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Purpose: Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute immunologic attack of the peripheral nerves causing rapidly ascending weakness and areflexia. Occasionally, weakness is severe enough to leave patients paralyzed and without adequate respiratory function. In such patients, intensive care unit (ICU) admission is required. Infrequently, GBS occurs in patients already admitted to the ICU. When this occurs, it can be difficult to distinguish GBS from critical illness neuropathy (CIN). However, it is important to consider GBS in these cases, since treatment options are available, and early treatment is associated with significantly improved outcome.Clinical Features: A 28-yr-old man involved in a motor vehicle collision sustained multiple injuries, including T6-T7 thoracic vertebrae fracture. Magnetic resonance imaging identified spinal cord compression at T6-T7, without brain or cervical cord injury. Shortly after admission, the patient developed marked autonomic instability with fluctuating temperatures and severe hypotension. Lower extremity weakness rapidly worsened to paraplegia and new weakness developed affecting bilateral upper extremities and face. Electrodiagnostic studies showed severe axonal polyneuropathy, with denervation in all extremities. The cerebrospinal fluid protein concentration was 5.03 g.L(-1). The patient was treated empirically for the possibility of GBS. Six months later, the patient recovered significant strength in his face and extremities, including his legs.Conclusions: Guillain-Barré syndrome in trauma patients is rare and is limited to case reports following head trauma. This case also highlights the similarities and the subtle differences between GBS and CIN. Ultimately, definitive diagnosis of GBS may not be possible; however, an empiric course of intravenous immunoglobulins or plasma-exchange may be warranted, if GBS is a reasonable possibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine physicians' opinions and practices related to the management of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.Design: Cross-sectional mail survey.Setting: Province of Ontario, Canada.Participants: Physicians treating patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome at university-affiliated and unaffiliated hospitals.Interventions: We searched the literature and consulted experts to generate a list of potential interventions for acute respiratory distress syndrome. Eight intensive care unit physicians selected the most relevant, available, and controversial of these interventions for prevention (n = 5) and treatment (n = 30). Fourteen physicians reviewed the questionnaire before administration to ensure clarity, realism, and clinical sensibility. We asked participants to report their views on a) the efficacy of each intervention; b) published research evaluating efficacy; c) the frequency with which they use each intervention; and d) determinants of utilization.Measurements and Main Results: One hundred ten of 194 eligible physicians responded. Respondents varied considerably in their reported use of the 35 interventions. Although physicians cited published research findings as the most powerful determinant of prescribing these interventions, they were unaware of many relevant trials. Physicians also commonly cited "usual local practice" as a determinant of use, although formal practice guidelines were rarely in operation. Other variables directly associated with use of these interventions included increasing frequency of exposure to acute respiratory distress syndrome (p <.0001), increasing size of the intensive care unit in which physicians work (p =.004), and the presence of residents in the intensive care unit (p =.02).Conclusions: Wide variation in the management of acute respiratory distress syndrome appears related to limited awareness of relevant research, conflicting interpretations of research findings, and adherence to varying local practice patterns. Given physicians' desire to tailor their practice to research findings and to practice in a manner that is consistent with their local intensive care unit colleagues, future research and educational efforts related to evidence-based protocols for the management of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome might be worthwhile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Patients undergoing vascular procedures are prone to developing postoperative complications affecting their short‑term mortality. Prospective reports describing the incidence of long‑term complications after vascular surgery are lacking., Objectives: We aimed to describe the incidence of complications 1 year after vascular surgery and to evaluate an association between myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery (MINS) and 1‑year mortality., Patients and Methods: This is a substudy of a large prospective cohort study Vascular Events in Noncardiac Surgery Patients Cohort Evaluation (VISION). Recruitment took place in 28 centers across 14 countries from August 2007 to November 2013. We enrolled patients aged 45 years or older undergoing vascular surgery, receiving general or regional anesthesia, and hospitalized for at least 1 night postoperatively. Plasma cardiac troponin T concentration was measured before the surgery and on the first, second, and third postoperative day. The patients or their relatives were contacted 1 year after the procedure to assess the incidence of major postoperative complications., Results: We enrolled 2641 patients who underwent vascular surgery, 2534 (95.9%) of whom completed 1‑year follow‑up. Their mean (SD) age was 68.2 (9.8) years, and the cohort was predominantly male (77.5%). The most frequent 1‑year complications were myocardial infarction (224/2534, 8.8%), amputation (187/2534, 7.4%), and congestive heart failure (67/2534, 2.6%). The 1‑year mortality rate was 8.8% (223/2534). MINS occurred in 633 patients (24%) and was associated with an increased 1‑year mortality (hazard ratio, 2.82; 95% CI, 2.14-3.72; P <0.001)., Conclusions: The incidence of major postoperative complications after vascular surgery is high. The occurrence of MINS is associated with a nearly 3‑fold increase in 1‑year mortality.

