Department Of Intensive Care Medicine Research Articles

The clinical application value of multi-site mNGS detection of patients with sepsis in intensive care units

BackgroundSepsis remains a leading cause of mortality in intensive care units, and rapid and accurate pathogen detection is crucial for effective treatment. This study evaluated the clinical application of multi-site metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) for the diagnosis of sepsis, comparing its performance against conventional methods.MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on 69 patients with sepsis consecutively admitted to the Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Meizhou People’s Hospital. Samples of peripheral blood and infection sites were collected for mNGS and conventional method tests to compare the positive rate of mNGS and traditional pathogen detection methods and the distribution of pathogens. The methods used in this study included a comprehensive analysis of pathogen consistency between peripheral blood and infection site samples. Additionally, the correlation between the pathogens detected and clinical outcomes was investigated.ResultsOf the patients with sepsis, 57.97% experienced dyspnea, and 65.2% had underlying diseases, with hypertension being the most common. mNGS demonstrated a significantly higher pathogen detection rate (88%) compared to the conventional method tests (26%). The pathogen consistency rate was 60% between plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples, and that of plasma and local body fluid samples was 63%. The most frequently detected pathogens were gram-negative bacteria, and Klebsiella pneumonia. There were no significant differences in the clinical features between the pathogens.ConclusionmNGS is significantly superior to conventional methods in pathogen detection. There was a notable high pathogen consistency detection between blood and local body fluid samples, supporting the clinical relevance of mNGS. This study highlights the superiority of mNGS in detecting a broad spectrum of pathogens quickly and accurately.Trial registrationNot applicable.

Effect of Xuebijing injection on acute gastrointestinal injury in patients with sepsis: a retrospective cohort study

To observe the effect of Xuebijing injection on sepsis combined with acute gastrointestinal injury (AGI), and analyze the risk factors of sepsis combined with AGI. A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Patients with non-gastrointestinal origin admitted to the department of intensive care medicine of the First Hospital of Qinhuangdao from May 1, 2021 to October 30, 2023 were enrolled. The baseline data, source of sepsis infection, vital signs, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II), sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA), laboratory tests, comorbidities, interventions during treatment, and the 28-day prognosis were collected. The patients were divided into Xuebijing group and non-Xuebijing group according to whether Xuebijing injection was used or not. According to whether AGI was merged or not, patients were divided into merged AGI group and non-merged AGI group. The main observational indexes were the difference in the incidence of AGI between the Xuebijing group and non-Xuebijing group and the difference in the magnitude of the decline in procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), and white blood cell count (WBC) at 7 days after admission, and the difference in the 28-day morbidity and mortality. Risk factors for AGI in septic patients were explored by univariate analysis, and statistically significant indicators were screened and included in binary Logistic regression analysis to determine independent risk factors. A total of 129 patients with sepsis of non-gastrointestinal origin were enrolled, including 57 patients in the Xuebijing group and 72 patients in the non-Xuebijing group. Among 129 patients, 80 patients in the merged AGI group and 49 patients in the non-merged AGI group. There were no statistically significant differences between Xuebijing group and non-Xuebijing group in gender, age, body mass index (BMI), underlying disease, source of infection, vital sign, APACHE II score, SOFA score, and clinical intervention, and there were no statistically significant differences in laboratory tests except for aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). The incidence of AGI was significantly lower in the Xuebijing group than that in the non-Xuebijing group [50.87% (29/57) vs. 70.83% (51/72), P < 0.05], and the 28-day mortality was slightly lower than that in the non-Xuebijing group [24.56% (14/57) vs. 30.56% (22/72), P > 0.05]. In the Xuebijing group, the decreases in CRP, PCT and WBC at 7 days after admission were greater than those in the non-Xuebijing group, with statistically significant differences in the decreases of CRP and PCT [CRP (mg/L): 47.12±67.34 vs. 7.76±111.03, PCT (μg/L): 14.08 (-1.22, 50.40) vs. 2.94 (-1.27, 14.80), all P < 0.05]. Univariate analysis showed that the use of acid suppressants, the use of analgesic sedation, the non-use of Xuebijing injections, pulmonary infections, and urinary tract infections were the risk factors for the development of AGI in patients with sepsis. Binary Logistic regression analysis further showed that the use of acid suppressants [odds ratio (OR) = 2.450, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was 1.021-5.883, P = 0.045], use of analgesic sedatives (OR = 2.521, 95%CI was 1.074-5.918, P = 0.034), and urinary tract infection (OR = 4.011, 95%CI was 1.085-14.831, P = 0.037) were independent risk factors for sepsis combined with AGI, in which the use of Xuebijing injection was a protective factor (OR = 0.315, 95%CI was 0.137-0.726, P = 0.007). Xuebijing injection reduced the incidence of AGI in patients with non-gastrointestinal sepsis. PCT and CRP decreased more markedly than in patients who did not use Xuebijing injection. The use of acid-suppressing agents, analgesic and sedative agents, and urinary tract infections were independent risk factors for sepsis in combination with AGI, while the use of Xuebijing injection is a protective factor.

