General Surgery Intensive Care Unit Research Articles

Effects of traditional and dry bed baths on patients admitted in intensive units: A randomized crossover clinical trial.

The bed bath is an important part of nursing care. There are few studies evaluating the effects of traditional and dry bed baths on patients. This study was performed with the aim of investigating the effect of traditional and dry bed baths given to intensive care unit patients on the patients' hemodynamic parameters, the duration of the bathing procedure and the cost of consumable items. This was a randomized crossover clinical trial and a prospective study. The study was conducted in a General Surgery Intensive Care Unit with 22 intensive care patients aged 18 and over, who had a nursing diagnosis of bathing personal care deficiency. Each patient was given two types of bed baths at an interval of 24 h: a traditional bed bath and a dry bed bath performed with single-use tissues. Immediately before each bath, in the 5th, 10th and 15th minute of bathing, immediately after bathing and 30 min after bathing, body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate and peripheral oxygen saturation measurement changes over time were compared within the group using the Friedman test. The Wilcoxon signed ranks test was used to compare the variables of bathing duration and bathing consumable item costs between the bathing procedures. It was found that at the completion of traditional and dry bed bathing, the participants' body temperature, blood pressure, heart rate and breathing rate parameters were statistically significantly lower than before bathing, whereas peripheral oxygen saturation values showed a significant increase (p < 0.05). It was found that the dry bed bath took a statistically significantly shorter time than the traditional bed bath and that the cost of consumable bathing materials was less (p < 0.05). It was concluded that traditional and dry bed baths given to intensive care patients affected their hemodynamic parameters and that the dry bed bath was superior to the traditional bed bath in that it took less time and that it cost less.

Benefits of dexmedetomidine during noninvasive mechanical ventilation in major abdominal surgery patients with postoperative respiratory failure.

The efficacy of non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV) on the postoperative ARF is conflicting and the failure rate of NIMV in this patient population is high. In our study, we hypothesized that the use of dexmedetomidine during NIMV in major abdominal surgical patients can reduce NIMV failure without significant side affect. Medical records of patients who underwent major abdominal surgery, admitted to our general surgery intensive care unit (ICU), developed postoperative ARF, received NIMV (with oro-nasal mask) and dexmedetomidine infusion were enrolled in this study. The infusion rate was adjusted to maintain a target sedation level of a Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) (-2)-(-3). The sedation was stopped when NIMV was discontinued. A total of 60 patients, 42 (70.0%) male, and 18 (30.0%) female, with a mean age of 68 ± 11 years were included in the study. The mean APACHE II score was 20 ± 6. Dexmedetomidine was infused for a median of 25 h (loading dose of 0.2 mcg/kg for 10 min, maintained at 0.2-0.7 mcg/kg/h, titrated every 30 min). RASS score of all study group significantly improved at the 2 h of dexmedetomidine initiation (+3 vs. -2, p = 0.01). A targeted sedation level was achieved in 92.5% of patients. Six (10.0%) patients developed bradycardia and 5 (8.3%) patients had hypotension. The mean NIMV application time was 23.4 ± 6.1 h. Seven (11.6%) patients experienced NIMV failure, all due to worsening pulmonary conditions, and required intubation and invasive ventilation. Fifty-three (88.3%) patients were successfully weaned from NIMV with dexmedetomidine sedation and discharged from ICU. The duration of NIMV application and ICU stay was shorter in NIMV succeded group (21.4 ± 3.2 vs. 29.9 ± 6.4; p = 0.012). Our study suggests that dexmedetomidine demonstrates effective sedation in patients with postoperative ARF during NIMV application after abdominal surgery. Dexmedetomidine can be considered safe and capable of improving NIMV success.

