Intensive Care Unit Organization Research Articles

A closed surgical intensive care unit organization improves cardiac surgical patient outcomes.

Intensive care unit (ICU) organization is a critical factor in optimizing patient outcomes. ICU organization can be divided into "OPEN" (O) and "CLOSED" (C) models, where the specialist or intensivist, respectively, assumes the role of primary physician. Recent studies support improved outcomes in closed ICUs, however, most of the available data is centered on ICUs generally or on subspecialty surgical patients in the setting of a subspecialized surgical intensive care unit (SICU). We examined the impact of closing a general SICU on patient outcomes following cardiac and ascending aortic surgery. A retrospective cohort of patients following cardiac or ascending aortic surgery by median sternotomy was examined at a single academic medical center one year prior and one year after implementation of a closed SICU model. Patients were divided into "OPEN" (O; n=53) and "CLOSED" (C; n=73) cohorts. Cohorts were comparable in terms of age, race, and number of comorbid conditions. A significant difference in male gender (O: 60.4% vs. C: 76.7%, P=0.049), multiple procedure performed (O: 13.21% vs. C: 35.62%, P=0.019), and hospital readmission rates was detected (O: 39.6% vs. C: 9.6%, P=0.0003). Using a linear regression model, a closed model SICU organization decreased SICU length of stay (LOS). Using a multivariate logistic regression, being treated in a closed ICU decreased a patient's likelihood of having an ICU LOS greater than 48 hours. Our study identified a decreased ICU LOS and hospital readmission in cardiac and ascending aortic patients in a closed general SICU despite increased procedure complexity. Further study is needed to clarify the effects on surgical complications and hospital charges.

High-level burnout in physicians and nurses working in adult ICUs: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The prevalence of burnout in intensive care unit (ICU) professionals is difficult to establish due to the variety of survey instruments used, the heterogeneity of the targeted population, the design of the studies, and the differences among countries regarding ICU organization. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis examining the prevalence of high-level burnout in physicians and nurses working in adult ICUs, including only studies that use the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) as a tool to evaluate burnout and involving at least 3 different ICUs. Twenty-five studies with a combined population of 20,723 healthcare workers from adult ICUs satisfied the inclusion criteria. Combining 18 studies including 8187 ICU physicians, 3660 of them reported a high level of burnout (prevalence 0.41, range 0.15-0.71, 95% CI [0.33; 0.5], I2 97.6%, 95% CI [96.9%; 98.1%]). The heterogeneity can be at least in part explained by the definition of burnout used and the response rate as confirmed by the multivariable metaregression done. In contrast, there was no significant difference regarding other factors such as the study period (before or during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic), the income of the countries, or the Healthcare Access and Quality (HAQ) index. Combining 20 studies including 12,536 ICU nurses, 6232 of nurses were reporting burnout (prevalence 0.44, range 0.14-0.74, [95% CI 0.34; 0.55], I2 98.6% 95% CI [98.4%; 98.9%]). The prevalence of high-level burnout in ICU nurses for studies performed during the COVID-19 pandemic was higher than that reported for studies performed before the COVID-19 pandemic (0.61 [95% CI, 0.46; 0.75] and 0.37 [95% CI, 0.26; 0.49] respectively, p = 0.003). As for physicians, the heterogeneity is at least in part explained by the definition used for burnout using the MBI but not by the number of participants. When compared, the prevalence of high-level burnout was not different between ICU physicians and ICU nurses. However, the proportion of ICU nurses with a high level of emotional exhaustion was higher than for ICU physicians (0.42 [95% CI, 0.37; 0.48] and 0.28 [0.2; 0.39], respectively, p = 0.022). According to this meta-analysis, the prevalence of high-level burnout is higher than 40% in all ICU professionals. However, there is a great heterogeneity in the results. To evaluate and to compare preventive and therapeutic strategies, there is the need to use a consensual definition of burnout when using the MBI instrument.

