Days In Intensive Care Unit Research Articles

Validation of the emergency surgery score (ESS) in a UK patient population and comparison with NELA scoring: a retrospective multicentre cohort study.

Accurate risk scoring in emergency general surgery (EGS) is vital for consent and resource allocation. The emergency surgery score (ESS) has been validated as a reliable preoperative predictor of postoperative outcomes in EGS but has been studied only in the US population. Our primary aim was to perform an external validation study of the ESS in a UK population. Our secondary aim was to compare the accuracy of ESS and National Emergency Laparotomy Audit (NELA) scores. We conducted an observational cohort study of adult patients undergoing emergency laparotomy over three years in two UK centres. ESS was calculated retrospectively. NELA scores and all other variables were obtained from the prospectively collected Emergency Laparotomy and Laparoscopic Scottish Audit (ELLSA) database. The primary and secondary outcomes were 30-day mortality and postoperative intensive care unit (ICU) admission, respectively. A total of 609 patients were included. Median age was 65 years, 52.7% were female, the overall mortality was 9.9% and 23.8% were admitted to ICU. Both ESS and NELA were equally accurate in predicting 30-day mortality (c-statistic=0.78 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.71-0.85) for ESS and c-statistic=0.83 (95% CI, 0.77-0.88) for NELA, p=0.196) and predicting postoperative ICU admission (c-statistic=0.76 (95% CI, 0.71-0.81) for ESS and 0.80 (95% CI, 0.76-0.85) for NELA, p=0.092). In the UK population, ESS and NELA both predict 30-day mortality and ICU admission with no statistically significant difference but with higher c-statistics for NELA score. Both scores have certain advantages, with ESS being validated for a wider range of outcomes.

Characteristics and outcomes of patients admitted to intensive care units in Uganda: a descriptive nationwide multicentre prospective study

Intensive care unit (ICU) mortality rates have decreased over time. However, in low-and lower-middle income countries (LMICs), there remains an excess ICU mortality with limited understanding of patient characteristics, treatments, and outcomes from small single centre studies. We aimed therefore, to describe the characteristics, therapies and outcomes of patients admitted to all intensive care units in Uganda. A nationwide prospective observational study including all patients admitted Uganda’s ICUs with available daily charts was conducted from 8th January 2018 to 1st April 2018. Socio-demographics and clinical characteristics including worst vital signs in the first 24 h of admission were recorded with calculation of the National Early Warning Score (NEWS-2) and quick Sequential Organ Function Assessment (qSOFA) score. ICU interventions were recorded during the ICU stay and patients were followed up to 28 days in ICU. The primary outcome was 28 day ICU mortality. Three-hundred fifty-one patients were analysed with mean age 39 (24.1) years, 205 (58.4%) males with 197 (56%) surgical admissions. The commonest indication for ICU admission was postoperative care (42.9%), 214 (61%) had at least one comorbidity, with hypertension 104 (48.6%) most prevalent and 35 (10%) HIV positive. The 28 day ICU mortality was 90/351 (25.6%) with a median ICU stay of 3 (1–7) days. The highest probability of death occurred during the first 10 days with more non-survivors receiving mechanical ventilation (80% vs 34%; p < 0.001), sedation/paralysis (70% vs 50%; p < 0.001), inotropic/vasopressor support (56.7% vs 22.2%; p < 0.001) and renal replacement therapy (14.4% vs 4.2%; p < 0.001). Independent predictors of ICU mortality included mechanical ventilation (HR 3.34, 95% CI 1.48–7.52), sedation/paralysis (HR 2.68, 95% CI 1.39–5.16), inotropes/vasopressor (HR 3.17,95% CI 1.89–5.29) and an HIV positive status (HR 2.28, 95% CI 1.14–4.56). This study provides a comprehensive description of ICU patient characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes in Uganda. It not only adds to the global body of knowledge on ICU care in resource-limited settings but also serves as a foundation for future research and policy initiatives aimed at optimizing ICU care in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Midterm durability of valve-sparing root replacement in bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valves