Effects of cold spray on thirst, frequency of oral care, and pain of general surgery intensive care unit patients

This study aims to investigate the effects of intraoral cold water spray on thirst, frequency of oral care and postoperative period pain at surgical incision site in patients having abdominal surgery. The study was carried out as a randomized controlled trial, registered under Clinical Trial Number: NCT05940818. The study involved 110 participants, divided equally into two groups (n = 55): the experimental group and the control group. Data were collected using patient information form, NRS, Intensive Care Oral Care Frequency Assessment Scale (ICOCFAS) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The severity of thirst at 1st, 8th, 16th h of post-operative period (p < 0.01) and the frequency of oral care application at 16th h were statistically significantly decreased in the experimental group when compared to the control group (p < 0.01).There wasn’t statistically significant difference between the patients in the experimental and control groups in terms of pain at surgical incision site (p > 0.05). The patient’s thirst and need for frequent oral care in the postoperative period were reduced by the application of a cold water spray. In patients undergoing abdominal surgery, the use of cold water spray application may be recommended to reduce thirst and the need for frequency of oral care application.

The effect of different bed head angles on the hemodynamic parameters of intensive care patients lying in the supine position: A quasi-experimental study.

The aim of this study was to research the effect of different bed head angles on the hemodynamic parameters of intensive care patients lying in the supine position. This study was a non-randomized and non-controlled, quasi-experimental repeated measures study. The study was conducted with 50 intensive care patients aged 18 and over in a general surgery intensive care unit in Turkey. With each patient in the supine position, the bed head was raised to an angle of 0°, 20°, 30°, and 45° without a pillow, and the hemodynamic parameters of central venous pressure, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and peripheral oxygen saturation were recorded after 0 and 10 min. It was found that the mean central venous pressure value measured at min 0 and 10 was higher when the intensive care patients' bed head angle was raised to 45° than when the bed head was at an angle of 0° or 20° (p < .05). It was found that the patients' other hemodynamic parameters were not affected by different bed head angles. It was concluded as a result of this research that in intensive care patients in the supine position, only central venous pressure was affected by bed head angle, and that central venous pressure measurement can be reliably made at a bed head angle of 30°.

A RARE PNEUMOBILIA CASE CAUSED BY LIVER ABSCESS

Pneumobilia is the accumulation of gas in the biliary tract. A 72-year-old woman was brought tour emergency department with complaints of abdominal pain and general condition. The patient, who described pain in the right lumbar region, had mild distension and right hypochondriac tenderness during the abdominal examination. In contrast-free abdominal tomography, one hypodense lesion was observed at the right and left lobe junction level of the liver. There was an air view in the main bile duct and intra-hepatic bile ducts. The patient was admitted to the general surgery intensive care unit. Liver abscess was found as a result of abdominal imaging and liver fine needle aspiration biopsy performed. After a 2-week intensive care follow-up the patient was discharged with oral antibiotics due to the complete absence of regression and general condition of the patient. Pneumobilia is a rare condition with a high mortality and liver abscess should also be considered among its causes.

Factors Affecting Prolonged Stay in Postoperative Period in General Surgery Intensive Care Unit

Aim:Prolonged stay in intensive care unit is associated with a high risk of mortality. Predictability of it is important to reduce mortality. The aim of this study is to determine the factors affecting prolonged stay in secondary general surgery intensive care unit.Materials and Methods: Between January 2014 and October 2017, 68 patients with prolonged stay undergoing general surgery ICU follow-up in the postoperative period after the general surgical procedure and the same number of randomly selected patients with similar characteristics were compared in two groupsResults:The median age of the patients with prolonged stay was 69,00 (22,50) and the median age of the patients in the control group was 59,00 (14,75) (p &amp;lt; 0,001).In prolonged stay group, 59 patients underwent abdominal emergency surgery, and 9 patients underwent abdominal elective surgery. The number of patients undergoing abdominal emergency procedures in the control group was 23, and the number of patients undergoing abdominal elective procedure was 45 ( p=0,001). Fourty eight of the patients in the prolonged stay group had mortality, 7 of the patients in the control group had mortality (p=0,001). As a result of multivariate analysis; in the prolonged stay group, emergency abdominal surgical procedure rate (p &amp;lt;0.001) (Odds ratio:12.983), age (p = 0.006) (Odds ratio:0.96) and mortality rate (p &amp;lt;0.001) (Odds ratio: 20,91) was found to be statistically significant.Conclusion: . Emergency abdominal surgical procedure, age and high mortality rate are associated with prolonged stay.

