Experts In Critical Care Medicine Research Articles

Clinical practice guidelines for nutritional assessment and monitoring of adult ICU patients in China

The Chinese Society of Critical Care Medicine (CSCCM) has developed the clinical practice guidelines of nutrition assessment and monitoring for patients in adult intensive care unit (ICU) of China. This guideline focuses on nutrition assessment and metabolic monitoring to achieve the optimal and individualized nutrition therapy for critical ill patients. This guideline was made by experts in critical care medicine and evidence-based medicine methodology and was developed after a thorough system review and summary of relevant trials or studies published from 2000 to July 2023. A total of 18 recommendations were formed and consensus was reached through discussions and review by expert groups in critical care medicine, parenteral and enteral nutrition, and surgery. The recommendations are based on the currently available evidence and cover several key fields, including nutrition risk screening and assessment, evaluation and assessment of enteral feeding intolerance, metabolic and nutritional measurement and monitoring during nutrition therapy, and organ function evaluation related to nutrition supply. Each question was analyzed according to the PICO principle. In addition, interpretations were provided for four questions that did not reach a consensus but may have potential clinical and research value. The plan is to update this nutrition assessment and monitoring guideline using the international guideline update method within 3 to 5 years.

Expert consensus on late stage of critical care management

We wished to establish an expert consensus on late stage of critical care (CC) management. The panel comprised 13 experts in CC medicine. Each statement was assessed based on the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) principle. Then, the Delphi method was adopted by 17 experts to reassess the following 28 statements. (1) ESCAPE has evolved from a strategy of delirium management to a strategy of late stage of CC management. (2) The new version of ESCAPE is a strategy for optimizing treatment and comprehensive care of critically ill patients (CIPs) after the rescue period, including early mobilization, early rehabilitation, nutritional support, sleep management, mental assessment, cognitive-function training, emotional support, and optimizing sedation and analgesia. (3) Disease assessment to determine the starting point of early mobilization, early rehabilitation, and early enteral nutrition. (4) Early mobilization has synergistic effects upon the recovery of organ function. (5) Early functional exercise and rehabilitation are important means to promote CIP recovery, and gives them a sense of future prospects. (6) Timely start of enteral nutrition is conducive to early mobilization and early rehabilitation. (7) The spontaneous breathing test should be started as soon as possible, and a weaning plan should be selected step-by-step. (8) The waking process of CIPs should be realized in a planned and purposeful way. (9) Establishment of a sleep-wake rhythm is the key to sleep management in post-CC management. (10) The spontaneous awakening trial, spontaneous breathing trial, and sleep management should be carried out together. (11) The depth of sedation should be adjusted dynamically in the late stage of CC period. (12) Standardized sedation assessment is the premise of rational sedation. (13) Appropriate sedative drugs should be selected according to the objectives of sedation and drug characteristics. (14) A goal-directed minimization strategy for sedation should be implemented. (15) The principle of analgesia must be mastered first. (16) Subjective assessment is preferred for analgesia assessment. (17) Opioid-based analgesic strategies should be selected step-by-step according to the characteristics of different drugs. (18) There must be rational use of non-opioid analgesics and non-drug-based analgesic measures. (19) Pay attention to evaluation of the psychological status of CIPs. (20) Cognitive function in CIPs cannot be ignored. (21) Delirium management should be based on non-drug-based measures and rational use of drugs. (22) Reset treatment can be considered for severe delirium. (23) Psychological assessment should be conducted as early as possible to screen-out high-risk groups with post-traumatic stress disorder. (24) Emotional support, flexible visiting, and environment management are important components of humanistic management in the intensive care unit (ICU). (25) Emotional support from medical teams and families should be promoted through"ICU diaries"and other forms. (26) Environmental management should be carried out by enriching environmental content, limiting environmental interference, and optimizing the environmental atmosphere. (27) Reasonable promotion of flexible visitation should be done on the basis of prevention of nosocomial infection. (28) ESCAPE is an excellent project for late stage of CC management.

