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Background The joint committee of the Japanese Society of Intensive Care Medicine/Japanese Respiratory Society/Japanese Society of Respiratory Care Medicine on ARDS Clinical Practice Guideline has created and released the ARDS Clinical Practice Guideline 2021. Methods The 2016 edition of the Clinical Practice Guideline covered clinical questions (CQs) that targeted only adults, but the present guideline includes 15 CQs for children in addition to 46 CQs for adults. As with the previous edition, we used a systematic review method with the Grading of Recommendations Assessment Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system as well as a degree of recommendation determination method. We also conducted systematic reviews that used meta-analyses of diagnostic accuracy and network meta-analyses as a new method. Results Recommendations for adult patients with ARDS are described: we suggest against using serum C-reactive protein and procalcitonin levels to identify bacterial pneumonia as the underlying disease (GRADE 2D); we recommend limiting tidal volume to 4–8 mL/kg for mechanical ventilation (GRADE 1D); we recommend against managements targeting an excessively low SpO2 (PaO2) (GRADE 2D); we suggest against using transpulmonary pressure as a routine basis in positive end-expiratory pressure settings (GRADE 2B); we suggest implementing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for those with severe ARDS (GRADE 2B); we suggest against using high-dose steroids (GRADE 2C); and we recommend using low-dose steroids (GRADE 1B). The recommendations for pediatric patients with ARDS are as follows: we suggest against using non-invasive respiratory support (non-invasive positive pressure ventilation/high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy) (GRADE 2D), we suggest placing pediatric patients with moderate ARDS in the prone position (GRADE 2D), we suggest against routinely implementing NO inhalation therapy (GRADE 2C), and we suggest against implementing daily sedation interruption for pediatric patients with respiratory failure (GRADE 2D). Conclusions This article is a translated summary of the full version of the ARDS Clinical Practice Guideline 2021 published in Japanese (URL: https://www.jsicm.org/publication/guideline.html). The original text, which was written for Japanese healthcare professionals, may include different perspectives from healthcare professionals of other countries.

Background Respiratory compromise (RC) including hypoxia and hypoventilation is likely to be missed in the postoperative period. Integrated pulmonary index (IPI) is a comprehensive respiratory parameter evaluating ventilation and oxygenation. It is calculated from four parameters: end-tidal carbon dioxide, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry (SpO2), and pulse rate. We hypothesized that IPI monitoring can help predict the occurrence of RC in patients at high-risk of hypoventilation in post-anesthesia care units (PACUs). Methods This prospective observational study was conducted in two centers and included older adults (≥ 75-year-old) or obese (body mass index ≥ 28) patients who were at high-risk of hypoventilation. Monitoring was started on admission to the PACU after elective surgery under general anesthesia. We investigated the onset of RC defined as respiratory events with prolonged stay in the PACU or transfer to the intensive care units; airway narrowing, hypoxemia, hypercapnia, wheezing, apnea, and any other events that were judged to require interventions. We evaluated the relationship between several initial parameters in the PACU and the occurrence of RC. Additionally, we analyzed the relationship between IPI fluctuation during PACU stay and the occurrences of RC using individual standard deviations of the IPI every five minutes (IPI-SDs). Results In total, 288 patients were included (199 elderly, 66 obese, and 23 elderly and obese). Among them, 18 patients (6.3 %) developed RC. The initial IPI and SpO2 values in the PACU in the RC group were significantly lower than those in the non-RC group (6.7 ± 2.5 vs. 9.0 ± 1.3, p p = 0.040, respectively). We used the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) to evaluate their ability to predict RC. The AUCs of the IPI and SpO2 were 0.80 (0.69–0.91) and 0.64 (0.48–0.80), respectively. The IPI-SD, evaluating fluctuation, was significantly greater in the RC group than in the non-RC group (1.47 ± 0.74 vs. 0.93 ± 0.74, p = 0.002). Conclusions Our study showed that low value of the initial IPI and the fluctuating IPI after admission to the PACU predict the occurrence of RC. The IPI might be useful for respiratory monitoring in PACUs and ICUs after general anesthesia.

