Critical Care Environment Research Articles

Mass Casualty and the Role of the Anesthesiologist.

The anesthesiologist, upon completion of their training, is expected to be the liaison to the operating room and the patient. Key components of the anesthesiologist's training and daily routine make them an ideal participant and leader when it comes to their potential involvement in a mass casualty event. Airway expertise, vascular access, ongoing triage, hemodynamic vigilance, resuscitation, and real-time adaptation to a changing and critical care environment are a few of the skills that encompass the daily routine and value the anesthesiologist brings to an emergency management team.

Factors Associated With Initiation of Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in the Pediatric Population: An International Survey.

Although extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) is increasingly utilized in the pediatric critical care environment, our understanding regarding pediatric candidacy for ECPR remains unknown. Our objective is to explore current practice and indications for pediatric ECPR. Scenario-based, self-administered, online survey, evaluating clinical determinants that may impact pediatric ECPR initiation with respect to four scenarios: postoperative cardiac surgery, cardiac failure secondary to myocarditis, septic shock, and chronic respiratory failure in a former preterm child. Responders are pediatric critical care physicians from four societies. 249 physicians, mostly from North America, answered the survey. In cardiac scenarios, 40% of the responders would initiate ECPR, irrespective of CPR duration, compared with less than 20% in noncardiac scenarios. Nearly 33% of responders would consider ECPR if CPR duration was less than 60 minutes in noncardiac scenarios. Factors strongly decreasing the likelihood to initiate ECPR were out-of-hospital unwitnessed cardiac arrest and blood pH <6.60. Additional factors reducing this likelihood were multiple organ failure, pre-existing neurologic delay, >10 doses of adrenaline, poor CPR quality, and lactate >18 mmol/l. Pediatric intensive care unit location for cardiac arrest, good CPR quality, 24/7 in-house extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) team moderately increase the likelihood of initiating ECPR. This international survey of pediatric ECPR initiation practices reveals significant differences regarding ECPR candidacy based on patient category, location of arrest, duration of CPR, witness status, and last blood pH. Further research identifying prognostic factors measurable before ECMO initiation should help define the optimal ECPR initiation strategy.

Integrating Physiological Data Artifacts Detection With Clinical Decision Support Systems: Observational Study.

Clinical decision support systems (CDSS) have the potential to lower the patient mortality and morbidity rates. However, signal artifacts present in physiological data affect the reliability and accuracy of the CDSS. Moreover, patient monitors and other medical devices generate false alarms while processing physiological data, further leading to alarm fatigue because of increased noise levels, staff disruption, and staff desensitization in busy critical care environments. This adversely affects the quality of care at the patient bedside. Hence, artifact detection (AD) algorithms play a crucial role in assessing the quality of physiological data and mitigating the impact of these artifacts. The aim of this study is to evaluate a novel AD framework for integrating AD algorithms with CDSS. We designed the framework with features that support real-time implementation within critical care. In this study, we evaluated the framework and its features in a false alarm reduction study. We developed static framework component models, followed by dynamic framework compositions to formulate four CDSS. We evaluated these formulations using neonatal patient data and validated the six framework features: flexibility, reusability, signal quality indicator standardization, scalability, customizability, and real-time implementation support. We developed four exemplar static AD components with standardized requirements and provisions interfaces that facilitate the interoperability of framework components. These AD components were mixed and matched into four different AD compositions to mitigate the artifacts' effects. We developed a novel static clinical event detection component that is integrated with each AD composition to formulate and evaluate a dynamic CDSS for peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) alarm generation. This study collected data from 11 patients with diverse pathologies in the neonatal intensive care unit. Collected data streams and corresponding alarms include pulse rate and SpO2 measured from a pulse oximeter (Masimo SET SmartPod) integrated with an Infinity Delta monitor and the heart rate derived from electrocardiography leads attached to a second Infinity Delta monitor. A total of 119 SpO2 alarms were evaluated. The lowest achievable SpO2 false alarm rate was 39%, with a sensitivity of 80%. This demonstrates the framework's utility in identifying the best possible dynamic composition to serve the clinical need for false SpO2 alarm reduction and subsequent alarm fatigue, given the limitations of a small sample size. The framework features, including reusability, signal quality indicator standardization, scalability, and customizability, allow the evaluation and comparison of novel CDSS formulations. The optimal solution for a CDSS can then be hard-coded and integrated within clinical workflows for real-time implementation. The flexibility to serve different clinical needs and standardized component interoperability of the framework supports the potential for a real-time clinical implementation of AD.

