Critical care explorations最新文献

Objectives: Cardiac mechanical efficiency has been shown to be a predictor of fluid responsiveness (FR) in adults. Our goal was to assess the association between mechanical efficiency as measured by dynamic arterial elastance (Eadyn) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) after fluid bolus in children with MAP less than or equal to 50th percentile for age.

Design: This was a retrospective, observational cohort study.

Setting/patients: This studied IV crystalloid fluid boluses of greater than or equal to 10 mL/kg given to patients less than or equal to 18 years old within the first 72 hours of admission to an academic PICU.

Interventions: None.

Measurements and main results: Eadyn was calculated in 10-second intervals during the 20 minutes pre-bolus. FR was defined as an increase of greater than or equal to 10% in MAP from pre-bolus to the average MAP over 20 minutes post-bolus. Kruskal-Wallis test was used to assess associations. We analyzed 490 fluid boluses given to children with MAP less than or equal to 50th percentile for age across 365 PICU encounters. Pre-bolus Eadyn was not associated with FR (p > 0.1). This lack of association persisted in subgroup analysis among those mechanically ventilated or on vasoactive medication, and in stratification by MAP percentile for age and duration of time in MAP percentile. Additionally, mechanical efficiency was high (Eadyn > 0.7) for most children, even in the lowest MAP percentile for age cohorts.

Conclusions: Further research is needed in children to understand the changing cardiac physiology of children as blood pressure decreases to develop more targeted, age-based shock management strategies.

Presentations of status asthmaticus or severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation can present a formidable challenge to effective invasive ventilation. The optimal ventilation strategy targets low respiratory rates and high inspiratory flow rates to prolong the expiratory time and minimize dynamic hyperinflation. Although the resulting high peak pressures can usually be accommodated by ICU ventilators, some ventilators have a relatively limited peak pressure capacity as determined by the turbine. Here, we describe two cases of severe airflow obstruction where the desired ventilation strategy required a peak pressure over the capacity of the Hamilton T1 transport ventilator. Changing to a pressure regulated strategy, maximizing the driving pressure, and titrating the inspiratory time overcame the limitation. But, this strategy comes at a cost. Clinicians should be made aware of the possibility of a pressure limitation in their ventilator and understand how to adjust their ventilation strategy appropriately during transitions.

Importance: While corticosteroid administration in septic shock has been shown to reduce vasopressor requirements and accelerate shock reversal, the optimal discontinuation strategy remains unexplored.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess whether rates of hemodynamic instability differ among patients with septic shock undergoing abrupt hydrocortisone discontinuation compared with gradual tapering.

Design, setting, and participants: A retrospective cohort study conducted in five medical and surgical ICUs at a tertiary care hospital, involving adult patients (≥ 18 yr) with septic shock who received at least 48 hours of stress-dose hydrocortisone (≥ 200 mg/d).

Main outcomes and measures: The primary outcome was hemodynamic instability, defined as vasopressor reinitiation during tapering or within 72 hours of hydrocortisone discontinuation. Secondary outcomes included dysglycemia, duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU and hospital length of stay, and mortality.

Results: Patients were grouped based on their hydrocortisone discontinuation strategy into abrupt and gradual tapering groups. A total of 414 patients were included in this evaluation. Gradual tapering was associated with higher rates of hemodynamic instability (29.2% vs. 12.9%; p < 0.001), more frequent dysglycemia (59.4% vs. 43.1%; p < 0.001), longer hydrocortisone use (9.9 vs. 4.1 d; p < 0.001), and extended mechanical ventilation (20 vs. 15 d; p = 0.014) and ICU stay (23 vs. 17 d; p = 0.008). Total hydrocortisone duration was the strongest independent predictor of post-discontinuation hemodynamic instability, regardless of strategy (adjusted odds ratio, 1.083; 95% CI, 1.025-1.145; p = 0.004).

Conclusions and relevance: While abrupt hydrocortisone discontinuation was associated with fewer ICU-related adverse events, hydrocortisone duration was the primary factor influencing hemodynamic instability post-discontinuation among patients with septic shock. Prospective studies are needed to determine the optimal discontinuation strategy in septic shock.

Importance: The effect of left ventricular (LV) mechanical unloading on right ventricular (RV) function in patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) remains poorly understood, yet may have significant implications for device weaning and patient outcomes.