Background: In previous analyses, myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery, major bleeding, and sepsis were independently associated with most deaths in the 30 days after noncardiac surgery, but most of these deaths occurred during the index hospitalization for surgery. The authors set out to describe outcomes after discharge from hospital up to 1 yr after inpatient noncardiac surgery and associations between predischarge complications and postdischarge death up to 1 yr after surgery., Methods: This study was an analysis of patients discharged after inpatient noncardiac surgery in a large international prospective cohort study across 28 centers from 2007 to 2013 of patients aged 45 yr or older followed to 1 yr after surgery. The study estimated (1) the cumulative postdischarge incidence of death and other outcomes up to a year after surgery and (2) the adjusted time-varying associations between postdischarge death and predischarge complications including myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery, major bleeding, sepsis, infection without sepsis, stroke, congestive heart failure, clinically important atrial fibrillation or flutter, amputation, venous thromboembolism, and acute kidney injury managed with dialysis., Results: Among 38,898 patients discharged after surgery, the cumulative 1-yr incidence was 5.8% (95% CI, 5.5 to 6.0%) for all-cause death and 24.7% (95% CI, 24.2 to 25.1%) for all-cause hospital readmission. Predischarge complications were associated with 33.7% (95% CI, 27.2 to 40.2%) of deaths up to 30 days after discharge and 15.0% (95% CI, 12.0 to 17.9%) up to 1 yr. Most of the association with death was due to myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery (15.6% [95% CI, 9.3 to 21.9%] of deaths within 30 days, 6.4% [95% CI, 4.1 to 8.7%] within 1 yr), major bleeding (15.0% [95% CI, 8.3 to 21.7%] within 30 days, 4.7% [95% CI, 2.2 to 7.2%] within 1 yr), and sepsis (5.4% [95% CI, 2.2 to 8.6%] within 30 days, 2.1% [95% CI, 1.0 to 3.1%] within 1 yr)., Conclusions: One in 18 patients 45 yr old or older discharged after inpatient noncardiac surgery died within 1 yr, and one quarter were readmitted to the hospital. The risk of death associated with predischarge perioperative complications persists for weeks to months after discharge., (Copyright © 2023 American Society of Anesthesiologists. All Rights Reserved.)

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the prognostic relevance, clinical characteristics, and 30-day outcomes associated with myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery (MINS) in major general surgery patients., Background: MINS has been independently associated with 30-day mortality after noncardiac surgery. The characteristics and prognostic importance of MINS in major general surgical patients have not been described., Methods: This was an international prospective cohort study of a representative sample of 22,552 noncardiac surgery patients 45 years or older, of whom 4490 underwent major general surgery in 24 centers in 13 countries. All patients had fifth-generation plasma high-sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT) concentrations measured during the first 3 postoperative days. MINS was defined as a hsTnT of 20-65 ng/L and absolute change >5 ng/L or hsTnT ≥65 ng/L secondary to ischemia. The objectives of the present study were to determine (1) whether MINS is prognostically important in major general surgical patients, (2) the clinical characteristics of major general surgical patients with and without MINS, (3) the 30-day outcomes for major general surgical patients with and without MINS, and (4) the proportion of MINS that would have gone undetected without routine postoperative monitoring., Results: The incidence of MINS in the major general surgical patients was 16.3% (95% CI, 15.3-17.4%). Thirty-day all-cause mortality in the major general surgical cohort was 6.8% (95% CI, 5.1%-8.9%) in patients with MINS compared with 1.2% (95% CI, 0.9%-1.6%) in patients without MINS ( P <0.01). MINS was independently associated with 30-day mortality in major general surgical patients (adjusted odds ratio 4.7, 95% CI, 3.0-7.4). The 30-day mortality was higher both among MINS patients with no ischemic features (ie, no ischemic symptoms or electrocardiogram findings) (5.4%, 95% CI, 3.7%-7.7%) and among patients with 1 or more clinical ischemic features (10.6%, 95% CI, 6.7%-15.8%). The proportion of major general surgical patients who had MINS without ischemic symptoms was 89.9% (95% CI, 87.5-92.0)., Conclusions: Approximately 1 in 6 patients experienced MINS after major general surgery. MINS was independently associated with a nearly 5-fold increase in 30-day mortality. The vast majority of patients with MINS were asymptomatic and would have gone undetected without routine postoperative troponin measurement., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Source Citation: Munch MW, Myatra SN, Vijayaraghavan BK, et al. Effect of 12 mg vs 6 mg of dexamethasone on the number of days alive without life support in adults with COVID-19 and severe hypoxemia: the COVID STEROID 2 randomized trial. JAMA. 2021;326:1807-17. 34673895.

Objective: To determine the prognostic relevance, clinical characteristics, and 30-day outcomes associated with myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery (MINS) in vascular surgical patients., Background: MINS has been independently associated with 30-day mortality after noncardiac surgery. The characteristics and prognostic importance of MINS in vascular surgery patients are poorly described., Methods: This was an international prospective cohort study of 15,102 noncardiac surgery patients 45 years or older, of whom 502 patients underwent vascular surgery. All patients had fourth-generation plasma troponin T (TnT) concentrations measured during the first 3 postoperative days. MINS was defined as a TnT of 0.03 ng/mL of higher secondary to ischemia. The objectives of the present study were to determine (i) if MINS is prognostically important in vascular surgical patients, (ii) the clinical characteristics of vascular surgery patients with and without MINS, (iii) the 30-day outcomes for vascular surgery patients with and without MINS, and (iv) the proportion of MINS that probably would have gone undetected without routine troponin monitoring., Results: The incidence of MINS in the vascular surgery patients was 19.1% (95% confidence interval (CI), 15.7%-22.6%). 30-day all-cause mortality in the vascular cohort was 12.5% (95% CI 7.3%-20.6%) in patients with MINS compared with 1.5% (95% CI 0.7%-3.2%) in patients without MINS (P < 0.001). MINS was independently associated with 30-day mortality in vascular patients (odds ratio, 9.48; 95% CI, 3.46-25.96). The 30-day mortality was similar in MINS patients with (15.0%; 95% CI, 7.1-29.1) and without an ischemic feature (12.2%; 95% CI, 5.3-25.5, P = 0.76). The proportion of vascular surgery patients who suffered MINS without overt evidence of myocardial ischemia was 74.1% (95% CI, 63.6-82.4)., Conclusions: Approximately 1 in 5 patients experienced MINS after vascular surgery. MINS was independently associated with 30-day mortality. The majority of patients with MINS were asymptomatic and would have gone undetected without routine postoperative troponin measurement.