The experiences of cardiac surgery critical care clinicians with in-bed cycling in adult patients undergoing complex cardiac surgery

Purpose In-bed cycling is a novel modality that permits the early initiation of rehabilitation in the intensive care unit. We explored clinicians’ experiences and perceptions of in-bed cycling with critically ill cardiac surgery patients. Materials and methods We used an interpretive description methodology. All critical care clinicians who had been present for at least 2 cycling sessions were eligible. Data were collected using semi-structured, audio-recorded, face-to-face interviews transcribed verbatim. Content analysis was used to identify themes. Results Nine clinicians were interviewed. Our sample was predominantly female (77.8%) with a median [IQR] age of 40 [21.5] years. Critical care experience ranged from <5 years to ≥30 years. Acceptability was influenced by previous cycling experiences, identifying the “ideal” patient, and the timing of cycling within a patient’s recovery. Facilitators included striving towards a common goal and feeling confident in the method. Barriers included inadequate staffing, bike size, and the time to deliver cycling. Conclusions Clinicians supported the use of in-bed cycling. Concerns included appropriate patient selection and timing of the intervention. Teamwork was integral to successful cycling. Strategies to overcome the identified barriers may assist with successful cycling implementation in other critical care environments. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION In-bed cycling is a relatively novel rehabilitation modality that can help initiate physical rehabilitation earlier in a patient’s recovery and reduce the iatrogenic effects of prolonged admissions to an intensive care unit. Clinicians found in-bed cycling to be an acceptable intervention with a population of critically ill cardiac surgery patients. Teamwork and interprofessional communication are important considerations for successful uptake of a relatively new rehabilitation modality. Identified barriers to in-bed cycling can assist with developing strategies to encourage cycling uptake in similar critical care environments.

A Multicenter Evaluation of Survival After In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in Coronavirus Disease 2019 Patients.

IMPORTANCE:In-hospital cardiac arrest survival among coronavirus disease 2019 patients has been reported to range from 0% to 12%. These numbers are significantly lower than reported prepandemic in-hospital cardiac arrest survival rates of approximately 20–25% in the United States for non–coronavirus disease 2019 patients.OBJECTIVE:To assess the incidence of in-hospital cardiac arrest survival of coronavirus disease 2019 patients.DESIGN:A retrospective cohort study of adult patients with coronavirus disease 2019 subsequently found to have in-hospital cardiac arrest and underwent cardiopulmonary resuscitation (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).SETTING:Multiple hospitals of the Cleveland Clinic Health System.PATIENTS:All adult patients (age ≥ 18 yr) admitted to Cleveland Clinic Health System with a diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 who experienced in-hospital cardiac arrest requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation.MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:From March 01, 2020 to October 15, 2020, 3,555 patients with coronavirus disease 2019 were hospitalized; 1,372 were admitted to the ICU; 58 patients had in-hospital cardiac arrest. Median age of this cohort was 66.5 years (interquartile range, 55.0–76.0 yr). Patients were predominantly male (62.5%), White (53.4%), with a median body mass index of 29.7 (interquartile range, 25.8–34.6). Most in-hospital cardiac arrests were in critical care environments (ICU), 51 of 58 (87.9%); seven of 58 (12.1%) were on ward locations. Thirty-four of 58 patients (58.6%) were on mechanical ventilation prior to in-hospital cardiac arrest with a median duration of mechanical ventilation of 9 days (interquartile range, 2–18 d). Twenty-four of 58 patients (44%) were on vasopressors prior to arrest. Initial arrest rhythm was pulseless electrical activity at (63.8%), asystole (29.3%), and pulseless ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (6.9%). Of the 58 patients, 35 (60.3%) attained return of spontaneous circulation, and 13 of 58 (22.4%) were discharged alive.CONCLUSIONS:We report a 22% survival to discharge after in-hospital cardiac arrest in coronavirus disease 2019 patients, a survival rate similar to before the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Critically ill patients' experience of agitation: A qualitative meta‐synthesis

