Intensive Care Unit Utilization Research Articles

Variation in Utilization of Intensive Care for Pediatric Diabetic Ketoacidosis.

To examine the hospital-level variation in intensive care unit (ICU) utilization and quantify the relative contribution of patient and hospital characteristics versus individual hospital factors to the variation in ICU admission rates among pediatric hospitalizations with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). The Texas Inpatient Public Use Data File was used to identify hospitalizations of state residents aged 1 month to 19 years with a primary diagnosis of DKA between 2005 and 2014. Multilevel, mixed-effects logistic regression modeling was performed to examine the association of patient- and hospital-level factors with ICU admission. Risk and reliability adjustment was then performed to assess hospital-level variation in ICU utilization. Intraclass correlation coefficient was used to quantify variation in use of ICU attributable to individual hospitals. The association between adjusted rates of ICU admission and total hospital charges and length of stay was examined using linear regression. Of the 23 585 DKA hospitalizations, 14 638 (62.1%) were admitted to ICU. On multilevel analysis, the odds of ICU admission progressively decreased with rising volume of DKA hospitalizations (adjusted odds ratio: 0.08 [highest vs lowest quartile]; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.03-0.24). The crude median (interquartile range [IQR]; range) of ICU admissions across hospitals was 82.6% (73%-90%; 11.1%-100%). The median (IQR) risk- and reliability-adjusted ICU admission rate was 81.0% (73.0%-86.9%), ranging from 11.2% to 94%. Following risk and reliability adjustment, the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.005 (95% CI: 0.004-0.006). For each 10% increase in adjusted ICU admission rate, total hospital charges rose by 7% (95% CI: 3%-11%). There was no association between ICU admission rates and hospital length of stay. Although high variation in ICU utilization was noted across hospitals among pediatric DKA hospitalizations, the proportion of variation attributable to individual hospitals was negligible, once adjusted for patient mix and hospital characteristics.

Healthcare resource utilization and costs among patients with direct oral anticoagulant or warfarin-related major bleeding

IntroductionDirect oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have expanded the options for antithrombotic therapy. DOAC-related major bleeds are associated with favorable outcomes compared to warfarin in clinical trials and routine practice. However, it is unclear whether management of DOAC-associated major bleeding incurs higher resource utilization and costs. Materials and methodsWe screened medical records of patients ≥ 66 years with atrial fibrillation admitted to one of five tertiary care hospitals in Ontario, Canada with a hemorrhage. We abstracted bleeds involving DOACs or warfarin and linked them to administrative databases to capture length of hospital stay, blood product use, procedural interventions, intensive care unit (ICU) utilization and related direct medical costs. To control for confounders, multivariate logistic and linear regressions were used for binary and linear outcomes respectively. ResultsAmong 19,061 records screened, 1978 (10.4%) cases involving 1632 patients met criteria of oral anticoagulant-associated bleeding. Baseline characteristics between DOAC and warfarin groups were similar. Blood product costs were higher for DOACs (all comparisons DOACs vs. warfarin, $1456 vs. $1109, mean difference $347, 95% CI $185 to $509), but length of stay and ICU use were similar. Mean direct medical costs did not differ ($9217 vs. $10,790, adjusted relative ratio 0.94, 95% CI 0.84–1.05). ConclusionsPrior to introduction of DOAC-specific reversal agents, resource utilization and medical costs were comparable between DOAC- and warfarin-associated major bleeds, despite marginally higher blood product costs incurred by the former. Resource intensity associated with anticoagulant-related bleeding remains high, and our data provide measures for cost-effectiveness evaluation of emerging DOAC antidotes.

Outcomes for older adults with acute myeloid leukemia after an intensive care unit admission.