Background: Myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery (MINS) is a mostly asymptomatic condition that is strongly associated with 30-day mortality; however, it remains mostly undetected without systematic troponin T monitoring. We evaluated the cost and consequences of postoperative troponin T monitoring to detect MINS., Methods: We conducted a model-based cost-consequence analysis to compare the impact of routine troponin T monitoring versus standard care (troponin T measurement triggered by ischemic symptoms) on the incidence of MINS detection. Model inputs were based on Canadian patients enrolled in the Vascular Events in Noncardiac Surgery Patients Cohort Evaluation (VISION) study, which enrolled patients aged 45 years or older undergoing inpatient noncardiac surgery. We conducted probability analyses with 10 000 iterations and extensive sensitivity analyses., Results: The data were based on 6021 patients (48% men, mean age 65 [standard deviation 12] yr). The 30-day mortality rate for MINS was 9.6%. We determined the incremental cost to avoid missing a MINS event as $1632 (2015 Canadian dollars). The cost-effectiveness of troponin monitoring was higher in patient subgroups at higher risk for MINS, e.g., those aged 65 years or more, or with a history of atherosclerosis or diabetes ($1309)., Conclusion: The costs associated with a troponin T monitoring program to detect MINS were moderate. Based on the estimated incremental cost per health gain, implementation of postoperative troponin T monitoring seems appealing, particularly in patients at high risk for MINS.

Background: Perioperative β-blockade reduces the incidence of myocardial infarction but increases that of death, stroke, and hypotension. The elderly may experience few benefits but more harms associated with β-blockade due to a normal effect of aging, that of a reduced resting heart rate. The tested hypothesis was that the effect of perioperative β-blockade is more significant with increasing age., Methods: To determine whether the effect of perioperative β-blockade on the primary composite event, clinically significant hypotension, myocardial infarction, stroke, and death varies with age, we interrogated data from the perioperative ischemia evaluation (POISE) study. The POISE study randomly assigned 8351 patients, aged ≥45 years, in 23 countries, undergoing major noncardiac surgery to either 200 mg metoprolol CR daily or placebo for 30 days. Odds ratios or hazard ratios for time to events, when available, for each of the adverse effects were measured according to decile of age, and interaction term between age and treatment was calculated. No adjustment was made for multiple outcomes., Results: Age was associated with higher incidences of the major outcomes of clinically significant hypotension, myocardial infarction, and death. Age was associated with a minimal reduction in resting heart rate from 84.2 (standard error, 0.63; ages 45-54 years) to 80.9 (standard error, 0.70; ages >85 years; P < .0001). We found no evidence of any interaction between age and study group regarding any of the major outcomes, although the limited sample size does not exclude any but large interactions., Conclusions: The effect of perioperative β-blockade on the major outcomes studied did not vary with age. Resting heart rate decreases slightly with age. Our data do not support a recommendation for the use of perioperative β-blockade in any age subgroup to achieve benefits but avoid harms. Therefore, current recommendations against the use of β-blockers in high-risk patients undergoing noncardiac surgery apply across all age groups.

Importance: Little is known about the relationship between perioperative high-sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT) measurements and 30-day mortality and myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery (MINS)., Objective: To determine the association between perioperative hsTnT measurements and 30-day mortality and potential diagnostic criteria for MINS (ie, myocardial injury due to ischemia associated with 30-day mortality)., Design, Setting, and Participants: Prospective cohort study of patients aged 45 years or older who underwent inpatient noncardiac surgery and had a postoperative hsTnT measurement. Starting in October 2008, participants were recruited at 23 centers in 13 countries; follow-up finished in December 2013., Exposures: Patients had hsTnT measurements 6 to 12 hours after surgery and daily for 3 days; 40.4% had a preoperative hsTnT measurement., Main Outcomes and Measures: A modified Mazumdar approach (an iterative process) was used to determine if there were hsTnT thresholds associated with risk of death and had an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 3.0 or higher and a risk of 30-day mortality of 3% or higher. To determine potential diagnostic criteria for MINS, regression analyses ascertained if postoperative hsTnT elevations required an ischemic feature (eg, ischemic symptom or electrocardiography finding) to be associated with 30-day mortality., Results: Among 21 842 participants, the mean age was 63.1 (SD, 10.7) years and 49.1% were female. Death within 30 days after surgery occurred in 266 patients (1.2%; 95% CI, 1.1%-1.4%). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that compared with the reference group (peak hsTnT <5 ng/L), peak postoperative hsTnT levels of 20 to less than 65 ng/L, 65 to less than 1000 ng/L, and 1000 ng/L or higher had 30-day mortality rates of 3.0% (123/4049; 95% CI, 2.6%-3.6%), 9.1% (102/1118; 95% CI, 7.6%-11.0%), and 29.6% (16/54; 95% CI, 19.1%-42.8%), with corresponding adjusted HRs of 23.63 (95% CI, 10.32-54.09), 70.34 (95% CI, 30.60-161.71), and 227.01 (95% CI, 87.35-589.92), respectively. An absolute hsTnT change of 5 ng/L or higher was associated with an increased risk of 30-day mortality (adjusted HR, 4.69; 95% CI, 3.52-6.25). An elevated postoperative hsTnT (ie, 20 to <65 ng/L with an absolute change ≥5 ng/L or hsTnT ≥65 ng/L) without an ischemic feature was associated with 30-day mortality (adjusted HR, 3.20; 95% CI, 2.37-4.32). Among the 3904 patients (17.9%; 95% CI, 17.4%-18.4%) with MINS, 3633 (93.1%; 95% CI, 92.2%-93.8%) did not experience an ischemic symptom., Conclusions and Relevance: Among patients undergoing noncardiac surgery, peak postoperative hsTnT during the first 3 days after surgery was significantly associated with 30-day mortality. Elevated postoperative hsTnT without an ischemic feature was also associated with 30-day mortality.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common complication of critical illness with important clinical consequences. The Prophylaxis for ThromboEmbolism in Critical Care Trial (PROTECT) is a multicenter, blinded, randomized controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of the two most common pharmocoprevention strategies, unfractionated heparin (UFH) and low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) dalteparin, in medical-surgical patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). E-PROTECT is a prospective and concurrent economic evaluation of the PROTECT trial., Methods/design: The primary objective of E-PROTECT is to identify and quantify the total (direct and indirect, variable and fixed) costs associated with the management of critically ill patients participating in the PROTECT trial, and, to combine costs and outcome results to determine the incremental cost-effectiveness of LMWH versus UFH, from the acute healthcare system perspective, over a data-rich time horizon of ICU admission and hospital admission. We derive baseline characteristics and probabilities of in-ICU and in-hospital events from all enrolled patients. Total costs are derived from centers, proportional to the numbers of patients enrolled in each country. Direct costs include medication, physician and other personnel costs, diagnostic radiology and laboratory testing, operative and non-operative procedures, costs associated with bleeding, transfusions and treatment-related complications. Indirect costs include ICU and hospital ward overhead costs. Outcomes are the ratio of incremental costs per incremental effects of LMWH versus UFH during hospitalization; incremental cost to prevent a thrombosis at any site (primary outcome); incremental cost to prevent a pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, major bleeding event or episode of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (secondary outcomes) and incremental cost per life-year gained (tertiary outcome). Pre-specified subgroups and sensitivity analyses will be performed and confidence intervals for the estimates of incremental cost-effectiveness will be obtained using bootstrapping., Discussion: This economic evaluation employs a prospective costing methodology concurrent with a randomized controlled blinded clinical trial, with a pre-specified analytic plan, outcome measures, subgroup and sensitivity analyses. This economic evaluation has received only peer-reviewed funding and funders will not play a role in the generation, analysis or decision to submit the manuscripts for publication., Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00182143 . Date of registration: 10 September 2005.