Background Among patients with bicuspid aortic valves (BAV) who are potential candidates for valve-sparing root replacement (VSRR), the long-term durability of this technique is not well understood. This study aimed to compare the clinical and echocardiographic outcomes of VSRR in those with BAV and tricuspid aortic valve (TAV) morphology. Methods This was a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent VSRR between 2007 and 2021 at a single center. Kaplan-Meier and log-rank analysis were used to estimate and compare freedom from mortality, progression to >2+ aortic insufficiency (AI), and reoperation between groups (BAV vs TAV). Preoperative and postoperative echocardiographic data were collected and assessed for temporal changes in mixed-effect models. Results A total of 185 patients (BAV, n = 52, 28.1%; TAV, n = 133, 71.9%) underwent VSRR. At baseline, BAV patients were younger (42.4 ± 11.6 vs 52.3 ± 12.6 years; P < 0.01) and had more severe AI (47.9% vs 27.0%; P = 0.02). Average cardiopulmonary bypass and cross-clamp times were similar. There were no differences in rates of postoperative complications, intensive care unit or hospital days, or 30-day readmission. TAV patients’ 1-, 5-, and 8-year survival rates were 99.2% [95% CI 97.8–100], 96.7% [93.5–99.9%], and 92.2% [85.6–99.3%], respectively. Overall, there were no differences between groups regarding freedom from mortality (P = 0.18), reoperation (P = 0.51), or recurrent >2+ AI (P = 0.97). Conclusions VSRR can be safely performed on patients with BAV and TAV morphology, yielding similar midterm freedom from mortality, recurrent >2+ AI, and reoperation. This technique should be considered in carefully selected patients with aortic root pathology and BAV anatomy when performed at experienced centers.

Exploring the impact of OSA on short-term survival in patients with AECOPD admitted to the ICU.

Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is characterized by a sudden worsening of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) symptoms, which significantly contributes to hospitalizations related to COPD symptoms. Previous research has mainly focused on the correlation between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and COPD. However, there were few studies that investigated the short-term mortality rate of AECOPD patients with or without OSA. Data for our research was taken from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care Database IV. A total of 1332 patients were included in the study based on well-defined criteria for selection and exclusion. By analyzing the characteristics of AECOPD patients, we compared those with and without OSA. There were 1122 AECOPD patients without OSA, 210 patients with OSA. In comparison to those without OSA, patients with OSA exhibited lower 30-day and 90-day ICU mortality with unadjusted HR, as well as lower hospital mortality with unadjusted OR. However, after adjustments were made, there were no significant associations observed between OSA and short-term mortality, including 30-day ICU mortality, 90-day ICU mortality, ICU mortality, and hospital mortality in AECOPD patients. Subgroup analysis revealed that OSA may act as a risk factor for AECOPD patients with a BMI lower than 30 kg/m2. There is no impact on short-term survival in AECOPD patients with OSA under intensive care unit (ICU) management and nursing.

Influence of fluid accumulation on major adverse kidney events in critically ill patients – an observational cohort study

BackgroundFluid accumulation (FA) is known to be associated with acute kidney injury (AKI) during intensive care unit (ICU) stay but data on mid-term renal outcome is scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between FA at ICU day 3 and major adverse kidney events in the first 30 days after ICU admission (MAKE30).MethodsRetrospective, single-center cohort study including adult ICU patients with sufficient data to compute FA and MAKE30. We defined FA as a positive cumulative fluid balance greater than 5% of bodyweight. The association between FA and MAKE30, including its sub-components, as well as the serum creatinine trajectories during ICU stay were examined. In addition, we performed a sensitivity analysis for the stage of AKI and the presence of chronic kidney disease (CKD).ResultsOut of 13,326 included patients, 1,100 (8.3%) met the FA definition. FA at ICU day 3 was significantly associated with MAKE30 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.96; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.67–2.30; p < 0.001) and all sub-components: need for renal replacement therapy (aOR 3.83; 95%CI 3.02–4.84), persistent renal dysfunction (aOR 1.72; 95%CI 1.40–2.12), and 30-day mortality (aOR 1.70; 95%CI 1.38–2.09), p all < 0.001. The sensitivity analysis showed an association of FA with MAKE30 independent from a pre-existing CKD, but exclusively in patients with AKI stage 3. Furthermore, FA was independently associated with the creatinine trajectory over the whole observation period.ConclusionsFluid accumulation is significantly associated with MAKE30 in critically ill patients. This association is independent from pre-existing CKD and strongest in patients with AKI stage 3.

The significance of monitoring respiratory sample cultures and polymerase chain reaction tests for detecting bacterial pathogens in severely and critically ill patients with COVID-19.