Design and application of alaryngeal mask and monitoring device facilitating withdrawal of endotracheal tube

Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) is a surgical method for quickly establishing an artificial airway, which has been favored by clinicians because of its simple operation, small trauma and bedside operation. However, for patients with tracheal intubation in intensive care unit (ICU), the tip and balloon of the existing endotracheal tube will not only hinder percutaneous puncture, but also hinder insertion of guidewire and tracheotomy tube, and consequently affect the process of PDT. On the contrary, blind withdrawal of the existing endotracheal tube may cause the tracheal tube tipleave the glottis, leading to an emergency airway situation that endangers the patient's life. Therefore, the medical staff from intensive care medicine department of the First People's Hospital of Chenzhou designed a laryngeal mask and its monitoring device, which is convenient for withdrawal of endotracheal tube, and obtained the national utility model patent of China (patent number: ZL 2020 2 2795887.1). The device is composed of a laryngeal mask and a monitoring device. The laryngeal mask mainly includes a laryngeal mask body, a vent tube, a guidance tube and other components. The laryngeal mask body is mainly used to seal the throat and provide the air supply channel for the patient together with the ventilation tube. The main function of the guidance tube is to accommodate the tracheal tube and facilitate the withdrawal of the inserted tracheal tube. During percutaneous dilatation tracheotomy, this device can monitor the withdrawal of tracheal catheter in real time, and immediately ensure the airway patency of patients without re-intubation when the cuff of tracheal catheter exits the glottis. The utility model has the advantages of real-time monitoring, simple operation, safety and convenience, and is worthy of transformation and promotion.

Clinical Presentation and Outcome of Critically Ill Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Introduction: Admission to the intensive care unit severely affects inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. This study aimed to determine factors associated with mortality in IBD patients admitted to the intensive care unit. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed, analyzing data of all IBD patients admitted to the Department of Intensive Care Medicine at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf between 2013 and 2022. Bivariate comparisons and multivariate regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with mortality. Results: Overall, 439 IBD patients were admitted to the intensive care unit, representing 0.56% of total admissions. In 98 of these patients, IBD-associated complications were accountable for admission (22.3%). In detail, 39 (40.8%) patients were admitted after IBD-related surgery, 36 (35.7%) due to infections, and 23 (23.5%) due to medical conditions such as bleeding or electrolyte derangement. A total of 16 (16.3%) of these patients died within 90 days after admission. Parameters associated with increased mortality were age (p < 0.001), later age at diagnosis (p 0.026), catecholamine therapy (p 0.003), mechanical ventilation (p < 0.001), renal replacement therapy (p < 0.001), and parenteral nutrition (p 0.002). Prior treatment with anti-TNF therapy was associated with a higher chance of survival (p 0.018). There was no association between prior immunosuppressant therapy and admission because of infections (p 0.294). Conclusions: 16.3% of IBD patients admitted to the intensive care unit died within 90 days after admission. Prior treatment with anti-TNF therapy was associated with a higher chance of survival.

Potential for organ donation after controlled circulatory death: a retrospective analysis.

Despite the discrepancy between demand and availability of organs for transplantation, controlled circulatory death donation has not been implemented in Portugal. This study aimed to estimate the potential increase in organ donation from implementing such a program. All deceased patients within the intensive care medicine department at Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, throughout the year 2019, were subjected to retrospective analysis. Potential gain was estimated comparing the results with the number of donors and organs collected during the same period at this hospital center. Differences in variables between groups were assessed using t tests for independent samples or Mann-Whitney U tests for continuous variables, and chi-squared tests were used for categorical variables. During 2019, 152 deaths occurred after withdrawal of life-sustaining therapies, 10 of which would have been potentially eligible for donation after controlled circulatory death. We can anticipate a potential increase of 10 prospective donors, a maximum 21% growth in yearly transplantation activity, with a greater impact on kidney transplantation. For most patients, the time between withdrawal of organ support and death surpassed 120 minutes, an outcome explained by variations in withdrawal of life-sustaining measures and insufficient clinical records, underestimating the potential for controlled circulatory arrest donation. This study effectively highlights public health benefits of controlled circulatory arrest donation. Legislation allowing donation through this method represents a social gain and enables patients who will never meet brain death criteria to donate organs as part of the end-of-life process in intensive care medicine, within a framework of complete ethical alignment.

