The Southern African journal of critical care : the official journal of the Critical Care Society最新文献

Background: Non-thyroidal illness syndrome (NTIS) can be defined as the presence of abnormal thyroid function in the absence of primary thyroid dysfunction and is associated with acute illness. Thyroid function testing is generally not advised in the critically ill patient. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) measurement is the preferred screening test for thyroid disease, but results may be misleading and variable in the setting of critical illness.

Objectives: To describe the pattern of requests for TSH testing in patients admitted to the emergency department and intensive care units at Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.

Methods: A retrospective, descriptive (observational) study was conducted over a 6-month period to determine the number of requests for TSH testing received for patients admitted to the emergency department and intensive care units.

Results: A total of 1 139 requests for TSH testing were received from the emergency department and intensive care units, of which 166 were excluded. Of the 973 requests evaluated, 14% yielded abnormal results. The majority (79.4%) of the abnormal TSH results were most likely attributed to NTIS. Follow-up TSH results after 6 - 8 weeks were available in only 18% of cases with abnormal TSH levels at initial presentation.

Conclusion: We found that TSH testing was often requested in critically ill patients, but that most results were either normal or indicative of NTIS. Follow-up testing of abnormal TSH results was rarely performed. We recommend continued education of junior clinicians regarding thyroid function testing in critically ill patients.

Contributions of the study: This study describes the requesting pattern for TSH tests in patients admitted to the emergency department and intensive care unit at Tygerberg Hospital, South Africa. The findings emphasise the importance of prudent thyroid function testing in critically ill patients and follow-up in suspected cases of non-thyroidal illness syndrome.

Background: Sepsis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in critical care patients. Developing tools to identify patients who are at risk of poor outcomes and prolonged length of stay in intensive care units (ICUs) is critical, particularly in resource-limited settings.

Objectives: To determine whether the quick sequential organ failure assessment (qSOFA) score based on bedside assessment alone was a promising tool for risk prediction in low-resource settings.

Methods: A retrospective cohort of adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) at Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa (SA), was recruited into the study between 2014 and 2018. The association of qSOFA with in-ICU mortality was measured using multivariable logistic regression. Discrimination was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve and the additive contribution to a baseline model using likelihood ratio testing.

Results: The qSOFA scores of 0, 1 and 2 were not associated with increased odds of in-ICU mortality (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.24, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.86 - 1.79; p=0.26) in patients with infection, while the qSOFA of 3 was associated with in-ICU mortality in infected patients (aOR 2.82; 95% CI 1.91 - 4.16; p<0.001). On the other hand, the qSOFA scores of 2 (aOR 3.25; 95% CI 1.91 - 5.53; p<0.001) and 3 (aOR 6.26, 95% CI 0.38 - 11.62, p<0.001) were associated with increased odds of in-ICU mortality in patients without infection. Discrimination for mortality was fair to poor and adding qSOFA to a baseline model yielded a statistical improvement in both cases (p<0.001).

Conclusion: qSOFA was associated with, but weakly discriminant, for in-ICU mortality for patients with and without infection in a resource-limited, public hospital in SA. These findings add to the growing body of evidence that support the use of qSOFA to deliver low-cost, high-value critical care in resource-limited settings.

Contributions of the study: This study expanded the data supporting the use of qSOFA in resource-limited settings beyond the emergency department or ward to include patients admitted to the ICU. Additionally, this study demonstrated stronger predictive abilities in a population of patients admitted with trauma without suspected or confirmed infection, thus providing an additional use of qSOFA as a risk-prediction tool for a broader population.

Background: Stroke is a potentially life-threatening, time-dependent event, and one of the leading causes of mortality and lasting morbidity in South Africa (SA). It is of vital importance that Emergency Medical Services (EMS) call-takers accurately recognise stroke symptoms and prioritise time as well as adequate care. EMS call-takers are the first link in stroke care and improving call-taker recognition of stroke signs and symptoms can drastically improve patient outcome. The Newcastle Face Arm Speech Time (FAST) test is a mnemonic aimed at improving diagnostic accuracy of stroke.

Objectives: To assess the use of the FAST test at a call-taker level to raise early suspicion of stroke and appropriately allocate resources to increase awareness of time and decrease delays on scene.

Methods: A retrospective diagnostic study to determine the accuracy of the FAST mnemonic at identifying stroke when applied at EMS call-taker level. The outcome of the FAST assessment was compared with EMS stroke diagnosis for cases of a private SA EMS over a three-month period (N=146).

Results: Using FAST, call-takers were able to identify stroke with a sensitivity of 87.5% and a specificity of 17.4% (positive predictive value 34%, negative predictive value 74%). This yielded an overall accuracy of 40.41%.

Conclusion: FAST is a useful screening tool for identifying stroke at call-taker level. FAST has acceptable sensitivity when used as a screening tool; however, specificity and diagnostic effectiveness are lacking. Further studies should be considered to determine call-taker as well as general public knowledge of stroke risk factors and presentation.

Contributions of the study: Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and lasting morbidity in South Africa (SA) and is increasing in incidence. Early recognition of stroke at initial emergency call may expedite treatment, thus improving outcomes. This study demonstrates that the application of the FAST assessment at emergency contact centre level in SA, might be useful at identifying stroke early. Future research should investigate barriers to its use.