Application of stepped drainage new model in nursing care for severe acute pancreatitis patients with necrosis and infection

Objective To summarize the key content of nursing of stepped drainage new model for severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) patients with necrosis and infection. Methods From January 2014 to December 2016, we selected 417 SAP patients with infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN) in General Surgery Intensive Care Unit at Nanjing General Hospital, People's Liberation Army. The four-step stepped drainage model was adopted during treatment including four stages, percutaneous catheter drainage, continuous negative pressure irrigation drainage, endoscopic drainage and laparotomy necrotic tissue debridement drainage. All stages of nursing had something in common and different emphasis points. Nursing care paid attention to strengthening the nursing for abdominal puncture catheter, abdominal double pipe, endoscopic operation cooperation and postoperative nursing of laparotomy. Results Among 417 SAP patients with IPN, a total of 413 patients were with percutaneous catheter drainage and single patient was with one to seven drainage tubes, a total of 2 252 tubes; 315 patients were with abdominal double pipe irrigation drainage and single patient was with two to seven double pipes, a total of 1 386 double pipes; 186 patients were with endoscopic drainage and single patient was with two to five times of endoscopic necrotic tissue debridement, a total of 725 times; 91 patients were with laparotomy and single patient was with laparotomy one to three times. During nursing care, totals of 13 percutaneous drainage catheters and abdominal double pipes slipped off; 109 cases of poor drainage happened to double pipe drainage with 56 cases of obstructed drainage; there were 30 cases of folding, 7 cases of hemorrhage and 16 cases of shifting. Those problems were all found and handled timely with no consequence caused by poor drainage and improper nursing care. Conclusions Among SAP patients with IPN, keys to guarantee high quality of nursing included mastering nursing emphasis of all stages, taking targeted nursing, keeping abdominal puncture catheter unobstructed, abdominal double pipes effectively sucking, cooperating on endoscopic necrotic tissue debridement and strengthening postoperative monitoring and wound management. Key words: Severe acute pancreatitis; Infected pancreatic necrosis; Stepped drainage; Pertinent nursing

Evaluation of stressors in intensive care units.

Physical and psychological stressors adversely affect the treatment and length of stay of patients in intensive care units. In this study, we aimed to describe environmental and psychological stressors affecting intensive care unit patients and to determine their priorities. In this study, the 40-item Intensive Care Unit Environmental Stressor Scale was administered to patients in the General Surgery Intensive Care Unit and the Anesthesiology and Reanimation Intensive Care Unit. The patients' age, gender, marital status, educational status, cause of hospitalization, and intensive care unit length of stay were questioned and recorded. Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation II scores were determined for intensive care unit patients. A total of 98 patients, 80 in the General Surgery Intensive Care Unit and 18 in the Anesthesiology and Reanimation Intensive Care Unit, were included in the study between May 1, 2015 and October 31, 2015. Fifty-six of the patients were male (57.1%) and 42 were female (42.9%). The mean age of the patients was 55.1±15.1 years. The mean intensive care unit length of stay was 3.4±1.6 days. The median Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation II score of the patients was 6 (0 to 17). The patients were most affected by thirst (mean 2.44). The second most stressful stress factor was the presence of tubes in the mouth and nose (mean 2.25). The least stressful factor for the patients was the presence of nurses constantly performing activities around the bed. Although 51% of the patients were postoperative, pain was ranked 5th among stress factors. The environmental and psychological factors affecting intensive care unit patients varied according to age, sex, and educational and surgical status. These factors had adverse effects on the patients. The elimination or modification of these factors would contribute positively to the treatment of intensive care unit patients and shorten their length of stay in the intensive care unit.