Older adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are often assumed to have poor outcomes after admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). However, little is known about ICU utilization and post-ICU outcomes in this population. The authors conducted a retrospective analysis for 330 patients who were 60years old or older and were diagnosed with AML between 2005 and 2013 at 2 hospitals in Boston.They used descriptive statistics to examine the proportion of patients admitted to the ICU as well as their mortality and functional recovery. They used logistic regression to identify risk factors for in-hospital mortality. Ninety-six patients (29%) were admitted to the ICU, primarily because of respiratory failure (39%), septic shock (28%), and neurological compromise (9%). The proportions of patients who survived to hospital discharge, 90days, and 1year were 47% (45 of 96), 35% (34 of 96), and 30% (29 of 96), respectively. At 90days, 76% of the patients had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) of 0 or 1, and 86% were in complete remission (CR) and/orcontinued to receive AML-directed therapy. In a multivariate analysis, a poorer baseline ECOG PS score (odds ratio, 2.76; P=.013) and the need for 2 or more life-sustaining therapies (ie, vasopressors, invasive ventilation, and/or renal replacement therapy; odds ratio, 12.4; P<.001) were associated with increased odds of in-hospital mortality. Although almost one-third of older patients with AML are admitted to an ICU, nearly half survive to hospital discharge with good functional outcomes. The baseline performance status and the need for 2 or more life-sustaining therapies predict hospital mortality. These data support the judicious use of ICU resources for older patients with AML.

Effects of Changes in ICU Bed Supply on ICU Utilization.

The availability of intensive care unit (ICU) beds may influence the demand for critical care. Although small studies support a model of supply-induced demand in the ICU, there is a paucity of system-wide data. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between ICU bed supply and ICU admission in United States hospitals. Retrospective cohort study using all-payer inpatient records from Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Washington from 2010 to 2012, linked to hospital data from Medicare's Healthcare Cost Reporting Information System. Three patient groups with a low likelihood of benefiting from ICU admission-low severity patients with acute myocardial infarction and pulmonary embolism; and high severity patients with metastatic cancer at the end of life. We compared the risk-adjusted probability of ICU admission at hospitals that increased their ICU bed supply over time to matched hospitals that did not, using a difference-in-differences approach. For patients with acute myocardial infarction, ICU supply increases were associated with an increase in the probability of ICU admission that diminished over time. For patients with pulmonary embolism, there was a trend toward an association between change in ICU supply and ICU admission that did not meet statistical significance. For patients with metastatic cancer, admission to hospitals with an increasing ICU supply was not associated with changes in the probability of ICU admission. Increases in ICU bed supply were associated with inconsistent changes in the probability of ICU admission that varied across patient subgroups.

Inpatient Health Care Utilization in Children With Hemophilia Before and After the Joint Outcome Study Publication

The "Joint Outcomes Study" (JOS) demonstrated improved joint outcomes for patients receiving primary prophylaxis versus on-demand therapy. The impact of primary prophylaxis on inpatient health care utilization is not well-defined. To evaluate changes in hospitalization care of children with hemophilia before and after the 2007 JOS publication, this study utilized the Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) to evaluate admissions for patients with hemophilia A or B (age, 2 to 7) admitted between January 2002 and 2006 (pre-JOS) and January 2010 and 2014 (post-JOS). Discharge diagnosis codes and clinical transaction classifications were used to differentiate bleeding episodes, infections, bypass agent use, length of stay, and intensive care unit (ICU) management. Overall, admissions for bleeding episodes did not change (26.5% of admissions pre-JOS vs. 23.6% post-JOS, P=0.10). However, admissions for suspected infections increased (3.0% of admissions pre-JOS vs. 7.2% post-JOS, P<0.01) while confirmed infections remained stable. Meanwhile, ICU utilization decreased (7.8% of admissions pre-JOS vs. 4.9% post-JOS, P<0.01). The necessity for ICU care in children with hemophilia has decreased since publication of the JOS. However, expanded adoption of primary prophylaxis is associated with more hospitalizations for suspected systemic infections, likely due to utilization of central venous catheters to deliver clotting factor concentrates.

Problematic Risk Adjustment in National Healthcare Safety Network Measures.