Acute episodes of agitation are frequently experienced by patients during critical illness, yet what is not understood is the experience of agitation from the patient and family perspectives. To search existing literature, appraise it and then provide a synthesized interpretation to broaden the understanding of patients' and their families' experience of agitation during an adult critical care admission. Qualitative meta-synthesis. A qualitative meta-synthesis based on a systematic literature search registered with PROSPERO. The search conducted between July and September 2019 was applied to ProQuest, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health, British Nursing Index, Cochrane Library, Ovid Medline, Web of Science, and PsycINFO databases. We appraised the selected literature and presented a synthesized interpretation. Analysis was based on the approach of Gadamerian hermeneutics. Due to the lack of data identified; the family experiences of agitation could not be addressed within the review. In total, 8 studies were included capturing the experiences of 494 patients, aged between 18 and 92 years, with 225 (45%) women. The analysis generated three core themes: (a) What is real, what is not, (b) loss of communication and dependency, and (c) what helps, what does not. Fear of death, the emotion of anxiety, and feelings of pain alongside transient periods of fluctuating conscious levels provoked a feeling of intense vulnerability. The loss of effective communication and the feeling of dependence incite agitation and distress. The patient's recollection of their critical illness can be completely or partially absent and disjointed with uncertainty around what is real and what is not. Family members observe the full effect of the patient's critical care illness and could be a wealth of untapped information. Increasing awareness of the critically ill patients' experience of agitation highlights possible contributing factors to agitation development, such as staff interaction and communication skills, and the critical care environment.

Quantitative Assessment of Viral Dispersion Associated with Respiratory Support Devices in a Simulated Critical Care Environment.

Rationale: Patients with severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19) require supplemental oxygen and ventilatory support. It is unclear whether some respiratory support devices may increase the dispersion of infectious bioaerosols and thereby place healthcare workers at increased risk of infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).Objectives: To quantitatively compare viral dispersion from invasive and noninvasive respiratory support modalities.Methods: This study used a simulated ICU room with a breathing-patient simulator exhaling nebulized bacteriophages from the lower respiratory tract with various respiratory support modalities: invasive ventilation (through an endotracheal tube with an inflated cuff connected to a mechanical ventilator), helmet ventilation with a positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) valve, noninvasive bilevel positive-pressure ventilation, nonrebreather face masks, high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO), and nasal prongs.Measurements and Main Results: Invasive ventilation and helmet ventilation with a PEEP valve were associated with the lowest bacteriophage concentrations in the air, and HFNO and nasal prongs were associated with the highest concentrations. At the intubating position, bacteriophage concentrations associated with HFNO (2.66 × 104 plaque-forming units [PFU]/L of air sampled), nasal prongs (1.60 × 104 PFU/L of air sampled), nonrebreather face masks (7.87 × 102 PFU/L of air sampled), and bilevel positive airway pressure (1.91 × 102 PFU/L of air sampled) were significantly higher than those associated with invasive ventilation (P < 0.05 for each). The difference between bacteriophage concentrations associated with helmet ventilation with a PEEP valve (4.29 × 10–1 PFU/L of air sampled) and bacteriophage concentrations associated with invasive ventilation was not statistically significant.Conclusions: These findings highlight the potential differential risk of dispersing virus among respiratory support devices and the importance of appropriate infection prevention and control practices and personal protective equipment for healthcare workers when caring for patients with transmissible respiratory viral infections such as SARS-CoV-2.

Current Utility of Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Score: A Literature Review and Future Directions.