Bacterial superinfection is one of the most common and potentially lethal complications in severely and critically ill patients with COVID-19. To determine the colonisation time frame and the spectrum of potential bacterial pathogens in respiratory samples from patients with severe and critical COVID-19, using routine culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. A prospective observational study was conducted on patients aged ≥18 years with confirmed severe and critical COVID-19 who were admitted to or transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU). Respiratory samples were collected for microbial culture and PCR testing within the first 2 days after ICU admission/transfer, between days 3 and 6, and after 7 days of ICU stay. A total of 82 patients, with a median (interquartile range) age of 74.5 (67.3 - 81.0) years and a median Charlson comorbidity index of 4 (3 - 5), were enrolled in the study. Colonisation with any pathogen was observed in 67% of patients, after a median of 4 (2 - 6) days in the ICU. On days 0 - 2 of the ICU stay, micro-organisms were detected in 18% of patients, with Klebsiella pneumoniae (without acquired antibiotic resistance) and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus being most frequently identified. Later, A. baumannii and carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae became the predominant micro-organisms, identified in nearly half of the patients. In 74% of the samples, the results of microbial culture and PCR tests were identical. In 17%, PCR revealed bacterial pathogens not identified by culture. Our study confirms that colonisation of the respiratory tract occurs early in the course of ICU stay. Superinfections are predominantly caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. What the study adds. This real-world study provides valuable insights into the significance of microbiological monitoring of critically ill COVID-19 patients. It confirms that bacterial colonisation of the respiratory tract occurs early in the course of ICU stay, with nosocomial superinfections caused predominantly by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing can assist in ruling out colonisation and in early detection of potential bacterial superinfections.Implications of the findings. Bacterial superinfections present a major challenge in critically ill COVID-19 patients, owing to their high prevalence and mortality rates. Their early detection, determination of causative agents, and antibiotic susceptibility profiling are therefore of paramont importance. PCR testing of clinical specimens appears to be a valuable supplement to respiratory culture, enhancing the precision of diagnosis of lower respiratory tract infections.

396 Creating a High-Precision, Dynamic Machine Learning Model Using Time Series Data to Predict Cerebral Vasospsm in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

INTRODUCTION: Cerebral vasospasm (CV) occurs in up to one-third of patients who suffer from aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) and can result in significant morbidity. Prior attempts to predict CV after aSAH have failed because they use static data collected on the day of presentation. We hypothesize that trending clinical and radiographic data including transcranial dopplers (TCDs) throughout 14 intensive care unit (ICU) days can be used to create a highly predictive, dynamic machine learning model for CV. METHODS: We conducted an IRB-approved retrospective study including 428 patients with aSAH hemorrhage treated at our institution between June 2014 and December 2018. For each patient, 74 features were trended including vital signs, lab values and ventriculostomy output. TCD measurements included anterior and posterior circulation velocities, Lindegaard Ratios and pulsatility indices. We employed a generative transformer-based model that uses patient representations from aggregate prior time points to predict the likelihood of CV. RESULTS: Of the 428 aSAH patients, 85 had angiographic-proven CV. There was no difference in demographic features including age, gender distribution and BMI between the CV and no-CV groups. Throughout 14 ICU days, the CV patients consistently displayed elevated mean arterial pressure and cerebral perfusion pressure. All TCD measurements were higher for the CV group. Initial logistic regression models based on static data from post-ictus days 1 through 4 showed steadily increasing F1 scores from 0.67 to 0.76. Feature analysis identified Lindegaard Ratios as the most heavily weighted features. CONCLUSIONS: Daily TCDs paired with additional longitudinal clinical data can be used to create a high-precision dynamic machine learning model for predicting CV after aSAH. These methods could also permit identification of patients at low risk of CV for reduced ICU length of stay.

Serum bicarbonate levels and kidney outcomes in critically ill patients: a prospective cohort study.

