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BACKGROUND: Acute pulmonary oedema is a life-threatening syndrome diagnosed based on radiological and clinical findings. However, to our knowledge, no studies have investigated this syndrome in critically ill patients. OJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence of radiologically and clinically diagnosed pulmonary oedema (RCDPO) in critically ill patients, characteristics of diagnosed patients, and treatments and outcomes in this patient population. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study using natural language processing to identify all radiological reports of pulmonary oedema among patients who had been admitted to single tertiary intensive care unit (ICU) over a 1-year period (January 2015 to January 2016). We reviewed clinical data, discharge diagnosis, treatment and outcomes for such patients, and used multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify the association of RCDPO with various outcomes. RESULTS: Out of 2001 ICU patients, we identified 238 patients (11.9%) with RCDPO. Patients with RCDPO were more acutely ill, had more chronic liver disease and had more chronic renal failure than critically ill patients who did not have RCDPO. They were typically admitted with acute cardiovascular disease; were more likely to receive invasive mechanical ventilation and continuous renal replacement therapy; had longer duration of ICU and hospital stay; were more likely to die in hospital; and, if discharged alive, were more likely to be admitted to a chronic care facility. In total, 46 RCDPO patients (19.3%) died in hospital. On multivariable analysis, only age and continuous renal replacement therapy were independently associated with mortality. In contrast, invasive mechanical ventilation was associated with a 2.5 times greater odds of radiological resolution. CONCLUSION: RCDPO affected about one in eight ICU patients. Such patients were sicker and had more comorbidities. The presence of RCDPO was independently associated with higher risk of death. Invasive mechanical ventilation was the only intervention independently associated with greater odds of radiological resolution.

Internationally, diabetes mellitus is recognised as a risk factor for severe COVID-19. The relationship between diabetes mellitus and severe COVID-19 has not been reported in the Australian population.The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of and outcomes for patients with diabetes admitted to Australian intensive care units (ICUs) with COVID-19.This is a nested cohort study of four ICUs in Melbourne participating in the Short Period Incidence Study of Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SPRINT-SARI) Australia project. All adult patients admitted to the ICU with COVID-19 from 20 February 2020 to 27 February 2021 were included. Blood glucose and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) data were retrospectively collected. Diabetes was diagnosed from medical history or an HbA1c ≥6.5% (48 mmol/mol). Hospital mortality was assessed using logistic regression.There were 136 patients with median age 58 years [48-68] and median Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score of 14 [11-19]. Fifty-eight patients had diabetes (43%), 46 patients had stress-induced hyperglycaemia (34%), and 32 patients had normoglycaemia (23%). Patients with diabetes were older, were with higher APACHE II scores, had greater glycaemic variability than patients with normoglycaemia, and had longer hospital length of stay. Overall hospital mortality was 16% (22/136), including nine patients with diabetes, nine patients with stress-induced hyperglycaemia, and two patients with normoglycaemia.Diabetes is prevalent in patients admitted to Australian ICUs with severe COVID-19, highlighting the need for prevention strategies in this vulnerable population.

Background Metabolic acidosis is a major complication of critical illness. However, its current epidemiology and its treatment with sodium bicarbonate given to correct metabolic acidosis in the ICU are poorly understood. Method This was an international retrospective observational study in 18 ICUs in Australia, Japan, and Taiwan. Adult patients were consecutively screened, and those with early metabolic acidosis (pH Results We screened 9437 patients. Of these, 1292 had early metabolic acidosis (14.0%). Early sodium bicarbonate was given to 18.0% (233/1292) of these patients. Dosing, physiological, and clinical outcome data were assessed in 360 patients. The median dose of sodium bicarbonate in the first 24 h was 110 mmol, which was not correlated with bodyweight or the severity of metabolic acidosis. Patients who received early sodium bicarbonate had higher APACHE III scores, lower pH, lower base excess, lower PaCO2, and a higher lactate and received higher doses of vasopressors. After adjusting for confounders, the early administration of sodium bicarbonate was associated with an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 0.85 (95% CI, 0.44 to 1.62) for ICU mortality. In patients with vasopressor dependency, early sodium bicarbonate was associated with higher mean arterial pressure at 6 h and an aOR of 0.52 (95% CI, 0.22 to 1.19) for ICU mortality. Conclusions Early metabolic acidosis is common in critically ill patients. Early sodium bicarbonate is administered by clinicians to more severely ill patients but without correction for weight or acidosis severity. Bicarbonate therapy in acidotic vasopressor-dependent patients may be beneficial and warrants further investigation.

To the Editor: The global coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has seen a significant increase in the use of preprint services to enable the widespread dissemination of research findings (1). However, whether such facilities influence practice change is currently unknown. Here, we describe the impact of the preprint release and eventual publication of the RECOVERY (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy) trial (2) on corticosteroid use in clinical practice in Australian ICUs. The RECOVERY trial tested the efficacy of dexamethasone (6 mg by mouth or intravenously for up to 10 d) in hospitalized patients with clinically suspected or confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and demonstrated a reduction in 28-day mortality, particularly in those receiving either mechanical ventilation or oxygen. Before these results, the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society COVID-19 guidelines recommended against the routine use of corticosteroids (3).

To help shape the design of a future double blind placebo-controlled randomised clinical trial of bicarbonate therapy for metabolic acidosis, based on opinions of intensive care clinicians in Australia and New Zealand.An online survey was designed, piloted and distributed electronically to members of the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Clinical Trials Group (ANZICS CTG) mailing list. The survey sought to collect information about choice of placebo, method of bicarbonate administration, and acid-base monitoring.Responses to six questions in the following domains were sought: 1) solution to be used as placebo; 2) method of administration; 3) target of the intervention; 4) timing of arterial blood gases to monitor the intervention; 5) duration of therapy; and 6) rate of bolus therapy (if selected as the best option).One in every eight ANZICS CTG members completed the survey (118/880, 13.4%). Compound sodium lactate was the preferred solution for placebo (54/118, 45.8%), and continuous infusion of bicarbonate (80/118, 67.8%) was the most frequently selected method of administration. A pH7.30 was the preferred target (50/118, 42.4%), while monitoring with arterial blood gas analysis every 2 hours until the target is reached and then every 4 hours was the most favoured option (40/118, 33.9%). The preferred duration of therapy was until the target is achieved (53/118, 44.9%).This survey offers important insights into the preferences of Australian and New Zealand clinicians in regards to any future randomised controlled trial of bicarbonate therapy for metabolic acidosis in the critically ill.

Objective: To compare the characteristics, use of invasive ventilation and outcomes of patients admitted with critical asthma syndrome (CAS) to ICUs in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), and a large ...