The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score is commonly used in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to evaluate, prognosticate and assess patients. Since its validation, the SOFA score has served in various settings, including medical, trauma, surgical, cardiac, and neurological ICUs. It has been a strong mortality predictor and literature over the years has documented the ability of the SOFA score to accurately distinguish survivors from non-survivors on admission. Over the years, multiple variations have been proposed to the SOFA score, which have led to the evolution of alternate validated scoring models replacing one or more components of the SOFA scoring system. Various SOFA based models have been used to evaluate specific clinical populations, such as patients with cardiac dysfunction, hepatic failure, renal failure, different races and public health illnesses, etc. This study is aimed to conduct a review of modifications in SOFA score in the past several years. We review the literature evaluating various modifications to the SOFA score such as modified SOFA, Modified SOFA, modified Cardiovascular SOFA, Extra-renal SOFA, Chronic Liver Failure SOFA, Mexican SOFA, quick SOFA, Lactic acid quick SOFA (LqSOFA), SOFA in hematological malignancies, SOFA with Richmond Agitation-Sedation scale and Pediatric SOFA. Various organ systems, their relevant scoring and the proposed modifications in each of these systems are presented in detail. There is a need to incorporate the most recent literature into the SOFA scoring system to make it more relevant and accurate in this rapidly evolving critical care environment. For future directions, we plan to put together most if not all updates in SOFA score and probably validate it in a large database a single institution and validate it in multisite data base.

The Psychosocial Needs of Families During Critical Illness.

Family members of critically ill patients experience significant psychosocial changes during and after exposure to the critical care environment. During the critical care period, providers focus on the patient's critical condition and pay little attention to the family's needs, so they required special care. A cross-sectional design was used to collect data by using an online survey that includes sociodemographic questionnaire and Critical Care Family Needs Inventory. A total of 177 family members participated. Results indicated that the most important psychosocial need was assurance followed by information, comfort, and support. Nurses should identify these needs and help family members cope with the psychosocial aspects of care. Future research should focus on how these needs evolve over time as well as the effectiveness of related coping mechanisms.

A Systematic Review and Pooled Prevalence of Paediatric Delirium in Critically Ill Children

Abstract Introduction Paediatric Delirium (PD) is a neuropsychiatric complication that occurs during the management of children in the critical care environment (Paediatric Intensive Care (PICU) and Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU). Delirium can be classified as hypoactive (decreased responsiveness and withdrawal), hyperactive (agitation and restlessness), and mixed (combined) (1). PD can be assessed using a number of assessment tools. PD has been historically underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed, having many overlapping symptoms with other syndrome such as pain and iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome (2). An appreciation of the extent of PD would help clinicians and policy makers drive interventions to improve recognition, prevention and management of PD in clinical practice. Aim To estimate the pooled prevalence of PD using validated assessment tools, and to identify risk factors including patient-related, critical-care related and pharmacological factors. Methods A systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE and CINAHL databases was undertaken. Eligible articles included observational studies or trials that estimated a prevalence of PD in a NICU/PICU population using a validated PD assessment tool. Validated tools are the paediatric Confusion Assessment Method-ICU (pCAM-ICU), the Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium (CAPD), the PreSchool Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU (psCAM-ICU), pCAM-ICU severity scale (sspCAM-ICU), and the Sophia Observation Withdrawal Symptoms scale Paediatric Delirium scale (SOS-PD) (1). Only full text studies were included. No language restrictions were applied. Two reviewers independently screened records. Data was extracted using a pre-piloted form and independently verified by another reviewer. Quality was assessed using tools from the National Institutes of Health. A pooled prevalence was calculated from the studies that estimated PD prevalence using the most commonly applied tool, the CAPD (1). Results Data from 23 observational studies describing prevalence and risk factors for PD in critically ill children were included (Figure 1). Variability in study design and outcome reporting was found. Study quality was generally good. Using the validated tools prevalence ranged from 10–66% of patients. Hypoactive delirium was the most prevalent sub-class identified. Using the 13 studies that used the CAPD tool, a pooled prevalence of 35% (27%-43% 95%CI) was calculated. Younger ages, particularly less than two years old, sicker patients, particularly those undergoing mechanical and respiratory ventilatory support were more at risk for PD. Restraints, the number of sedative medications, including the cumulative use of benzodiazepines and opioids were identified as risk factors for the development of PD. PD was associated with longer durations of mechanical ventilation, longer stays and increased costs. Data on association with increased mortality risk is limited and conflicting. Conclusion PD affects one third of critical care admissions and is resource intense. Routine assessment in clinical practice may facilitate earlier detection and management strategies. Modifiable risk factors such as the class and number of sedative and analgesic medications used may contribute to the development of PD. Early mobility and lessening use of these medications present strategies to prevent PD occurrence. Longitudinal prospective multi-institutional studies to further investigate the presentations of the different delirium subtypes and modifiable risk factors that potentially contribute to the development of PD, are required.

