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Introduction: In Brazil, data show an important decrease in morbi-mortality of high-risk surgical patients over a 10-year high. The objective of this post-hoc study was to evaluate the mechanism explaining this trend in high-risk surgical patients admitted to Brazilian ICUs in two large Brazilian multicenter cohort studies performed 10 years apart. Methods: The patients included in the 2 cohorts studies published in 2008 and 2018 were compared after a (1:1) propensity score matching. Patients included were adults who underwent surgeries and admitted to the ICU afterwards. Results: After matching, 704 patients were analyzed. Compared to the 2018 cohort, 2008 cohort had more postoperative infections (OR 13.4; 95%CI 6.1–29.3) and cardiovascular complications (OR 1.5; 95%CI 1.0–2.2), as well as a lower survival ICU stay (HR = 2.39, 95% CI: 1.36–4.20) and hospital stay (HR = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.03–2.62). In addition, by verifying factors strongly associated with hospital mortality, it was found that the risk of death correlated with higher intraoperative fluid balance (OR = 1.03, 95% CI 1.01–1.06), higher creatinine (OR = 1.31, 95% CI 1.1–1.56), and intraoperative blood transfusion (OR = 2.32, 95% CI 1.35–4.0). By increasing the mean arterial pressure, according to the limits of sample values from 43 mmHg to 118 mmHg, the risk of death decreased (OR = 0.97, 95% CI 0.95–0.98). The 2008 cohort had higher fluid balance, postoperative creatinine, and volume of intraoperative blood transfused and lower mean blood pressure at ICU admission and temperature at the end of surgery. Conclusion: In this sample of ICUs in Brazil, high-risk surgical patients still have a high rate of complications, but with improvement over a period of 10 years. There were changes in the management of these patients over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ketamine is unique among anesthetics and analgesics. The drug is a rapid-acting general anesthetic that produces an anesthetic state characterized by profound analgesia, preserved pharyngeal-laryngeal reflexes, normal or slightly enhanced skeletal muscle tone, cardiovascular and respiratory stimulation, and occasionally a transient and minimal respiratory depression. Research has demonstrated the efficacy of its use on anesthesia, pain, palliative care, and intensive care. Recently, it has been used for postoperative and chronic pain, as an adjunct in psychotherapy, as a treatment for depression and posttraumatic stress disorder, as a procedural sedative, and as a treatment for respiratory and/or neurologic clinical conditions. Despite being a safe and widely used drug, many physicians, such as intensivists and those practicing in emergency care, are not aware of the current clinical applications of ketamine. The objective of this narrative literature review is to present the theoretical and practical aspects of clinical applications of ketamine in intensive care unit and emergency department settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Combined solid organ transplantation is infrequently performed in Brazil. The objective of this article is to present our initial experience with combined heart and kidney transplantation. Methods: From January 2007 to December 2019, four patients were submitted to combined heart and kidney transplantation. Their mean age was 55.7±4.4 years, and three (75%) patients were males. All patients had Chagas cardiomyopathy, two were hospitalized and inotrope dependent, and all patients were on preoperative dialysis (median of 12 months prior to transplant). Results: All patients survived and were in New York Heart Association functional class I at the latest follow-up (mean 34.7±17.5 months). Mean retarded kidney graft function was 22.9±9.7 days. One patient lost the kidney graft two years after the transplant due to Polyomavirus infection. Conclusion: Our initial experience of combined heart and kidney transplantation was favorable in selected patients with advanced heart failure and end-stage kidney disease. It requires involvement of a dedicated multispecialty team throughout all the diagnostics and treatment steps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients who develop post-operative acute kidney injury (AKI) have a poor prognosis, especially when undergoing high-risk surgery. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the outcome of patients with AKI acquired after non-cardiac surgery and the possible risk factors for this complication. A multicenter, prospective cohort study with patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) after non-cardiac surgery was conducted to assess whether they developed AKI. The patients who developed AKI were then compared to non-AKI patients. A total of 29 ICUs participated, of which 904 high-risk surgical patients were involved in the study. The occurrence of AKI in the post-operative period was 15.8%, and the mortality rate of post-operative AKI patients at 28 days was 27.6%. AKI was strongly associated with 28-day mortality (OR = 2.91; 95% CI 1.51–5.62; p = 0.001), and a higher length of ICU and hospital stay (p < 0.001). Independent factors for the risk of developing AKI were pre-operative anemia (OR = 7.01; 95% CI 1.69–29.07), elective surgery (OR = 0.45; 95% CI 