Importance: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common complication of acute illness, and its prevention is a ubiquitous aspect of inpatient care. A multicenter blinded, randomized trial compared the effectiveness of the most common pharmocoprevention strategies, unfractionated heparin (UFH) and the low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) dalteparin, finding no difference in the primary end point of leg deep-vein thrombosis but a reduced rate of pulmonary embolus and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia among critically ill medical-surgical patients who received dalteparin., Objective: To evaluate the comparative cost-effectiveness of LMWH vs UFH for prophylaxis against VTE in critically ill patients., Design, Setting, and Participants: Prospective economic evaluation concurrent with the Prophylaxis for Thromboembolism in Critical Care Randomized Trial (May 2006 to June 2010). The economic evaluation adopted a health care payer perspective and in-hospital time horizon; derived baseline characteristics and probabilities of intensive care unit and in-hospital events; and measured costs among 2344 patients in 23 centers in 5 countries and applied these costs to measured resource use and effects of all enrolled patients., Main Outcomes and Measures: Costs, effects, incremental cost-effectiveness of LMWH vs UFH during the period of hospitalization, and sensitivity analyses across cost ranges., Results: Hospital costs per patient were $39,508 (interquartile range [IQR], $24,676 to $71,431) for 1862 patients who received LMWH compared with $40,805 (IQR, $24,393 to $76,139) for 1862 patients who received UFH (incremental cost, -$1297 [IQR, -$4398 to $1404]; P = .41). In 78% of simulations, a strategy using LMWH was most effective and least costly. In sensitivity analyses, a strategy using LMWH remained least costly unless the drug acquisition cost of dalteparin increased from $8 to $179 per dose and was consistent among higher- and lower-spending health care systems. There was no threshold at which lowering the acquisition cost of UFH favored prophylaxis with UFH., Conclusions and Relevance: From a health care payer perspective, the use of the LMWH dalteparin for VTE prophylaxis among critically ill medical-surgical patients was more effective and had similar or lower costs than the use of UFH. These findings were driven by lower rates of pulmonary embolus and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and corresponding lower overall use of resources with LMWH.

Background: Myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery (MINS) was defined as prognostically relevant myocardial injury due to ischemia that occurs during or within 30 days after noncardiac surgery. The study's four objectives were to determine the diagnostic criteria, characteristics, predictors, and 30-day outcomes of MINS., Methods: In this international, prospective cohort study of 15,065 patients aged 45 yr or older who underwent in-patient noncardiac surgery, troponin T was measured during the first 3 postoperative days. Patients with a troponin T level of 0.04 ng/ml or greater (elevated "abnormal" laboratory threshold) were assessed for ischemic features (i.e., ischemic symptoms and electrocardiography findings). Patients adjudicated as having a nonischemic troponin elevation (e.g., sepsis) were excluded. To establish diagnostic criteria for MINS, the authors used Cox regression analyses in which the dependent variable was 30-day mortality (260 deaths) and independent variables included preoperative variables, perioperative complications, and potential MINS diagnostic criteria., Results: An elevated troponin after noncardiac surgery, irrespective of the presence of an ischemic feature, independently predicted 30-day mortality. Therefore, the authors' diagnostic criterion for MINS was a peak troponin T level of 0.03 ng/ml or greater judged due to myocardial ischemia. MINS was an independent predictor of 30-day mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 3.87; 95% CI, 2.96-5.08) and had the highest population-attributable risk (34.0%, 95% CI, 26.6-41.5) of the perioperative complications. Twelve hundred patients (8.0%) suffered MINS, and 58.2% of these patients would not have fulfilled the universal definition of myocardial infarction. Only 15.8% of patients with MINS experienced an ischemic symptom., Conclusion: Among adults undergoing noncardiac surgery, MINS is common and associated with substantial mortality.