Provider perspectives on beta-lactam therapeutic drug monitoring programs in the critically ill: a protocol for a multicenter mixed-methods study

BackgroundBeta-lactams (i.e., penicillins, cephalosporins, carbapenems, monobactams) are the most widely used class of antibiotics in critically ill patients. There is substantial interpatient variability in beta-lactam pharmacokinetics which renders their effectiveness and safety largely unpredictable. One strategy to ensure achievement of therapeutic concentrations is drug level testing (“therapeutic drug monitoring”; TDM). While studies have suggested promise with beta-lactam TDM, it is not yet widely available or implemented. This protocol presents a mixed-methods study designed to examine healthcare practitioners’ perspectives on the use and implementation of beta-lactam TDM in the critically ill.MethodsAn explanatory sequential mixed-methods design will be used [QUANT → qual]. First, quantitative data will be collected through a web-based questionnaire directed at clinicians at three academic medical centers at different phases of beta-lactam TDM implementation (not yet implemented, partially implemented, fully implemented). The sampling frame will include providers from a variety of disciplines that interact with drug level testing and interpretation in the critical care environment including pharmacists, intensivists, infectious diseases experts, medical/surgical trainees, and advanced practice providers. Second, approximately 30 individuals will be purposively sampled from survey respondents to conduct in-depth qualitative interviews to explain and expand upon the results from the quantitative strand. Normalization Process Theory and the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Science will be used to guide data analysis.DiscussionThese data will be used to answer two specific questions: “What are ICU practitioners’ perspectives on implementing beta-lactam TDM?” and “What factors contribute to the success of beta-lactam TDM program implementation?” Results of this study will be used to design future implementation strategies for beta-lactam TDM programs in the critically ill.Trial registrationNCT04755777.

The Beneficial Effects of Emotional Intelligence Training for Critical Care Nurses in Cairo, Egypt: A QuasiExperimental Study

Background: Many critical care nurses commencing work in this environment may lack resilience, and because of the stress of the critical care environment, coping mechanisms need to be developed. Research Aims: To discover whether emotional intelligence training for nurses at critical care units in Cairo, Egypt may alleviate the problem of job burnout. Methodology: A Quasi-experimental study was conducted at two critical care units: a Cardiac Surgery Academy and El Demerdash Hospital “Cardiac care unit and intensive care unit”, both of which are affiliated to Ain Shams University, Egypt, Cairo. The subjects were 200 critical care nurses. A selfadministered questionnaire containing three parts (demographic data of nurses, Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale and Maslach burnout inventory). Results: There was marked improvement in all domains of emotional intelligence scores among the nurses after the training. There was marked improvement in all domains of the burnout scale scores of the nurses’ surveys post intervention. Marital status, experience, and emotional intelligence were all seen to be predictors of higher burnout rates. Conclusions: The present study revealed that emotional intelligence training had a positive impact on nurses’ experience of job burnout.

Are point-of-care urine albumin–creatinine ratio measurements accurate in the critically ill?