Objectives: To investigate the short-term effects of LV unloading using a transaortic valve axial flow pump (Impella) on RV function and to assess its predictive value for successful device weaning in patients with CS.

Design: Retrospective analysis of CS patients who received Impella support between 2018 and 2021.

Setting and participants: Single-center study conducted at the German Heart Center, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany. The study included 41 ICU patients with CS due to LV dysfunction who required Impella support for at least 72 hours.

Main outcomes and measures: Biventricular function was evaluated by echocardiography and advanced strain imaging during the weaning process. The primary outcome was successful Impella weaning. Associations between changes in RV free-wall longitudinal strain (RVFWLS) and weaning outcomes were assessed using multiple logistic regression.

Results: Patients received Impella support for a median duration of 216 hours (interquartile range, 144-264 hr). Eighteen patients (43.9%) were successfully weaned, while 23 (56.1%) required LVAD implantation (31.7%) or died (24.4%). LV unloading significantly improved RV systolic function, as demonstrated by increased RV fractional area change, tricuspid annular systolic velocity, and RVFWLS. Notably, patients who failed weaning showed a significantly lower change in RVFWLS (ΔRVFWLS) during the weaning process, which emerged as an independent predictor of weaning outcome.

Conclusions and relevance: Impella-mediated LV unloading enhances both LV and RV function in CS patients. However, inadequate RV longitudinal systolic reserve, as indicated by lower ΔRVFWLS during weaning, is associated with weaning failure and may guide clinical decisions regarding prolonged mechanical circulatory support or transition to durable devices.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate long-term pulmonary function, cardiopulmonary exercise capacity, chest CT findings, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in survivors of COVID-19 complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Design, setting, and patients: This is a multicentric case-control study conducted from February 2023 to December of 2023. Pulmonary function tests, cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), chest CT, and HRQoL (using EuroQol 5D three-level [EQ-5D-3L]) were performed at least 12 months after hospital discharge among cases (COVID-19 complicated by ARDS) and at the time of inclusion among controls (family members/friends matched for sex and age).

Interventions: None.

Measurements and main results: A total of 114 COVID-19 ARDS survivors and 115 controls were included. The mean age was 54 years and 52.4% of the participants were men. Time from hospital discharge to evaluation was 22 months (20.99-41.41 mo) among cases. Persistent symptoms, including memory loss (48.2%), fatigue (42.1%), and anxiety (31.6%), were reported by 73.6% of the COVID-19 ARDS survivors. Cases had significantly reduced pulmonary function, with lower diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) of 6.85 mmol/min/Kpa (5.44-8.37 mmol/min/Kpa) vs. 7.36 mmol/min/Kpa (6.43-8.96 mmol/min/Kpa; p = 0.012) and % of predicted DLCO of 81.0% (70.2-90.4%) vs. 89.3% (78.9-99.9%; p < 0.001), compared with controls, as well as a higher frequency of moderate to severe DLCO impairment (10.5% vs. 0.8%; p = 0.002). In CPET, cases demonstrated lower peak oxygen consumption (21.9 mL/kg/min [18.2-29 mL/kg/min] vs. 25.8 mL/kg/min [21.6-31.9 mL/kg/min]; p < 0.001). Chest CT revealed a greater prevalence of ground-glass opacities in cases (53.5% vs. 16.5%; p < 0.001) and emphysema (6.1% vs. 0%; p = 0.043). HRQoL, using EQ-5D-3L utility scores, were significantly lower in cases, with worse mobility (p < 0.001), self-care (p < 0.001), and anxiety/depression (p = 0.04) dimension scores compared with controls.

Conclusions: COVID-19 ARDS survivors exhibit significant long-term impairments in pulmonary function, exercise capacity, and quality of life and abnormal chest CT findings compared with family controls with same sex and age.

Objectives: Inhaled anesthetics may reduce alveolar and systemic inflammation in surgical and critically ill patients. This study aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing the effect of inhaled volatile and IV anesthetics on alveolar and plasma cytokines in patients with surgical or medical acute lung injury.

Data sources: Medline, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases from 2000 to July 2021.

Study selection: Randomized control trials, prospective, and retrospective observational studies comparing inhaled volatile to IV anesthetics in ventilated adult patients with acute lung injury from lung resection or critical illness.

