Critical care explorations最新文献

Importance: Pediatric acute kidney injury (AKI) is a prevalent and morbid complication of shock. Its pathogenesis and early identification remain elusive.

Objectives: We aim to determine whether renal blood flow (RBF) measurements by point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) hormones in pediatric shock associate with vasoactive requirements and AKI.

Design, setting, and participants: This is a single-center prospective, noninterventional observational cohort study in one tertiary PICU in North American from 2020 to 2022 that enrolled children younger than 18 years with shock without preexisting end-stage renal disease.

Main outcomes and measures: RBF was measured by POCUS on hospital days 1 and 3 and plasma RAAS hormone levels were measured on day 1. The primary outcome was the presence of AKI by Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes criteria at first ultrasound with key secondary outcomes of creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), Vasoactive-Inotrope Score (VIS), and norepinephrine equivalent dosing (NED) 48 hours after first ultrasound.

Results: Fifty patients were recruited (20 with AKI, mean age 10.5 yr, 48% female). POCUS RBF showed lower qualitative blood flow (power Doppler ultrasound [PDU] score) and higher regional vascular resistance (renal resistive index [RRI]) in children with AKI (p = 0.017 and p = 0.0007). Renin and aldosterone levels were higher in the AKI cohort (p = 0.003 and p = 0.007). Admission RRI and PDU associated with higher day 3 VIS and NED after adjusting for age, day 1 VIS, and RAAS hormones. Admission renin associated with higher day 3 creatinine and BUN after adjusting for age, day 1 VIS, and the ultrasound parameters.

Conclusions and relevance: In pediatric shock, kidney blood flow was abnormal and renin and aldosterone were elevated in those with AKI. Kidney blood flow abnormalities are independently associated with future cardiovascular dysfunction; renin elevations are independently associated with future kidney dysfunction. Kidney blood flow by POCUS may identify children who will have persistent as opposed to resolving AKI. RAAS perturbations may drive AKI in pediatric shock.

Importance and objectives: To compare the 18-month survival between patients with newly diagnosed cancer discharged home after early unplanned ICU admission and those without early unplanned ICU admission; we also evaluated the frequency and risk factors for early unplanned ICU admission.

Design: Observational study with prospectively collected data from September 2019 to June 2021 and 18 months follow-up.

Setting: Single dedicated cancer center in São Paulo, Brazil.

Participants: We screened consecutive adults with suspected cancer and included those with histologically proven cancer from among 20 highly prevalent cancers.

Interventions: None.

Measurements and main results: The exposure was early unplanned ICU admission, defined as admission for medical reasons or urgent surgery during the first 6 months after cancer diagnosis. The main outcome was 18-month survival after cancer diagnosis, and the main analysis was Cox's proportional hazards model adjusted for confounders and immortal time bias. Propensity score matching was used in the sensitivity analysis. We screened 4738 consecutive adults with suspected cancer and included 3348 patients. Three hundred twelve (9.3%) had early unplanned ICU admission, which was associated with decreased 18-month survival both in the unadjusted (hazard ratio, 4.03; 95% CI, 2.89-5.62) and adjusted (hazard ratio, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.29-2.64) models. The sensitivity analysis confirmed the results because the groups were balanced after matching, and the 18-month survival of patients with early ICU admission was lower compared with patients without early ICU admission (87.0% vs. 93.9%; p = 0.01 log-rank test). Risk factors for early unplanned ICU admission were advanced age, comorbidities, worse performance status, socioeconomic deprivation, metastatic tumors, and hematologic malignancies.

Conclusions: Patients with newly diagnosed cancer discharged home after early unplanned ICU admission have decreased 18-month survival compared with patients without early unplanned ICU admission.

Objectives: To identify interprofessional staffing pattern clusters used in U.S. ICUs.

Design: Latent class analysis.

Setting and participants: Adult U.S. ICUs.

Patients: None.

Interventions: None.

Analysis: We used data from a staffing survey that queried respondents (n = 596 ICUs) on provider (intensivist and nonintensivist), nursing, respiratory therapist, and clinical pharmacist availability and roles. We used latent class analysis to identify clusters describing interprofessional staffing patterns and then compared ICU and hospital characteristics across clusters.