Association Between Acute Pain and Hemodynamic Parameters in a Postoperative Surgical Intensive Care Unit

I conducted a prospective repeated-measure study in the general surgery intensive care unit to investigate the associations among acute postoperative pain, analgesic therapy, and hemodynamic parameters. I selected 33 patients and recorded 84 episodes of pain. I measured intensity of pain and hemodynamic parameters after patients were transferred from the postanesthesia care unit to the general surgery intensive care unit, immediately before analgesic therapy and at 15, 30, and 45 minutes after analgesic therapy. Acute pain increased systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP), and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP); pulse rate (PR); and arterial oxygen saturation. Fifteen minutes after analgesic therapy, SBP and PR decreased, and DBP, MAP, and oxygen saturation increased. Thirty minutes after therapy, SBP, MAP, and PR decreased, and DBP and oxygen saturation increased. Forty-five minutes after therapy, SBP, MAP, and PR decreased, and DBP and oxygen saturation increased. I saw no significant hemodynamic parameter changes during postoperative episodes of pain.

Cost-Effectiveness of a Model Infection Control Program for Preventing Multi-Drug-Resistant Organism Infections in Critically Ill Surgical Patients.

Interventions to contain two multi-drug-resistant Acinetobacter (MDRA) outbreaks reduced the incidence of multi-drug-resistant (MDR) organisms, specifically methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, and Clostridium difficile in the general surgery intensive care unit (ICU) of our hospital. We therefore conducted a cost-effective analysis of a proactive model infection-control program to reduce transmission of MDR organisms based on the practices used to control the MDRA outbreak. We created a model of a proactive infection control program based on the 2011 MDRA outbreak response. We built a decision analysis model and performed univariable and probabilistic sensitivity analyses to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the proposed program compared with standard infection control practices to reduce transmission of these MDR organisms. The cost of a proactive infection control program would be $68,509 per year. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was calculated to be $3,804 per aversion of transmission of MDR organisms in a one-year period compared with standard infection control. On the basis of probabilistic sensitivity analysis, a willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold of $14,000 per transmission averted would have a 42% probability of being cost-effective, rising to 100% at $22,000 per transmission averted. This analysis gives an estimated ICER for implementing a proactive program to prevent transmission of MDR organisms in the general surgery ICU. To better understand the causal relations between the critical steps in the program and the rate reductions, a randomized study of a package of interventions to prevent healthcare-associated infections should be considered.

The Prevalence, Severity and Occupational Risk Factors of Low Back Pain among ICU Nurses

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a common disorder that causes disability and absence from work. Healthcare professionals are in the first place of health problems related to LBP. The aim was to investigate the prevalence, severity and occupational risk factors of LBP among ICU nurses. Method: The sample of this descriptive study was a total of 76 Intensive Care Units (ICU) nurses of a training and research hospital in the West of Turkey. A total of 1174 nursing care procedures was observed. After the completion of nurses’ socio-demographic data collection, it was determined whether the nurses had LBP each time before and after providing care to patients and if they did, the severity of LBP were measured according to Numeric Pain Rating Scale NRS (NRS). Results: 88.2% of nurses had LBP and the mean severity of LBP was 2.84±1.44. Emergency and general surgery ICU nurses had the highest severity of LBP. The nursing care procedures were as follows in decreasing order of the severity of LBP: making the bed (6.2±2.5), patient’s mobilization (6,04±2,6), changing position/checking of pressure ulcer (5.9±2,3), make passive exercises (5.1±2,3), admission/discharge procedures (4.7±2,8), vascular access (4,5±2,4), checking drain(s) (4,5±2,3), measurement of vital signs (4,3±2,3), aspiration (4,3±2,3), and monitoring intake-output (4,1±2,1). Conclusion: The prevalence of LBP among nurses was high and the mean severity of LBP was mild. According to the results of this study it is recommended that ICUs nurses receive in-service training on occupational risks, use of body mechanics during nursing care procedures requiring physical strength, incorporate their knowledge into their behaviors and regularly health checks can be helpful in prevention or decrease of LBP.