This article reviews the risk-adjustment models underpinning the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) standardized infection ratios. After first describing the models, the authors focus on hospital intensive care unit (ICU) designation as a variable employed across the various risk models. The risk-adjusted frequency with which ICU services are reported in Medicare fee-for-service claims data was compared as a proxy for determining whether reporting of ICU days is similar across hospitals. Extreme variation was found in the reporting of ICU utilization among admissions for congestive heart failure, ranging from 25% in the lowest admission hospital quartile to 95% in the highest. The across-hospital variation in reported ICU utilization was found to be unrelated to patient severity. Given that such extreme variation appears in a designation of ICU versus non-ICU utilization, the NHSN risk-adjustment models’ dependence on nursing unit designation should be a cause for concern.

Elective infrainguinal lower extremity bypass for claudication is associated with high postoperative intensive care utilization

BackgroundThe overall use of intensive care units (ICUs) in the United States has been steadily increasing and is associated with tremendous health care costs. We suspect that the burden of ICU utilization after elective infrainguinal lower extremity bypass (LEB) procedures is high, despite relatively low risks of complications in the immediate postoperative period. We sought to identify the burden of ICU utilization after elective LEB in patients with claudication. MethodsWe queried the Premier Healthcare Database for all adult patients undergoing first recorded elective infrainguinal LEB for claudication from 2009 to 2015. Baseline characteristics and ICU utilization on postoperative day 0 (POD 0) were identified for each patient using Premier room and board chargemaster codes. A bivariate logistic regression was performed and postestimation concordance statistics were calculated to identify predictors of postoperative ICU vs regular surgical floor admission immediately after surgery. ResultsThere were 6010 patients who met the selection criteria, of whom 2772 (46.1%) were admitted to the ICU and 3238 (53.9%) to the regular surgical floor on POD 0. Whereas patient-level factors were responsible for minor differences found in postoperative admission to the ICU after elective LEB, hospital characteristics made up the majority of variation in admission practices. Specifically, patients undergoing elective infrainguinal LEB in rural, nonteaching, small hospitals and those in certain geographic regions were more likely to be admitted to the ICU than to the floor (all, P < .001). Patient-level factors were poorly predictive of admission to the ICU immediately postoperatively, with C statistics ranging from 0.50 to 0.53. In contrast, hospital-level factors had higher C statistics ranging from 0.51 to 0.66, with geographic location being the strongest predictor of post-LEB ICU admission. There were no significant differences in the incidence of postoperative wound complications, major adverse limb events, major adverse cardiac events, or in-hospital mortality between groups (all, P ≥ .32). The median total hospital cost was $2340 higher for ICU compared with floor admission ($13,273 [interquartile range, $10,136-$17,883] vs $10,927 [interquartile range, $8342-$14,523]; P < .001). ConclusionsNearly half of patients are admitted to an ICU directly after elective infrainguinal LEB for claudication. This practice is associated with significantly higher hospital cost and is predominantly influenced by hospital-level rather than by patient-level factors. Perioperative morbidity and mortality were similar regardless of postoperative disposition. To minimize ICU utilization, postoperative care intensity should be determined by clinical severity of the patient rather than by hospital routine.

Proactive, multidisciplinary approach to supportive medicine: Improving health outcomes and care utilization.