The Association between Working Hours with Vigilance and Executive Function of Intensive Care Unit Nurses

Background. Vigilance and executive functions are integral to nursing practice. Prolonged working hours are associated with heightened fatigue and increased nursing errors. However, the impact of work duration on the vigilance and executive function of ICU nurses remains unexplored. Objective. This study aims to elucidate the association between ICU nurses’ working hours, vigilance, and executive function. Design. A cross-sectional study. Setting. Intensive care medicine department of a tertiary hospital in Zhengzhou, China. Participants. A total of 51 registered nurses who participated in 12 h shifts in the ICU completed the survey. Methods. E-prime software was employed to develop four test tasks to measure the vigilance and executive functioning of ICU nurses. The test was performed before the start of the shift and after 4, 8, and 12 h. Results. The analysis revealed no statistically significant differences in the response time of vigilance for ICU nurses across shifts ( p = 0.503 ) or working hours ( p = 0.078 ). However, a significant difference existed in lapses across working hours ( p = 0.005 ), significantly increasing after 8 and 12 h. The analysis indicated a significant difference in Flanker effect size across different working hours ( p = 0.035 ). The analysis revealed no significant differences in the switch cost ( p = 0.200 ) or response accuracy ( p = 0.479 ) of the task switching across working hours. The response accuracy for the 2-back task differed significantly ( p = 0.003 ) across working hours. Conclusion. Limited evidence demonstrated that vigilance and specific aspects of executive functioning (inhibitory control and working memory) of ICU nurses were negatively correlated with the duration of their work in a real clinical setting. Furthermore, no vigilance and executive function differences were identified between day and night shifts. Implications for Nursing Management. Nursing administrators should reconsider scheduling 12 h shifts, shortening shifts, or implementing short rest periods to reduce fatigue and cognitive load. In addition, flexible scheduling and rationalizing the order of work may help reduce the possible risks associated with prolonged work.

Occurrence and predictors of delirium in critically ill older patients: a prospective cohort study.

This study aims to analyze the occurrence of delirium in critically ill older patients and to identify predictors of delirium. This prospective study included critically ill older patients admitted into level II units of Intensive Care Medicine Department of a University Hospital. Patients with Glasgow Coma Scale score ≤11, traumatic brain injury, terminal disease, history of psychosis, blindness/deafness, or inability to understanding/speaking Portuguese were excluded. The Confusion Assessment Method-Short Form (CAM-4) was used to assess the presence of delirium. The final sample (n = 105) had a median age of 80 years, most being female (56.2%), widowed (49.5%), and with complete primary education (53%). Through CAM-4, 36.2% of the patients had delirium. The delirium group was more likely to have previous cognitive decline (48.6% vs 19.6%, P = .04) and severe dependency in instrumental activities of daily living (34.3% vs 14.8%, P = .032), comparing with patients without delirium. The final multiple logistic regression model explained that patients with previous cognitive decline presented a higher risk for delirium (odds ratio: 4.663, 95% confidence Interval: 1.055-20.599, P = .042). These findings corroborate previous studies, showing that cognitive decline is an independent predictor for delirium in older patients. This study is an important contribution for the knowledge regarding the predictors of delirium. The recognition of these factors will help to identify patients who are at high risk for this syndrome and implement early screening and prevention strategies. However, further studies with larger samples, recruited from other clinical settings as well as analyzing other potential factors for delirium, will be needed.

Association between Red Cell Distribution Width and Outcomes of Nonagenarians Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit-A Retrospective Cohort Study.

The red cell distribution width (RDW) measures the heterogeneity of the erythrocyte volume. Different clinical conditions are associated with increased RDW, and high levels (>14.5%) have been described as a predictive marker for unfavorable outcomes and mortality in critically ill patients. However, there is a lack of data on very elderly critically ill patients. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association of RDW with outcomes in critically ill patients ≥ 90 years. A retrospective analysis was conducted for all consecutive critically ill patients ≥ 90 years who were admitted to the Department of Intensive Care Medicine of the Medical University Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (Hamburg, Germany) with available RDW on admission. Clinical course and laboratory were analyzed for all patients with eligible RDW. High RDW was defined as (>14.5%). We clinically assessed factors associated with mortality. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression analysis was performed to determine the prognostic impact of RDW on 28-day mortality. During a 12-year period, we identified 863 critically ill patients ≥ 90 years old with valid RDW values and complete clinical data. In total, 32% (n = 275) died within 28 days, and 68% (n = 579) survived for 28 days. Median RDW levels on ICU admission were significantly higher in non-survivors compared with survivors (15.6% vs. 14.8%, p < 0.001). Overall, 38% (n = 327) had low, and 62% (n = 536) had high RDW. The proportion of high RDW (>14.5%) was significantly higher in non-survivors (73% vs. 57%, p < 0.001). Patients with low RDW presented with a lower Charlson Comorbidity Index (p = 0.014), and their severity of illness on admission was lower (SAPS II: 35 vs. 38 points, p < 0.001). In total, 32% (n = 104) in the low and 35% (n = 190) in the high RDW group were mechanically ventilated (p = 0.273). The use of vasopressors (35% vs. 49%, p < 0.001) and renal replacement therapy (1% vs. 5%, p = 0.007) was significantly higher in the high RDW group. Cox regression analysis demonstrated that high RDW was significantly associated with 28-day mortality [crude HR 1.768, 95% CI (1.355-2.305); p < 0.001]. This association remained significant after adjusting for multiple confounders [adjusted HR 1.372, 95% CI (1.045-1.802); p = 0.023]. High RDW was significantly associated with mortality in critically ill patients ≥ 90 years. RDW is a useful simple parameter for risk stratification and may aid guidance for the therapy in very elderly critically ill patients.