The resilient intensive care unit

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic tested the capacity of intensive care units (ICU) to respond to a crisis and demonstrated their fragility. Unsurprisingly, higher than usual mortality rates, lengths of stay (LOS), and ICU-acquired complications occurred during the pandemic. However, worse outcomes were not universal nor constant across ICUs and significant variation in outcomes was reported, demonstrating that some ICUs could adequately manage the surge of COVID-19.MethodsIn the present editorial, we discuss the concept of a resilient Intensive Care Unit, including which metrics can be used to address the capacity to respond, sustain results and incorporate new practices that lead to improvement.ResultsWe believe that a resiliency analysis adds a component of preparedness to the usual ICU performance evaluation and outcomes metrics to be used during the crisis and in regular times.ConclusionsThe COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the need for a resilient health system. Although this concept has been discussed for health systems, it was not tested in intensive care. Future studies should evaluate this concept to improve ICU organization for standard and pandemic times.

Tracheostomy in COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome patients and follow-up: A parisian bicentric retrospective cohort.

Tracheostomy has been proposed as an option to help organize the healthcare system to face the unprecedented number of patients hospitalized for a COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in intensive care units (ICU). It is, however, considered a particularly high-risk procedure for contamination. This paper aims to provide our experience in performing tracheostomies on COVID-19 critically ill patients during the pandemic and its long-term local complications. We performed a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of patients tracheostomized for a COVID-19-related ARDS in two university hospitals in the Paris region between January 27th (date of first COVID-19 admission) and May 18th, 2020 (date of last tracheostomy performed). We focused on tracheostomy technique (percutaneous versus surgical), timing (early versus late) and late complications. Forty-eight tracheostomies were performed with an equal division between surgical and percutaneous techniques. There was no difference in patients' characteristics between surgical and percutaneous groups. Tracheostomy was performed after a median of 17 [12-22] days of mechanical ventilation (MV), with 10 patients in the "early" group (≤ day 10) and 38 patients in the "late" group (> day 10). Survivors required MV for a median of 32 [22-41] days and were ultimately decannulated with a median of 21 [15-34] days spent on cannula. Patients in the early group had shorter ICU and hospital stays (respectively 15 [12-19] versus 35 [25-47] days; p = 0.002, and 21 [16-28] versus 54 [35-72] days; p = 0.002) and spent less time on MV (respectively 17 [14-20] and 35 [27-43] days; p<0.001). Interestingly, patients in the percutaneous group had shorter hospital and rehabilitation center stays (respectively 44 [34-81] versus 92 [61-118] days; p = 0.012, and 24 [11-38] versus 45 [22-71] days; p = 0.045). Of the 30 (67%) patients examined by a head and neck surgeon, 17 (57%) had complications with unilateral laryngeal palsy (n = 5) being the most prevalent. Tracheostomy seems to be a safe procedure that could help ICU organization by delegating work to a separate team and favoring patient turnover by allowing faster transfer to step-down units. Following guidelines alone was found sufficient to prevent the risk of aerosolization and contamination of healthcare professionals.

Renal Replacement Therapy for Acute Kidney Injury in French Intensive Care Units: A Nationwide Survey of Practices

Background: The frequency of acute kidney injury (AKI) can be as high as 50% in the intensive care unit (ICU). Despite the publication of national guidelines in France in 2015 for the use of RRT, there are no data describing the implementation of these recommendations in real-life. Methods: We performed a nationwide survey of practices from November 15, 2019, to January 24, 2020, in France. An electronic questionnaire based on the items recommended in the national guidelines was sent using an online survey platform, to the chiefs of all ICUs in France. The questionnaire comprised a section for the Department Chief about local organization and facilities, and a second section destined for individual physicians about their personal practices. Results: We contacted the Department Chief in 356 eligible ICUs, of whom 88 (24.7%) responded regarding their ICU organization. From these 88 ICUs, 232/285 physicians (82%) completed the questionnaire regarding individual practices. The practices reported by respondent physicians were as follows: intermittent RRT was first-line choice in >75% in a patient with single organ (kidney) failure at the acute phase, whereas continuous RRT was predominant (>75%) in patients with septic shock or multi-organ failure. Blood and dialysate flow for intermittent RRT were 200–300 mL/min and 400–600 mL/min, respectively. The dose of dialysis for continuous RRT was 25–35 mL/kg/h (65%). Insertion of the dialysis catheter was mainly performed by the resident under echographic guidance, in the right internal jugular vein. The most commonly used catheter lock was citrate (53%). The most frequently cited criterion for weaning from RRT was diuresis, followed by a drop in urinary markers (urea and creatinine). Conclusion: This study shows a satisfactory level of reported compliance with French guidelines and recent scientific evidence among ICU physicians regarding initiation of RRT for AKI in the ICU.