6537 Background: Evidence suggests that cancer patients who receive palliative care early in their disease have improved quality of life, decreased emergency department (ED) visits, and less aggressive end-of-life care. In 2017, the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson established the Neu Center for Supportive Medicine and Cancer Survivorship (NCSMCS) as a model for integrated care in the outpatient setting for all cancer patients. A multidisciplinary team consisting of palliative care physicians, social work, psychology, and navigation conducts biopsychosocial screening and initiates a personalized care plan for each patient to clarify treatment goals and offer assistance. Objectives: To use biopsychosocial screening at specified time points to identify needs and evaluate the impact of supportive care as part of standardized oncology care regardless of stage. Methods: This assessment utilized Oncology Care Model (OCM) data for Jefferson Medicare patients between 7/1/16 to 7/31/18. Incidence of ED admits ED/Observation and admissions were evaluated as well as ICU utilization and advanced care planning. Poisson regression was used to generate incidence rate ratios (IRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) to facilitate the comparison of post- vs. pre- incidence rates of hospitalization. Results: The post-intervention hospital admissions decreased by 31% in NCSMCS (IRR 0.69; 95% CI 0.48-0.98) and by 10% in Non-NCSMCS (IRR 0.90; 0.84-0.96) and advanced care plans were more likely to be on file for NCSMCS (9.0% vs. 4.9%). The intensive care unit (ICU) admissions were decreased by 17% among Non-NCSMCS (IRR 0.83; 95% CI 0.74-0.93). The utilization rates for ED admissions were not statistically different among both the groups. Conclusions: The preliminary data is promising and impact will be monitored as the intervention is expanded. Reducing admissions has benefits from both a cost savings as well as quality of life perspective. Future analyses will consider the impact of the intervention on a patient’s quality of life.

Utilization of value stream mapping to improve chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell patient experience at an academic medical center (AMC).

6607 Background: Value Stream Mapping (VSM) is commonly used to identify waste, reduce process cycle times and implement process improvements in the product and manufacturing space. VSM was applied to analyze and improve the patient experience for individuals receiving CAR T cell therapy at this AMC, with emphasis on safety and quality of care, efficient patient flow and improved communication across the care team. Methods: Fifty-three multidisciplinary representatives from 21 teams across the AMC participated in at least one of the five 4-hour VSM sessions. Comprehensive VSM workflows were created for each step in the current CAR T cell patient journey, from initial referral through post-infusion care. Future state analysis was performed, with emphasis on identification of information technology improvements, communication and pain points. Baseline outcome metrics were established to assess effectiveness of future state VSM improvements. Results: Visual mapping of the CAR T cell patient journey identified several opportunities for improvement. A total of 72 improvement projects were outlined, which could be grouped into four main categories: (1) establish channels for improved care team communication, (2) build information technology infrastructure to support efficient patient flow and quality of care, (3) develop teaching tools for patient and care team education, and (4) delineate standard of care and clinical trials operational workflows. Baseline outcome metrics were measured across the patient population (n = 33), including time from consent to cell collection, length of inpatient stay, intensive care unit (ICU) utilization, and percent of readmissions within 7 days. Outcome metrics will be tracked and reported after future state changes to determine effectiveness of VSM-based process improvements. Conclusions: CAR T cell therapy is a novel therapy, which poses new challenges for coordination across a multidisciplinary care team at an AMC. The VSM approach is a useful tool to identify process and infrastructure improvements that can improve the patient journey. This approach can be generally applied to drive process improvements across clinical care.

Incremental costs of high intensive care utilisation in patients hospitalised with heart failure.

Registries have reported large inter-hospital differences in intensive care unit admission rates for patients with acute heart failure, but little is known about the potential economic impact of over-admission of low-risk patients with heart failure to higher cost intensive care units. We described the variability in intensive care unit admission practices, the provision of critical care therapies, and estimated the potential national cost savings if all hospitals adopted low intensive care unit admission practices for patients admitted with heart failure. Using a national population health dataset, we identified 349,693 heart failure admission hospitalisations with a primary diagnosis of heart failure between 2007 and 2016. Hospitals were categorised as low (first quartile), medium (second and third quartile) and high (fourth quartiles) intensive care unit utilisation. The mean intensive care unit admission rate was 16.4% (inter-hospital range 0.3-51%) including 5.4% in low, 14.5% in medium and 30% in high utilisation hospitals. Intensive care unit therapies in low, medium and high intensive care unit utilisation hospitals were 54.5%, 45.1% and 24.1% (P<0.001), respectively and the inhospital mortality rate was not significantly different. The proportion of hospital costs incurred by intensive care unit care was 7.8% in low, 19.8% in medium and 28.2% in high (P<0.001) admission hospitals. The potential cost savings of altering intensive care unit utilisation practices for patients with heart failure was CAN$234.8m over the study period. In a national cohort of patients hospitalised with heart failure, we observed that low intensive care unit utilisation centres had lower hospital costs with no differences in mortality rates. The development of standardised admission criteria for high-cost and high acuity intensive care unit beds could reduce costs to the healthcare system.