0.21–0.97), SAPS 3 (OR = 1.04; 95% CI 1.02–1.06), post-operative vasopressor use (OR = 2.47; 95% CI 1.34–4.55), post-operative infection (OR = 8.82; 95% CI 2.43–32.05) and the need for reoperation (OR= 7.15; 95% CI 2.58–19.79). AKI was associated with the risk of death in surgical patients and those with anemia before surgery, who had a higher SAPS 3, needed a post-operative vasopressor, or had a post-operative infection or needed reoperation were more likely to develop AKI post-operatively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives: Hypothermia occurs commonly during surgery and can cause postoperative complications. We aimed to describe the characteristics and outcomes of hypothermia in patients undergoing major surgeries. Methods: This prospective, observational, multicenter study of a nationally representative sample included all patients over 18 years of age admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU). Thirty ICUs were selected randomly at national level. The main outcome measure was the proportion of patients who developed postoperative hypothermia in the first 24 hours of ICU admission. Patients were divided into three groups based on temperature: <35°C, <36°C, and ≥36°C (no hypothermia). Patients' characteristics, postoperative complications, and risk factors were evaluated in all groups. To verify whether hypothermia was a strong risk factor for postoperative complications, a Kaplan–Meier curve was generated and adjusted using a Cox regression model. Results: In total, 738 patients had their temperatures measured. The percentage of patients with temperature <35°C (median [Q1-Q3], 34.7°C [34.3–34.9°C]) was 19.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 16.1–22.5) and that of patients with temperature <36°C (median [Q1-Q3], 35.4°C [35.0–35.8°C]) was 64% (95% CI = 58.3–70.0). The percentage of surgical complications was 38.9%. Patients with hypothermia were older, had undergone abdominal surgeries, had undergone procedures of longer duration, and had more comorbidities. A postoperative temperature ≤35°C was an independent risk for composite postoperative complications (hazard ratio = 1.523, 95% CI = 1.15–2.0), especially coagulation and infection. Conclusions: Inadvertent hypothermia was frequent among patients admitted to the ICU and occurred more likely after abdominal surgery, after a long procedure, in elderly patients, and in patients with a higher number of comorbidities. Low postoperative temperature was associated with postoperative complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Infection after cardiovascular surgery is multifactorial. We sought to determine whether the anthropometric profile influences the occurrence of infection after isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).Methods: Between January 2011 and June 2016, 1777 consecutive adult patients were submitted to isolated coronary artery bypass grafting. Mean age was 61.7 ± 9.8 years and 1193 (67.1%) were males. Patients were divided into four groups according to the body mass index (BMI) classification: underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 ; N = 17, 0.9%), normal range (BMI: 18.5-24.99 kg/m2 ; N = 522, 29.4%), overweight (BMI: 25-29.99 kg/m2 ; N = 796, 44.8%), and obese (BMI > 30 kg/m2 ; N = 430, 24.2%). In-hospital outcomes were compared and independent predictors of infection were obtained through multiple Poisson regression with a robust variation.Results: Independent predictors of any infection morbidity were female sex (relative ratio [RR], 1.47; p = .002), age > 60 years (RR, 1.85; p < .0001), cardiopulmonary bypass > 120 min (RR, 1.89; p = .0007), preoperative myocardial infarction < 30 days (RR, 1.37; p = .01), diabetes mellitus (RR, 1.59; p = .0003), ejection fraction < 48% (RR, 2.12; p < .0001), and blood transfusion (RR, 1.55; p = .0008). Among other variables, obesity, as well as diabetes mellitus, were independent predictors of superficial and deep sternal wound infection.Conclusions: Other factors rather than the anthropometric profile are more important in determining the occurrence of any infection after CABG. However, surgical site infection has occurred more frequently in obese patients. Appropriate patient selection, control of modifiable factors, and application of surgical bundles would minimize this important complication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In most emergency situations or severe illness, patients are unable to consent for clinical trial enrollment. In such circumstances, the decision about whether to participate in a scientific study or not is made by a legally designated representative. Objective: To address the willingness of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) to be enrolled in a scientific study as volunteers, and to assess the agreement between patients' and their legal representatives' opinion concerning enrollment in a scientific study. Methods: This survey was conducted in two hospitals in São Paulo, Brazil. Patients (≥18 years) with preserved cognitive functions accompanied by a surrogate admitted to the ICU were eligible for this study. A survey containing 28 questions for patients and 8 questions for surrogates was applied within the first 48h from ICU admission. The survey for patients comprised three sections: demographic characteristics, opinion