IntroductionSepsis is not only the leading cause of death in the intensive care unit (ICU) but also a major risk factor for physical and cognitive impairment and mental disorders, known as postintensive care syndrome (PICS), reduced health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and even mental health disorders in patient families (PICS-family; PICS-F). The ABCDEF bundle is strongly recommended to overcome them, while the association between implementing the bundle and the long-term outcomes is also unknown.Methods and analysisThis is a multicentre prospective observational study at 26 ICUs. All consecutive patients between 1 November 2020 and 30 April 2022, who are 18 years old or older and expected to stay in an ICU for more than 48 hours due to sepsis or septic shock, are enrolled. Follow-up to evaluate survival and PICS/ PICS-F will be performed at 3, 6 and 12 months and additionally every 6 months up to 5 years after hospital discharge. Primary outcomes include survival at 12 months, which is the primary outcome, and the incidence of PICS defined as the presence of any physical impairment, cognitive impairment or mental disorders. PICS assessment scores, HRQoL and employment status are evaluated. The association between the implementation rate for the ABCDEF bundle and for each of the individual elements and long-term outcomes will be evaluated. The PICS-F, defined as the presence of mental disorders, and HRQoL of the family is also assessed. Additional analyses with data up to 5 years follow-up are planned.Ethics and disseminationThis study received ethics approvals from Saiseikai Utsunomiya Hospital (2020-42) and all other participating institutions and was registered in the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry. Informed consent will be obtained from all patients. The findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at scientific conferences.Trial registration numberUMIN000041433.

This is a prospective multicenter cohort study aiming to investigate the association between early mobilization (EM), defined as a rehabilitation level of sitting at the edge of the bed or higher within 72 h of ICU admission, and psychiatric outcome. Consecutive patients, admitted to the ICU for more than 48 h, were enrolled. The primary outcome was the incidence of psychiatric symptoms at 3 months after hospital discharge defined as the presence of any of three symptoms: depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Risk ratio (RR) and multiple logistic regression analysis were used. As a sensitivity analysis, two methods for inverse probability of treatment weighting statistics were performed. Of the 192 discharged patients, 99 (52%) were assessed. The patients who achieved EM had a lower incidence of psychiatric symptoms compared to those who did not (25% vs. 51%, p-value 0.008, odds ratio (OR) 0.27, adjusted p = 0.032). The RR for psychiatric symptoms in the EM group was 0.49 [95% Confidence Interval, 0.29–0.83]. Sensitivity analysis accounting for the influence of death, loss to follow-up (OR 0.28, adjusted p = 0.008), or potential confounders (OR 0.49, adjusted p = 0.046) consistently showed a lower incidence of psychiatric symptoms in the EM group. EM was consistently associated with fewer psychiatric symptoms.

We performed a retrospective cohort study of 911 high-energy trauma patients who underwent chest CT scans at least twice after admission. We hypothesized that in high-energy trauma patients, a high-inspired oxygen concentration delivered after admission results in dorsal atelectasis. The study’s primary outcome was dorsal atelectasis formation diagnosed based on CT images. We defined dorsal atelectasis as the presence of atelectasis at ≥ 10 mm thick on CT images. We defined high-inspired oxygen concentration as >60% oxygen delivered between two CT scans. Four hundred sixty-five patients (51.0%) developed atelectasis according to the second CT scan, and 338 (37.1%) received a high-inspired oxygen concentration. A univariate analysis showed that the rate of the high-inspired oxygen concentration in the atelectasis group was significantly higher than that in the non-atelectasis group (43.4% vs. 30.1%, p

The aim of this study is to clarify the incidence and risk factors of patient-related safety events (PSE) in situations limited to intubated patients in which active mobilization, such as sitting on the edge of the bed/standing/walking, was carried out. A multi-center retrospective observational study was conducted at nine hospitals between January 2017 and March 2018. The safety profiles and PSE of 87 patients were analyzed. PSE occurred in 10 out of 87 patients (11.5%) and 13 out of 198 sessions (6.6%). The types of PSE that occurred were hypotension (8, 62%), heart rate instability (3, 23%), and desaturation (2, 15%). Circulation-related events occurred in 85% of overall cases. No accidents, such as line/tube removal or falls, were observed. The highest incidence of PSE was observed during the mobilization level of standing (8 out of 39 sessions, 20.5%). The occurrence of PSE correlated with the highest activity level under logistic regression analysis. Close vigilance is required for intubated patients during active mobilization in the standing position with regard to circulatory dynamics.

Purpose Gait independence is one of the most important factors related to returning home from the hospital for patients treated in the intensive care unit (ICU), but the factors affecting gait independence have not been clarified. This study aimed to determine the factors affecting gait independence at hospital discharge using a standardized early mobilization protocol that was shared by participating hospitals. Materials and methods Patients who entered the ICU from January 2017 to March 2018 were screened. The exclusion criteria were mechanical ventilation Results One hundred thirty-two patients were analyzed. In the univariate analysis, age, APACHE II score, duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU length of stay, incidence of delirium, and MRC sum-score at ICU discharge were extracted as significant. In the multivariate analysis, age (p = 0.014), MRC sum-score < 48 (p = 0.021), and delirium at discharge from ICU (p < 0.0001) were extracted as significant variables. Conclusions We found that age and incidence of ICU-AW and delirium were significantly related to impaired gait independence at hospital discharge.