Intensive Care Utilization in Stable Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Treated With Rapid Reperfusion

ObjectivesThe aims of this study were to describe variability in intensive care unit (ICU) utilization for patients with uncomplicated ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), evaluate the proportion of these patients who developed in-hospital complications requiring ICU care, and assess whether ICU use patterns and complication rates vary across categories of first medical contact to device times. BackgroundIn the era of rapid primary percutaneous coronary intervention, ICUs may be overutilized as patients presenting with STEMI are less likely to develop complications requiring ICU care. MethodsUsing data from the Chest Pain-MI Registry linked to Medicare claims, the authors examined patterns of ICU utilization among hemodynamically stable patients with STEMI ≥65 years of age treated with uncomplicated primary percutaneous coronary intervention, stratified by timing of reperfusion: early (first medical contact–to–device time ≤60 min), intermediate (61 to 90 min), or late (>90 min). ResultsOf 19,507 patients with STEMI treated at 707 hospitals, 82.3% were treated in ICUs, with a median ICU stay of 1 day (interquartile range [IQR]: 1 to 2 days). The median FMC-to-device time was 79 min (IQR: 63 to 99 min); 22.0% of patients had early, 44.8% intermediate, and 33.2% late reperfusion. ICU utilization rates did not differ between patients with early, intermediate, and late reperfusion times (82%, 83%, and 82%; p for trend = 0.44). Overall, 3,159 patients (16.2%) developed complications requiring ICU care while hospitalized: 3.7% died, 3.7% had cardiac arrest, 8.7% shock, 0.9% stroke, 4.1% high-grade atrioventricular block requiring treatment, and 5.7% respiratory failure. Patients with longer FMC-to-device times were more likely to develop at least 1 of these complications (early 13.4%, intermediate 15.7%, and late 18.7%; p for trend <0.001; adjusted odds ratio [early as reference] for intermediate: 1.13 [95% confidence interval: 1.01 to 1.25]; adjusted odds ratio for late: 1.22 [95% confidence interval: 1.08 to 1.37]). ConclusionsAlthough >80% of stable patients with STEMI are treated in the ICU after primary percutaneous coronary intervention, the risk for developing a complication requiring ICU care is 16%. Implementing a risk-based triage strategy, inclusive of factors such as degree of reperfusion delay, could optimize ICU utilization for patients with STEMI.

Obstetric admissions and outcomes in an intensive care unit in Malawi

BackgroundDespite international commitment to Millennium Development Goal 5, maternal mortality remains high in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) of sub-Saharan Africa. This is in part due to infrastructure gaps, including availability of intensive care units (ICUs). We sought to use obstetric ICU utilization as a marker of severe maternal morbidity and provide an initial characterization of its relationship with in-hospital mortality. MethodsA prospective observational cohort study of all obstetric subjects admitted to the ICU of Kamuzu Central Hospital in Malawi from September 2016 to March 2018. We reviewed charts at the time of ICU admission to assess the indication for admission, clinical characteristics and laboratory values. Subjects were followed until death or discharge. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. ResultsOne-hundred-and-five obstetric patients were admitted to the study ICU (23% of all admissions). The median age was 26 years. The majority (79%) had undergone recent surgery; 40 (52%) an abdominal postnatal or cesarean hysterectomy and 31 (40%) a cesarean delivery without hysterectomy. Ninety-five percent required mechanical ventilation and 48% required vasopressors. Overall in-hospital mortality was 49%. ConclusionsThe proportion of obstetric subjects admitted to the ICU in Malawi is nearly 1 in 4, which exceeds that found in high-income countries by orders of magnitude. Intensive care unit admission was associated with high mortality in this population. Investments in improving infrastructure and care gaps may include addressing available ICU bed and blood-banking needs, and increasing the number of providers trained in managing critical illness among obstetric patients.