Context: Of the 200 million adults worldwide who undergo noncardiac surgery each year, more than 1 million will die within 30 days., Objective: To determine the relationship between the peak fourth-generation troponin T (TnT) measurement in the first 3 days after noncardiac surgery and 30-day mortality., Design, Setting, and Participants: A prospective, international cohort study that enrolled patients from August 6, 2007, to January 11, 2011. Eligible patients were aged 45 years and older and required at least an overnight hospital admission after having noncardiac surgery., Main Outcome Measures: Patients' TnT levels were measured 6 to 12 hours after surgery and on days 1, 2, and 3 after surgery. We undertook Cox regression analysis in which the dependent variable was mortality until 30 days after surgery, and the independent variables included 24 preoperative variables. We repeated this analysis, adding the peak TnT measurement during the first 3 postoperative days as an independent variable and used a minimum P value approach to determine if there were TnT thresholds that independently altered patients' risk of death., Results: A total of 15,133 patients were included in this study. The 30-day mortality rate was 1.9% (95% CI, 1.7%-2.1%). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that peak TnT values of at least 0.02 ng/mL, occurring in 11.6% of patients, were associated with higher 30-day mortality compared with the reference group (peak TnT ≤ 0.01 ng/mL): peak TnT of 0.02 ng/mL (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 2.41; 95% CI, 1.33-3.77); 0.03 to 0.29 ng/mL (aHR, 5.00; 95% CI, 3.72-6.76); and 0.30 ng/mL or greater (aHR, 10.48; 95% CI, 6.25-16.62). Patients with a peak TnT value of 0.01 ng/mL or less, 0.02, 0.03-0.29, and 0.30 or greater had 30-day mortality rates of 1.0%, 4.0%, 9.3%, and 16.9%, respectively. Peak TnT measurement added incremental prognostic value to discriminate those likely to die within 30 days for the model with peak TnT measurement vs without (C index = 0.85 vs 0.81; difference, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.2-0.5; P < .001 for difference between C index values). The net reclassification improvement with TnT was 25.0% (P < .001)., Conclusion: Among patients undergoing noncardiac surgery, the peak postoperative TnT measurement during the first 3 days after surgery was significantly associated with 30-day mortality.

Objectives: To determine the proportion of noncardiac surgery patients exceeding the published 99th percentile or change criteria with the high sensitivity Troponin T (hs-TnT) assay., Design and Methods: We measured hs-TnT preoperatively and postoperatively on days 1, 2 and 3 in 325 adults., Results: Postoperatively 45% (95% CI: 39-50%) of patients had hs-TnT≥14ng/L and 22% (95% CI:17-26%) had an elevation (≥14ng/L) and change (>85%) in hs-TnT., Conclusion: Further research is needed to inform the optimal hs-TnT threshold and change in this setting., (Copyright © 2011 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Non-convulsive seizures and non-convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) are believed common in comatose patients and are suggested to worsen outcome. The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate outcome in patients in critical care units in whom NCSE was suspected to determine how often evidence of seizure activity existed based on an isolated standard 20 minute electroencephalogram (EEG) and to determine what clinical factors predicted outcome. We prospectively reviewed EEGs and clinical charts of patients admitted to a critical care unit at a tertiary care center who were suspected to have non-convulsive seizures. Outcomes were correlated with EEG findings, clinical factors, and acute therapies using univariate and multivariate logistic analyses. Of 189 patients, complete information was available in 169. Eighty-one (47.9%) patients died, 67 (39.6%) were discharged home, and 21 (12.4%) were discharged to long-term care. Four patients had electroencephalographic seizures, two of whom had no clinical manifestations (i.e. non-convulsive). On univariate analysis, increased age, an admitting diagnosis of cardiac arrest, a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score8, and burst suppression were correlated significantly with poor outcome. A past history of seizures and unequivocal tonic-clonic convulsions were correlated significantly with a better outcome. On multivariate analysis, increased age, cardiac arrest, and a GCS score8 were associated with increased mortality (p<0.05). Clinical factors, including age, underlying etiology and GCS score are the most important predicators of outcome in coma. A standard 20 minute EEG did not correlate with a high detection rate of seizure activity. Furthermore, EEG patterns and treatment with anticonvulsant medications did not correlate with outcome., (Copyright (c) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To evaluate the incidence of hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia and blood glucose (BG) variability in brain-injured patients and their association with clinical outcomes., Methods: Retrospective cohort study of brain-injured patients admitted to an 11-bed neurosciences intensive care unit (ICU) from January 1 to December 31, 2003., Results: We included 606 patients. Mean age was 52.3 years, 60.6% were male, 11.9% had diabetes mellitus, and 64% were post-operative. Seventy-five (12.4%) received intensive insulin therapy (IIT) for a median (IQR) 72 (24-154) hours. Hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia occurred in 4.6% (96.4% receiving IIT) and 9.6% (77.6% receiving IIT). Median number of episodes per patient was 3 (75% with > or = 2) and 4 (81% with > or = 2) for hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. Variable glycemic control occurred in 3.8% (100% receiving IIT) with median number of 13 episodes per patient. In-hospital mortality was 16.7%, median (IQR) ICU and hospital lengths of stay were 2 (1-5) and 8 (3-19) days. Hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia and BG variability showed non-significant but consistent associations with hospital mortality and prolonged lengths of ICU and hospital stay. The rate of recurrence of episodes showed stronger and significant associations with outcome, in particular for BG variability and hyperglycemia., Conclusions: Hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia and BG variability are relatively common in brain-injured patients and are associated with IIT. An increased frequency of episodes, in particular for BG variability and hyperglycemia, was associated with greater risk of both hospital death and prolonged duration of stay.