BackgroundIn the critical care environment, elevated albuminuria values show capacity to reflect illness severity and predict mortality and hence assessing albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) at the bedside has potential clinical benefit Point-of-care (POC) analysers offer rapid results but may be less accurate then laboratory analysis. MethodsCritically ill adult patients with a urinary catheter in situ had albumin, creatinine, and ACR measurements performed via laboratory and POC analysis. Data are presented as mean (standard deviation) or median [interquartile range]. Measurement agreement was assessed by Lin's concordance correlation coefficient, Bland Altman 95% limits of agreement, and classification by Cohen's kappa statistic. Results/FindingsAlbumin, creatinine, and ACR analysis was performed for 30 patients. Lin's correlation coefficient showed ‘substantial’ agreement for albumin and ACR and ‘almost perfect’ agreement for creatinine for POC vs laboratory analysis. POC vs laboratory analysis also showed poor agreement for identification of normal ACR (>1 mg/mmol) and mild urine ACR (1–3 mg/mmol) and ‘substantial’ agreement for moderately increased urine ACR (3–30 mg/mmol). ConclusionsACR POC values appear to provide an accurate and rapid method that has potential to provide an early indication of injury severity and mortality risk in the critically ill.

Effectiveness of participant recruitment strategies for critical care trials: A systematic review and narrative synthesis.

Critical care trials are limited by problems with participant recruitment, and little is known about the most effective ways to enhance trial participation. Despite clinical research improving in the past decades within intensive care, participant recruitment remains a challenge. Not all eligible patients are identified, and opportunities for enrolment into clinical trials are often missed. Interventions to facilitate recruitment need to be identified to improve trial conduct in the critical care environment. Therefore, we aimed to establish the effectiveness of recruitment strategies in critical care trials in order to inform future research practice. Databases including MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and PsycINFO were searched for English language papers from inception to February 2020. The objectives were to: (1) establish the effectiveness of recruitment strategies and (2) recommend how effective recruitment strategies can inform research practice. Two reviewers independently assessed papers for inclusion and critically appraised the quality of the studies. Discrepancies were discussed within the research team. Relevant data were extracted and thematically coded into five overarching themes using a narrative synthesis approach. The review was prospectively registered on PROSPERO (CRD42019160519). The search resulted in 2509 initially identified articles, with 15 that met the inclusion criteria. Articles reported a combination of quantitative, mixed methods and qualitative studies and a range of low-, moderate- and high-quality studies. Although, in-keeping with narrative synthesis approaches, none were excluded based on methodological quality. Five themes were identified relating to: patient eligibility identification, who provides information and seeks consent, resource limitations, research culture or environment and the consent model used. The relative success of recruitment strategies was dependent upon the experience and availability of the staff involved in the approach, trial design, the application of the strategy to the specific intensive care environment, the acceptability of the recruitment and consent models used, and the efficiency of the recruitment procedures. Opportunities for consent were missed in a proportion of eligible patients in most studies, suggesting that clinicians may avoid recruiting more complex patients or in more complex situations and that further development of strategies is needed. More effective recruitment strategies are required to enhance recruitment and the representativeness of the patient sample obtained in critical care trials, in order to expand the evidence base for treatments in this field. Greater focus is needed on assessing the performance of different recruitment strategies within different types of studies and critical care research environments. Future research should explore key stakeholders' experiences of, and attitudes towards, recruitment and establish the most important and feasible modifiable barriers to recruitment.

Development of a brain-computer interface for patients in the critical care setting.

ObjectiveBehaviorally unresponsive patients in intensive care units (ICU) are unable to consistently and effectively communicate their most fundamental physical needs. Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) technology has been established in the clinical context, but faces challenges in the critical care environment. Contrary to cue-based BCIs, which allow activation only during pre-determined periods of time, self-paced BCI systems empower patients to interact with others at any time. The study aims to develop a self-paced BCI for patients in the intensive care unit.MethodsBCI experiments were conducted in 18 ICU patients and 5 healthy volunteers. The proposed self-paced BCI system analyzes EEG activity from patients while these are asked to control a beeping tone by performing a motor task (i.e., opening and closing a hand). Signal decoding is performed in real time and auditory feedback given via headphones. Performance of the BCI system was judged based on correlation between the optimal and the observed performance.ResultsAll 5 healthy volunteers were able to successfully perform the BCI task, compared to chance alone (p<0.001). 5 of 14 (36%) conscious ICU patients were able to perform the BCI task. One of these 5 patients was quadriplegic and controlled the BCI system without any hand movements. None of the 4 unconscious patients were able to perform the BCI task.ConclusionsMore than one third of conscious ICU patients and all healthy volunteers were able to gain control over the self-paced BCI system. The initial 4 unconscious patients were not. Future studies will focus on studying the ability of behaviorally unresponsive patients with cognitive motor dissociation to control the self-paced BCI system.