Data extraction: A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed. Primary outcome was alveolar inflammatory cytokines levels that were meta-analyzed using a random effects model. Secondary outcomes were plasma inflammatory cytokine levels, mortality, pulmonary complications, and duration of hospital and ICU stay. The quality of studies was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for randomized control trials and the Cochrane Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies of Interventions tool for retrospective cohort studies.

Data synthesis: From 2522 screened studies, 28 (27 thoracic surgery and 1 ICU, n = 4175) were included. Meta-analysis of patients undergoing lung resection demonstrated lower levels of alveolar tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) (standard mean difference 1.04; 95% CI, 0.32-1.77; p < 0.01; I2 82%) and interleukin (IL)-6 (0.64; 95% CI, 0.52-0.75; I2 0%; p < 0.01) at 1-2 hours in the inhaled anesthesia group, with no difference in other cytokines at various time points. The single ICU study demonstrated lower plasma TNF-α and IL-6 and alveolar TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8 at 48 hours in patients sedated with sevoflurane compared with midazolam. Clinical outcomes were infrequently reported.

Conclusions: Limited evidence suggests that inhaled anesthesia may reduce proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 during lung resection and critical illness. Further studies are needed to clarify its effects on biological markers and clinical outcomes.

Objectives: Body temperature trajectories of infected patients are associated with dynamic clinical and immune responses to infection. Our objective was to evaluate the association between temperature trajectory subphenotypes and cardiac dysfunction determined by echocardiography.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Four hospitals within an academic healthcare system from 2016 to 2019.

Patients: Adult patients with suspicion of infection who underwent transthoracic echocardiography within 48 hours of admission.

Interventions: Using a validated model, patients were classified into four temperature trajectory subphenotypes. The primary outcome compared between subphenotypes was left ventricular dysfunction, defined as ejection fraction less than or equal to 50%.

Measurements and main results: One thousand nine hundred twenty-three hospitalized septic patients were classified into four subphenotypes: "hyperthermic, slow resolvers" (n = 264, 14%), "hyperthermic, fast resolvers" (302, 16%), "normothermic" patients (903, 47%), and "hypothermic" patients (454, 24%). Left ventricular and right ventricular dysfunction was significantly different between subphenotypes. Hypothermic patients exhibited the highest levels of left ventricular dysfunction (208, 46%; p < 0.01) and right ventricular dysfunction (169, 39%; p < 0.01). In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, adjusting for demographics, comorbidities, and severity of illness, membership in the hypothermic group (odds ratio, 2.65; 95% CI, 1.87-3.80; p < 0.01) was associated with significantly reduced left ventricular ejection fraction compared with hyperthermic slow resolvers as reference. Hypothermic patients also had the highest levels of vasopressor use (27%; p < 0.01), inotrope use (11%; p < 0.01), and in-hospital mortality (12%; p < 0.01).

Conclusions: Temperature trajectories in sepsis are significantly associated with cardiac dysfunction, with hypothermic patients having the highest odds ratio of both left and right ventricular dysfunction. Bedside temperature monitoring could be a readily available marker to prompt early echocardiographic assessment, though further studies are needed to validate the relationship.

Importance: In-hospital survivorship for acute respiratory failure has improved, but unmet nonmedication healthcare needs may contribute to adverse events post-discharge.

Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility of characterizing early unmet nonmedication discharge needs, classified as durable medical equipment (DME), home health services (HHS), and follow-up medical appointments (FUA) for acute respiratory failure survivors in Brazil. Secondary objectives include describing the profile of needs, unmet needs, and adverse outcomes post-discharge.

Design: Prospective feasibility cohort study, with enrollment between October 2020 and March 2021.

Setting: One tertiary teaching hospital from Southern Brazil with 76 ICU beds.

Participants: Adult survivors from acute respiratory failure who were discharged home.

Main outcomes and measures: Our primary outcome was the feasibility of measuring unmet nonmedication needs between 7 and 28 days post-discharge, considering greater than 80% of data completeness as feasible. Secondary outcomes included the characterization of needs and needs unmet per type at 1 month and the crude risk of all-cause death, hospital readmission, and urgent visits to the emergency department at 3 months post-discharge.

Results: Of 337 patients screened, 72 were enrolled, and data on unmet nonmedication needs were collected from 66 patients, resulting in a primary feasibility outcome of 91.7%. The median age was 59 years, 38.9% were female, most were self-declared White, and were employed before admission. During the index admission, 87.3% were diagnosed with COVID-19, and 79.2% received invasive mechanical ventilation. The frequency of nonmedication discharge needs was 48 (72.7%) for DME, 54 (81.8%) for HHS, and 60 (90.9%) for FUA. At 1 month, 36 (58.1%) had at least one need unmet; at 3 months, 12 (19.0%) had at least one adverse outcome.