Introduction: In critical illness, the association of hypoglycemia, blood glucose (BG) variability and outcome are not well understood. We describe the incidence, clinical factors and outcomes associated with an early hypoglycemia and BG variability in critically ill patients., Methods: Retrospective interrogation of prospectively collected data from the Australia New Zealand Intensive Care Society Adult Patient Database on 66184 adult admissions to 24 intensive care units (ICUs) from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2005. Primary exposure was hypoglycemia (BG < 4.5 mmol/L) and BG variability (BG < 4.5 and >or= 12.0 mmol/L) within 24 hours of admission. Primary outcome was all-cause mortality., Results: The cumulative incidence of hypoglycemia and BG variability were 13.8% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 13.5 to 14.0; n = 9122) and 2.9% (95%CI = 2.8 to 3.0, n = 1913), respectively. Several clinical factors were associated with both hypoglycemia and BG variability including: co-morbid disease (P < 0.001), non-elective admissions (P < 0.001), higher illness severity (P < 0.001), and primary septic diagnosis (P < 0.001). Hypoglycemia was associated with greater odds of adjusted ICU (odds ratio (OR) = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.31 to 1.54) and hospital death (OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.27 to 1.46). Hypoglycemia severity was associated with 'dose-response' increases in mortality. BG variability was associated with greater odds of adjusted ICU (1.5, 95% CI = 1.4 to 1.6) and hospital (1.4, 95% CI = 1.3 to 1.5) mortality, when compared with either hypoglycemia only or neither., Conclusions: In critically ill patients, both early hypoglycemia and early variability in BG are relatively common, and independently portend an increased risk for mortality.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in liver failure prior to orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) and may complicate the intraoperative course. We describe the logistics of intraoperative continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) during OLT and the associated clinical outcomes. We performed a retrospective review of adult patients (age > 18 years) receiving intraoperative CRRT during OLT at the University of Alberta Hospital between January 1, 1996 and December 31, 2005. Demographic, detailed clinical, and perioperative data, physiologic and laboratory measures, details of renal replacement therapy (RRT) provided, and data on renal recovery and survival were ascertained. Of 636 OLTs, 41 (6.4%) received intraoperative CRRT. The most common indications for OLT in these patients were hepatitis C (34.2%) and alcoholic (29.3%) cirrhosis. The median [interquartile range (IQR)] Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score was 38 (31-43), and 90.2% were classified as Child-Pugh class C. Preoperatively, 70% were in the intensive care unit, 58.5% were mechanically ventilated, and 48.7% required vasopressor support. The median (IQR) duration of intraoperative CRRT was 258 (189-390) minutes, representing 57% of the total operative time. Filter circuit clotting occurred in 40% but was not associated with a shorter CRRT duration (P = 0.41). No other complications were described. CRRT allowed an even or negative intraoperative fluid balance in 92.7%. CRRT was continued in 78% after OLT for a median (IQR) of 5 (3-11) days. Of these, 24 (75%) were transitioned to intermittent hemodialysis for a median (IQR) of 15 (4-39) days. Survival was 97.6% at 1 month and 75.6% at 1 year. Renal recovery to RRT independence occurred in 100% of survivors by 1 year; however, the mean (standard deviation) estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 54.7 (19.1) mL/minute/m(2), with 62.1% having an eGFR < 60 mL/minute/m(2). In conclusion, our data suggest that intraoperative CRRT during OLT is achievable and safe. Intraoperative CRRT may be a valuable adjuvant therapy for those with preoperative AKI. Additional investigations are warranted., (Copyright 2008 AASLD.)

Objectives: 1. To determine the awareness of the literature concerning therapeutic manoeuvres in severe closed head injury (CHI) among Canadian critical care clinicians and neurosurgeons, 2. To identify factors that affect utilization of these manoeuvres, and 3. To compare reported appropriateness and frequency of use with #1 and #2., Methods: The study design was a systematic scenario-based survey of all neurosurgeons and critical care physicians treating patients with severe CHI in Canada., Results: Fifty-nine of 99 neurosurgeons and 82 of 148 critical care physicians responded (57%). The majority of respondents were not able to identify the highest level of published evidence for most manoeuvres, except for the avoidance of corticosteroids (51%). The factor identified by most respondents as being most important in motivating use of any given manoeuvres was the level of published evidence (25%). Although reported appropriateness and frequency of use of most manoeuvres correlated well with each other, they did not correlate with awareness of evidence. In the case of corticosteroids, there was a strong correlation between non-use of steroids and awareness of evidence (R = -0.30, p = 0.0003)., Conclusions: Respondents to this survey of Canadian physicians treating patients with severe head injury reported published evidence as being the most significant factor affecting use of a therapy. However, most respondents did not correctly identify the highest published level of evidence for most therapies. This study has identified difficulty with research translation that may have clinical implications.

Objective: To determine: 1. the degrees of consensus and disagreement among Canadian critical care clinicians regarding the appropriateness (benefit exceeding risk) of common therapeutic manoeuvres in patients with severe closed head injury (CHI), and 2. the frequency with which clinicians employed these manoeuvres., Methods: The study design was a systematic scenario-based survey of all neurosurgeons and critical care physicians treating patients with severe CHI in Canada., Results: In the scenario of acute epidural hematoma with mass effect, respondents agreed very strongly that surgery was appropriate. Clinicians reported mannitol and hypertonic saline as appropriate. Beyond these two interventions, agreement was less strong, and the use of the extraventricular drain (EVD), phenytoin, cooling, hyperventilation, nimodipine, and jugular venous oximetry (JVO) were of uncertain appropriateness. Steroids were considered inappropriate. In a scenario of diffuse axonal injury (DAI), clinicians agreed strongly that fever reduction, early enteral feeding, intensive glucose control, and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP)-directed management were appropriate. The use of mannitol, hypertonic saline, EVD, JVO, narcotics and propofol were also appropriate. Neuromuscular blockade, surgery, and hyperventilation were of uncertain appropriateness. The appropriateness ratings of the interventions considered in the scenario of an intracranial contusion mirrored the DAI scenario. In general, correlations between the reported appropriateness and frequency of use of each intervention were very high. An exception noted was the use of the JVO. The correlation between CPP-guided therapy and the use of the EVD was weak., Conclusions: This survey has described current practice with regard to treatment of patients with severe CHI. Areas of variation in perceived appropriateness were identified that may benefit from further evaluation. Suggested priorities for evaluation include the use of osmotic diuretics, anticonvulsants, and intracranial manometry.