about participation in clinical research and knowledge about the importance of research. The survey for legal representatives contained two sections: demographic characteristics and assessment of legal representatives' opinion in authorizing patients to be enrolled in research. Results: Between January 2017 and May 2018, 208 pairs of ICU patients and their respective legal representatives answered the survey. Out of 208 ICU patients answering the survey, 73.6% (153/208) were willing to be enrolled in the study as volunteers. Of those patients, 65.1% (97/149) would continue participating in a research even if their legal representative did not support their enrollment. Agreement between patients' and surrogates' opinion concerning participation was poor [Kappa = 0.11 (IC95% -0.02 to 0.25)]. If a consent for study participation had been obtained, 69.1% (103/149) of patients would continue participating in the study until its conclusion, and 23.5% (35/149) would allow researchers to use data collected to date, but would withdraw from the study on that occasion. Conclusion: The majority of patients admitted to the ICU were willing to be enrolled in a scientific study as volunteers, also after a deferred informed consent procedure has been used. Nevertheless, contradictory opinions between patients and their and their legal representatives' concerning enrollment in a scientific study were often observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim Of the Study: In developed countries, the shortage of viable donors is the main limiting factor of heart transplantation. The aim of this study is to determine whether the same reality applies to Brazil.Methods: Between January 2012 and December 2014, 299 adult heart donor offers were studied in terms of donor profiles and reasons for refusal. The European donor scoring system was calculated, being high-risk donors defined as more than 17 points. The donor scoring system was used to objectively determine the donor profile and correlate with donor acceptance and posttransplant primary graft dysfunction and recipient survival. Cox proportional hazard model was used in determining the predictors of long-term mortality.Results: The rates of donor acceptance and heart transplants performed were 45.8% and 19.3%, respectively. Reasons for refusal were mostly nonmedical (53.7%). The majority of donors were classified as high-risk (65.5%). Hearts from high-risk donors did not impact primary graft dysfunction (14.3% vs 10%; P = .6), neither long-term survival (P = .4 by logrank test). Recipient's age was greater than 50 years (hazard ratio, 6.02; 95% confidence interval, 2.41-16.08; P < .0001) and was the only predictor of long-term mortality.Conclusions: The shortage of donors is not the main limiting factor of heart transplantation in the Mid-West of Brazil. Nonmedical issues represent the main reason for organ discard. Most of the donors are classified as high risk which indicates that an expanded donor pool is a routine practice in our region, and donor scoring does not seem to influence to proceed with the transplant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To define the epidemiological profile and the main determinants of morbidity and mortality in noncardiac high surgical risk patients in Brazil. Methods: This was a prospective, observational and multicenter study. All noncardiac surgical patients admitted to intensive care units, i.e., those considered high risk, within a 1-month period were evaluated and monitored daily for a maximum of 7 days in the intensive care unit to determine complications. The 28- day postoperative, intensive care unit and hospital mortality rates were evaluated. Results: Twenty-nine intensive care units participated in the study. Surgeries were performed in 25,500 patients, of whom 904 (3.5%) were high-risk (95% confidence interval - 95%CI 3.3% - 3.8%) and were included in the study. Of the participating patients, 48.3% were from private intensive care units, and 51.7% were from public intensive care units. The length of stay in the intensive care unit was 2.0 (1.0 - 4.0) days, and the length of hospital stay was 9.5 (5.4 - 18.6) days. The complication rate was 29.9% (95%CI 26.4 - 33.7), and the 28-day postoperative mortality rate was 9.6% (95%CI 7.4 - 12.1). The independent risk factors for complications were the Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3 (SAPS 3; odds ratio - OR = 1.02; 95%CI 1.01 - 1.03) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Score (SOFA) on admission to the intensive care unit (OR = 1.17; 95%CI 1.09 - 1.25), surgical time (OR = 1.001, 95%CI 1.000 - 1.002) and emergency surgeries (OR = 1.93, 95%CI, 1.10 - 3.38). In addition, there were associations with 28-day mortality (OR = 1.032; 95%CI 1.011 - 1.052), SAPS 3 (OR = 1.041; 95%CI 1.107 - 1.279), SOFA (OR = 1.175, 95%CI 1.069 - 1.292) and emergency surgeries (OR = 2.509; 95%CI 1.040 - 6.051). Conclusion: Higher prognostic scores, elderly patients, longer surgical times and emergency surgeries were strongly associated with higher 28-day mortality and more complications during the intensive care unit stay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is a modality of extracorporeal life support that allows for temporary support in pulmonary and/or cardiac failure refractory to conventional therapy. Since the