Педіатрична клініка Одеського національного медичного університету: якість невідкладної медичної допомоги дітям

Мета роботи — обговорити питання підвищення якості невідкладної допомоги дітям при найбільш поширених захворюваннях. Матеріали та методи. Якість медичної допомоги включає 6 показників: ефективність, обґрунтованість, економічна доступність, прийнятність/зосередженість на пацієнта, рівність, безпека. Результати. У педіатричній клініці Одеського національного медичного університету (ОНМедУ) створений блок інтенсивного спостереження, основним завданням якого є надання невідкладної допомоги дітям, які потребують моніторингу дихання та серцевої діяльності, проведення кисневої терапії та регідратаційної терапії великого об’єму. У клініці діє система сортування пацієнтів за тяжкістю стану з урахуванням даних обстеження і пульсоксиметрії. Запорукою ефективності медичної допомоги є локальні протоколи, розроблені на принципах доказової медицини; всі ліки, включені в них, входять у Лист необхідних ліків Всесвітньої організації охорони здоров’я. Прийнятність медичної допомоги визначають пацієнторієнтовані технології: спільне перебування матері та дитини; перевага надається оральній регідратації, а не внутрішньовенному введенню рідини; мінімізація болю і відмова від внутрішньом’язових ін’єкцій; зволоження повітря навколо пацієнта та ін. Середня тривалість перебування у блоці інтенсивного спостереження — 2 дні. Культура безпеки пацієнтів є пріоритетом і включає в себе: зміну ставлення співробітників до медичної безпеки; виявлення тригерів і ризиків медичної допомоги; виявлення медичних помилок і промахів; використання безпечних технологій і простих алгоритмів дій; навчання медичного персоналу. Було проведено більше 40 лекцій і практичних занять для медичного персоналу, включаючи тренінги на манекенах Code Blue. Висновки. Заходи, спрямовані на підвищення якості невідкладної медичної допомоги дітям в педіатричній клініці ОНМедУ, включають: 1) організацію блоку інтенсивного спостереження і його оснащення сучасним обладнанням для діагностики та лікування дітей; 2) сортування пацієнтів за тяжкістю стану за об’єктивними критеріями; 3) скорочення термінів госпіталізації; 4) стандартизацію медичної допомоги шляхом розробки локальних протоколів на принципах доказової медицини; 5) підвищення прийнятності медичного обслуговування за рахунок впровадження технологій, орієнтованих на пацієнта; 6) впровадження культури безпеки пацієнта; 7) постійне навчання медичного персоналу.

A focused ethnography of the culture of inclusive caring practice in the intensive care unit.

AimTo explore and understand the culture of nurses' multidimensional “caring‐for” practice in intensive care unit (ICU).DesignA focused ethnography.MethodsData were collected from 35 Registered Nurses through participant observations, field notes, documentation reviews, interviews, informal conversations and Participants' additional information forms over 6 months in one ICU. Thematic data analysis was used.FindingsDifferent dimensions of nursing caring in ICU were found. The inclusivity of a culture of nurses' “caring‐for” involved the following: oneself, patients and their families, different colleagues, and caring as ecological consciousness in the ICU environment and organization.

Worldwide Organization of Neurocritical Care: Results from the PRINCE Study Part 1.