Methemoglobinemia is an uncommon cause of tissue hypoxemia that can be life-threatening if not promptly identified and treated. It can occur after exposure to an oxidizing agent from contaminated well water or from nitroglycerin, sodium nitroprusside, or certain local anesthetics. During oropharyngeal use of topical anesthetics for transesophageal echocardiography, systemic drug uptake is unpredictable and unexplained complications can ensue. Treatment of acquired methemoglobinemia may require methylene blue, as oxygen is not usually sufficient. Avoidance of the oxidizing agent, probably benzocaine in the cases presented, is prudent.

Objective: To determine the effect of perioperative beta blocker treatment in patients having non-cardiac surgery., Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis., Data Sources: Seven search strategies, including searching two bibliographic databases and hand searching seven medical journals. STUDY SELECTION AND OUTCOMES: We included randomised controlled trials that evaluated beta blocker treatment in patients having non-cardiac surgery. Perioperative outcomes within 30 days of surgery included total mortality, cardiovascular mortality, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal cardiac arrest, non-fatal stroke, congestive heart failure, hypotension needing treatment, bradycardia needing treatment, and bronchospasm., Results: Twenty two trials that randomised a total of 2437 patients met the eligibility criteria. Perioperative beta blockers did not show any statistically significant beneficial effects on any of the individual outcomes and the only nominally statistically significant beneficial relative risk was 0.44 (95% confidence interval 0.20 to 0.97, 99% confidence interval 0.16 to 1.24) for the composite outcome of cardiovascular mortality, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and non-fatal cardiac arrest. Methods adapted from formal interim monitoring boundaries applied to cumulative meta-analysis showed that the evidence failed, by a considerable degree, to meet standards for forgoing additional studies. The individual safety outcomes in patients treated with perioperative beta blockers showed a relative risk for bradycardia needing treatment of 2.27 (95% CI 1.53 to 3.36, 99% CI 1.36 to 3.80) and a nominally statistically significant relative risk for hypotension needing treatment of 1.27 (95% CI 1.04 to 1.56, 99% CI 0.97 to 1.66)., Conclusion: The evidence that perioperative beta blockers reduce major cardiovascular events is encouraging but too unreliable to allow definitive conclusions to be drawn.

Background: Acute renal failure (ARF) occurs in up to 10% of critically ill patients, with significant associated morbidity and mortality. The optimal mode of renal replacement therapy (RRT) remains controversial. This retrospective study compared continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) and intermittent hemodialysis (IHD) for RRT in terms of intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital mortality, and renal recovery., Methods: We reviewed the records of all patients undergoing RRT for the treatment of ARF over a 12-month period. Patients were compared according to mode of RRT, demographics, physiologic characteristics, and outcomes of ICU and hospital mortality and renal recovery using the Chi square, Student's t test, and multiple logistic regression as appropriate., Results: 116 patients with renal insufficiency underwent RRT during the study period. Of these, 93 had ARF. The severity of illness of CRRT patients was similar to that of IHD patients using APACHE II (25.1 vs 23.5, P = 0.37), but they required significantly more intensive nursing (therapeutic intervention scale 47.8 vs 37.6, P = 0.0001). Mortality was associated with lower pH at presentation (P = 0.003) and increasing age (P = 0.03). Renal recovery was significantly more frequent among patients initially treated with CRRT (21/24 vs 5/14, P = 0.0003). Further investigation to define optimal timing, dose, and duration of RRT may be beneficial., Conclusions: Although further study is needed, this study suggests that renal recovery may be better after CRRT than IHD for ARF. Mortality was not affected significantly by RRT mode.

Background: Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is a well-recognized neurologic disorder that typically presents with orthostatic headaches, low cerebral spinal fluid pressures and distinct abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging., Methods: We present a case of a rare presentation of SIH., Results: A 49-year-old man presented with a two week history of orthostatic headaches that rapidly progressed to encephalopathy and coma, requiring intubation. Neuroimaging revealed abnormalities typical of SIH; diffusely enhancing pachymeninges, subdural fluid collections, and descent of the brain. Treatment with an epidural blood patch reversed his coma within minutes. Following a second blood patch, the patient became asymptomatic. No cerebral spinal leak could be identified on magnetic resonance imaging or on a nuclear medicine technetium cerebral spinal fluid flow study. At six month follow-up, he remained symptom free., Conclusion: The mechanism of coma in SIH is presumed to be compression of the diencephalon from downward displacement of the brain. Although it is very unusual for patients with SIH to present with coma, it is important to recognize since the coma may be reversible with epidural blood patches.