first descriptions of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, significant improvements have occurred in the device and the management of patients and, consequently, in the outcomes of critically ill patients during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Many important studies about the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome refractory to conventional clinical support, under in-hospital cardiac arrest and with cardiogenic refractory shock have been published in recent years. The objective of this literature review is to present the theoretical and practical aspects of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support for respiratory and/or cardiac functions in critically ill patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nighttime ICU discharge, i.e., discharge from the ICU during the night hours, has been associated with increased readmission rates, hospital length of stay (LOS) and in-hospital mortality. We sought to determine the frequency of nighttime ICU discharge and identify whether nighttime ICU discharge is associated with worse outcomes in a private adult ICU located in Brazil. Methods: Post hoc analysis of a cohort study addressing the effect of ICU readmissions on outcomes. This retrospective, single center, propensity matched cohort study was conducted in a medical-surgical ICU located in a private tertiary care hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. Based on time of transfer, patients were categorized into nighttime (7:00 pm to 6:59 am) and daytime (7:00 am to 6:59 pm) ICU discharge and were propensity-score matched at a 1:2 ratio. The primary outcome of interest was in–hospital mortality. Results: Among 4,313 eligible patients admitted to the ICU between June 2013 and May 2015, 1,934 patients were matched at 1:2 ratio [649 (33.6%) nighttime and 1,285 (66.4%) daytime discharged patients]. The median (IQR) cohort age was 66 (51–79) years and SAPS III score was 43 (33–55). In-hospital mortality was 6.5% (42/649) in nighttime compared to 5.6% (72/1,285) in daytime discharged patients (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 0.79 to 1.73; p = 0.444). While frequency of ICU readmission (OR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.78 to 1.29; p = 0.741) and length of hospital stay did not differ between the groups, length of ICU stay was lower in nighttime compared to daytime ICU discharged patients [1 (1–3) days vs. 2 (1–3) days, respectively, p = 0.047]. Conclusion: In this propensity-matched retrospective cohort study, time of ICU discharge did not affect in-hospital mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation has been used to treat refractory hypoxemia in numerous clinical scenarios. The fundamental principles for the management of massive hemoptysis patients include protecting the airway and healthy lung, locating the source of bleeding and controlling the hemorrhage. We report the case of a patient with acute respiratory failure associated with massive hemoptysis secondary to lung laceration during cardiac surgery. The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation allowed patient survival. However, due to the great difficulty in managing pulmonary clots after hemoptysis, it was necessary to use an unusual therapy involving endobronchial infusion of a thrombolytic agent as described in rare cases in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By combining an historical analysis of three megaprojects and an organizational theory approach based on the notion of symbolism-intensive organizations, this research attempts to shed light on how symbols are constructed, communicated, translated, and captured in megaprojects. We conclude that, when it comes to symbolic projects, a number of project features may not be mirrored in the outcome’s observable traits. We propose a novel analysis dimension: the symbolism-intensive project; in other words, projects that are carried out aimed at delivering long-awaited needs, a supreme mission, annihilation of the past, or even the reification of heroes, or success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Terapia Intensiva is the property of Associacao de Medicina Intensiva Brasileira and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: The health environment is an important reservoir for a multitude of microorganisms. Contact with environment surfaces contaminated with multidrugresistant organisms (MDROs) may be associated with healthcare-associated infections and higher hospital costs, morbidity, and mortality.