The interplay between serum bicarbonate levels and kidney outcomesis not fully understood. We conducted a prospective cohort study in three intensive care units (ICUs) to evaluate the association of serum bicarbonate levels with acute kidney injury (AKI) and kidney function recovery in critically ill patients. A prospective cohort study in three intensive care units (ICUs) was performed. The serum bicarbonate level in the first 24h after ICU admission was categorized as low (< 22mEq/L), normal (22-26mEq/L), or high (> 26mEq/L). Serum creatinine (SCr) levels according to theKDIGOAKI guideline were used for defining AKIwithin the first 7 days of ICU stay. At ICU admission, SCr≥ 1.1for women and ≥ 1.3 mg/dL for men were indicative of impaired kidney function.Mortality outcome was tracked up to 28days, and kidney function recovery was assessed at hospital discharge. A total of 2732 patients (66 ± 19years and 55% men) were analyzed, with 32% having impaired kidney functionat ICU admission. Overall, 26% of patients had low bicarbonate levels, while 32% had high bicarbonate levels. Notably, patients with preserved kidney function showed a lower prevalence of low bicarbonate levels compared to those with impaired kidney function (20% vs. 39%, p < 0.001), while higher rates were observed for high bicarbonate (35% vs. 24%, p < 0.001). Compared with patients with normal serum bicarbonate levels, those with low bicarbonate were 81% more likely to develop AKI (OR = 1.81; 95% CI 1.10-2.99), whereas those with high bicarbonate were 44% less likely (OR = 0.56; 95% CI 0.32-0.98) in the adjusted model for confounders. Neither those with high nor low serum bicarbonate levels were associated with an increased risk of mortality (HR = 1.03; 95% CI 0.68-1.56 and 0.99; 95% CI 0.68-1.42, respectively). In subgroup analysis, regardless of the kidney functionat ICU admission, serum bicarbonate levels were not associated with the development of AKI and all-cause mortality. Regarding kidney function recovery, higher non-recovery rates were found for those with low bicarbonate. In critically ill ICU patients, low bicarbonate levels were associated with the more likely development of AKIand subsequentnon-recovery ofkidney function, while high bicarbonatelevels showed no such association. Therefore, low bicarbonate levels may be considered a risk factor for adverse kidney outcomes in critically ill patients.

An Observational Study of Nutritional Assessment, Prescription, Practices, and Its Outcome among Critically Ill Patients Admitted to an Intensive Care Unit.

Optimal feeding strategy for critically ill patients of intensive care unit (ICU) is often a matter of debate as patients admitted to ICU are highly catabolic and reduction in muscle mass is very common. We aimed at early achievement of nutritional goals in preventing skeletal muscle breakdown and improving clinical outcomes among critically ill patients with high risk of malnutrition. Nutrition risk in the critically ill (mNUTRIC) Score was used to identify the risk of malnutrition within 24 hours of admission. Quadriceps muscle mass index was measured within 24 hours of admission to ICU and repeated on 7th day. Enteral feeding was monitored by the nutrition expert as part of routine patient care and clinical outcomes were monitored. A total of 287 patients admitted in ICU were screened for malnutrition and 60 (20.9%) of them had high score (>5). There was no statistically significant reduction in the quadriceps muscle mass index (p < 0.05) (t = 0.601) measured within 24 hours of admission and on the 7th day of ICU stay, signifying that the nutritional prescription and monitoring may be useful in preserving the muscle mass. This study did not find statistically significant association between the high mNUTRIC score on admission and the clinical outcomes, such as 28 days mortality, incidence of pressure ulcers, length of ICU stay, and hospital-acquired infection (p > 0.05). Early initiation and maintenance of enteral nutrition is essential for meeting target calories and protein requirements. It may help to preserve muscle mass in critically ill patients who are otherwise at high risk of malnutrition. Sharon T, Nayak SG, Shanbhag V, Hebbar S. An Observational Study of Nutritional Assessment, Prescription, Practices, and Its Outcome among Critically Ill Patients Admitted to an Intensive Care Unit. Indian J Crit Care Med 2024;28(4):364-368.

Early prediction of ventricular peritoneal shunt dependency in aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage patients by recurrent neural network-based machine learning using routine intensive care unit data

Aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH) can lead to complications such as acute hydrocephalic congestion. Treatment of this acute condition often includes establishing an external ventricular drainage (EVD). However, chronic hydrocephalus develops in some patients, who then require placement of a permanent ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt. The aim of this study was to employ recurrent neural network (RNN)-based machine learning techniques to identify patients who require VP shunt placement at an early stage. This retrospective single-centre study included all patients who were diagnosed with aSAH and treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) between November 2010 and May 2020 (n = 602). More than 120 parameters were analysed, including routine neurocritical care data, vital signs and blood gas analyses. Various machine learning techniques, including RNNs and gradient boosting machines, were evaluated for their ability to predict VP shunt dependency. VP-shunt dependency could be predicted using an RNN after just one day of ICU stay, with an AUC-ROC of 0.77 (CI: 0.75–0.79). The accuracy of the prediction improved after four days of observation (Day 4: AUC-ROC 0.81, CI: 0.79–0.84). At that point, the accuracy of the prediction was 76% (CI: 75.98–83.09%), with a sensitivity of 85% (CI: 83–88%) and a specificity of 74% (CI: 71–78%). RNN-based machine learning has the potential to predict VP shunt dependency on Day 4 after ictus in aSAH patients using routine data collected in the ICU. The use of machine learning may allow early identification of patients with specific therapeutic needs and accelerate the execution of required procedures.