Current satus and future direction of neuromonitoring in patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Neurological complications significantly affect the short-and long-term outcomes of patients with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). With the increasing application of ECMO, more and more attention has been paid to the neuromonitoring in ECMO patients. Although many neuromonitoring approaches have already been used clinically, the sensitivity and specificity utilizing one single neuromonitoring assessment to predict brain injury is still insufficient. Therefore, multidisciplinary experts in critical care medicine and extracorporeal life support organization advocate that multimodal monitoring (MMM) should be applied to improve the sensitivity and specificity of monitoring the occurrence of acute brain injury in patients with ECMO. With timely and appropriate intervention, the prognosis of patients with ECMO may be improved. However, there is still a lack of standardized implementation procedures for MMM, which needs further efforts. With continuous verification and improvement in multi-clinical centers, the standardized MMM procedures could be transformed into correct treatment decisions, thus to improve the outcomes of patients with ECMO.

COVID-19 PANDEMIC EXPERIENCE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM – A NATIONAL SURVEY ABOUT CARDIAC CASES, WORK PATTERNS OF CARDIAC ANAESTHETISTS AND SUPPORT

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic started in Hubei Province, China in 2019 with the first confirmed cases in the UK in January 2020. On May 21st 2020, there were 158,488 confirmed cases in England and Wales with 33,081 deaths in SARS-CoV-2 positive patients (1). From March 2020 onwards, emergency cardiac operations were prioritised and individual work patterns adjusted. The skill set of cardiac anaesthetists, often including an expertise in critical care medicine, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and echocardiography, was useful for the multidisciplinary medical care of COVID-19 patients in critical care units. The aim of this survey was to assess individual cardiac anaesthetic experiences during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK.MethodsWe conducted a survey, supported by the Association for Cardiothoracic Anaesthesia and Critical Care (ACTACC). A 16-question survey related to the first UK COVID-19 surge in April and May 2020 was sent to the membership of ACTACC in 36 cardiac centres in July 2020. Data was collected and collated using the web-based survey platform “Survey Monkey” (Palo Alto, CA).ResultsThere were 80 completed responses, indicating a response rate of about 20%. The majority of anaesthetists continued cardiac anaesthesia with emergency cases (53%) and urgent cases (65%) only at their centres. Every 5th cardiac anaesthetist (22%) was re-deployed to a different unit in their hospital or to a different hospital. The clinical work pattern changed at least moderately for the majority of cardiac anaesthetists (86%). The majority of anaesthetists (90%) felt appropriately supported when they stepped outside of their usual clinical role during the pandemic and 95% felt that their existing skillset was appropriately used. The workload increased in a majority of cardiac anaesthetists (53%), but it also decreased for some (35%). Non-resident on-calls increased for about 1/3 (36%) of respondents and resident on-calls increased for 50% of cardiac anaesthetists. A majority of anaesthetists (85%) wore PPE during their clinical work and 95% felt that the supply of PPE was adequate. The most useful source of information during the pandemic was peer discussion, chosen by more than half of cardiac anaesthetists (54%).DiscussionThe results of this national survey for cardiac anaesthetists during the first COVID-19 wave in the UK demonstrate that work patterns for cardiac anaesthetists changed dramatically. These changes may have an effect on psychological wellbeing of cardiac anaesthetists (2). However, the majority of anaesthetists felt well supported in their clinical work. Peer discussions scored high as useful sources of information, suggesting that professional networks are crucial to both, personal wellbeing and good patient care. One limitation of this survey is a low response rate, with potentially more extreme experiences in the non-responder group, emphasising the importance of support measures and the challenge of gauging that they are effective.We conclude, that with subsequent COVID-19 peaks, there is a continued need to address potential effects of major changes of work patterns by cardiac anaesthetists on burnout, psychological wellbeing and resilience.

Expert consensus on the use of human serum albumin in critically ill patients.

Expert consensus on the use of human serum albumin in critically ill patients.

Technology and Disasters: The Evolution of the National Emergency Tele-Critical Care Network.

Technology and Disasters: The Evolution of the National Emergency Tele-Critical Care Network.

Scarce Resource Allocation in a Pandemic: A Protocol to Promote Equity, Timeliness, and Transparency.

Shortages of equipment, medication, and staff under coronavirus disease 2019 may force hospitals to make wrenching decisions. Although bioethical guidance is available, published procedures for decision-making processes to resolve the time-sensitive conflicts are rare. Failure to establish decision-making procedures before scarcities arise exposes clinicians to moral distress and potential legal liability, entrenches existing systemic biases, and leaves hospitals without processes to guarantee transparency and consistency in the application of ethical guidelines. Formal institutional processes can reduce the panic, inequity, and irresolution that arise from confronting ethical conflicts under duress. Drawing on expertise in critical care medicine, bioethics, and political science, we propose a decision-making protocol to ensure fairness in the resolution of conflict, timely decision-making, and accountability to improve system response.