IntroductionNeurocritical care focuses on the care of critically ill patients with an acute neurologic disorder and has grown significantly in the past few years. However, there is a lack of data that describe the scope of practice of neurointensivists and epidemiological data on the types of patients and treatments used in neurocritical care units worldwide. To address these issues, we designed a multicenter, international, point-prevalence, cross-sectional, prospective, observational, non-interventional study in the setting of neurocritical care (PRINCE Study).MethodsIn this manuscript, we analyzed data from the initial phase of the study that included registration, hospital, and intensive care unit (ICU) organizations. We present here descriptive statistics to summarize data from the registration case report form. We performed the Kruskal–Wallis test followed by the Dunn procedure to test for differences in practices among world regions.ResultsWe analyzed information submitted by 257 participating sites from 47 countries. The majority of those sites, 119 (46.3%), were in North America, 44 (17.2%) in Europe, 34 (13.3%) in Asia, 9 (3.5%) in the Middle East, 34 (13.3%) in Latin America, and 14 (5.5%) in Oceania. Most ICUs are from academic institutions (73.4%) located in large urban centers (44% > 1 million inhabitants). We found significant differences in hospital and ICU organization, resource allocation, and use of patient management protocols. The highest nursing/patient ratio was in Oceania (100% 1:1). Dedicated Advanced Practiced Providers are mostly present in North America (73.7%) and are uncommon in Oceania (7.7%) and the Middle East (0%). The presence of dedicated respiratory therapist is common in North America (85%), Middle East (85%), and Latin America (84%) but less common in Europe (26%) and Oceania (7.7%). The presence of dedicated pharmacist is highest in North America (89%) and Oceania (85%) and least common in Latin America (38%). The majority of respondents reported having a dedicated neuro-ICU (67% overall; highest in North America: 82%; and lowest in Oceania: 14%).ConclusionThe PRINCE Study results suggest that there is significant variability in the delivery of neurocritical care. The study also shows it is feasible to undertake international collaborations to gather global data about the practice of neurocritical care.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s12028-019-00750-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Global Critical Care: Moving Forward in Resource-Limited Settings.

Caring for critically ill patients is challenging in resource-limited settings, where the burden of disease and mortality from potentially treatable illnesses is higher than in resource-rich areas. Barriers to delivering quality critical care in these settings include lack of epidemiologic data and context-specific evidence for medical decision-making, deficiencies in health systems organization and resources, and institutional obstacles to implementation of life-saving interventions. Potential solutions include the development of common definitions for intensive care unit (ICU), intensivist, and intensive care to create a universal ICU organization framework; development of educational programs for capacity building of health care professionals working in resource-limited settings; global prioritization of epidemiologic and clinical research in resource-limited settings to conduct timely and ethical studies in response to emerging threats; adaptation of international guidelines to promote implementation of evidence-based care; and strengthening of health systems that integrates these interventions. This manuscript reviews the field of global critical care, barriers to safe high-quality care, and potential solutions to existing challenges. We also suggest a roadmap for improving the treatment of critically ill patients in resource-limited settings.

Effect of implementation of a paediatric neurocritical care programme on outcomes after severe traumatic brain injury: a retrospective cohort study