Conclusions and relevance: Detailed measurement of nonmedication needs post-discharge for acute respiratory failure survivors in Brazil is feasible. Unmet nonmedication needs are a common problem to be addressed in this population.

Objectives: The aims of this scoping review were to: 1) explore factors driving surgical ICU (SICU) admission decisions, 2) provide an environmental scan of SICU admission practices, and 3) identify underexamined domains relevant for SICU triage, admission, and discharge inquiries.

Data sources: Embase, PubMed, and Medline were queried from inception to April 18, 2024, for English-language peer-reviewed studies related to adult SICU admission criteria and decision-making; neonatal ICU, PICU, veterinary ICU, and military ICU data and gray literature were excluded. Studies were not limited by design.

Study selection: Following duplicate removal, 363 of the initial 625 abstracts remained. After content screening, 54 abstracts remained topic aligned. Full-text review identified 44 articles appropriate for analysis.

Data extraction: Abstracted data addressed SICU structure, function, findings, and potential future directions.

Data synthesis: Most included studies (n = 23, 52%) focused on identifying risk factors for SICU admission or risk factors for the need for SICU admission, including demographics, comorbidities, and procedural specifics. Admission protocol evaluation studies were less common (n = 5, 11%), but offered promise in reducing unnecessary admissions using preoperative or postoperative interventions. Future inquiry domains included admission and discharge protocol development (n = 17, 39%), risk factors for ICU admission or the need for ICU admission (n = 16, 36%), multicenter studies (n = 16, 36%), additional or specific patient populations (n = 15, 34%), prospective studies (n = 14, 32%), costs (n = 6, 14%), and implementation of embedded clinical decision-support aids to inform SICU triage decision-making (n = 2, 5%). No included studies presented results regarding SICU discharge decision-making or ICU stress adaptations relevant during surge episodes.

Conclusions: Research on SICU triage decision-making primarily focuses at admission risk factor discovery, with less emphasis on protocol evaluation and implementation practices. Future research should focus on refining existing SICU triage approaches that include discharge and surge-based decision-making coupled with deployable clinical decision-support aids.

Importance: A characteristic pattern of bacterial and fungal septic shock is decreased left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (LVEF) and modest dilatation of the LV. In survivors, the myocardial depression and dilatation are reversible within several days. In a cohort of 368 hospitalized COVID patients with shock from March 2020 to December 2021, 15 patients were identified with an echocardiogram determined depressed LVEF during acute shock, and a follow-up echocardiogram was performed.

Objectives: Myocardial dysfunction and dilatation associated with COVID-19 are reversible.

Design, setting, and participants: LVEF was determined by Simpson's rule and stroke volume (SV) was analyzed by Doppler. Based on the LVEF and cardiac index (CI), patients were categorized into groups with low or normal values using an ejection fraction of 45% and CI 2.2 L/min/m2 as the respective thresholds. A subset of 15 patients underwent serial echocardiography, which was performed at a median of 13 days (95% CI, 9-39 d) after the initial value.

Main outcomes and measures: The LVEF and LV volumes recorded during initial and follow-up echo were analyzed using paired t test.

Results: Comparing initial during acute shock with follow-up values, the mean (± sd) LVEF was 35.3 ± 8.1 vs. 43.8 ± 3.47 (p = 0.031), indexed SV 29.6 ± 1.9 mL vs. 31.7 ± 2.3 mL (p = 0.522), LV end-diastolic volume 182 ± 14.1 mL vs. 152.1 ± 12.9 mL (p = 0.025), and LV end-systolic volume 120.2 ± 13.1 mL vs. 90.1 ± 12.1 mL (p = 0.025), respectively.

Conclusions and relevance: Serial echocardiographic studies of COVID-19 shock patients with reduced LVEF and ventricular dilatation demonstrate reversibility of myocardial depression and dilation with no change in SV, a finding strikingly similar to that seen in bacterial and fungal-induced septic shock. Thus, COVID-19 (viral) induced septic shock may have a similar pathogenetic mechanism of myocardial dysfunction to that seen with bacterial or fungal sepsis.