Predictive effect of combined procalcitonin, interleukin-6 and antithrombin III on the severity and prognosis of patients with sepsis

To investigate the correlation of procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and antithrombin III (AT III) with the severity of sepsis, and to compare the predictive value of the above indicators alone or in combination. A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Eighty-five patients with sepsis admitted to the department of intensive care medicine of Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University from April 2021 to September 2022 were enrolled. General information, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) score within 24 hours of admission, inflammatory indicators [PCT, IL-6, serum amyloid A (SAA), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and C-reactive protein (CRP)] and coagulation indicators (D-dimer and AT III) levels at admission, and 28-day prognosis were collected. The differences of the above indicators were compared among patients with different prognosis at 28 days and different severity of sepsis. The correlation between PCT, IL-6, AT III and the severity of sepsis was analyzed by Spearman rank correlation method. Receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) was drawn to evaluate the predictive value of PCT, IL-6 and AT III alone or in combination on the 28-day death of patients with sepsis. Eighty-five patients were enrolled finally, 67 cases survived and 18 cases died at 28 days. The mortality was 21.2%. There were no statistical significant differences in gender, age and other general data between the two groups. The patients in the death group were more serious than those in the survival group, and PCT, IL-6, and CRP levels were significantly higher than those in the survival group [PCT (μg/L): 4.34 (1.99, 14.42) vs. 1.17 (0.31, 3.94), IL-6 (ng/L): 332.40 (50.08, 590.18) vs. 61.95 (31.64, 194.20), CRP (mg/L): 149.28 (75.34, 218.60) vs. 83.23 (48.22, 174.96), all P < 0.05], and AT III activity was significantly lower than that in the survival group [(53.67±28.57)% vs. (80.96±24.18)%, P < 0.01]. However, there were no significant differences in D-dimer, NLR and SAA between the two groups. Among the 85 patients, 36 had sepsis with single organ dysfunction, 29 had sepsis with multiple organ dysfunction, and 20 had septic shock with multiple organ dysfunction. With the increase of the severity of sepsis, PCT and IL-6 levels gradually increased [PCT (μg/L): 0.36 (0.19, 1.10), 3.00 (1.22, 9.94), 4.34 (2.18, 8.86); IL-6 (ng/L): 43.99 (20.73, 111.13), 100.00 (45.37, 273.00), 332.40 (124.4, 693.65)], and the activity of AT III decreased gradually [(89.81±21.42)%, (71.97±24.88)%, and (53.50±25.41)%], all with statistically significant differences (all P < 0.01). Spearman rank correlation analysis showed that PCT and IL-6 levels in sepsis patients were significantly positively correlated with the severity of the disease (r values were 0.562 and 0.517, respectively, both P < 0.01), and AT III activity was significantly negatively correlated with the severity of the disease (r = -0.523, P < 0.01). ROC curve analysis showed that PCT, IL-6, and AT III alone or in combination had some predictive value for the death of sepsis patients at 28 days. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of the above three indicators in combination was higher than that of the individual tests (0.818 vs. 0.722, 0.725, and 0.770), with a sensitivity of 83.3% and a specificity of 73.1%. PCT, IL-6, and AT III were significantly correlated with the severity of sepsis patients. The combined assay of the above three indicators can effectively improve the prediction of the prognosis of sepsis patients.

Effect of improved nursing strategy on prognosis of older immunosuppressed patients with pneumonia and sepsis