Blood Utilization and Transfusion Reactions in Pediatric Patients Transfused with Conventional or Pathogen Reduced Platelets

To assess the safety and efficacy of a Food and Drug Administration-approved pathogen-reduced platelet (PLT) product in children, as ongoing questions regarding their use in this population remain. We report findings from a quality assurance review of PLT utilization, associated red blood cell transfusion trends, and short-term safety of conventional vs pathogen-reduced PLTs over a 21-month period while transitioning from conventional to pathogen-reduced PLTs at a large, tertiary care hospital. We assessed utilization in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients, infants 0-1year not in the NICU, and children age 1-18years (PED). In the 48hours after an index conventional or pathogen-reduced platelet transfusion, respectively, NICU patients received 1.0±1.4 (n=91 transfusions) compared with 1.2±1.3 (n=145) additional platelet doses (P=.29); infants 0-1year not in the NICU received 2.8±3.0 (n=125) vs 2.6±2.6 (n=254) additional platelet doses (P=.57); and PEDs received 0.9±1.6 (n=644) vs 1.4±2.2 (n=673) additional doses (P< .001). Time to subsequent transfusion and red cell utilization were similar in every group (P> .05). The number and type of transfusion reactions did not significantly vary based on PLT type and no rashes were reported in NICU patients receiving phototherapy and pathogen-reduced PLTs. Conventional and pathogen-reduced PLTs had similar utilization patterns in our pediatric populations. A small, but statistically significant, increase in transfusions was noted following pathogen-reduced PLT transfusion in PED patients, but not in other groups. Red cell utilization and transfusion reactions were similar for both products in all age groups.

Implications of Palliative Care Consultation Timing among a Cohort of Hospice Decedents.

Background: Earlier palliative care consultation is associated with less intensive medical care and improved quality outcomes for patients with cancer. However, there are limited data about how the timing of palliative care affects utilization among noncancer patients exposed to palliative care consultation. Objective: Comparison of health care utilization for hospice decedents who received early versus late palliative care. Design: A retrospective cohort study utilizing hospital and hospice administrative databases. Setting/Subjects: Patients with cancer and noncancer diagnoses who received specialty palliative care consultation before dying at a local hospice. Measurements: Comparing early (>90 days before death) versus late (<90 days before death) palliative care, outcome measures included intensive care unit (ICU) utilization and hospice length of stay (LOS). Results: Of 233 hospice decedents in 2014 who had palliative care referrals, 36 (15.4%) had early and 197 (84.5%) had late referrals. Nearly half of the patients had a noncancer hospice diagnosis. Only 6% of the early group used the ICU in the last month of life, whereas 56% of the late group did. Patients receiving early palliative care had a longer median hospice LOS than those with late palliative care (138 days vs. 8 days). Conclusions: Early palliative care appears to reduce intensive medical care and increase hospice LOS for patients with a variety of end-stage diseases.

Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations and Childbirth Outcomes.

Some states have adopted Accountable Care Organization (ACO) models to transform their Medicaid programs, but little is known about their impact on health care outcomes and costs. Medicaid ACOs are uniquely positioned to improve childbirth outcomes because of the number of births covered by Medicaid. Using Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project hospital data, we examined the relationship between ACO adoption and (a) neonatal and maternal outcomes, and (b) cost per birth. We compared outcomes in states that have adopted ACO models in their Medicaid programs with adjacent states without ACO models. Implementation of Medicaid ACOs was associated with a moderate reduction in hospital costs per birth and decreased cesarean section rates. Results varied by state. We found no association between Medicaid ACOs and several birth outcomes, including infant inpatient mortality, low birthweight, neonatal intensive care unit utilization, and severe maternal morbidity. Improving these outcomes may require more time or targeted interventions.