The Cost of Responding to an Acinetobacter Outbreak in Critically Ill Surgical Patients.

Our institution had an outbreak of multi-drug-resistant Acinetobacter (MDRA) in 2011. We analyzed the costs of responding to this outbreak from the hospital's perspective. We estimated retrospectively the excess costs associated with an MDRA outbreak response at a major academic medical center, including the costs of staffing, supplies, administrative time, deep cleaning, and environmental testing. Differences in mean costs before and during the 2011 MDRA outbreak were analyzed using the Student t-test. The overall excess cost incurred during the outbreak response was $371,079 in 2011 U.S. dollars. The largest contributors were the extra resources needed to staff and clean the two intensive care units (ICUs) (78%). In the general surgery ICU, the mean weekly cost of nursing during the outbreak was $13,276 more for regular hours (+15%; p < 0.01) than in the pre-outbreak period and $2,682 more for overtime hours (+86%; p = 0.02). In the trauma ICU, the cost was $20,746 more for regular hours (+24%; p < 0.01) and $3,445 more for overtime hours (+124%; p < 0.01). The costs of supplies ($13,036; +30%; p = 0.03) and gloves ($2,572; +48%; p = 0.01) also were greater during the outbreak. Administrative time, consumables, use of a surge pod, and environmental testing accounted for the remainder of the extra costs. Our institution incurred $371,079 in excess costs as a result of an MDRA outbreak. This figure does not include the costs related to treatment of the infections, loss of reimbursement because of hospital-acquired infection, legal services, or changes in staff morale, patient satisfaction, or hospital reputation. Strategies to prevent and control such outbreaks better have substantial value.

Differential impact of infection control strategies on rates of resistant hospital-acquired pathogens in critically ill surgical patients.

There were two major outbreaks of multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDRA) in our general surgery and trauma intensive care units (ICUs) in 2004 and 2011. Both required aggressive multi-faceted interventions to control. We hypothesized that the infection control response may have had a secondary benefit of reducing rates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), and Clostridium difficile (C. diff). We analyzed data retrospectively from a prospective infection control database at a major university hospital and calculated the incidence rates of nosocomial MRSA, VRE, and C. diff before and after the two MDRA outbreaks (2004 and 2011) in the general surgery and trauma ICUs, and two unaffected control ICUs: thoracic surgery ICU and medical ICU. We tracked incidence rates in 6 mos segments for 24 mos per outbreak and created a composite variable of "any resistant pathogen" for comparison. The incidence rates of "any resistant pathogen" were significantly lower in the general surgery ICU after both outbreaks (24 to 11 cases per 1000 patient days in 2004, p=0.045 and 7.7 ->4.0 cases per 1000 patient days in 2011, p=0.04). This did not persist after 6 mos. The trauma ICU's rate of "any resistant pathogen" did not change after either outbreak (16 ->16.5 cases per 1000 patient days in 2004, p=0.44 and 4.6 ->1.9 cases per 1000 patient days in 2011, p=0.41). The rates in the control ICUs were unchanged during the study periods. Rates of resistant pathogens were lower in the general surgery ICU after response to MDRA outbreaks in both 2004 and 2011 although the rates increased again with time. There were no changes in rates of resistant pathogens in the trauma ICU after MDRA outbreaks in 2004 and 2011. Outbreak responses may have a differential impact in general surgery ICU versus trauma ICUs.