To investigate the effect of improved nursing strategy on prognosis of older immunosuppressed patients with pneumonia and sepsis. A prospective study was conducted. The older immunosuppressed patients with pneumonia and sepsis admitted to the department of intensive care medicine and emergency intensive care unit (ICU) of Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2017 to July 2022 were enrolled. In the first stage (from January 2017 to December 2019), patients received the original nursing strategy (original nursing strategy group), including: (1) nurses were randomly assigned; (2) routine terminal cleaning; (3) ICU environmental cleaning twice a day; (4) oral care was performed with chlorhexidine twice a day; (5) original lung physiotherapy [head of bed elevated at 30 degree angle-45 degree angle, maintaining a Richmond agitation-sedation scale (RASS) -2 to 1, sputum aspiration as needed]. After 1 month of learning and training of the modified nursing treatment strategy for nurses and related medical staff, the patients in the second stage (from February 2020 to July 2022) received the improved nursing strategy (improved nursing strategy group). The improved nursing strategy improved the hospital infection prevention and control strategy and lung physical therapy strategy on the basis of the original nursing strategy, including: (1) nurses were fixed assigned; (2) patients were placed in a private room; (3) enhanced terminal cleaning; (4) ICU environmental cleaning four times a day; (5) education and training in hand hygiene among health care workers was improved; (6) bathing with 2% chlorhexidinegluconate was performed once daily; (7) oral care with a combination of chlorhexidine and colistin was provided every 6 hours; (8) surveillance of colonization was conducted; (9) improved lung physiotherapy (on the basis of the original lung physiotherapy, delirium score was assessed to guide early mobilization of the patients; airway drainage was enhanced, the degree of airway humidification was adjusted according to the sputum properties, achieving sputum viscosity grade II; lung ultrasound was also used for lung assessment, and patients with atelectasis were placed in high lateral position and received the lung recruitment maneuver). Baseline patient information were collected, including gender, age, underlying diseases, source of admission, disease severity scores, vital signs, ventilatory parameters, blood gas analysis, life-sustaining treatments, clinical laboratory evaluation, indicators of infection and inflammation, pathogens and drug therapy. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, and the secondary outcomes were duration of mechanical ventilation, length of ICU stay, and ICU mortality. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors for 28-day death in older immunosuppressed patients with pneumonia and sepsis. Finally, 550 patients were enrolled, including 199 patients in the original nursing strategy group and 351 patients in the improved nursing strategy group. No significant differences were found in gender, age, underlying diseases, source of admission, disease severity scores, vital signs, ventilatory parameters, blood gas analysis, life-sustaining treatments, clinical laboratory evaluation, indicators of infection and inflammation, coexisting pathogens or drug therapy between the two groups. Compared with patients in the original nursing strategy group, those in the improved nursing strategy group had significantly fewer duration of mechanical ventilation and length of ICU stay [duration of mechanical ventilation (days): 5 (4, 7) vs. 5 (4, 9), length of ICU stay (days): 11 (6, 17) vs. 12 (6, 23), both P < 0.01], and lower ICU mortality and 28-day mortality [ICU mortality: 23.9% (84/351) vs. 32.7% (65/199), 28-day mortality: 23.1% (81/351) vs. 33.7% (67/199), both P < 0.05]. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the improved nursing strategy acted as an independent protective factor in 28-day death of older immunosuppressed patients with pneumonia and sepsis [odds ratio (OR) = 0.543, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was 0.334-0.885, P = 0.014]. Improved nursing strategy shortened the duration of mechanical ventilation and the length of ICU stay, and decreased ICU mortality and 28-day mortality in older immunosuppressed patients with pneumonia and sepsis, significantly improving the short-term prognosis of such patients.

Effect of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 on platelet activation associated with sepsis

To investigate the effect of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) on platelet activation in sepsis. (1) Clinical trial: a prospective study was conducted. Patients with sepsis and septic shock aged ≥ 18 years old who met the diagnostic criteria of Sepsis-3 admitted to the department of intensive care medicine of the Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical College from January to October in 2021 were selected as subjects. Healthy subjects in the same period were taken as healthy control group. Platelet count (PLT) in the first routine blood test after admission was recorded. Venous blood was taken 1 day after diagnosis, and serum PCSK9 level was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The differences of PCSK9 level and PLT between the two groups were compared, and subgroup analysis was conducted based on PLT for patients with sepsis. The correlation between PCSK9 level and PLT in septic patients was analyzed by Pearson correlation method. (2) Animal experiment: 80 male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group, sepsis model group [lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group], PCSK9 inhibitor pretreatment group (PCSK9 inhibitor+LPS group) and PCSK9 inhibitor control group (PCSK9 inhibitor group), with 20 mice in each group. The mouse model of sepsis was reproduced by intraperitoneal injection of LPS 12 mg/kg, and the control group and PCSK9 inhibitor group were intraperitoneally injected with the same amount of sterile normal saline. PCSK9 inhibitor+LPS group and PCSK9 inhibitor group were pretreated with PCSK9 inhibitor 5 mg/kg intraperitoneal injection for 7 days before injection of LPS or normal saline, respectively, and the control group and LPS group were injected with an equal amount of sterile normal saline. The lung tissues were taken for pathological and immunohistochemical observation 24 hours after modeling. Blood was taken from the heart for determining PLT. Platelet activation was detected by flow cytometry. The expression level of platelet-activation marker CD40L was detected by Western blotting. (1) Clinical trial: there were 57 cases in the sepsis group and 27 cases in the healthy control group. Serum PCSK9 level in the sepsis group was significantly higher than that in the healthy control group (μg/L: 232.25±72.21 vs. 191.72±54.92, P < 0.05), and PLT was significantly lower than that in the healthy control group [×109/L: 146.00 (75.50, 204.50) vs. 224.00 (194.00, 247.00), P < 0.01]. Subgroup analysis showed that the serum PCSK9 level in the thrombocytopenia patients (n = 20) was significantly higher than that in the non-thrombocytopenia patients (n = 37; μg/L: 264.04±60.40 vs. 215.06±72.95, P < 0.01). Correlation analysis showed a significant negative correlation between serum PCSK9 levels and PLT in septic patients (r = -0.340, P = 0.010). (2) Animal experiment: there were no significant pathological changes in lung tissue in the control group and PCSK9 inhibitor group under light microscope, and no significant differences in PLT, platelet activation and plasma CD40L protein expression was found between the two groups. In the LPS group, a large number of inflammatory cells were infiltrated in the pulmonary interstitium, the alveolar structure was damaged obviously, the alveolar septum was widened, the alveolar cavity was extensively bleeding, the capillary dilatation with bleeding and platelet aggregation were found, the PLT was significantly decreased, the platelet activation and the expression level of CD40L protein in plasma were significantly increased. The infiltration of inflammatory cells in lung tissue of mice in the PCSK9 inhibitor+LPS group was reduced to a certain extent, the thickening of alveolar septa was reduced, the platelet aggregation in lung tissue was decreased as compared with the LPS group, the PLT was significantly increased (×109/L: 515.83±46.60 vs. 324.83±46.31, P < 0.05), the platelet activation and the expression level of CD40L protein in plasma were significantly decreased [positive expression rate of platelet activation dependent granule surface facial mask protein CD62P: (12.15±1.39)% vs. (18.33±2.74)%, CD40L protein (CD40L/β-actin): 0.77±0.08 vs. 1.18±0.10, both P < 0.05]. PCSK9 level has a certain effect on promoting platelet activation in sepsis, and inhibition of PCSK9 level may have potential research value in improving adverse outcomes caused by sepsis thrombocytopenia.