Perioperative complications and Intensive Care Unit utilization in super-superobese patients undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery.

Objective:Anesthetic management for super-superobese (SSO) patients (body mass index [BMI] ≥60 kg/m2) presents a challenge for anesthesiologists. This study aimed at characterizing the early complications and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) utilization in SSO patients receiving laparoscopic bariatric surgery.Materials and Methods:Totally, 25 SSO patients receiving laparoscopic bariatric surgery between June 2006 and December 2011 were reviewed. The data collected included patient demographics, preoperative comorbidities, anesthetic techniques, airway management, perioperative adverse events, ICU utilization, and early complications occurring within 30 days of index surgery. Early complications were defined as the adverse events that led to permanent detrimental effects or required significant additional intervention.Results:A retrospective analysis was performed on data from 25 consecutive SSO patients (age: 31.2 ± 11.1 years; BMI: 64.9 ± 4.7 kg/m2). Tracheal intubation was attempted successfully in all patients but was difficult in two cases when using laryngoscopy. Bronchospasm was observed in five cases (20%) after tracheal intubation. Postoperative ICU utilization was required in five cases (20%). Early complications occurred in two cases during their stay in postanesthesia care unit (including one case of respiratory failure and one case of hyperkalemia) and in two cases during their stay in ICU (both with respiratory failure). The incidence of early complications was 16%. All patients were discharged from the hospital without sequelae.Conclusions:It is imperative to anticipate the potential for developing perioperative adverse events and postoperative complications in SSO patients after bariatric surgery. Appropriate utilization of ICU resources may enhance patient safety.

Herpes Simplex Virus Encephalitis: Patterns of Epidemiology and Outcomes of Patients Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit in Texas, 2008 - 2016.

BackgroundPatients with herpes simplex virus encephalitis (HSVE) often require admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and have considerably worse outcomes than those not critically ill. The short-term outcomes of critically ill patients in the general population have markedly improved over the past decades. However, the population-level patterns of demand for critical care services among patients with HSVE have not been examined, and it is unknown whether there were corresponding outcome gains among those admitted to the ICU.MethodsThe Texas Inpatient Public Use Data File was used to identify hospitalizations with HSVE aged ≥ 18 years during 2008 - 2016. ICU admissions were identified using unit-specific revenue codes. The patterns of ICU utilization and those of short-term outcomes (with short-term mortality defined as in-hospital death or discharge to hospice) were examined across demographic strata and over time.ResultsAmong 1,964 hospitalizations with HSVE, 1,176 (59.9%) were admitted to ICU (45.8% aged ≥ 65 years; 53.1% female, among ICU admissions). ICU utilization increased with age (from 47.9% (age 18 - 44 years) through 61.2% (older adults (age ≥ 65 years)); P = 0.0003 for trend), and increased over time only among older adults (odds ratio: 1.06/year (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01 - 1.12)). Among ICU admissions, routine home discharge, transfer to a post-acute care facility, and short-term mortality occurred in 26.8%, 39.5%, and 18.7%, respectively; the corresponding outcomes for older adults were 10.6%, 51.4%, and 26.2%, respectively. The outcomes for the whole cohort of ICU admissions remained unchanged over time.ConclusionsAdults with HSVE had high demand for critical care services, and those admitted to ICU had high short-term mortality and substantial residual morbidity among survivors, which remained unchanged over time. These findings can inform clinicians’ decision-making and discussions about goals of care with affected patients and their surrogates.