Measurements and main results: We identified three clusters as optimal. Most ICUs (54.2%) were in cluster 1 ("higher overall staffing") characterized by a higher likelihood of good provider coverage (both intensivist [onsite 24 hr/d] and nonintensivist [orders placed by ICU team exclusively, presence of advanced practice providers, and physicians-in-training]), nursing leadership (presence of charge nurse, nurse educators, and managers), and bedside nursing support (nurses with registered nursing degrees, fewer patients per nurse, and nursing aide availability). One-third (33.7%) were in cluster 2 ("lower intensivist coverage & nursing leadership, higher bedside nursing support") and 12.1% were in cluster 3 ("higher provider coverage & nursing leadership, lower bedside nursing support"). Clinical pharmacists were more common in cluster 1 (99.4%), but present in greater than 85% of all ICUs; respiratory therapists were nearly universal. Cluster 1 ICUs were larger (median 20 beds vs. 15 and 17 in clusters 2 and 3, respectively; p < 0.001), and in larger (> 250 beds: 80.6% vs. 66.1% and 48.5%; p < 0.001), not-for-profit (75.9% vs. 69.4% and 60.3%; p < 0.001) hospitals. Telemedicine use 24 hr/d was more common in cluster 3 units (71.8% vs. 11.7% and 14.1%; p < 0.001).

Conclusions: More than half of U.S. ICUs had higher staffing overall. Others tended to have either higher provider presence and nursing leadership or higher bedside nursing support, but not both.

Objectives: Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) is a major driver of morbidity after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Quantitative pupillometry has been shown to be of prognostic value after acute neurological injury. However, the evidence for the use of pupillometric features for the detection of DCI has been conflicting. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of frequent pupillometric monitoring for DCI detection.

Design: Observational cohort study from a prospective aSAH registry.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

Patients: Adult patients with confirmed aSAH admitted to the ICU between March 2019 and December 2023.

Interventions: None.

Measurements and main results: One hundred fourteen patients were included, of which 31 (27.2%) suffered from DCI. All patients underwent frequent pupillometry (every 3 hr). We determined the absolute value of the neurological pupil index (NPi) and constriction velocity (CV), and their value normalized to the maximal recorded value between the admission and the pupillometry measure to account for personalized baselines. The association between pupillometry values and the occurrence of DCI within 6-24 hours was investigated. Normalized CV had the best discriminative performance to identify DCI within 8 hours, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.82 (95% CI, 0.69-0.91). NPi, as well as non-normalized metrics, were not significantly associated with DCI.

Conclusions: Normalized CV has a clinically and statistically significant association with the occurrence of DCI after aSAH. Frequent quantitative pupillometry could improve the multimodal monitoring of patients after aSAH with the goal of improving the identification of patients likely to benefit from therapeutic interventions.

Objective: Survivors of pediatric critical illnesses are at risk of significant long-term organ sequelae. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a complication of critical illness (and ICU interventions) associated with growth impairment, cardiovascular disease, and early death. Our objective was to synthesize the evidence on the incidence of CKD among survivors of pediatric critical illness.

Data sources: MEDLINE, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials from inception to February 2024.

Study selection: Observational studies reporting the incidence of de novo CKD among survivors of pediatric critical illness.

Data extraction: Two reviewers independently extracted data on study design, setting, population, demographics, diagnostic criteria, and outcome.

Data synthesis: Meta-analysis was used to describe the incidence of CKD among survivors, risk of bias (RoB) assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Tool, and strength and reliability of evidence assessed with GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations). CKD was quantified as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) less than 90 mL/min/1.73 m2 (outcome 1), eGFR less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (outcome 2), and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) as eGFR less than 15 mL/min per 1.73 m2 (outcome 3). Twelve studies (3642 patients) met selection criteria and reported at least one measure of CKD. The median duration of follow-up was 2, 3.6, and 5 years, respectively, for outcomes 1, 2, and 3. For each threshold, the pooled estimate of CKD incidence was 24% (95% CI, 16-32%) for eGFR less than 90, 14% (95% CI, 6-23%) less than 60, and 4% (95% CI, 0-7%) for ESRD. The overall quality assessment indicated a moderate RoB.