Outcomes after traumatic brain injury are worsened by secondary insults; modern intensive-care units address such challenges through use of best-practice pathways. Organisation of intensive-care units has an important role in pathway effectiveness. We aimed to assess the effect of a paediatric neurocritical care programme (PNCP) on outcomes for children with severe traumatic brain injury. We undertook a retrospective cohort study of 123 paediatric patients with severe traumatic brain injury (Glasgow coma scale scores ≤8, without gunshot or abusive head trauma, cardiac arrest, or Glasgow coma scale scores of 3 with fixed and dilated pupils) admitted to the paediatric intensive-care unit of the St Louis Children's Hospital (St Louis, MO, USA) between July 15, 1999, and Jan 15, 2012. The primary outcome was rate of categorised hospital discharge disposition before and after implementation of a PNCP on Sept 17, 2005. We developed an ordered probit statistical model to assess adjusted outcome as a function of initial injury severity. We assessed care-team behaviour by comparing timing of invasive neuromonitoring and scored intensity of therapies targeting intracranial hypertension. Characteristics of treated patients (aged 3-219 months) were much the same between treatment periods. Before PNCP implementation, 33 (52%) of 63 patients had unfavourable disposition at hospital discharge (death or admission to an inpatient facility) and 30 (48%) had a favourable disposition (home with or without treatment); after PNCP implementation, 20 (33%) of 60 patients had unfavourable disposition and 40 (67%) had favourable disposition (p=0·01). Seven (11%) patients died before PNCP implementation compared with two (3%) deaths after implementation. The probit model indicated that outcome improved across the spectrum of Glasgow coma scale scores after resuscitation (p=0·02); this improvement progressed with increasing injury severity. Kaplan-Meier analysis suggested that neuromonitoring was started earlier and maintained longer after implementation of the PNCP (p=0·03). Therapeutic intensity scores were increased for the first 3 days of treatment after PNCP implementation (p=0·0298 for day 1, p=0·0292 for day 2, and p=0·0471 for day 3). The probit model suggested that increasing age (p=0·03), paediatric risk of mortality III scores (p=0·0003), and injury severity scores (p=0·02) were reliably associated with increased probability of unfavourable outcomes whereas white race (p=0·01), use of intracranial pressure monitoring (p=0·001), and increasing Glasgow coma scale scores after resuscitation (p=0·04) were associated with increased probability of favourable outcomes. Outcomes for children with traumatic brain injury can be improved by altering the care system in a way that stably implements a cooperative programme of accepted best practice. St Louis Children's Hospital and the Sean Glanvill Foundations.

Physician staffing pattern in intensive care units: Have we cracked the code?

Intensive care is slowly being recognized as a separate medical specialization. Physicians, called intensivists, are being specially trained to manage intensive care units (ICUs) and provide focused, high quality care to critically ill patients. However, these ICUs were traditionally managed by primary physicians who used to admit patients in ICUs under their own care. The presence of specially trained intensivists in these ICUs has started a "turf" war. In spite of the availability of overwhelming evidence that intensivists-based ICUs can provide better patient care leading to improved outcome, there is hesitancy among hospital administrators and other policy makers towards adopting such a model. Major critical care societies and workgroups have recommended intensivists-based ICU models to care for critically ill patients, but even in developed countries, on-site intensivist coverage is lacking in a great majority of hospitals. Lack of funds and unavailability of skilled intensivists are commonly cited as the main reasons for not implementing intensivist-led ICU care in most of the ICUs. To provide optimal, comprehensive and skilled care to this severely ill patient population, it is imperative that a multi-disciplinary team approach must be adopted with intensivists as in-charge. Even though ICU organization and staffing may be determined by hospital policies and other local factors, all efforts must be made to attain the goal of having round-the-clock onsite intensivist coverage to ensure continuity of specialized care for all critically ill patients.

The effect of telemedicine in critically ill patients: systematic review and meta-analysis.

IntroductionTelemedicine extends intensivists' reach to critically ill patients cared for by other physicians. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of telemedicine on patients' outcomes.MethodsWe searched electronic databases through April 2012, bibliographies of included trials, and indexes and conference proceedings in two journals (2001 to 2012). We selected controlled trials or observational studies of critically ill adults or children, examining the effects of telemedicine on mortality. Two authors independently selected studies and extracted data on outcomes (mortality and length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital) and methodologic quality. We used random-effects meta-analytic models unadjusted for case mix or cluster effects and quantified between-study heterogeneity by using I2 (the percentage of total variability across studies attributable to heterogeneity rather than to chance).ResultsOf 865 citations, 11 observational studies met selection criteria. Overall quality was moderate (mean score on Newcastle-Ottawa scale, 5.1/9; range, 3 to 9). Meta-analyses showed that telemedicine, compared with standard care, is associated with lower ICU mortality (risk ratio (RR) 0.79; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.65 to 0.96; nine studies, n = 23,526; I2 = 70%) and hospital mortality (RR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.73 to 0.94; nine studies, n = 47,943; I2 = 72%). Interventions with continuous patient-data monitoring, with or without alerts, reduced ICU mortality (RR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.64 to 0.95; six studies, n = 21,384; I2 = 74%) versus those with remote intensivist consultation only (RR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.20 to 2.07; three studies, n = 2,142; I2 = 71%), but effects were statistically similar (interaction P = 0.74). Effects were also similar in higher (RR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.68 to 1.02) versus lower (RR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.40 to 1.19; interaction, P = 0.53) quality studies. Reductions in ICU and hospital length of stay were statistically significant (weighted mean difference (telemedicine-control), -0.62 days; 95% CI, -1.21 to -0.04 days and -1.26 days; 95% CI, -2.49 to -0.03 days, respectively; I2 > 90% for both).ConclusionsTelemedicine was associated with lower ICU and hospital mortality among critically ill patients, although effects varied among studies and may be overestimated in nonrandomized designs. The optimal telemedicine technology configuration and dose tailored to ICU organization and case mix remain unclear.