The Epidemiology of Sepsis in General Surgery Patients

Sepsis is increasing in hospitalized patients. Our purpose is to describe its current epidemiology in a general surgery (GS) intensive care unit (ICU) where patients are routinely screened and aggressively treated for sepsis by an established protocol. Our prospective, Institutional Review Board-approved sepsis research database was queried for demographics, biomarkers reflecting organ dysfunction, and mortality. Patients were grouped as sepsis, severe sepsis, or septic shock using refined consensus criteria. Data are compared by analysis of variance, Student's t test, and χ test (p<0.05 significant). During 24 months ending September 2009, 231 patients (aged 59 years ± 3 years; 43% men) were treated for sepsis. The abdomen was the source of infection in 69% of patients. Several baseline biomarkers of organ dysfunction (BOD) correlated with sepsis severity including lactate, creatinine, international normalized ratio, platelet count, and d-dimer. Direct correlation with mortality was noted with particular baseline BODs including beta natriuretic peptide, international normalized ratio, platelet count, aspartate transaminase, alanine aminotransferase, and total bilirubin. Most patients present with severe sepsis (56%) or septic shock (26%) each with increasing multiple BODs. Septic shock has prohibitive mortality rate (36%), and those who survive septic shock have prolonged ICU stays. In general surgery ICU patients, sepsis is predominantly caused by intra-abdominal infection. Multiple BODs are present in severe sepsis and septic shock but are notably advanced in septic shock. Despite aggressive sepsis screening and treatment, septic shock remains a morbid condition.

Resistin is increased in intra-abdominal sepsis: Correlation with proinflammatory cytokines and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores

levels, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) scores, and mortality. Method and Patients: A total of 45 patients with intra-abdominal sepsis from the General Surgery Intensive Care Units of Gazi University School of Medicine and Zonguldak Karaelmas University School ofMedicinewere included in the study. Eighteenwith sepsis, 14 patients with severe sepsis, and 13 with septic shock were investigated. After the diagnosis of sepsis, blood samples were taken on the next 5 days. All patients were followed for 28 days and mortalities were noted. Adiponectin and cytokine levels and routine biochemistry were measured daily during the first 5 days after admission and were correlated to other cytokines, APACHE II scores, and mortality. Results: Forty-five patients were studied, 12 of whom died within 28 days. Although serum adiponectin levels were significantly higher than in the control group, the levels of septic shock and severe sepsis were significantly lower than in the septic patients. Serum adiponectin levels negatively correlated with interleukin-6, interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, procalsitonin, lactate, and APACHE II. Serum adiponectin levels of the dead patients were significantly lower than those of surviving patients. Conclusions: Serum adiponectin levels in patients with intraabdominal sepsis were negatively correlated with proinflammatory cytokines and APACHE II levels. It can be used as a strong negative predictive factor for mortality.

Question 4: Agents d’induction : agents intraveineux, agents halogénés, morphiniques et curares ; monitorage

I conducted a prospective repeated-measure study in the general surgery intensive care unit to investigate the associations among acute postoperative pain, analgesic therapy, and hemodynamic parameters. I selected 33 patients and recorded 84 episodes of pain. I measured intensity of pain and hemodynamic parameters after patients were transferred from the postanesthesia care unit to the general surgery intensive care unit, immediately before analgesic therapy and at 15, 30, and 45 minutes after analgesic therapy. Acute pain increased systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP), and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP); pulse rate (PR); and arterial oxygen saturation. Fifteen minutes after analgesic therapy, SBP and PR decreased, and DBP, MAP, and oxygen saturation increased. Thirty minutes after therapy, SBP, MAP, and PR decreased, and DBP and oxygen saturation increased. Forty-five minutes after therapy, SBP, MAP, and PR decreased, and DBP and oxygen saturation increased. I saw no significant hemodynamic parameter changes during postoperative episodes of pain.