Impact of Tracheostomy Timing Within the National Veterans Affairs Population.

There is a lack of a definitive study in the literature comparing early versus late tracheostomy and exploring the impact of tracheostomy timing on patient outcomes. This study may help guide treatment paradigms and contribute to a consensus for optimal tracheostomy timing. A retrospective review was performed comparing early versus late timing of tracheostomy placement and their respective outcomes. The authors used data provided by VA Informatics and Computing Infrastructure (VINCI) to find patients who received a tracheostomy at any VA Medical Center in the United States. There were a total of 25,334 tracheostomies in the database which satisfied our criteria. These occurred between the years 1999 and 2022. Propensity score matching assessed 17,074 tracheostomies, 8537 in either group. The median age of patients in the matched groups was 66 years, and approximately 97.4% of patients were male. Early tracheostomy timing was defined as the placement of the tracheostomy within 10 days of intubation. Outcomes included post-tracheostomy intensive care unit (ICU) days, post-tracheostomy hospital days, successful ventilator weaning, and all-cause mortality. Early tracheostomy was associated with significantly fewer ICU days and hospital days, and the early group experienced higher rates of successful ventilator weaning. Survival analysis of data within 5 years of tracheostomy showed that early tracheostomy was associated with significantly lower hazard for all-cause mortality. Our results add to the body of evidence that an earlier transition to mechanical ventilation by tracheostomy confers benefits in patient morbidity and mortality as well as resource utilization. 3 Laryngoscope, 134:3555-3561, 2024.

Impella 5.5 Bridge to Heart Transplant: An Institutional Series and a Closer Look at Device Removal Technique.

Limited donor organ availability often necessitates mechanical circulatory support, and recently the Impella 5.5, as a bridge to heart transplant. Of 175 Impella 5.5-supported patients at our institution, 45 underwent transplantation in the largest series to date, for whom we analyzed outcomes. Two methods of complete device explant were evaluated: central Impella transection and removal via axillary graft. Median Impella days were 25 (16-41); median waitlist days were 21 (9-37). Eighty-nine percent (40/45) of patients had device placement via right axillary artery. Seventy-six percent (34/45) underwent central transection for device removal. Four patients (8.9%) required short-term venoarterial extracorporeal membranous oxygenation (VA ECMO) postoperatively for primary graft dysfunction (PGD). Two patients (4.4%) suffered postoperative stroke. Five patients (11.1%) required new RRT postoperatively. One patient (2.2%) returned to the operating room (OR) for axillary graft bleeding. A higher chance of procedural complications was found with the axillary removal technique ( p = 0.014). Median intensive care unit (ICU) days, length of stay (LOS), and postoperative days to discharge were 46 (35-63), 59 (49-80), and 18 (15-24), respectively. Ninety-eight percent (44/45) survived to discharge. Thirty-day survival was 95.6% (43/45), with 1 year survival at 90.3% (28/31). Eighty-eight percent (37/42) remain without rejection. In our institutional experience, Impella 5.5 is a safe and reliable bridge to transplant.

Enteral nutrition on discharge from intensive care and 30-day unplanned readmission: An exploratory, retrospective study of association