Role of Critical Care Medicine Training in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit: Survey Responses From Dual Certified Critical Care Cardiologists.

BackgroundCardiovascular intensive care units (CICUs) have evolved from coronary care wards into distinct units for critically ill patients with primary cardiac diseases, often suffering from illnesses that cross multiple disciplines. Mounting evidence has demonstrated improved survival with the incorporation of dedicated CICU providers with expertise in critical care medicine (CCM). This is the first study to systematically survey dual certified physicians in order to assess the relevance of CCM training to contemporary CICU care.Methods and ResultsUtilizing American Board of Internal Medicine data through 2014, 397 eligible physicians had obtained initial certification in both cardiovascular disease and CCM. A survey to delineate the role of critical care training in the CICU was provided to these physicians. Among those surveyed, 120 physicians (30%) responded. Dual certified physicians reported frequent use of their CCM skills in the CICU, highlighting ventilator management, multiorgan dysfunction management, end‐of‐life care, and airway management. The majority (85%) cited these skills as the reason CCM training should be prioritized by future CICU providers. Few (17%) agreed that general cardiology fellowship alone is currently sufficient to care for patients in the modern CICU. Furthermore, there was a consensus that there is an unmet need for cardiologists trained in CCM (70%) and that CICUs should adopt a level system similar to trauma centers (61%).ConclusionsCiting specific skills acquired during CCM training, dual certified critical care cardiologists reported that their additional critical care experience was necessary in their practice to effectively deliver care in the modern CICU.

Critical Illness-Related Corticosteroid Insufficiency (CIRCI): A Narrative Review from a Multispecialty Task Force of the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) and the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM).

To provide a narrative review of the latest concepts and understanding of the pathophysiology of critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency (CIRCI). A multi-specialty task force of international experts in critical care medicine and endocrinology and members of the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine. Medline, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Three major pathophysiologic events were considered to constitute CIRCI: dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, altered cortisol metabolism, and tissue resistance to glucocorticoids. The dysregulation of the HPA axis is complex, involving multidirectional crosstalk between the CRH/ACTH pathways, autonomic nervous system, vasopressinergic system, and immune system. Recent studies have demonstrated that plasma clearance of cortisol is markedly reduced during critical illness, explained by suppressed expression and activity of the primary cortisol-metabolizing enzymes in the liver and kidney. Despite the elevated cortisol levels during critical illness, tissue resistance to glucocorticoids is believed to occur due to insufficient glucocorticoid alpha-mediated anti-inflammatory activity. Novel insights into the pathophysiology of CIRCI add to the limitations of the current diagnostic tools to identify at-risk patients and may also impact how corticosteroids are used in patients with CIRCI.

Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Critical Illness-Related Corticosteroid Insufficiency (CIRCI) in Critically Ill Patients (Part I): Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) and European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) 2017.

To update the 2008 consensus statements for the diagnosis and management of critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency (CIRCI) in adult and pediatric patients. A multispecialty task force of 16 international experts in critical care medicine, endocrinology, and guideline methods, all of them members of the Society of Critical Care Medicine and/or the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine. The recommendations were based on the summarized evidence from the 2008 document in addition to more recent findings from an updated systematic review of relevant studies from 2008 to 2017 and were formulated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology. The strength of each recommendation was classified as strong or conditional, and the quality of evidence was rated from high to very low based on factors including the individual study design, the risk of bias, the consistency of the results, and the directness and precision of the evidence. Recommendation approval required the agreement of at least 80% of the task force members. The task force was unable to reach agreement on a single test that can reliably diagnose CIRCI, although delta cortisol (change in baseline cortisol at 60 min of < 9 μg/dL) after cosyntropin (250 μg) administration and a random plasma cortisol of < 10 μg/dL may be used by clinicians. We suggest against using plasma-free cortisol or salivary cortisol level over plasma total cortisol (conditional, very low quality of evidence). For treatment of specific conditions, we suggest using IV hydrocortisone < 400 mg/day for ≥ 3 days at full dose in patients with septic shock that is not responsive to fluid and moderate- to high-dose vasopressor therapy (conditional, low quality of evidence). We suggest not using corticosteroids in adult patients with sepsis without shock (conditional recommendation, moderate quality of evidence). We suggest the use of IV methylprednisolone 1 mg/kg/day in patients with early moderate to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (PaO2/FiO2 < 200 and within 14 days of onset) (conditional, moderate quality of evidence). Corticosteroids are not suggested for patients with major trauma (conditional, low quality of evidence). Evidence-based recommendations for the use of corticosteroids in critically ill patients with sepsis and septic shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and major trauma have been developed by a multispecialty task force.