Application of self-made anti-pressure sore cotton cover in preventing facial pressure injury in patients with non-invasive ventilation

To observe the application effect of self-made anti-pressure sore cotton cover on the prevention of facial pressure injury in patients with non-invasive ventilation, and to explore the effective method of preventing facial pressure injury. A prospective study was conducted. Patients with mild to moderate respiratory failure and non-invasive ventilation admitted to the department of intensive care medicine of Harisen International Peace Hospital Affiliated to Hebei Medical University from March 2020 to August 2021 were enrolled, and they were divided into gauze pad group, foam dressing group and self-made anti-pressure ulcer cotton cover group by random number table method. Before wearing the ventilator mask, the gauze pad group and the foam auxiliary dressing group should fold or cut out the auxiliary dressing with the corresponding size and suitable for the patient's facial contour. In the self-made anti-pressure sore cotton cover group, the ventilator cotton cover could be worn only by selecting the cotton cover suitable for the patient's face shape, aligning the vent to the mouth and nose, and tying the fixed belt behind the ear. The incidence of facial pressure sore, the time required to connect man-machine interface (from the preparation of auxiliary dressing for pressure sores to the connection of ventilator) and the cost of dressing were compared among the three groups. A total of 150 patients with non-invasive ventilation were enrolled, with 50 patients in each group. Compared with the gauze pad group and the foam dressing group, the incidence of facial pressure sore in the self-made anti-pressure sore cotton cover group was significantly reduced [6.0% (3/50) vs. 44.0% (22/50), 12.0% (6/50), both P < 0.05], and the time required to connect the man-machine interface was significantly shortened (minutes: 5.0±1.5 vs. 10.0±1.5, 8.0±2.0, both P < 0.05), dressing cost was significantly reduced (yuan: 30±10 vs. 150±20, 118±29, both P < 0.05). Compared with the gauze pad and the foam dressing, the incidence of facial pressure sore in non-invasive ventilation patients with self-made anti-pressure sore cotton cover is lower, the time required to connect man-machine interface is shorter, and the cost of pressure sore prevention dressing is less, which is suitable for the prevention of facial pressure injury in non-invasive ventilation patients.

Retrospective analysis on incidence and risk factors for early acute renal injury after lung transplantation

BackgroundAcute renal injury (AKI) is a common complication of lung transplantation. However, there has been no related research on whether the relationship between fluid balance and input and output influences the occurrence of early AKI. This study aimed to explore the relationship between early fluid balance and input and output on the incidence of early AKI after lung transplantation. MethodsData from 31 patients who underwent lung transplantation in the Department of Intensive Care Medicine of the Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences, Sichuan People's Hospital, from August 2018 to July 2021 were collected. To summarize the occurrence of early AKI after lung transplantation, The main indicators of lung transplantation patients were collected. The risk factors for early AKI after lung transplantation were analyzed. ResultsAmong the 31 patients who underwent lung transplantation, 21 had early postoperative AKI, with an incidence rate of 67.7%. Compared with the non-AKI group, the hospitalization and ICU hospitalization times of the AKI group were longer (P < 0.05). Multivariate regression analysis showed that intraoperative input volume, BMI, and fluid balance on the first day after lung transplantation were independent risk factors for AKI. ConclusionIntraoperative input volume, BMI, and fluid balance on the first day after lung transplantation were independent risk factors for AKI.

Cognitive impairment and depressive symptoms in severe COVID‐19 elderly survivors: Preliminary results from 1‐year follow‐up assessment