Background: Various biomarkers were used for sepsis; however, only a few become the standard. We reported that plasma histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG) levels decreased in septic mice. Moreover, our clinical study on patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) demonstrated that HRG levels in septic patients were lower than those in noninfective SIRS patients, and HRG could be a biomarker for sepsis within the SIRS population. In this study, we focused on septic patients and assessed the differences in HRG levels between the non-survivors and survivors. Methods: We studied intensive care unit (ICU) patients newly diagnosed with sepsis. Blood samples were collected within 24 h of ICU admission, and HRG levels were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Findings: Ninety-nine septic patients from 11 institutes were included. HRG levels were significantly lower in non-survivors (n = 16) than in survivors (n = 83) (median, 15·1 [IQR, 12·7-16·6] vs. 30·6 [22·1-39·6] µg/ml; p < 0·01). Survival analysis revealed that the Harrell C-index (predictive power) for HRG was 0·90. Furthermore, when patients were divided into four subgroups according to quartiles of HRG level, the lowest HRG subgroup represented a significantly higher mortality. Interpretation: The initial HRG levels were found to be lower in non-survivors than in survivors. Decreased and classified HRG levels were also found to predict patient mortality. These results suggested that HRG could be a novel prognostic biomarker for sepsis. Trial Registration: UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000017651). Funding Statement: This work was supported by grants from Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) (AMED 15lk0201014h0003; AMED 18im0210109h0002), and from Secom Science and Technology Foundation to MN. Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethics Approval Statement: This was a multicenter, prospective, and observational investigation approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and of each institution.

Background The interest in perioperative lung protective ventilation has been increasing. However, optimal management during one-lung ventilation (OLV) remains undetermined, which not only includes tidal volume (VT) and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) but also inspired oxygen fraction (FIO2). We aimed to investigate current practice of intraoperative ventilation during OLV, and analyze whether the intraoperative ventilator settings are associated with postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) after thoracic surgery. Methods We performed a prospective observational two-center study in Japan. Patients scheduled for thoracic surgery with OLV from April to October 2014 were eligible. We recorded ventilator settings (FIO2, VT, driving pressure (ΔP), and PEEP) and calculated the time-weighted average (TWA) of ventilator settings for the first 2 h of OLV. PPCs occurring within 7 days of thoracotomy were investigated. Associations between ventilator settings and the incidence of PPCs were examined by multivariate logistic regression. Results We analyzed perioperative information, including preoperative characteristics, ventilator settings, and details of surgery and anesthesia in 197 patients. Pressure control ventilation was utilized in most cases (92%). As an initial setting for OLV, an FIO2 of 1.0 was selected for more than 60% of all patients. Throughout OLV, the median TWA FIO2 of 0.8 (0.65-0.94), VT of 6.1 (5.3-7.0) ml/kg, ΔP of 17 (15-20) cm H2O, and PEEP of 4 (4-5) cm H2O was applied. Incidence rate of PPCs was 25.9%, and FIO2 was independently associated with the occurrence of PPCs in multivariate logistic regression. The adjusted odds ratio per FIO2 increase of 0.1 was 1.30 (95% confidence interval: 1.04-1.65, P = 0.0195). Conclusions High FIO2 was applied to the majority of patients during OLV, whereas low VT and slight degree of PEEP were commonly used in our survey. Our findings suggested that a higher FIO2 during OLV could be associated with increased incidence of PPCs. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12871-018-0476-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Recent publications provided controversial results indicating that perioperative heparin bridging anticoagulation (HBA) increased the bleeding risk without decreasing the thromboembolic risk in patients undergoing minor surgery. To investigate if this is also the case in high-risk patients undergoing major abdominal malignancy surgery, we retrospectively collected data of 3268 patients over a 10-year period. After the interruption of preoperative antithrombotic agents, HBA was initiated with a prophylactic-dose of unfractionated heparin in 133 patients (HBA group), and 62 patients did not receive HBA (non-HBA group). The incidence of exogenous blood transfusion (EBT) and thromboembolic events (TEEs) within 30 days after surgery were compared between the HBA and non-HBA groups. The results showed that the incidence of EBT and TEEs was similar between the two groups (23.3 vs 19.4 %; P = 0.535) and (4.1 vs 3.2 %; P = 0.821), respectively. The amount of intraoperative bleeding and the length of postoperative hospital stay were also similar [median (quantile 1-3); 192 (71-498) vs 228 ml (100-685); P = 0.422] and [12 (9-19) vs 14.5 days (10-21); P = 0.052], respectively. These findings may suggest it is unlikely that prophylactic-dose HBA affects bleeding and thromboembolic risks in patients undergoing major abdominal malignancy surgery.

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