Medical-surgical Intensive Care Unit Research Articles

The use of a low dose hydrocortisone to prevent pulmonary embolism in patients with multiple trauma

Venous thromboembolism events are common in trauma patients. Immediate acute inflammation following injury triggers coagulation cascade and may increase the risk of pulmonary embolism (PE) in this population. We aimed to evaluate whether early low-dose steroids prevent symptomatic PE onset in multiple trauma patients. The medical surgical intensive care unit of Habib Bourguiba University Hospital (Sfax--Tunisia). Comparative study of two cohorts: a retrospective cohort of patients who didn't receive early low-dose steroids (steroid (-) group) and a prospective cohort of patients who received hydrocortisone with a dose of 100 mg/8 h for a scheduled period of 7 days (steroid (+) group). All adult patients admitted in our intensive care unit (ICU) for multiple trauma with predicted duration of mechanical ventilation over 48 h were included. Evaluation of the impact of low-dose steroids on the incidence of symptomatic PE. We included 175 patients: 92 in the steroids (-) group and 83 in the steroids (+) group. PE was diagnosed in 15 patients (8.5 %). The incidence of PE was significantly lower in steroid (+) group (3.6 vs 13 %; p = 0.013). In multivariate analysis, independent factors predicting PE onset were meningeal hemorrhage [OR = 14.7; 95 % CI (2.2-96.3); p = 0.013] and pelvic ring trauma [OR = 8; 95 % CI (1.8-36.4); p = 0.007] whereas low-dose steroids were significantly associated with a protective effect [OR = 0.2; 95 % CI (0.05-0.77); p = 0.019]. There was no significant difference between steroids (+) and steroids (-) groups neither in terms of mean ICU length of stay (LOS) (respectively 11 ± 9.7 and 12.3 ± 10.7 days; p = 0.372) nor in terms of ICU mortality (respectively 29.3 and 24.1 %; p = 0.434). Steroids are effective in reducing the incidence of PE in multiple trauma patients. However, no significant benefice was found on ICU mortality.

Physical Therapist–Established Intensive Care Unit Early Mobilization Program: Quality Improvement Project for Critical Care at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center

Long-term weakness and disability are common after an intensive care unit (ICU) stay. Usual care in the ICU prevents most patients from receiving preventative early mobilization. The study objective was to describe a quality improvement project established by a physical therapist at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center from 2009 to 2011. The goal of the program was to reduce patients' ICU length of stay by increasing the number of patients in the ICU receiving physical therapy and decreasing the time from ICU admission to physical therapy initiation. This study was a 9-month retrospective analysis of a quality improvement project. An interprofessional ICU Early Mobilization Group established and promoted guidelines for mobilizing patients in the ICU. A physical therapist was dedicated to a 16-bed medical-surgical ICU to provide physical therapy to selected patients within 48 hours of ICU admission. Patients receiving early physical therapy intervention in the ICU in 2010 were compared with patients receiving physical therapy under usual care practice in the same ICU in 2009. From 2009 to 2010, the number of patients receiving physical therapy in the ICU increased from 179 to 294. The median times (interquartile ranges) from ICU admission to physical therapy evaluation were 3 days (9 days) in 2009 and 1 day (2 days) in 2010. The ICU length of stay decreased by 2 days, on average, and the percentage of ambulatory patients discharged to home increased from 55% to 77%. This study relied upon the retrospective analysis of data from 6 collectors, and the intervention lacked physical therapy coverage for 7 days per week. The improvements in outcomes demonstrated the value and feasibility of a physical therapist-led early mobilization program.