AbstractBackgroundStudies have pointed towards the presence of neuropsychiatric sequelae after COVID‐19 infection, yet in the midst of the biggest health threat of this generation there are relatively few long‐term studies which have endeavored to identify such complications, known to have a negative impact on quality of life. In this context, this study aims to identify cognitive impairment (CI) and depressive symptoms in severe COVID‐19 elderly survivors, 1‐year after hospital discharge and also to analyse the association between CI and depressive symptoms.MethodThis study is part of the longitudinal MAPA project still ongoing at a University Hospital in Porto, Portugal. Patients with &gt;60 y.o., admitted into Intensive Care Medicine Department (ICMD), due to COVID‐19 (1st wave), were included. Exclusion criteria were: ICMD length of stay ≤24h, terminal illness, major auditory loss or inability to communicate at the follow‐up assessment. Participants were evaluated 1‐year after hospital discharge, with a research protocol, which includes Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ‐9; depressive symptoms) and Six Item Cognitive Impairment Test (6CIT; CI).ResultThirty‐eight patients were included (median age = 71years). Mostly were male (66%), married (66%) and with low education (58% = 0‐4years). About 53% had previous psychiatric history (none had clinical registry of CI or dementia). Most patients (71%) needed deep sedation and invasive mechanical ventilation (71%). CI and depressive symptoms were observed in 18.4% of the sample, for both. Patients with depression had more CI (42.9%vs12.9%), however this difference was not statistically significant.ConclusionThese findings showed that an important proportion of severe COVID‐19 elderly survivors suffers from depressive symptoms and CI, 1‐year post‐discharge, which are in line with other studies. These results underline the need to better clarify the long‐term relationship between depression and CI in severe COVID‐19 survivors.

Impact of COVID-19 on Sedation Requirements during Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

COVID-19-associated ARDS (C-ARDS) is mentioned to express higher analgosedation needs, in comparison to ARDS of other etiologies. The objective of this monocentric retrospective cohort study was to compare the analgosedation needs between C-ARDS and non-COVID-19 ARDS (non-C-ARDS) on veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO). Data were collected from the electronic medical records of all adult patients treated with C-ARDS in our Department of Intensive Care Medicine between March 2020 and April 2022. The control group included patients treated with non-C-ARDS between the years 2009 and 2020. A sedation sum score was created in order to describe the overall analgosedation needs. A total of 115 (31.5%) patients with C-ARDS and 250 (68.5%) with non-C-ARDS requiring VV-ECMO therapy were included in the study. The sedation sum score was significantly higher in the C-ARDS group (p < 0.001). COVID-19 was significantly associated with analgosedation in the univariable analysis. By contrast, the multivariable model did not show a significant association between COVID-19 and the sum score. The year of VV-ECMO support, BMI, SAPS II and prone positioning were significantly associated with sedation needs. The potential impact of COVID-19 remains unclear, and further studies are warranted in order to evaluate specific disease characteristics linked with analgesia and sedation.

Efecto de la duración del decúbito prono en pacientes con SDRA durante la pandemia por SARS-CoV-2

ObjectiveTo describe the characteristics of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome due to bilateral COVID-19 pneumonia on invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) and analyze the effect of prolonged prone decubitus>24h (PPD) compared to prone decubitus<24h (PD). DesignRetrospective observational descriptive study. Uni and bivariate analysis. SettingDepartment of Intensive Care Medicine. General University Hospital of Elche. ParticipantsPatients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia (2020–2021) in VMI for moderate-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome, ventilated in PD. InterventionsIMV. PD maneuvers. Main variables of interestSociodemographic; analgo-sedation; neuromuscular blockade; PD (duration), ICU stay and mortality, days of IMV; non-infectious complications; health care-associated infections. ResultsFifty-one patients required PD and of these 31 (69.78%) required PPD. No differences were found in patient characteristics (sex, age, comorbidities, initial severity, antiviral and anti-inflammatory treatment received). Patients on PPD had lower tolerance to supine ventilation (61.29 vs. 89.47%, p=0.031), longer hospital stay (41 vs. 30 days, p=0.023), more days of IMV (32 vs. 20 days, p=0.032), longer duration of neuromuscular blockade (10.5 vs. 3 days, p=0.0002), as well as a higher percentage of episodes of orotracheal tube obstruction (48.39 vs. 15%, p=0.014). ConclusionsPPD was associated with higher resource use and complications in patients with moderate-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome by COVID-19.

Predictive value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio for 28-day death in patients treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

The study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) for 28-day mortality in patients treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Patients receiving ECMO treatment were selected from the Department of Intensive Care Medicine of Zhejiang Hospital from January 2019 to February 2022. The moment when patients started receiving ECMO treatment was set as the starting point, and death at 28 days was set as the endpoint. The patients were divided into survivors and deaths. Laboratory tests, such as neutrophil, lymphocyte, and platelet counts, using the peripheral blood of all patients were collected within 24 h after ECMO treatment. NLR and PLR were calculated. The risk factors influencing prognosis were analyzed by logistic regression. The correlation between NLR, PLR, acute physiology, and chronic health score Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ) was investigated. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to analyze the value of NLR and PLR in predicting the 28-day mortality of patients treated with ECMO. Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the cumulative survival of patients at 28 days. The results showed that of 53 patients, 20 survived, and 33 died. The NLR and PLR of the deceased were higher than those of the survivors (NLR: 30.67±14.48 vs. 17.41±7.06;PLR: 303.34±159.23 vs. 191.54±106.03;P<0.001). NLR and PLR were positively correlated with APACHE Ⅱ (r=0.296, r=0.284, P<0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of NLR and PLR to predict the 28 d death of ECMO-treated patients was 0.805 and 0.714, respectively, and the optimal cutoff values of NLR and PLR were 18.93 and 253.0, respectively. The 28-day fatality rate in patients with NLR≥18.93 was higher than that in patients with NLR<18.93 [86.20%(25/29) vs. 33.33%(8/24), χ2=15.625, P<0.01],that in patients with a PLR≥253.0 was higher than that in patients with PLR<253.0 [82.61%(19/23) vs. 46.67%(14/30), χ2=7.158, P<0.01]. Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed that the 28-day cumulative survival rate of NLR≥18.93 was lower than that of NLR<18.93 [9.00 (2.00, 19.50) d vs. 28.00 (10.75, 28.00) d, Z=-3.124, P<0.01], and that of PLR≥253.0 was lower than that of PLR<253.0 [6.00 (2.00, 19.00) d vs. 28.00 (6.25, 28.00) d, Z=-2.673, P<0.01]. Thus, NLR and PLR have good predictive value for 28-day mortality in patients treated with ECMO.

