments that were classified as mild (31%), moderate (14%), and severe (5%) according to the comorbidity severity. According to the CCI, 212 patients (27%) had a comorbidity, and their median score was 1 (1-2). In the multivariable Cox proportional hazard models only the presence of a severe comorbidity by the ACE-27 was associated with increased mortality. The CCI was not independently associated with the outcome. Other outcome predictors were older age, poor performance status, active cancer, need of mechanical ventilation, and severity of acute organ failures.Conclusions: Severe comorbidities must be considered in the outcome evaluation of ICU cancer patients. The ACE-27 seems to be a useful instrument for prognostic assessment in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Multiple-site colonization with Candida species is commonly recognized as a major risk factor for invasive fungal infection in critically ill patients. The fungal colonization density could be of predictive value for the diagnosis of systemic candidiasis in high-risk surgical patients. Little is known about it in the medical ICU setting. Design and setting: Prospective observational study in the eight-bed medical intensive care unit of a teaching hospital. Subjects: 92 consecutive nonneutropenic patients hospitalized for more than 7 days. Measurements and results: The colonization index (ratio of the number of culture-positive surveillance sites for Candida spp. to the number of sites cultured) was calculated weekly upon ICU admission until death or discharge. The 0.50 threshold was reached in 36 (39.1%) patients, almost exclusively in those with detectable fungal colonization upon ICU admission. The duration of broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy was found to be the main factor that independently promoted fungal growth as measured through the colonization index. Conclusions: Candida spp. multiple-site colonization is frequently met among the critically ill medical patients. Broadspectrum antibiotic therapy was found to promote fungal growth in patients with prior colonization. Since most of the invasive candidiasis in the ICU setting are thought to be subsequent to colonization in high-risk patients, reducing antibiotic use could be useful in preventing fungal infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the relationship between hospital mortality and time spent by patients on hospital wards before admission to the intensive care unit (ICU).Design: Observational study of prospectively collected data.Setting: Participating intensive care units within the North East Thames Regional Database.Patients and Participants: Patients, 7,190, admitted to ICU from the hospital wards of 24 hospitals.Interventions: None.Measurements and Results: Of ICU admissions from the wards, 40.1% were in hospital for more than 3 days and 11.7% for more than 15 days. ICU patients who died in hospital were in-patients longer (p=0.001) before admission (median 3 days; interquartile range 1-9) than those discharged alive (median 2 days; interquartile range 1-5). Hospital mortality increased significantly (p<0.0001) in relation to time on hospital wards before ICU: 47.1% (standardised mortality ratio 1.09) for patients in hospital 0-3 days before ICU admission up to 67.2% (standardised mortality ratio 1.39) for patients on the wards for more than 15 days before ICU. Length of stay before ICU admission was an independent predictor of hospital mortality (odds ratio per day 1.019; 95% confidence interval 1.014-1.024). There were significant differences (p<0.001) in patient age, APACHE II score and predicted mortality in relation to time on wards before ICU admission.Conclusions: Mortality was high among patients admitted from the wards to ICU; many were inpatients for days or weeks before admission. The longer these patients were in hospital before ICU admission, the higher their mortality. Patients with delayed admission differed in some respects compared to those admitted earlier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Hypophosphatemia often occurs during continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). The addition of phosphate to dialysate and replacement solutions facilitates phosphate handling, but the risk of precipitation with calcium within these solutions has not been addressed.Design and Setting: Experimental study with a retrospective observational study in a medico-surgical intensive care unit.Methods and Patients: We tested the addition of phosphate to calcium-rich lactate- and bicarbonate-based solutions (Hemosol LG2 and Hemosol B0) used in CRRT to see whether precipitation occurs. Two milliliters of potassium phosphate added to 5-l bags gives a physiological phosphate concentration of 1.2 mmol/l. In addition, calcium and phosphate homeostasis was retrospectively evaluated in 20 consecutive CRRT patients where potassium phosphate had been added to these solutions.Measurements and Results: Total and ionized calcium, phosphate, pH, PCO(2) and bicarbonate remained essentially unchanged 5 h after the addition of 2 ml of potassium phosphate to 5-l Hemosol solutions. Visual inspection did not reveal any precipitate. Of the 20 patients studied, 14 received more than 24 h of phosphate supplementation to dialysate and replacement solutions. Phosphate remained stable throughout CRRT despite phosphate intake from nutrition in 11 cases. No adverse event was noted on potassium, calcium, pH and bicarbonate homeostasis.Conclusions: The addition of phosphate to Hemosol solutions does not precipitate with the calcium within these solutions. This practical method effectively prevents hypophosphatemia in CRRT patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We aimed to document our experience with oral clonidine when used as a sedative in combination with intravenous morphine and lorazepam in a group of mechanically ventilated children with single-organ, respiratory failure. In particular, our objectives were to establish the relationship between oral dose, plasma concentration, and sedative effect, and second, to document the side-effect profile.Design: Prospective, cohort study over a 72-h period.Setting: Regional paediatric intensive care unit.Patients and Participants: Twenty-four children were enrolled (median age 3 months) of whom ten were excluded (six due to extubation before 72 h, three sedation failures, one protocol violation).Measurements and Results: Plasma clonidine was measured using gas chromatography mass spectrometry, and sedation assessed using the COMFORT score. Using a dose of 3-5 microg/kg every 8 h, plasma concentrations appeared to plateau at approximately 41 h giving a mean value of 1.38 ng/ml (95% confidence interval 1.0-1.8). Adequate sedation was achieved during 82% (837/1022 h) of the study period; however, this decreased to 70.3% when analysed on an intention-to-treat basis. There was a concomitant overall decrease in the average hourly requirements for both morphine ( P = 0.02) and lorazepam ( P = 0.003). There were no documented episodes of bradycardia, hypotension or hyperglycaemia.Conclusions: Oral clonidine may be a safe and effective sedative in combination with morphine and lorazepam for young children with single-organ, respiratory failure. This agent may also exhibit opioid and benzodiazepine sparing effects in this patient group. A full pharmacokinetic study is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This prospective observational study was undertaken in order to assess pain experienced by intensive care unit patients at the time of extubation and to identify factors associated with pain of at least moderate intensity.Design: Prospective observational study.Setting: Intensive care unit at a university hospital.Patients: During a 1-year period the presence, severity and clinical predictors of orofacial and/or chest pain among patients undergoing removal of endotracheal tubes was assessed.Measurements and Results: Pain was evaluated using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Of 332 extubated patients, 203 could be evaluated. During the peri-extubation period, pain was significantly associated with a SAPS II score more than 36 ( p=0.03) and duration of mechanical ventilation (MV) of 6 days or more ( p=0.002), whereas intubation in the operating room was associated with less pain ( p=0.001). Pain of at least moderate intensity (VAS score >30 mm) was reported by 73% of patients and pain of severe intensity (VAS score >50 mm) was reported by 45% of patients. MV duration of 6 days or more was the only independent risk factor for pain of at least moderate intensity (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.03-5.4, p=0.04). We also observed that pain had resolved 1 h after extubation in the majority of patients.Conclusion: Our results suggest that, in intensive care unit patients, peri-extubation pain is frequent and should be considered for treatment, especially in patients with longer intubation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]