Experts consensus on the management of the right heart function in critically ill patients

Experts consensus on the management of the right heart function in critically ill patients

Critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency (CIRCI): a narrative review from a Multispecialty Task Force of the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) and the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM).

To provide a narrative review of the latest concepts and understanding of the pathophysiology of critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency (CIRCI). A multispecialty task force of international experts in critical care medicine and endocrinology and members of the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) and the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM). Medline, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Three major pathophysiologic events were considered to constitute CIRCI: dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, altered cortisol metabolism, and tissue resistance to glucocorticoids. The dysregulation of the HPA axis is complex, involving multidirectional crosstalk between the CRH/ACTH pathways, autonomic nervous system, vasopressinergic system, and immune system. Recent studies have demonstrated that plasma clearance of cortisol is markedly reduced during critical illness, explained by suppressed expression and activity of the primary cortisol-metabolizing enzymes in the liver and kidney. Despite the elevated cortisol levels during critical illness, tissue resistance to glucocorticoids is believed to occur due to insufficient glucocorticoid alpha-mediated anti-inflammatory activity. Novel insights into the pathophysiology of CIRCI add to the limitations of the current diagnostic tools to identify at-risk patients and may also impact how corticosteroids are used in patients with CIRCI.

Management of the Potential Organ Donor in the ICU: Society of Critical Care Medicine/American College of Chest Physicians/Association of Organ Procurement Organizations Consensus Statement.

This document was developed through the collaborative efforts of the Society of Critical Care Medicine, the American College of Chest Physicians, and the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations. Under the auspices of these societies, a multidisciplinary, multi-institutional task force was convened, incorporating expertise in critical care medicine, organ donor management, and transplantation. Members of the task force were divided into 13 subcommittees, each focused on one of the following general or organ-specific areas: death determination using neurologic criteria, donation after circulatory death determination, authorization process, general contraindications to donation, hemodynamic management, endocrine dysfunction and hormone replacement therapy, pediatric donor management, cardiac donation, lung donation, liver donation, kidney donation, small bowel donation, and pancreas donation. Subcommittees were charged with generating a series of management-related questions related to their topic. For each question, subcommittees provided a summary of relevant literature and specific recommendations. The specific recommendations were approved by all members of the task force and then assembled into a complete document. Because the available literature was overwhelmingly comprised of observational studies and case series, representing low-quality evidence, a decision was made that the document would assume the form of a consensus statement rather than a formally graded guideline. The goal of this document is to provide critical care practitioners with essential information and practical recommendations related to management of the potential organ donor, based on the available literature and expert consensus.

Interdisciplinary Approach to Neurocritical Care in the Intensive Care Nursery

Neurocritical care is a multidisciplinary subspecialty that combines expertise in critical care medicine, neurology, and neurosurgery, and has led to improved outcomes in adults who have critical illnesses. Advances in resuscitation and critical care have led to high rates of survival among neonates with life-threatening conditions such as perinatal asphyxia, extreme prematurity, and congenital malformations. The sequelae of neurologic conditions arising in the neonatal period include lifelong disabilities such as cerebral palsy and epilepsy, as well as intellectual and behavioral disabilities. Centers of excellence have adapted the principles of neurocritical care to reflect the needs of the developing newborn brain, including early involvement of a neurologist for recognition and treatment of neurologic conditions, attention to physiology to help prevent secondary brain injury, a protocol-driven approach for common conditions like seizures and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, and education of specialized teams that use brain monitoring and imaging to evaluate the effect of critical illness on brain function and development.