Conclusions: Among a heterogenous population of pediatric critical illness survivors, an important minority of survivors developed CKD or ESRD. This study highlights the importance of diagnostic criteria for reporting, a greater focus on postcritical care surveillance and follow-up to identify those with CKD. Further study would facilitate the delineation of high-risk groups and strategies for improved outcomes.

Objectives: Cardiogenic shock (CS) is associated with high mortality. Patients treated for CS mostly require heparin therapy, which may be associated with complications such as heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). HIT represents a serious condition associated with platelet decline and increased hypercoagulability and remains a poorly researched field in intensive care medicine. Primary purpose of this study was to: 1) determine HIT prevalence in CS, 2) assess the performance of common diagnostic tests for the workup of HIT, and 3) compare outcomes in CS patients with excluded and confirmed HIT.

Design: Retrospective dual-center study including adult patients 18 years old or older with diagnosed CS and suspected HIT from January 2010 to November 2022.

Setting: Cardiac ICU at the Ludwig-Maximilians University hospital in Munich and the university hospital of Bonn.

Patients and interventions: In this retrospective analysis, adult patients with diagnosed CS and suspected HIT were included. Differences in baseline characteristics, mortality, neurologic and safety outcomes between patients with excluded and confirmed HIT were evaluated.

Measurements and main results: In cases of suspected HIT, positive screening antibodies were detected in 159 of 2808 patients (5.7%). HIT was confirmed via positive functional assay in 57 of 2808 patients, corresponding to a prevalence rate of 2.0%. The positive predictive value for anti-platelet factor 4/heparin screening antibodies was 35.8%. Total in-hospital mortality (58.8% vs. 57.9%; p > 0.999), 1-month mortality (47.1% vs. 43.9%; p = 0.781), and 12-month mortality (58.8% vs. 59.6%; p > 0.999) were similar between patients with excluded and confirmed HIT, respectively. Furthermore, no significant difference in neurologic outcome among survivors was found between groups (Cerebral Performance Category [CPC] score 1: 8.8% vs. 8.8%; p > 0.999 and CPC 2: 7.8% vs. 12.3%; p = 0.485).

Conclusions: HIT was a rare complication in CS patients treated with unfractionated heparin and was not associated with increased mortality. Also, HIT confirmation was not associated with worse neurologic outcome in survivors. Future studies should aim at developing more precise, standardized, and cost-effective strategies to diagnose HIT and prevent complications.

Objectives: Cardiogenic shock (CS) is associated with high mortality. Patients treated for CS mostly require heparin therapy, which may be associated with complications such as heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). HIT represents a serious condition associated with platelet decline and increased hypercoagulability and remains a poorly researched field in intensive care medicine. Primary purpose of this study was to: 1) determine HIT prevalence in CS, 2) assess the performance of common diagnostic tests for the workup of HIT, and 3) compare outcomes in CS patients with excluded and confirmed HIT.

Design: Retrospective dual-center study including adult patients 18 years old or older with diagnosed CS and suspected HIT from January 2010 to November 2022.

Setting: Cardiac ICU at the Ludwig-Maximilians University hospital in Munich and the university hospital of Bonn.

Patients and interventions: In this retrospective analysis, adult patients with diagnosed CS and suspected HIT were included. Differences in baseline characteristics, mortality, neurologic and safety outcomes between patients with excluded and confirmed HIT were evaluated.

Measurements and main results: In cases of suspected HIT, positive screening antibodies were detected in 159 of 2808 patients (5.7%). HIT was confirmed via positive functional assay in 57 of 2808 patients, corresponding to a prevalence rate of 2.0%. The positive predictive value for anti-platelet factor 4/heparin screening antibodies was 35.8%. Total in-hospital mortality (58.8% vs. 57.9%; p > 0.999), 1-month mortality (47.1% vs. 43.9%; p = 0.781), and 12-month mortality (58.8% vs. 59.6%; p > 0.999) were similar between patients with excluded and confirmed HIT, respectively. Furthermore, no significant difference in neurologic outcome among survivors was found between groups (Cerebral Performance Category [CPC] score 1: 8.8% vs. 8.8%; p > 0.999 and CPC 2: 7.8% vs. 12.3%; p = 0.485).