The CCSSA PBM Guidelines have been developed to improve patient blood management in critically ill patients in southern Africa. These consensus recommendations are based on a rigorous process by experts in the field of critical care who are also practicing in South Africa (SA). The process comprised a Delphi process, a round-table meeting (at the CCSSA National Congress, Durban, 2018), and a review of the best available evidence and international guidelines. The guidelines focus on the broader principles of patient blood management and incorporate transfusion medicine (transfusion guidelines), management of anaemia, optimisation of coagulopathy, and administrative and ethical considerations. There are a mix of low-middle and high-income healthcare structures within southern Africa. Blood products are, however, provided by the same not-for-profit non-governmental organisations to both private and public sectors. There are several challenges related to patient blood management in SA due most notably to a high incidence of anaemia, a frequent shortage of blood products, a small donor population, and a healthcare system under financial strain. The rational and equitable use of blood products is important to ensure best care for as many critically ill patients as possible. The summary of the recommendations provides key practice points for the day-to-day management of critically ill patients. A more detailed description of the evidence used to make these recommendations follows in the full clinical guidelines section.

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed healthcare resources around the world under immense pressure. South Africa, given the condition of its healthcare system, is particularly vulnerable. There has been much discussion around rational healthcare utilisation, ranging from diagnostic testing and personal protective equipment to triage and appropriate use of ventilation strategies. There has, however, been little guidance around use of laboratory tests once COVID-19 positive patients have been admitted to hospital. We present a working guide to rational laboratory test use, specifically for COVID-19, among hospitalised patients, including the critically ill. The specific tests, the reasons for testing, their clinical usefulness, timing and frequency are addressed. We also provide a discussion around evidence for the use of these tests from a clinical perspective.

Background: Deciding to admit a patient into the intensive care unit (ICU) is a high-stakes, high-stress, time-sensitive process. Elucidating the complexities of these decisions can contribute to a more efficient, effective process.

Objectives: To explore physicians' strategic thought processes in ICU triage decisions and identify important factors.

Methods: Practitioners (N=29) were asked to decide on ICU referrals of two hypothetic cases using a modified '20 Questions' approach. Demographic data, decisions when full information was available, feedback on questions, rating of factors previously identified as important and influence of faith and personality traits were explored.

Results: Of the 735 questions asked, 95.92% were patient related. There were no significant differences in interview variables between the two cases or with regard to presentation order. The overall acceptance rate was 68.96%. Refusals were associated with longer interview times (p=0.014), as were lower ICU bed capacity (p=0.036), advancing age of the practitioner (p=0.040) and a higher faith score (p=0.004). Faith score correlated positively with the number of questions asked (p=0.028). There were no significant correlations with personality trait stanines. When full information was available, acceptances for Case A decreased (p=0.003) but increased for Case B (p=0.026). The net reclassification improvement index was -0.138 (p=0.248). Non-subspecialists were more likely to change their decisions (p=0.036).

Conclusion: Limiting information to what is considered vital by using a '20 Questions' approach and allowing the receiving practitioner to create the decision frame may assist with ICU admission decisions. Practitioners should consider the metacognitive elements of their decision-making.

Contributions of the study: The study used a novel approach to explore physicians' decision-making process for admitting a patient to the intensive care unit (ICU). Understanding the main factors that influence the decision-making process will allow for streamlining the referral process, more effective selection of patients most likely to benefit from ICU treatment, and prevent inappropriate admissions into the ICU. The findings can also help to improve data capture tools and encourage practitioners to critically reflect on their decision-making processes.

Background: Antivenom is rarely available for the management of snakebites in rural sub-Saharan Africa(sSA).

Objectives: To report clinical management and outcomes of 174 snakebite victims treated with basic intensive-care interventions in a rural sSA hospital.

Methods: This cohort study was designed as a retrospective analysis of a database of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of St. Mary's Hospital Lacor in Gulu, Uganda (January 2006 - November 2017). No exclusion criteria were applied.

Results: Of the 174 patients admitted to the ICU for snakebite envenomation, 60 (36.5%) developed respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation (16.7% mortality). Results suggest that neurotoxic envenomation was likely the most common cause of respiratory failure among patients requiring mechanical ventilation. Antivenom (at probably inadequate doses) was administered to 22 of the 174 patients (12.6%). The median (and associated interquartile range) length of ICU stay was 3 (2 - 5) days, with an overall mortality rate of 8%. Of the total number of patients, 67 (38.5%) were younger than 18 years.

Conclusion: Results suggest that basic intensive care, including mechanical ventilation, is a feasible management option for snakebite victims presenting with respiratory failure in a rural sSA hospital, resulting in a low mortality rate, even without adequate antivenom being available. International strategies which include preventive measures as well as the strengthening of context-adapted treatment of critically ill patients at different levels of referral pathways, in order to reduce deaths and disability associated with snakebites in sSA are needed. Provision of efficient antivenoms should be integrated in clinical care of snakebite victims in peripheral healthcare facilities. Snakebite management protocols and preventive measures need to consider specific requirements of children.

Contributions of the study: It is estimated that up to 138 000 people die each year following snakebites. Currently, reliable provision of efficient snake-bite antivenom is challenging in many rural health facilities in sub- Saharan Africa (sSA). Our results suggest that basic intensive-care interventions, including mechanical ventilation, is a feasible management option for critically ill snakebite victims in a rural sSA hospital, resulting in a low mortality rate, even without adequate antivenom doses being available.