Individuals who survive critical illness are often malnourished with inadequate oral nutrient intake after leaving the intensive care unit (ICU). Enteral nutrition (EN) improves nutrient intake but there is limited evidence on the impact of maintaining EN after discharge from the ICU. The objective of this exploratory study was to understand the association between EN maintenance after ICU and 30-day unplanned hospital re-admission, to inform on future prospective research into the effects of post-ICU nutrition. This was a single-centre, retrospective study of ICU patients, requiring ventilation, who received EN for at least 3 days in ICU and were discharged to the ward. 102 patients met the inclusion criteria; 45 (44.1%) maintained EN and 57 (55.9%) discontinued EN after ICU discharge; there were no significant differences in demographics or clinical measures at ICU admission. Reason for EN discontinuation was documented in 38 (66.7%) patients, with 27 (71%) discontinuing EN due to a routine ward practice of feeding tube removal. Unplanned 30-day hospital re-admission occurred in 17 (16.7%) patients overall, 5 (11.1%) in the EN group and 12 (21.1%) in the non-EN group (crude odds ratio [OR] 0.47, 95% CI 0.15, 1.45, p=0.188). After adjusting for age, sex, BMI and length of stay, there was a persistent trend to lower re-admission rates in the EN group (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.09, 1.57, p=0.176). EN maintenance after ICU discharge was associated with a trend to lower 30-day unplanned hospital re-admission rates. The clinically relevant reduction of about 50% in unplanned re-admission rates in this exploratory study warrants larger, prospective studies of post-ICU nutrition strategies based on clear discontinuation criteria to optimize nutrition and evaluate patient-centred outcomes.

Case Management in Prevention of 30-Day Readmission in Post-Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery.

Thirty-day readmission is associated with increased morbidity and mortality among postoperative coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery patients. Interventions such as case management and follow-up care may reduce 30-day readmission. The purpose of this article is to report a study on modifiable factors that may have significant implications for case management in the prevention of readmission after CABG surgery. The study population included all the adult patients who underwent first-time CABG surgery from January 1, 2013, to January 1, 2016, from a Mid-South hospital. A retrospective case-control study was employed to examine 1,712 patients who underwent CABG surgery. The results revealed that patients readmitted within 30 days had a significantly shorter length of stay (LOS) (6 days vs. 10 days; p < .0001), more days in intensive care unit (6 days vs. 4 days; p = .0391), and significantly higher diabetes/renal (4% vs. 1%), infection (17% vs. 2%), and respiratory-related diagnoses (10% vs. 1%; p < .0001). Among these factors, hospital LOS is a major factor that can be addressed through case management in addition to other modifiable risk factors. Understanding modifiable factors associated with higher readmission risk is crucial for effective intervention and case management planning.

Ventilator-associated events in adults: A secondary analysis assessing the impact of monitoring ventilator settings on outcomes

BackgroundVentilator-associated events (VAE) is a tier implemented for surveillance by the CDC in the USA. Implementation usefulness for clinical decisions is unknown. MethodsWe conducted a secondary analysis from a prospective, multicentre, international study, to assess the impact on outcomes of using tiers with shorter follow-up (VAE24), lower oxygenation requirements (light-VAE) or both (light VAE24). ResultsA cohort of 261 adults with 2706 ventilator-days were included. The median (IQR) duration of mechanical ventilation (MV) was 9 days (5–21), and the median (IQR) length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) was 14 days (8–26). A VAE tier was associated with a trend to increase from 32% to 44% in the ICU mortality rates. VAE Incidence was 24 per 1,000 ventilator-days, being increased when reduced the oxygenation settings requirement (35 per 1,000 ventilator-days), follow-up (41 per 1,000 ventilator-days) or both (55 per 1,000 ventilator-days). A VAE tier was associated with 13 extra (21 vs. 8) days of ventilation, 11 (23 vs. 12) ICU days and 7 (31 vs. 14) hospitalization days, outperforming the modified tiers’ performance. ConclusionsThe modification of ventilator settings (consistent with ventilator-associated events) was associated with worse outcomes among adults with prolonged mechanical ventilation. Monitoring ventilator-associated events at the bedside represents a new tool for quality improvement.

Evaluation of cognitive functions and dementia two years after COVID-19 infection

Background: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) causes high morbidity and mortality in the acute period. Some patients with COVID-19 continue to have symptoms for a long time. However, data on the long-term effects of COVID-19, particularly on cognitive disorders is scarce. We aimed to evaluate cognitive functions and dementia in patients who survived two years after discharge from hospital due to acute covid-19 infection. Methods: Two hundred and five patients who had neurological symptoms during index hospitalization for COVID-19 infection were evaluated two years after discharge, and 64 patients were included in the study. According to cognitive assessments, patients were grouped as having normal cognitive levels (48 patients) or impaired cognitive levels (16 patients). Results: The impaired cognitive level was found in 16 (25.0%) of patients who underwent cognitive tests. Age, the pre-existence of neurological comorbidity, mean intensive care unit day, and Beck’s Anxiety Inventory and Beck’s Depression Inventory scores in the impaired cognitive level group were significantly higher than the normal cognitive level group (p:0.001, p:0.013, p:0.015, p:0.004 and p:0.008). The frequency of cognitive impairment in patients who developed altered mental state during hospitalization was 36.0%, while it was 17.9% in patients with normal mental state. Age, the pre-existence of neurological comorbidity, and anxiety were determined as independent risk factors for impaired cognitive level. In addition, we detected new-onset dementia in 8 patients (12.5%). Conclusion: We found a high frequency of cognitive impairment and new-onset dementia among COVID-19 survivors who developed neurological manifestations during the acute infection phase.