Objective: Thrombolytic agents have been administered through external ventricular drains to treat intraventricular hemorrhage, the goals being to accelerate clot clearance, prevent catheter obstruction, and help control intracranial pressure. We compared these variables in a group of aneurysm patients treated by one surgeon who routinely used intraventricular recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) for obstructive hematocephalus with those in a group of similar patients treated by other surgeons who did not., Methods: Patients included in this analysis were those with repaired cerebral aneurysms causing hemorrhage into at least three ventricles with ventriculomegaly requiring external ventricular drainage. The ventricular system was considered "opened" when all ventricles were patent and reduced in size on computed tomographic scans. Those treated with rt-PA received 4 mg/d through a ventricular drain until ventricular opening., Results: The mean number of days to ventricular opening was 3.9 (standard deviation [SD], 1.0) for the 21 patients treated with rt-PA and 7.1 (SD, 3.7) for the 9 who were not (P = 0.001), and the mean intracranial pressure (mm Hg) 24 hours after treatment with rt-PA was 10.4 (SD, 6.1) compared with 14.1 (SD, 5.9) during the same interval for the group that did not receive rt-PA (P = 0.13). Ventricular catheter replacement was required in 1 rt-PA patient (for a misplaced catheter, before rt-PA treatment) and 3 patients who did not receive rt-PA (all for catheter obstructions with blood clot) (P = 0.07), and ventriculoperitoneal shunts were placed in 4 rt-PA patients and 3 patients who did not receive rt-PA (P = 0.4)., Conclusion: Intraventricular thrombolysis with rt-PA seems to assist in the acute management of patients with large aneurysmal intraventricular hemorrhages, speeding clearance of aneurysmal intraventricular hemorrhage, normalizing intracranial pressure, and reducing ventricular catheter obstruction. A randomized trial is needed to confirm these findings, establish treatment safety, and determine whether treatment affects outcome.

Study Objectives: To investigate the changes in hemodynamic profile during cardiopulmonary bypass, and determine the effect of intravenous (IV) heparin on serum chemistry and acid-base status., Design: Prospective study., Setting: Three Canadian hospitals., Patients: 43 consecutive patients undergoing elective aortocoronary bypass., Interventions: Anesthetic technique was standarized. Hemodynamic profile, blood gases, and serum electrolytes were measured immediately before IV heparin for cardiopulmonary bypass, and 5 minutes after., Results: Mean arterial pressure (MAP) decreased by a mean of 11.2 mmHg (12.5%, p = 0.0001) in all patients, of whom 28% were treated with vasoactive drugs to restore MAP. Mean systemic vascular resistance decreased by 418 dyne sec/cm(5) (25%, p = 0.0001), and mean serum potassium increased by 0.14 meq/L (p = 0.0002). The reduction in MAP correlated strongly with the reduction in SVR (p = 0.004), but not with changes in potassium or other variables., Implications: Mean arterial pressure is significantly affected by IV heparin for cardiopulmonary bypass. The hemodynamic mechanism is systemic vasodilation, implying that treatment with a short-acting vasoconstrictor is appropriate, if necessary. Unlike earlier studies, the increase in serum potassium observed, although reproducible, was trivial.

Unlabelled: The pulmonary artery catheter (PAC), although widely used in anesthesia for cardiac and vascular surgery, remains controversial. Use of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) by cardiovascular anesthesiologists may be a substitute or a preference compared with the PAC, but this has been incompletely investigated. An anonymous, cross-sectional survey was mailed to anesthesiologists in Canada and the United States. Anesthesiologists described their use of the PAC and TEE during cardiac and vascular surgery, along with their demographic characteristics. Two hundred sixty-five (77%) of 345 anesthesiologists responded. All had the PAC available for use, and 56% had TEE available. Only 23 (11% overall) reported having undergone echocardiography training, half of whom had completed fellowships. Both the PAC and TEE were more often used in cardiac valvular surgery (P = 0.0001) than in aortocoronary bypass or abdominal vascular surgery. Among all anesthesiologists, the PAC remained the preferred monitor in either cardiac or vascular surgery (P = 0.0001), although many indicated a preference for neither monitor. Among anesthesiologists with echocardiography training, TEE was preferred (P = 0.0004). We found that TEE was accessible to more than half of the surveyed anesthesiologists in cardiovascular surgery, but relatively few of them had completed formal training in its use. Only those with completed formal TEE training indicated a significant preference for TEE use and also used it frequently. Given the continuing controversy about the appropriate application of the PAC, concern about the appropriate application of TEE is prudent. The PAC remains the more frequently used and preferred monitor among cardiovascular anesthesiologists., Implications: A survey of anesthesiologists found that pulmonary artery catheter monitoring is currently more frequently used compared with transesophageal echocardiography during cardiac and vascular surgery.

Purpose: The pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) is commonly used in anesthesiology and critical care, but its appropriate (where benefit exceeds risk) application is unknown. This study describes current clinical practice attitudes among anesthesiologists in cardiac and vascular surgery in an effort to determine the most appropriate indications for use of the PAC., Methods: Anonymous, cross-sectional, mailed survey of anesthesiologists in Canada and the USA. Opinions of anesthesiologists about the appropriateness of PAC application were assessed in 36 clinical scenarios, using a nine-point Likert scale. The RAND method was adapted to identify appropriate, inappropriate, and uncertain indications for PAC application., Results: Seventy-seven percent of 345 anesthesiologists responded. They agreed strongly (87%) that use of the PAC is appropriate in patients with severe ventricular impairment and unstable angina. Agreement was also present with ventricular impairment (74%) or unstable angina (55%) alone, but was less strong. A majority (53%) rated the PAC as not appropriate in the routine patient without complicating risk factors. Those who used the PAC more frequently, who had a greater practice volume, and who practised in Canada rated PAC use to be more appropriate in more scenarios. Those who did more continuing medical education rated PAC use to be less appropriate., Conclusions: While the ideal evaluation of the PAC in clinical practice would be a randomized controlled trial, such an undertaking is time-consuming, expensive, of limited generalizability, and requires clinical equipoise. This study found strong agreement that PAC application is appropriate in some patient scenarios, and agreement that it is inappropriate in others. Description of current practice using this method may identify scenarios where randomized evaluation of the PAC, or other technologies, is likely unnecessary, and others where it is highly likely to be highly beneficial.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia remains the nosocomial ICU infection of greatest concern. The authors have summarized the clinical trials that have assessed specific strategies to prevent VAP and the current controversies regarding the diagnosis and therapeutic approach to this condition. Improvements in care of patients who are at risk for or who have developed VAP will depend on the judicious application of this information for individual patients.