Impact of a Prolonged Surgical Critical Illness on Patients’ Families

Long-term effects on patients' families after a prolonged stay in a surgical intensive care unit are unclear. We hypothesized that illnesses requiring more than 7 days' stay in the surgical intensive care unit would have significant, long-lasting effects on patients' families that would be related to patients' functional outcome. All patients who stayed in the general surgery intensive care unit 7 days or more between July 1, 1996, and June 30, 1997, were enrolled. A total of 128 patients met the entry criteria, and families of surviving patients were interviewed at baseline and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months later. Maximum dysfunction/impact was compared with patients' functional outcome. Significant disturbances in the families' lives occurred throughout the 12 months of this study. Almost 60% of responding families provided a moderate or large amount of caregiving between 1 and 9 months after a prolonged illness, 44.9% had to quit work after 1 month, and more than 36.7% of families had lost savings after 1 year. Some families moved to a less expensive home, delayed educational plans, or delayed medical care for another family member. An acute surgical illness that results in a prolonged stay in an intensive care unit has a substantial effect on patients' families that is maximal between 1 and 3 months and parallels the patient's functional outcome. Systems that provide support to both patients and their families should be emphasized in the hospital and after discharge.

Comparing Nosocomial Infection Rates among Surgical Intensive-Care Units: The Importance of Separating Cardiothoracic and General Surgery Intensive-Care Units

Among surgical intensive-care units (ICUs), we assessed differences in risk-adjusted nosocomial infection rates between cardiothoracic (CT) and general surgery ICUs, using National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance data from 1987 to 1995. Device-associated rates and average length of stay were significantly lower in CT ICUs. Comparisons of risk-adjusted nosocomial infection rates among CT ICUs should be made separately from rates from general surgery ICUs.

Comparing Nosocomial Infection Rates Among Surgical Intensive-Care Units: The Importance of Separating Cardiothoracic and General Surgery Intensive-Care Units

ABSTRACTAmong surgical intensive-care units (ICUs), we assessed differences in risk-adjusted nosocomial infection rates between cardiothoracic (CT) and general surgery ICUs, using National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance data from 1987 to 1995. Device-associated rates and average length of stay were significantly lower in CT ICUs. Comparisons of risk-adjusted nosocomial infection rates among CT ICUs should be made separately from rates from general surgery ICUs.

Influence of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome on duration of critical illness and hospitalization.

Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) is the leading cause of death in the general surgery intensive care unit (SICU). The development of MODS is a powerful predictor of prolonged SICU stay in survivors and nonsurvivors of critical illness, but its relation to less severe illness and briefer duration of care is unknown. To determine the relation between modest degrees of MODS and length of stay in the SICU and hospital and whether daily MOD score calculations can distinguish survivors from nonsurvivors before the SICU stay becomes prolonged. An SICU of a university tertiary care medical center. Prospective inception-cohort study. Illness severity data were collected in retrospect only for the calendar year 1991. Of 2646 consecutive patients studied, 115 stayed in the SICU more than 21 days. Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II and III scores were calculated after 24 hours, with daily and cumulative MOD scores (0-4 points for 6 organs, 24 points maximum). Patients were followed up until hospital discharge or death. Data analysis was performed by unpaired 2-tailed t test, exact contingency analysis for multiple groups, univariate 1- or 2-way analysis of variance with repeated measures, or linear or polynomial regression tests as appropriate, alpha = .05. The mean (+/-SEM) age of the patients was 65 +/- 1 years; mean (+/-SEM) APACHE II score, 13.8 +/- 0.2; APACHE III score, 44.2 +/- 0.7; incidence of MODS, 1173 of 2646 patients, 44.3%; and hospital mortality rate, 9.2%. Cumulative MOD scores correlated closely with SICU length of stay in survivors, especially for SICU stays of less than 10 days (R2 = 0.99, P < .001). Similar correlations existed between the prevalence of MODS related to the increasing length of the SICU stay (R2 = 0.98, P < .001) and between the length of hospital stay and the cumulative MOD score (R2 = 0.79, P < .05). Daily MOD scores in patients whose SICU stay was more than 21 days distinguished survivors from nonsurvivors by day 2 of the SICU stay (P < .05) and thereafter. Modest degrees of MODS correlate closely with the duration of care in less severely ill patients. Early identification and daily quantitation of MODS may help identify patients at risk for prolonged illness and death. Prevention of outcomes that contribute to organ dysfunction is critical for reduction of length of stay and cost of care.