Épuisement professionnel en réanimation

Burnout syndrome (BOS) is a psychological state resulting from prolonged exposure to job stressors. Because intensive care units (ICUs) are characterized by a high level of work-related stress, we reviewed the available literature on BOS among ICU-healthcare workers. Recent studies suggest that severe BOS (measured with the Maslach Burnout Inventory) is present in about half of all critical care physicians and one-third of critical care nurses. Interestingly, the determinants of BOS difer between the two groups of caregivers. Intensivists with severe BOS tend to be those with a large number of working hours (number of night shifts, and time since last vacation), whereas severe BOS among ICU nurses is mainly related to ICU organization and end-of-life care policy. ICU conflicts were independent predictors of severe BOS in both groups. Recent studies also identify potential preventive measures, such as ICU working groups, better communication during end-of-life care, and prevention and management of ICU conflicts.

Figuring out what works: a need for more and better studies on the relationship between ICU organization and outcomes

Modifying how intensive care units (ICUs) are organized and run offers major opportunities to improve outcomes. In the previous issue of Critical Care, Billington and colleagues assessed the association of outcomes with intensivists' base speciality. However, very little is known about the relationships between ICU organization and outcomes. In the systems-based paradigm of quality improvement, every aspect of what we do and how we do it is a candidate for study and change. While we need much more rigorous research assessing every aspect of this large question, there are substantial barriers to conducting such studies.

Assessing organizational performance in intensive care units: A French experience

Objective The objective of the study was to assess and to explain variation of organizational performance in intensive care units (ICUs). Design This was a prospective multicenter study. Setting The study involved 26 ICUs located in the Paris area, France, participating in a regional database. Methods Data were collected through answers of 1000 ICU personnel to the Culture, Organization, and Management in Intensive Care questionnaire and from the database. Organizational performance was assessed through a composite score related to 5 dimensions: coordination and adaptation to uncertainty, communication, conflict management, organizational change, and organizational learning, Skills developed in relationship with patients and their families. Statistical comparisons between ICUs were performed by analysis of variance with a Scheffé pairwise procedure. A multilevel regression model was used to analyze both individual and structural variables explaining differences of ICU's organizational performance. Results The organizational performance score differed among ICUs. Some cultural values were negatively correlated with a high level of organizational performance, suggesting improvement potential. Several individual and structural factors were also related to the quality of ICU organization, including absence of burnout, older staff, satisfaction to work, and high workload ( P < .02 for each). Conclusions A benchmarking approach can be used by ICU managers to assess the organizational performance of their ICU based on a validated questionnaire. Differences are mainly explained by cultural values and individual well-being factors, introducing new requirements for managing human resources in ICUs.

Sedation and weaning from mechanical ventilation: effects of process optimization outside a clinical trial