Aseptic Stethoscope Barriers Prevent C difficile Transmission In Vitro

ObjectiveTo evaluate whether Clostridioides (formerly Clostridium) difficile–contaminated stethoscope diaphragms remained aseptic by the placement of an aseptic diaphragm barrier. MethodsOn November 1, 2019, fresh cultures of C difficile were diluted to 107 colony-forming units (CFU)/mL and used to inoculate 16 stethoscope diaphragms; 8 had an aseptic diaphragm barrier applied and 8 served as nonbarrier controls. Contaminated stethoscopes were anaerobically incubated, then swabbed at 15 and 30 minutes, 2 and 4 hours, and 1, 2, 3, and 7 days after inoculation and subsequently plated onto blood, chocolate, and cycloserine-cefoxitin fructose agar. Plates were incubated for 48 hours and on November 9, 2019, the resulting colonies were manually counted. Statistical analyses (RStudio, version 1.0.153) used analysis of variance with post hoc Tukey honestly significant difference. ResultsOverall, mean colony count was 33 CFU on stethoscopes without barriers vs zero on those with barriers (P≤.05). Growth was greatest at 48 hours, with colony counts as high as 160 CFU. The presence of the barrier resulted in no growth in 100% of stethoscope diaphragms for up to 1 week. ConclusionWe found that stethoscope diaphragm barriers provide an aseptic patient contact point, thus reducing the potential for transmission of C difficile during the physical examination. In critical care environments, in which many hospitals use acoustically inferior disposable stethoscopes, the option of a disposable aseptic stethoscope barrier may allow high-quality auscultation while reducing the potential for pathogen transmission.

Pupillometry in perioperative medicine: a narrative review.

Pupillometry is a technique for objective quantification of nociception that takes into account the central processing of noxious stimuli and its sympathetic response. This narrative review provides an overview of the physiology of the pupil, the principles of pupillometry, and its potential application in the perioperative environment, especially in nociception monitoring and quantifying responses to opioids. Relevant articles, including reports of original investigation, review articles, and meta-analyses were identified from searches of PubMed and Google Scholar databases. Articles that described pupillary physiology and pupillometry, along with original research reports of the application of pupillometry in perioperative and critical care environment were used to synthesize a narrative review. Pupillometry is emerging as an objective measure of nociception, especially in patients under general anesthesia, children, non-verbal patients, and critically ill patients who cannot effectively communicate ongoing pain. Portable automated pupillometers have made accurate quantification of pupillary reflexes, including light reflex and dilatation reflex, possible. This technique has been successfully studied in the perioperative setting for a number of applications, including quantification of nociception, response to analgesia, and assessing efficacy of regional blocks. Pupillary oscillations have shown promise in assessing central opioid effects. Pupillometers can also accurately quantify light reflexes during the neurologic evaluation of critically ill patients. Pupillometry is an easy to use non-invasive bedside technique to quantify nociception and monitor opioid effects. It has the potential to personalize pain management in perioperative and intensive care unit environments. Additional studies are needed to further understand the utility of pupillometry in this context.

Refeeding risks in patients requiring intravenous nutrition support: Results of a two-centre, prospective, double-blind, randomised controlled trial.