The Effect of Body Temperature Changes on the Course of Treatment in Patients With Pneumonia and Sepsis: Results of an Observational Study.

Traditionally, patients who are critically ill with infection and fever have been treated with antipyretics or even physically cooled. Presumed benefits of the reduction of body temperature are mostly based on decreased metabolic demands. However, it has been shown that decreasing body temperature in patients who are critically ill is not associated with improvement in treatment outcomes. Additionally, there is some data to support the use of temperature modulation (therapeutic hyperthermia) as an adjuvant treatment strategy in patients with infection. This study aims to determine the effect of body temperature on the course of intensive care unit (ICU) treatment of patients who are mechanically ventilated with pneumonia, sepsis, and positive tracheal aspirates on admission. We performed a single-center retrospective study. Core body temperature was measured in all patients. We analyzed associations between average temperatures in the first 48 hours after admission to ICU and ICU treatment parameters. Additionally, patients were divided into three groups: patients with negative tracheal aspirates 1 week after ICU admission (P-N group), patients with a different pathogen in tracheal aspirates 1 week after ICU admission (P-HAP group), and patients with a persisting pathogen in tracheal aspirates 1 week after ICU admission (P-P group). Differences in body temperature and interventions aimed at temperature modulation were determined. We observed a significantly higher average temperature in the first 48 hours after admission to ICU in patients who survived to hospital discharge compared to nonsurvivors (mean 37.2 °C, SD 1 °C vs mean 36.9 °C, SD 1.6 °C; P=.04). We observed no associations between average temperatures in the first 48 hours after ICU admission and days of mechanical ventilation in the first 7 days of treatment (ρ=-0.090; P=.30), the average maximum daily requirement for noradrenaline in the first 7 days of treatment (ρ=-0.029; P=.80), average maximum FiO2 in the first 7 days of ICU treatment (ρ=0.040; P=.70), and requirement for renal replacement therapy in the first 7 days of ICU treatment (mean 37.3 °C, SD 1.4 °C vs mean 37.0 °C, SD 1.3 °C; P=.23). In an additional analysis, we observed a significantly greater use of paracetamol in the P-N group (mean 1.0, SD 1.1 g vs mean 0.4, SD 0.7 g vs mean 0.4, SD 0.8 g; P=.009), a trend toward greater use of active cooling in the first 24 hours after ICU admission in the P-N group (n=11, 44% vs n=14, 33.3% vs n=16, 32%; P=.57), and no other significant differences in parameters of ICU treatment between patient groups. We observed better survival in patients who developed higher body temperatures in the first 48 hours after admission to the ICU; however, we observed no changes in other treatment parameters. Similarly, we observed greater use of paracetamol in patients with negative tracheal aspirates 1 week after ICU admission. Our results support the strategy of temperature tolerance in patients who are intubated with pneumonia and sepsis.

Mortality in Patients with Leukemia and Lymphoma Urgently Admitted to the PICU: Secondary Analysis of Data from a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