Training Intensivists and Clinician-Scientists for the 21st Century: The Oregon Scholars Program

Innovation is important for the development and advancement of any medical specialty. Leaders in anesthesiology have emphasized the need for more training in critical care and additional research to advance our specialty. To help address this need, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) developed an innovative training program that combines a critical care medicine (CCM) or research fellowship with traditional clinical anesthesia training. This article outlines the program structure, challenges, and successes of this innovative approach to training anesthesiology clinicians and scientists. Since the program began in 2006, we have filled all available positions and currently have 9 scholars in the anesthesiology/CCM track and 3 in the anesthesiology/research track at the postgraduate year-2 to postgraduate year-5 levels. Our first class of scholars graduated in the summer of 2010. The Oregon Scholars Program (OSP) scholars and faculty have confronted challenges, including the transition from resident in the operating rooms to fellow in the critical care units. In 2007, our residents acknowledged the OSP/CCM scholars' expertise in CCM and have looked to them as teachers and advocates for their education during their CCM rotations. In July 2007, OHSU received a National Institutes of Health T32 training grant to support the research component of the OSP. OSP scholars' research productivity has resulted in 11 publications, 3 abstracts, 3 presentations, 3 research grants, and 1 resident research award. Several other anesthesiology programs have recently instituted similar programs to address the need for anesthesiologists trained as intensivists and clinician-scientists.

Recommendations for the diagnosis and management of corticosteroid insufficiency in critically ill adult patients: Consensus statements from an international task force by the American College of Critical Care Medicine

To develop consensus statements for the diagnosis and management of corticosteroid insufficiency in critically ill adult patients. A multidisciplinary, multispecialty task force of experts in critical care medicine was convened from the membership of the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine. In addition, international experts in endocrinology were invited to participate. The task force members reviewed published literature and provided expert opinion from which the consensus was derived. The consensus statements were developed using a modified Delphi methodology. The strength of each recommendation was quantified using the Modified GRADE system, which classifies recommendations as strong (grade 1) or weak (grade 2) and the quality of evidence as high (grade A), moderate (grade B), or low (grade C) based on factors that include the study design, the consistency of the results, and the directness of the evidence. The task force coined the term critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency to describe the dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis that occurs during critical illness. Critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency is caused by adrenal insufficiency together with tissue corticosteroid resistance and is characterized by an exaggerated and protracted proinflammatory response. Critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency should be suspected in hypotensive patients who have responded poorly to fluids and vasopressor agents, particularly in the setting of sepsis. At this time, the diagnosis of tissue corticosteroid resistance remains problematic. Adrenal insufficiency in critically ill patients is best made by a delta total serum cortisol of < 9 microg/dL after adrenocorticotrophic hormone (250 microg) administration or a random total cortisol of < 10 microg/dL. The benefit of treatment with glucocorticoids at this time seems to be limited to patients with vasopressor-dependent septic shock and patients with early severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (PaO2/FiO2 of < 200 and within 14 days of onset). The adrenocorticotrophic hormone stimulation test should not be used to identify those patients with septic shock or acute respiratory distress syndrome who should receive glucocorticoids. Hydrocortisone in a dose of 200 mg/day in four divided doses or as a continuous infusion in a dose of 240 mg/day (10 mg/hr) for > or = 7 days is recommended for septic shock. Methylprednisolone in a dose of 1 mg x kg(-1) x day(-1) for > or = 14 days is recommended in patients with severe early acute respiratory distress syndrome. Glucocorticoids should be weaned and not stopped abruptly. Reinstitution of treatment should be considered with recurrence of signs of sepsis, hypotension, or worsening oxygenation. Dexamethasone is not recommended to treat critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency. The role of glucocorticoids in the management of patients with community-acquired pneumonia, liver failure, pancreatitis, those undergoing cardiac surgery, and other groups of critically ill patients requires further investigation. Evidence-linked consensus statements with regard to the diagnosis and management of corticosteroid deficiency in critically ill patients have been developed by a multidisciplinary, multispecialty task force.

What you need to know about sepsis

This book offers a comprehensive review of the clinical management of patients with sepsis and discusses experimental approaches for the treatment of this process. Sepsis is becoming more common among patients in intensive care units, and there is also an overall increase in the incidence of sepsis. The threat of bioterrorism increases the potential of large-scale infections and, possibly, widespread sepsis. So this text is timely and important. The contributors are all experts in critical care medicine.