(1) Objective: To perform a systematic review of clinical and microbiological outcomes associated with interventions based on use of sanitizers in hospital environment surfaces or medical devices. Methods: Published studies were identified through electronic literature search of PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and SCOPUS by three independent reviewers. All interventions based on use of sanitizers (in isolation or combined with other methods) and targeting the hospital environment or medical devices were included. No restrictions regarding patients and microorganisms were imposed. Bench studies, studies involving surface contamination with MDROs and animal studies were excluded. The quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized trials was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool and the Newcastle-Ottawa scale, respectively. Results: A total of 8,984 studies involving sanitizer interventions targeting the healthcare environment or medical devices were found. Of these, 26 were included in this review (Figure 1). Intervention effectiveness varied between studies. The five randomized studies which met the inclusion criteria involved the use of different sanitizers in disinfection: isopropyl alcohol swab, sodium hypochlorite (bleach), benzalkonium chloride swabs, quaternary ammonium disinfectant and UV-C light, bleach, and UV-C light, organosilane, hydrogen peroxide and silver vapor, and 65% ethyl alcohol. Environmental studies comprised two multicenter randomized trials and one single center randomized trial. All these studies assessed microbiological outcomes and only 6 included clinical outcomes. Studies focusing on medical device disinfection consisted of single center randomized trials and assessed microbiological outcomes. Selected studies involved the use of different chemical or physical-chemical cleaning and disinfection methods. Significant variation in cleaning and disinfection strategies in these settings reflect of lack of consensus on management of hospital rooms, medical devices and patients infected with MDROs. Conclusion: The efficacy of sanitizers was consistent across studies included in this systematic review. However, few RCTs were found, and most were limited to microbiological outcomes. More studies are urgently needed to evaluate the impact of environmental interventions on clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The environment is an important reservoir of microorganisms, especially multidrug-resistant (MR) organisms, which often tend to survive on surfaces (bed rails, door handles, computer keyboards) for extended periods of time. Evidence regarding the relationship between inadequate environmental hygiene practices and/or infrastructure and increased risk of healthcareassociated infections (HAIs) is unclear.(1,2) Objective: To identify hospital infrastructure patterns potentially associated with intensive care unit-acquired infections (ICU-AIs) using unsupervised machine learning techniques. Methods: Thirty-eight Brazilian hospitals located in different regions of the country were visited by healthcare professionals trained by the Research Group between November and December 2020. An instrument comprising 99 specifically designed questions and K-means clustering were used to examine potential relationships between items and presence of infection upon patient admission to respective intensive care units. The number of clusters was chosen according to the silhouette metric, as can be seen in figure 1. Results: Two groups (Group 0 and Group 1) were created after application of the K-means clustering algorithm. Findings revealed differences between hospital clusters, which may be related to the number of infections diagnosed upon admission. Intensive care unit-acquired infection rates were 28% higher in Group 0 relative to Group 1 hospitals (preliminary results; table 1). The three most distinguishing characteristics were: percentage of properly functioning liquid soap dispenser (58% and 100%, Group 0 and Group 1 respectively); percentage of alcohol solution dispensers in the unit (8% and 22%, Group 0 and Group 1 respectively); percentage of alcoholic solution availability in visible and readily accessible areas close to the point of care (10% and 60%, Group 0 and Group 1 respectively). Conclusion: Unsupervised machine learning methods (such as K-means) can be used to distinguish between hospitals according to infrastructure characteristics. Preliminary results suggest a relation between infrastructure and infection at admission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery is the property of Sociedade Brasileira de Cirurgia Cardiovascular and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Pulmonary aspiration of gastric residues during anesthesia is a potentially fatal complication for which no specific treatment is available. The primary way to prevent its occurrence in the context of elective surgeries is adherence to fasting protocols. However, some clinical conditions can prolong the gastric emptying time, and the risk of aspiration may exist despite adequate fasting. Recognizing the risk factors for gastroparesis allows the adoption of preventive methods and is the primary way to reduce morbidity and mortality from pulmonary aspiration. In this scenario, the anesthesiologist can investigate the gastric content by using ultrasound, adjust the anesthetic technique, and even postpone elective surgeries. Here, we describe incidental computed tomography finding of solid contents in the stomach of a patient without prior identification of the risk factors for gastroparesis. The patient underwent elective renal nodule ablation under general anesthesia after fasting for 9 hours. During the procedure, solid contents in the stomach were noted on computed tomography. Subsequently, it was discovered that the patient had been using semaglutide for 6 days and had not disclosed this information. Semaglutide use may represent a new and significant risk factor for anesthesia-related pulmonary aspiration. Until studies provide information on the appropriate perioperative management of