Refeeding syndrome can result following excessive feeding of malnourished patients. The syndrome remains poorly defined but encompasses a range of adverse effects including electrolyte shifts, hyperglycaemia and other less well-defined phenomena. There are additional risks of underfeeding malnourished individuals. Studies of refeeding syndrome have generally focussed on critical care environments or patients with anorexia nervosa. Here we have conducted a two-centre, prospective, double-blind, randomised controlled trial amongst all patients referred to hospital nutrition support teams for intravenous nutrition support. We sought to determine whether electrolyte and other abnormalities suggestive of refeeding syndrome risk varied depending on initial rate of intravenous feeding. Patients at moderate or high risk of refeeding syndrome, as defined by United Kingdom National Institute of Health and Care Excellence guidelines, were screened for inclusion. Patients were randomised to receive either high (30kcal/kg/day, 0.25gN/kg/day) or low (15kcal/day, 0.125gN/kg/day) rate feeding for the first 48h prior to escalation to standard parenteral nutrition regimens. The primary outcome was rates of potential refeeding risks within the first 7 days as defined by electrolyte imbalance or hyperglycaemia requiring insulin. Secondary outcomes included effects on QTc interval, infections and length of hospital stay. Statistical analysis was performed with χ2 or Wilcoxon rank sum tests and all analysis was intention-to-treat. Problems with study recruitment led to premature termination of the trial. Registered on the EU Clinical Trials Register (EudraCT number 2007-005547-17). 534 patients were screened and 104 randomised to either high or low rate feeding based on risk of refeeding syndrome. Seven patients were withdrawn prior to collection of baseline demographics and were excluded from analysis. 48 patients were analysed for the primary outcome with potential refeeding risks identified in 46%. No differences in risks were seen between high and low rate feeding (p>0.99) or high and moderate risk feeding (p=0.68). There were no differences in QTc abnormalities, infection rates, or hospital length of stay between groups. In this randomised trial of rates of refeeding risk, in patients pre-stratified as being at high or moderate risk, we found no evidence of increased refeeding related disturbances in those commenced on high rate feeding compared to low rate. No differences were seen in secondary endpoints including cardiac rhythm analysis, infections or length of stay. Our study reflects real world experience of patients referred for nutrition support and highlights challenges encountered when conducting clinical nutrition research.

A High-Realism and Cost-Effective Training Simulator for Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

Medical simulators, employed in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), are burdened with costly equipment and low-fidelity methodologies. This dichotomy necessitated a new approach that eliminates high-costs and integrates with the critical care environment. This is especially applicable after the Coronavirus pandemic, where resources and supplies are evermore scarce. After examining the state-of-the-art and establishing a close collaboration with Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), the main healthcare provider in Qatar, several criteria were identified to advance the cutting-edge. In this article, a high-realism, cost-effective ECMO simulator is presented. It runs on a novel blood simulation technology along with simulation modules. An instructor tablet application enables instructors to orchestrate the training experience wirelessly with real-time performance. It also includes a novel scenario designer for implementing consistent simulation curricula. A product-level simulator with high-fidelity casings is in the final integration phases. Current results include developing and testing the simulated blood circuit, simulation modules for hemorrhaging, line chattering, air bubbles noise, and a replicated console along with an integrated communications system. Nineteen specialists rated the fidelity of the system as highly realistic during a questionnaire-based study. It is expected to run a second study to evaluate the educational efficacy of the simulator as a first-of-its-kind in the region.

The Challenging of Rehabilitation Medicine in Covid-19

The WHO declared a pandemic due to the serious health risk posed by Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The number of infected cases is on the rise globally with escalating human, economic and societal costs. COVID-19 survivors may suffer a range of clinical, functional and psychological impairments, resulting in disabilities. It was confirmed to have spread to Indonesia on 2 March 2020. Many are amenable to rehabilitation intervention because the current focus of COVID-19 management is on public health measures and acute management. As patients transfer to sub-acute care or discharged to the community, rehabilitation services need to have a number of organizational and operational models in place to provide safe effective care for patients and health professionals. The post-acute management and rehabilitation of the current COVID-19 survivors will be the focus in the coming months, given the range of functional, psychological and clinical impairments reported in many patients. Early rehabilitation intervention in the critical care environments after comprehensive assessment by an interdisciplinary team is safe and essential. Therefore, it is necessary to knowledge and prepare a health service standard to optimize quality of life in disaster victims through holistic and comprehensive approach. New scientific information is emerging and clinical care is driven by rapidly accumulating knowledge.