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The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic caused unprecedented research activity all around the world but publications from Central-Eastern European countries remain scarce. Therefore, our aim was to characterise the features of the pandemic in the intensive care units (ICUs) among members of the SepsEast (Central-Eastern European Sepsis Forum) initiative. We conducted a retrospective, international, multicentre study between March 2020 and February 2021. All adult patients admitted to the ICU with pneumonia caused by COVID-19 were enrolled. Data on baseline and treatment characteristics, organ support and mortality were collected. Eleven centres from six countries provided data from 2139 patients. Patient characteristics were: median 68, [IQR 60–75] years of age; males: 67%; body mass index: 30.1 [27.0–34.7]; and 88% comorbidities. Overall mortality was 55%, which increased from 2020 to 2021 (p = 0.004). The major causes of death were respiratory (37%), cardiovascular (26%) and sepsis with multiorgan failure (21%). 1061 patients received invasive mechanical ventilation (mortality: 66%) without extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (n = 54). The rest of the patients received non-invasive ventilation (n = 129), high flow nasal oxygen (n = 317), conventional oxygen therapy (n = 122), as the highest level of ventilatory support, with mortality of 50%, 39% and 22%, respectively. This is the largest COVID-19 dataset from Central-Eastern European ICUs to date. The high mortality observed especially in those receiving invasive mechanical ventilation renders the need of establishing national–international ICU registries and audits in the region that could provide high quality, transparent data, not only during the pandemic, but also on a regular basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is diagnosed in up to 30% patients after anaesthesia. The causative role of anaesthetic toxicity remains unclear. Using clinical tests, no clear-cut differences have been observed between anaesthetics so far. The aim of this trial was to compare the incidence of POCD diagnosed by a battery of neuropsychologic tests after propofol and sevoflurane anaesthesia. Secondary goal was to examine possible relationship between POCD positivity and changes in auditory event-related potentials (ERPs). Sixty patients undergoing lumbar discectomy were prospectively randomized to receive depth-controlled sevoflurane (SEVO) or propofol (PROP) based anaesthesia. The neuropsychological examination and auditory event-related potentials (N1, P3a and P3b components) recording was performed preoperatively and on days 1, 6 and 42 after surgery. POCD was defined as a decline of more than one standard deviation in three or more tests. In 43 patients (20 in PROP and 23 in SEVO group) all selected tests were performed and used for the evaluation. POCD was present in 48%/60%, 18%/20% and 17%/11% (SEVO/PROP) of patients on days 1, 6 and 42 after surgery, with no significant intergroup difference. Among neuropsychologic tests, the most significant decline was observed in Semantic Verbal Fluency and Letter-Number Sequencing Test scores, congruently in both groups on days 1 and 6, with full recovery on the last control. Transient deteriorations in other tests were observed as well. No association of POCD positivity and ERPs changes was found, although long-term modifications of P3a and P3b components were observed, mainly in SEVO group. In our study, sevoflurane and propofol anaesthesia was associated with the similar incidence of POCD. Cognitive decline, mainly affecting executive functions, was temporary in most of the patients. Prolonged ERPs alterations after the anaesthesia seem not to have any relationship with the impairment registered by the neuropsychological examination and may represent subclinical changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The laboratory analysis provides accurate, but time consuming hemoglobin level estimation especially in the emergency setting. The reliability of time-sparing point of care devices (POCT) remains uncertain. We tested two POCT devices accuracy (HemoCue®201+ and Gem®Premier™3000) in routine emergency department workflow. Blood samples taken from patients admitted to the emergency department were analyzed for hemoglobin concentration using a laboratory reference Beckman Coulter LH 750 (HBLAB), the HemoCue (HBHC) and the Gem Premier 3000 (HBGEM). Pairwise comparison for each device and HbLAB was performed using correlation and the Bland-Altman methods. The reliability of transfusion decision was assessed using three-zone error grid. A total of 292 measurements were performed in 99 patients. Mean hemoglobin level were 115 ± 33, 110 ± 28 and 111 ± 30 g/l for HbHC, HbGEM and HbLAB respectively. A significant correlation was observed for both devices: HbHC versus HbLAB (r2 = 0.93, p < 0.001) and HBGEM versus HBLAB (r2 = 0.86, p < 0.001). The Bland-Altman method revealed bias of -3.7 g/l (limits of agreement -20.9 to 13.5) for HBHC and HBLAB and 2.5 g/l (-18.6 to 23.5) for HBGEM and HBLAB, which significantly differed between POCT devices (p < 0.001). Using the error grid methodology: 94 or 91 % of values (HbHC and HbGEM) fell in the zone of acceptable difference (A), whereas 0 and 1 % (HbHC and HbGEM) were unacceptable (zone C). The absolute accuracy of tested POCT devices was low though reaching a high level of correlation with laboratory measurement. The results of the Morey´s error grid were unfavorable for both POCT devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intermittent blood pressure (BP) monitoring is the standard-of-care during low and intermediate risk anaesthesia, yet it could lead to delayed recognition of BP fluctuations. Perioperative hypotension is known to be associated with postoperative complications. Continuous, non-invasive methods for BP monitoring have been developed recently. We have tested a novel non-invasive, continuous monitor (using the volume clamp method) to assist with maintaining BP in safe ranges for patients undergoing surgery in a beach chair position. Forty adult patients undergoing thyroid gland surgery in an upright position were included in this prospective randomised controlled trial. Patients were equally allocated to the group with continuous monitoring of BP using the CNAP Monitor and to the control group managed using an intermittent oscillometric BP cuff. The absolute and proportional time spent outside the range of ±20 % of the target BP along with other hemodynamic and clinical parameters were evaluated. The continuous monitoring decreased the anaesthesia time spent below −20 % pressure range [absolute: 12 min (4-20) vs. 27 min (16-34); p = 0.001; relative to procedure length: 14 % (7-20) vs. 33.5 % (17.5-53); p = 0.003]. No significant differences were observed in postoperative morbidity or in hospital length of stay. Continuous non-invasive BP monitoring via the CNAP Monitor allows for better BP management in patients undergoing surgery in a beach chair position. In our randomised trial the time spent in hypotension was significantly shorter using continuous monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Respiratory induced dynamic variations of stroke volume and its surrogates are very sensitive and specific predictors of fluid responsiveness, but their use as targets for volume management can be limited. In a recent study, limiting factors were present in 53 % of surgical patients with inserted arterial line. In the intensive care unit (ICU) population the frequency is presumably higher, but the real prevalence is unknown. Our goal was to study the feasibility of dynamic variations guided initial volume resuscitation in specific critical states. We have performed a 5 year retrospective evaluation of patients admitted with diagnosis sepsis, polytrauma, after high risk surgery or cardiac arrest. Occurrence of major (sedation, mandatory ventilation and tidal volume, open chest and arrhythmias) and minor limiting factors (PEEP level, use of vasopressors and presence of arterial catheter) was screened within the first 24 h after admission. In the study period 1296 patients were hospitalized in our ICU with severe sepsis (n = 242), polytrauma (n = 561), after high risk surgery (n = 351) or cardiac arrest (n = 141). From these patients 549 (42.4 %) fulfilled all major criteria for applicability of dynamic variations. In our evaluation only limited number of patients admitted for polytrauma (51 %), sepsis (37 %), after cardiac arrest (39 %) or surgical procedure (33 %) fulfil all the major criteria for use of dynamic variations at the ICU admission. The prevalence was similar in patients with shock. Occurrence of minor factors can pose further bias in evaluation of these patients. General use of dynamic variations guided protocols for initial resuscitations seems not universally applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]