The Advantages of Single-Room Management in an ICU and the Changing Trend of Drug-Resistant Bacteria over the Last 5 Years

ObjectiveWe reviewed the benefits of an all-single-room intensive care unit in the prevention of hospital-acquired infection.MethodThe intensive care medicine department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College commenced single-room management in 2019. This study reviewed the prevalence of pathogenic bacterial infection and altered drug resistance of major pathogens in patients hospitalized from January 2016 to December 2020. Results of bacterial resistance and changes in bacterial numbers were analyzed separately and the two time periods compared.ResultsIn 2016, 320 strains of pathogenic bacteria were identified compared with 601 in 2020. At both times, bacteria were predominantly gram-negative. The ratio of the number of pathogenic bacteria to the number of beds revealed a decreasing trend each year from 2016–2020: 22.86, 17.57, 28.36, 14.33, and 15.41 respectively (P < 0.05). The top five Gram-negative bacteria were Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Burkholderia cepacia. The source of bacteria was mainly sputum, followed by blood, and the site of infection was predominantly the respiratory tract. Staphylococcus aureus resistant to ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin and erythromycin had decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Among the multi-drug resistant bacteria detected, only penicillin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and penicillin-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa decreased after the introduction of single-room wards (P = 0.025, P = 0.002 respectively).ConclusionIntroduction of a single-room ward directly or indirectly reduced the possibility of cross-infection. The establishment of single-room wards has no adverse effects and was beneficial to patients, the department and the hospital.

A single-centre review of outcomes following in-hospital cardiac arrests in Singapore.

Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Sengkang General Hospital, Singapore Correspondence: Dr. Jun Yang Ho, Medical Officer, Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Sengkang General Hospital, 110 Sengkang E Way, 544886, Singapore. E-mail: [email protected] Received November 04, 2020 Accepted July 18, 2021

Effects of early cognitive rehabilitation training on cognitive function and quality of life in critically ill patients with cognitive impairment: A randomised controlled trial

BackgroundPatients often develop cognitive dysfunction during admission to the ICU and after being transferred out of the ICU, which leads to physical disorders, sleep disorders, and psychological stress.Cognitive rehabilitation training can significantly improve patients' planning, decision-making ability, and executive function. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to explore the role of early cognitive rehabilitation training in improving cognitive impairment in critically ill patients. MethodsThis study was a prospective, randomised, controlled clinical trial conducted from January 2017 to June 2021. Critically ill patients with cognitive impairment admitted to the Department of Intensive Care Medicine of The Third Hospital of Mianyang were randomly divided into the control (n = 68) and intervention groups (n = 68). Cognitive rehabilitation training (including digital operating system training, music therapy, aerobic training, and mental health intervention) was applied to the patients in the intervention group for 6 months, while the control group did not receive any cognitive intervention. Before 3 and 6 months after enrolment, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment and the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey Scale were used to evaluate cognitive function and quality of life, respectively, in both groups. ResultsA total of 136 critical patients were included in the final analysis. There were no significant differences in sex, age, years of education, complications, intensive care unit hospitalisation time, mechanical ventilation time, or the total score of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale when transferred out of the intensive care unit in 24 hours between the two groups. Six months later, the results of the follow-up showed that the cognitive function score in the intervention group was significantly higher than that in the control group (26.69 ± 2.49 vs. 23.03 ± 3.79). The analysis of quality of life showed that the scores in all areas in the intervention group improved. There were significant differences in physical functioning (69.02 ± 8.14 vs. 63.38 ± 11.94), role physical (62.02 ± 12.18 vs. 58.09 ± 8.83), general health (46.00 ± 15.21 vs. 40.38 ± 13.77), vitality (61.00 ± 11.01 vs. 54.38 ± 13.80), social functioning (70.00 ± 10.29 vs. 64.41 ± 13.61), role emotional (78.00 ± 8.00 vs. 72.15 ± 12.18), and mental health (71.00 ± 12.33 vs. 55.37 ± 10.76) between the two groups (P < 0.05). ConclusionEarly cognitive rehabilitation training can improve cognitive impairment in critically ill patients and their quality of life.