Conclusions: HIT was a rare complication in CS patients treated with unfractionated heparin and was not associated with increased mortality. Also, HIT confirmation was not associated with worse neurologic outcome in survivors. Future studies should aim at developing more precise, standardized, and cost-effective strategies to diagnose HIT and prevent complications.

Background and objective: To develop the COVid Veteran (COVet) score for clinical deterioration in Veterans hospitalized with COVID-19 and further validate this model in both Veteran and non-Veteran samples. No such score has been derived and validated while incorporating a Veteran sample.

Derivation cohort: Adults (age ≥ 18 yr) hospitalized outside the ICU with a diagnosis of COVID-19 for model development to the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) (n = 80 hospitals).

Validation cohort: External validation occurred in a VHA cohort of 34 hospitals, as well as six non-Veteran health systems for further external validation (n = 21 hospitals) between 2020 and 2023.

Prediction model: eXtreme Gradient Boosting machine learning methods were used, and performance was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve and compared with the National Early Warning Score (NEWS). The primary outcome was transfer to the ICU or death within 24 hours of each new variable observation. Model predictor variables included demographics, vital signs, structured flowsheet data, and laboratory values.

Results: A total of 96,908 admissions occurred during the study period, of which 59,897 were in the Veteran sample and 37,011 were in the non-Veteran sample. During external validation in the Veteran sample, the model demonstrated excellent discrimination, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.88. This was significantly higher than NEWS (0.79; p < 0.01). In the non-Veteran sample, the model also demonstrated excellent discrimination (0.86 vs. 0.79 for NEWS; p < 0.01). The top three variables of importance were eosinophil percentage, mean oxygen saturation in the prior 24-hour period, and worst mental status in the prior 24-hour period.

Conclusions: We used machine learning methods to develop and validate a highly accurate early warning score in both Veterans and non-Veterans hospitalized with COVID-19. The model could lead to earlier identification and therapy, which may improve outcomes.

Objective: During the COVID-19 pandemic, some centers converted intermediate care units (IMCUs) to COVID-19 ICUs (IMCU/ICUs). In this study, we compared adherence to lung protective ventilation (LPV) and outcomes for patients with COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) treated in an IMCU/ICU versus preexisting medical ICUs (MICUs).

Design: Retrospective observational study using electronic medical record data.

Setting: Two academic medical centers from March 2020 to September 2020 (period 1) and October 2020 to May 2021 (period 2), which capture the first two COVID-19 surges in this health system.

Patients: Adults with COVID-19 receiving invasive mechanical ventilation who met ARDS oxygenation criteria (Pao2/Fio2 ≤ 300 mm Hg or Spo2/Fio2 ≤ 315).

Interventions: None.

Measurements and main results: We defined LPV adherence as the percent of the first 48 hours of mechanical ventilation that met a restrictive definition of LPV of, tidal volume/predicted body weight (Vt/PBW) less than or equal to 6.5 mL/kg and plateau pressure (Pplat) less than or equal to 30 cm H2o. In an expanded definition, we added that if Pplat is greater than 30 cm H2o, Vt/PBW had to be less than 6.0 mL/kg. Using the restricted definition, period 1 adherence was lower among 133 IMCU/ICU versus 199 MICU patients (92% [95% CI, 50-100] vs. 100% [86-100], p = 0.05). Period 2 adherence was similar between groups (100% [75-100] vs. 95% CI [65-100], p = 0.68). A similar pattern was observed using the expanded definition. For the full study period, the adjusted hazard of death at 90 days was lower in IMCU/ICU versus MICU patients (hazard ratio [HR] 0.73 [95% CI, 0.55-0.99]), whereas ventilator liberation by day 28 was similar between groups (adjusted subdistribution HR 1.09 [95% CI, 0.85-1.39]).

Conclusions: In patients with COVID-19 ARDS treated in an IMCU/ICU, LPV adherence was similar to, and observed survival better than those treated in preexisting MICUs. With adequate resources, protocols, and staffing, IMCUs provide an effective source of additional ICU capacity for patients with acute respiratory failure.