AbstractObjectives were to describe the severity of illness in patients with leukemia or lymphoma urgently admitted to pediatric intensive care and explores the risk factors for mortality. A secondary analysis was performed of prospectively collected data from a cluster-randomized controlled trial in 21 children's hospitals from 2011 to 2015. Eligible patients were urgently admitted to intensive care and had a diagnosis of leukemia or lymphoma. Associations with intensive care mortality (primary outcome) were determined with multivariable generalized estimating equation with a logit link, accounting for clustering by site. Associations with time to intensive care mortality (secondary outcome) were determined with multivariable proportional hazards models. A total of 109 patients were included, age 115 (interquartile range [IQR] 42, 168) months and intensive care length of stay was 3 (IQR 2, 6) days. During the first hour in intensive care 36 (33%) were ventilated, and during intensive care 45 (41.3%) had at least 1 technology day. Day 1 Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction (PELOD) score was ≥ 20 in 37 (33.9%), Pediatric Index of Mortality 2 mortality risk was &gt; 10% in 35 (32.1%), and Children's Resuscitation Intensity Scale (RISC) was ≥ 3 (late admission to intensive care) in 32 (31.7%). Intensive care mortality was 20/109 (18.3%); with intensive care stay ≥ 20 days mortality was 51%. Previous urgent pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission, mechanical ventilation, and day 1 PELOD score were associated with higher PICU mortality. Mechanical ventilation, day 1 PELOD score, and late admission to the PICU (RISC ≥ 2) were associated with time to death. Patients with leukemia and lymphoma urgently admitted to intensive care had mortality of 18.3%, an improvement from historical cohorts. Risk factors were not accurate enough to make individual patient care decisions.

The accuracy of NEWS-2 in the emergency prehospital setting in Saudi Arabia

Introduction: Various early warning score tools have been developed to identify clinical deterioration in patients. This study assessed the predictive capacity of the National Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS-2) in the prehospital setting to predict death within 24 hours and 30-day intensive care unit admission. Methods: A single-center observational retrospective study was conducted in the emergency medical services (EMS) of King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We included adult patients (&gt; 18 years) who attended the emergency medical service. The primary outcome was 24-hour death and 30-day intensive care unit admission. Sensitivity, specificity, and negative/positive predictive values (NPV/PPV) were determined. Results: The study comprised 1,343 eligible patients. NEWS-2 exhibited a sensitivity of 20% and a specificity of 80% for predicting 24-hour death and a sensitivity of 10% and a specificity of 80% for predicting 30-day intensive care unit admission. The area under the curve for predicting death was 0.529, and for intensive care unit admission was 0.456. Conclusion: Our study underscores the limited utility of NEWS-2 as a predictor of 24-hour death and 30-day intensive care unit admission in adult patients utilizing the emergency medical service. Further extensive studies are warranted to corroborate this study’s findings.

SIMPLIFIED IMMUNE-DYSREGULATION INDEX: A NOVEL MARKER PREDICTS 28-DAY MORTALITY OF INTENSIVE CARE PATIENTS WITH SEPSIS.

Background: Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. There is currently no simple immune-imbalance-driven indicator for patients with sepsis. Methods: This study was conducted in Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Patients with sepsis were identified according to Sepsis 3.0 after reviewing patient data from May 2018 through October 2022. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator logistic regression was used for features selection. Receiver operating characteristic curves for 28-day mortality were used to compare the predictive performance of level of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and lymphocyte count (LY#) with that of the combined ratio, namely, the IL-6/LY# ratio. A Cox hazard model was also used to test the predictive performance of IL-6/LY# versus several other measurements. The dynamic trend of IL-6/LY# based on day 1 IL-6/LY# level was analyzed. Results: The mortality rate was 24.5% (220/898) in the study cohort. The LY#, IL-6 level, blood platelet count, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, heart rate, age and Fi o2 level were identified as key factors for predicting 28-day mortality. IL-6/LY# was identified as a core indicator according to Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator logistic regression analysis. IL-6/LY# was significantly higher in nonsurvivors than in survivors (348 [154.6-1371.7] vs. 42.3 [15.4-117.1]). IL-6/LY# yielded a higher area under the curve (0.852 [95% CI = 0.820-0.879]) than the level of IL-6 (0.776 [95% CI = 0.738-0.809]) and LY# (0.719 [95% CI = 0.677-0.755]) separately. Survival analysis of mortality risk versus the IL-6/LY# ratio suggested that IL-6/LY# was significantly more predictive of patient risk than the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score or the other factors ( P = 1.5 × 10 -33 ). In trend analysis, as the trend of D1-D3-D7 IL-6/LY# decreases, the morality rate is lower than increase or fluctuate group (42.1% vs. 58.3%, 37.9% vs. 43.8%, 37.5% vs. 38.5% in high, moderate, and low D1 IL-6/LY# group separately). Conclusion: IL-6/LY# examined on first day in intensive care unit can be used as an immune-imbalance alert to identify sepsis patients with higher risk of 28-day mortality. Decreasing trend of IL-6/LY# suggests a lower 28-day mortality rate of sepsis patients.