Drug utilization and prescription pattern study in medicine intensive care unit at tertiary care teaching hospital

Background: Drug utilization evaluation performs a key role in the managing health-care system to evaluate, understand, interpret, and improve the prescribing, administration, and use of medications. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study is to evaluate and compare the drug prescribing trends in the intensive care unit (ICU) and correlate them with the disease patterns and patients outcome. Materials and Methods: The case records of 150 patients admitted to the ICU at Shri. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Sarvopchar Rugnalaya, a teaching hospital in Solapur, during 1-year period from June 1, 2017, to May 31, 2018, were analyzed. The variables collected were demographic and clinical characteristics. We also considered the duration of hospitalization, indications, and utilization of different drugs. The total number of drugs, dose, route, sensitivity pattern, and cost was collected from patients’ case paper. Results: Among 150 evaluated patients, the average age was 45 ± 17 years. The average length of stay at ICU was 4 to 10 days. The average number of drugs per prescription was 5 to 10. The parenteral route (61%) followed by the enteral route (27%) was common route used. Antimicrobial drugs and gastrointestinal drugs were the most commonly prescribed class of drugs, i.e., (30%) and (21%), respectively. The 1235 generic and 174 branded drugs were prescribed. The fixed drug combinations were 427 while single drug utilization was 715 in number. Conclusion: Antimicrobials are the most commonly used drugs. There is a need of antimicrobial agents’ usage guidelines and restriction policies for the rational prescribing of antimicrobials.

A Standardized Cardiac Protocol for Pediatric Drug Ingestion Hospital Admissions

Objective:To optimize patient resource utilization and safety, we created a standard-of-care guideline for pediatric drug ingestion hospital admissions.Methods:A multidisciplinary committee developed specific telemetry guidelines for pediatric drug ingestion hospital admissions at a tertiary pediatric hospital. The guidelines stipulated inpatient admission with telemetry monitoring for the following criteria: (1) corrected QT interval (interval between the Q wave and T wave on a standard EKG)≥ 500 ms, (2) ingestion of an antiarrhythmic medication, or (3) ingestion of a tricyclic antidepressant. We created guidelines for electrocardiogram frequency for nontelemetry admissions. We implemented these guidelines in November 2015 in partnership with the Emergency Medicine Department and Poison Control Center. We reviewed medical records of all these admissions between January 1, 2015, and July 31, 2016, and divided patients into preintervention (January 1, 2015 to November 30, 2015) and postintervention (December 1, 2015 to July 31, 2016) groups. We used statistical process control charts and methodology to monitor changes over time.Results:There were a total of 622 drug ingestion admissions during the study period. We admitted 69 patients (11%) to the cardiac acute care unit (CACU) for telemetry monitoring. The preintervention period included 61 admissions (5.5 CACU admissions per month). The postintervention period included 8 admissions (1.1 CACU admissions per month). This difference reflects an overall absolute decrease of 87%. There was no evidence of an increase in the rate of intensive care unit utilization, rapid response events, or adverse events in the postintervention period.Conclusions:A standardized admission protocol for pediatric drug ingestions can safely improve resource utilization.

Comparison of outcomes and costs between adult diabetic ketoacidosis patients admitted to the ICU and step-down unit

PurposeThere is wide variation in the utilization of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds for treatment and monitoring of adult patients with Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA). We sought to compare the outcomes and hospital costs of adult DKA patients admitted to ICUs as compared to those admitted to step-down units. Materials and methodsWe included consecutive adult patients from two hospitals with a diagnosis of DKA. Patients were either admitted to the ICU, or a step-down unit, which has a nurse-to-patient ratio of 2:1, but does not have capability for mechanical ventilation or administration of vasoactive agents. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. ResultsWe included 872 patients in the analysis. 71 (8.1%) were admitted to ICU, while 801 (91.9%) were admitted to a step-down unit. We found no difference in in-hospital mortality between patients admitted to the ICU and those admitted to the step-down unit (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.87–2.64). Mean total hospital costs were significantly higher for patients admitted to the ICU ($20,428 vs. $6484, P < 0.001). ConclusionsAdult DKA patients admitted to a step-down unit had comparable in-hospital mortality and lower hospital costs as compared to those admitted to the ICU.