Purpose We studied the effects of reorganization and changes in the care process, including use of protocols for sedation and weaning from mechanical ventilation, on the use of sedative and analgesic drugs and on length of respiratory support and stay in the intensive care unit (ICU). Materials and Methods Three cohorts of 100 mechanically ventilated ICU patients, admitted in 1999 (baseline), 2000 (implementation I, after a change in ICU organization and in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches), and 2001 (implementation II, after introduction of protocols for weaning from mechanical ventilation and sedation), were studied retrospectively. Results Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (SAPS II), diagnostic groups, and number of organ failures were similar in all groups. Data are reported as median (interquartile range).Time on mechanical ventilation decreased from 18 (7-41) (baseline) to 12 (7-27) hours (implementation II) ( P = .046), an effect which was entirely attributable to noninvasive ventilation, and length of ICU stay decreased in survivors from 37 (21-71) to 25 (19-63) hours ( P = .049). The amount of morphine ( P = .001) and midazolam ( P = .050) decreased, whereas the amount of propofol ( P = .052) and fentanyl increased ( P = .001). Total Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System-28 (TISS-28) per patient decreased from 137 (99-272) to 113 (87-256) points ( P = .009). Intensive care unit mortality was 19% (baseline), 8% (implementation I), and 7% (implementation II) ( P = .020). Conclusions Changes in organizational and care processes were associated with an altered pattern of sedative and analgesic drug prescription, a decrease in length of (noninvasive) respiratory support and length of stay in survivors, and decreases in resource use as measured by TISS-28 and mortality.

Effect of Intensive Care Unit Organizational Model and Structure on Outcomes in Patients with Acute Lung Injury

Prior studies supported an association between intensive care unit (ICU) organizational model or staffing patterns and outcome in critically ill patients. To examine the association of closed versus open models with patient mortality across adult ICUs in King County (WA). Cohort study of patients with acute lung injury (ALI). ICU structure, organization, and patient care practices were assessed using self-administered mail questionnaires completed by the medical director and nurse manager. We defined closed ICUs as units that required patient transfer to or mandatory patient comanagement by an intensivist and open ICUs as those relying on other organizational models. Outcomes were obtained from the King County Lung Injury Project, a population-based cohort of patients with ALI. The main endpoint was hospital mortality. Of 24 eligible ICUs, 13 ICUs were designated closed and 11 open. Complete survey data were available for 23 (96%) ICUs. Higher physician and nurse availability was reported in closed versus open ICUs. A total of 684 of 1,075 (63%) of patients with ALI were cared for in closed ICUs. After adjusting for potential confounders, patients with ALI cared for in closed ICUs had reduced hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio, 0.68; 95% confidence interval, 0.53, 0.89; P = 0.004). Consultation by a pulmonologist in open ICUs was not associated with improved mortality (adjusted odds ratio, 0.94; 95% confidence interval, 0.74, 1.20; P = 0.62). These findings were robust for varying assumptions about the study population definition. Patients with ALI cared for in a closed-model ICU have reduced mortality. These data support recommendations to implement structured intensive care in the United States.

The influence of volume and intensive care unit organization on hospital mortality in patients admitted with severe sepsis: a retrospective multicentre cohort study

IntroductionThe aim of the study was to assess the influence of annual volume and factors related to intensive care unit (ICU) organization on in-hospital mortality among patients admitted to the ICU with severe sepsis.MethodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted using the database of the Dutch National Intensive Care Evaluation (NICE) registry. Analyses were based on consecutive patients admitted between 1 January 2003 and 30 June 2005 who fulfilled criteria for severe sepsis within the first 24 hours of admission. A 13-item questionnaire was sent to all 32 ICUs across The Netherlands that participated in the NICE registry within this period in order to obtain information on ICU organization and staffing. The association between in-hospital mortality and factors related to ICU organization was investigated using logistic regression analysis, combined with generalized estimation equations to account for potential correlations of outcomes within ICUs. Correction for patient-related factors took place by including Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, age, sex and number of dysfunctioning organ systems in the analyses.ResultsAnalyses based on 4,605 patients from 28 ICUs (questionnaire response rate 90.6%) revealed that a higher annual volume of severe sepsis patients is associated with a lower in-hospital mortality (P = 0.029). The presence of a medium care unit (MCU) as a step-down facility with intermediate care is associated with a higher in-hospital mortality (P = 0.013). For other items regarding ICU organization, no independent significant relationships with in-hospital mortality were found.ConclusionA larger annual volume of patients with severe sepsis admitted to Dutch ICUs is associated with lower in-hospital mortality in this patient group. The presence of a MCU as a step-down facility is associated with greater in-hospital mortality. No other significant associations between in-hospital mortality and factors related to ICU organization were found.