patients using semaglutide, anesthesiologists need to adopt preventive measures to avoid aspiration. Awareness of this potential association and open communication among patients, physicians, and anesthesia teams are essential for enhancing patient safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To address the impact of continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) on microcirculation of patients with acute kidney injury. Methods: Prospective observational pilot study was conducted in a forty bed, open clinical-surgical, ICU of a private, tertiary care, hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. Microcirculation was assessed using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) (InSpectra StO2 Tissue Oxygenation Monitor model 650, Hutchinson, MN, USA) with a 15-mm probe over the thenar eminence. Vascular occlusion test (VOT) were performed by inflation of a sphygmomanometer cuff to 30 mmHg above the systolic arterial pressure on the forearm of the NIRS during 3 minutes. Primary endpoint was the assessment of NIRSderived parameters, immediately before, one, four, and 24 hours after the initiation of CVVHDF. Results: Nine patients were included in this study over a period of two months. Median (IQR) age was 66 (61 - 76) years and SAPS III score was 60 (51-63). Baseline median (IQR) tissue oxygen saturation (StO2), maximum StO2, descending slope, ascending slope and recovery time were, respectively, 83 (81-89) %, 94 (87-95) %, 8.3 (4.4-10.4) %/min, 1.6 (1.2-3.1) %/sec and 31.0 (29.5-48.5) sec. Only minimum StO2 during VOT was different over the time, with a decrease from 64 (49-67) % at baseline to 52 (43-59) % after 24 hours of CVVHDF initiation (p=0.023). Conclusion: Minimum StO2 measured during the VOT was the only NIRS-derived parameter affected during the first 24 hours of CVVHDF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate sublingual microcirculation in adult critically ill patients and in health volunteers using a thirdgeneration handheld microscope. Methods: Patients with and without shock admitted to the ICU within 24h and healthy volunteers were studied (n=20, each). Sublingual microcirculation was assessed with Cytocam-IDF imaging (Braedius Medical, Huizen, The Netherlands). Total vessel density (TVD) and perfused vessel density (PVD) for small vessels were performed automatically (CytoCamTools 1.7.12 software, Braedius Medical, The Netherlands). Microvascular flow index (MFI) was calculated by real-time visual evaluation. Results: Shock patients had a higher SAPS III score [53 (45-65) vs. 30 (22-46), p<0.001] and higher 28-day mortality [5 (25.0%) vs. 0 (0.0%); p=0.047) than non-shock patients. Median (IQR) TVD [16.5 (12.4-21.6), 16.6 (14.4-19.4), 19.0 (16.8-20.7) mm/mm2, respectively for shock, nonshock and health volunteers; p=0.37)] and PVD [10.0 (8.2-13.6), 8.8 (7.5-12.2), 8.9 (7.9-11.2) mm/mm2, respectively; p=0.40] did not differ between the groups. Shock patients had a lower MFI compared to health volunteers [2.0 (1.8-2.5) vs. 2.6 (2.3-2.7), respectively; p=0.013] but not compared to non-shock [2.3 (2.1-2.7)] patients. Conclusion: Microvascular blood flow assessed with a third-generation microscope poorly discriminate between shock and non-shock critically ill patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients who increase stoke volume or cardiac index more than 10 or 15% after a fluid challenge are usually considered fluid responders. Assessment of fluid responsiveness prior to volume expansion is critical to avoid fluid overload, which has been associated with poor outcomes. Maneuvers to assess fluid responsiveness are well established in mechanically ventilated patients; however, few studies evaluated maneuvers to predict fluid responsiveness in spontaneously breathing patients. Our objective was to perform a systematic review of literature addressing the available methods to assess fluid responsiveness in spontaneously breathing patients. Studies were identified through electronic literature search of PubMed from 01/08/2009 to 01/08/2016 by two independent authors. No restrictions on language were adopted. Quality of included studies was evaluated with Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies tool. Our search strategy identified 537 studies, and 9 studies were added through manual search. Of those, 15 studies (12 intensive care unit patients; 1 emergency department patients; 1 intensive care unit and emergency department patients; 1 operating room) were included in this analysis. In total, 649 spontaneously breathing patients were assessed for fluid responsiveness. Of those, 340 (52%) were deemed fluid responsive. Pulse pressure variation during the Valsalva maneuver (∆PPV) of 52% (AUC ± SD: 0.98 ± 0.03) and passive leg raising-induced change in stroke volume (∆SV-PLR) > 13% (AUC ± SD: 0.96 ± 0.03) showed the highest accuracy to predict fluid responsiveness in spontaneously breathing patients. Our systematic review indicates that regardless of the limitations of each maneuver, fluid responsiveness can be assessed in spontaneously breathing patients. Further well-designed studies, with adequate simple size and power, are necessary to confirm the real accuracy of the different methods used to assess fluid responsiveness in this population of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]