A nationwide survey of intensive care unit discharge practices

To describe intensive care unit (ICU) discharge practices, examine factors associated with physicians' discharge decisions, and explore ICU and hospital characteristics and clinical determinants associated with the discharge process. Survey in adult ICUs affiliated with the Swiss Society of Intensive Care Medicine. Questionnaire inquiring about ICU structure and organization mailed to 73 medical directors. Level of monitoring, intravenous medications, and physiological variables were proposed as elements of discharge decision. Five clinical situations were presented with request to assign a discharge disposition. Fifty-five ICUs participated, representing 75% of adult Swiss ICUs. Responsibility for patient management was assigned in 91% to the ICU team directing patient care. Only 22% of responding centers used written discharge guidelines. One-half of the respondents considered at least 10 of 15 proposed criteria to decide patient discharge. ICUs in central referral hospitals used fewer criteria than community and private hospitals. The availability of intermediate care units was significantly greater in university hospitals. The ICU director's level of experience was not associated with the number of criteria used. In the five clinical scenarios there was wide variation in discharge decision. Our data indicate that there is marked heterogeneity in ICUs discharge practices, and that discharge decisions may be influenced by institutional factors. University teaching hospitals had more intermediate care facilities available. Written discharge guidelines were not widely used.

Critical Care Medicine: Perioperative Management, 2nd Edition.

Duke University Medical Center and Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina. brudn001@mc.duke.eduCritical Care Medicine: Perioperative Management, 2nd Edition.Edited by Michael J. Murray, M.D., Ph.D., Douglas B. Coursin, M.D., Ronald G. Pearl, M.D., Ph.D., Donald S. Prough, M.D. Philadelphia, Lippincott, Williams &amp; Wilkins, 2002. ISBN: 0-7817-2968-8. Pages: 928. Price: $149.Critical Care Medicine: Perioperative Management , in its 2nd edition, remains one of the leading critical care textbooks and addresses not only intensive care issues but also perioperative issues and the intensive care unit (ICU). This new edition comes in an attractive single volume of 928 pages. With this edition, new authors have been added as well as new chapters, while other chapters from the first edition have been updated. During the 5 years between the two editions, there have been significant breakthroughs in the critical care medicine field. It is good to see these covered comprehensively throughout the book, particularly in the chapters on acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome, and diagnosis and treatment in infection.The text begins with four chapters on perioperative assessment and ICU organization, an approach that distinguishes this book from standard ICU texts. The chapter on ethical and end-of-life issues is particularly good at tackling these difficult topics, which are often approached poorly in the ICU setting.In section II: Perioperative Interventions and Pathophysiology, the issues regarding general ICU pathophysiology are covered well with polished chapters on evidence-based medicine, research, and informatics.Section IX is devoted to infection and immunology and begins with an excellent chapter on evaluation of fever in the ICU. With helpful flow diagrams and diagnostic and treatment strategies, this chapter guides the reader through the myriad causes of ICU fevers with possible treatments. Sepsis, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, and the management of life-threatening infection are also very well summarized.Section X provides a thorough review of transplantation medicine with an exceptional review on liver transplantation.Section XI, the closing section, guides the reader through specialized ICU care, including obstetric, trauma, and burn patients. This section is covered particularly well, especially when compared to the standard ICU tomes.One area of disappointment is the use of poor pictures and graphics to highlight techniques and procedures in the ICU. Another surprising omission is the perioperative care of the vascular patient (with the exception of a short paragraph on renal protection for abdominal aortic aneurysm repair). There is no mention at all of newer methods of abdominal aortic aneurysm repair such as endovascular approaches and their perioperative concerns.In summary, the 2nd edition of Critical Care Medicine: Perioperative Management is a multidisciplinary text written by a stellar group of authors and edited by four well-known and experienced editors. It remains an excellent and comprehensive critical care textbook. With its slant on perioperative management, it holds a niche that sets it apart from other ICU texts. Furthermore, it is refreshing to see up-to-date, evidence-based theories. At only $149, this is good value for the money.