Prognosis of elderly patients subjected to mechanical ventilation in the ICU

Abstract Objective To analyze the prognosis of mechanically ventilated elderly patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Design and scope Sub-analysis of a prospective multicenter observational cohort study conducted over a period of two years in 13 medical-surgical ICUs in Spain was carried out. Patients Adult patients who required mechanical ventilation (MV) for longer than 24 h. Interventions None. Study variables Demographic data, APACHE II, SOFA, reason for MV, comorbidity, functional condition, reintubation, duration of MV, tracheotomy, ICU mortality, and in-hospital mortality. Results A total of 1661 patients were recruited. Males accounted for 67.9% (n = 1127), with a mean age of 62.1 ± 16.2 years. APACHE II: 20.3 ± 7.5. Total SOFA: 8.4 ± 3.5. Four hundred and twenty-three patients (25.4%) were ≥75 years of age. Comorbidity and functional condition rates were poorer in these patients (p Conclusion Older patients (≥75 years) have significantly higher in-ICU and in-hospital mortality than younger patients without differences in the duration of mechanical ventilation. Differences in mortality were at the expense of pneumonia, sepsis and trauma.

Pancreatic Stone Protein Predicts Outcome in Patients With Peritonitis in the ICU*

To determine the value of pancreatic stone protein in predicting sepsis-related postoperative complications and death in the ICU. A prospective cohort study of postoperative patients admitted to the ICU. Blood samples for analysis were taken within 3 hours from admission to the ICU including pancreatic stone protein, white blood cell counts, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and procalcitonin. The Mannheim Peritonitis Index and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II clinical scores were also determined. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the diagnostic accuracy and independent predictors of death in the ICU [Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01465711]. An adult medical-surgical ICU in a teaching hospital in Germany. Ninety-one consecutive postoperative patients with proven diagnosis of secondary peritonitis admitted to the ICU were included in the study from August 17, 2007, to February 8, 2010. Peripheral vein blood sampling. Univariate analysis demonstrated that pancreatic stone protein has the highest diagnostic accuracy for complications and is the best predictor for death in the ICU. Pancreatic stone protein had the highest overall efficacy in predicting death with an odds ratio of 4.0 vs. procalcitonin (odds ratio 3.2), interleukin-6 (odds ratio 2.8), C-reactive protein (odds ratio 1.3), and WBCs (odds ratio 1.4). By multivariate analysis, pancreatic stone protein was the only independent predictor of death. In a population of patients with sepsis-related complications, serum-pancreatic stone protein levels demonstrate a high diagnostic accuracy to discriminate the severity of peritonitis and to predict death in the ICU. This test could be of value in the clinical diagnosis and therapeutic decision making in the ICU.

A Pediatric Critical Care Practice Group: Use of Expertise and Evidence-Based Practice in Identifying and Establishing “Best” Practice

Mary-Jeanne Manning and Susan Hamilton are clinical nurse specialists in the medical-surgical intensive care unit, Michelle Labreque and Denise Casey are clinical nurse specialists in the neonatal intensive care unit, Heather Kennedy is a clinical nurse specialist in the medicine intensive care unit, and Katherine C. Penny is a nurse practitioner in the cardiovascular program at Boston Children’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. Martha A. Q. Curley is the Ellen and Robert Kapito professor in nursing science in the school of nursing at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and a nurse scientist in the cardiovascular and critical care program at Boston Children’s Hospital. For questions related to this article, contact Patricia Lincoln at patricia.lincoln@ childrens.harvard.edu. and meets monthly to move best practices into the clinical setting. Clinical concerns are identified and prioritized for completion. Problems are addressed by using an evidence-based process. This approach involves review of the literature and obtaining expert opinion through shared conversations with practitioners both within the hospital and at other similar institutions. Once information has been gathered, it is used to assist in developing strategies to plan and implement practice changes. In this article, we describe our process and discuss 3 large-scale projects that resulted in practice changes throughout the critical care areas with further dissemination to other units in the hospital. These include standardization of continuous infusions of medications, formation of a multidisciplinary group to evaluate continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), and development of a risk-screening tool for venous thromboemboli. Nursing leaders from 4 different intensive care units (ICUs) at Boston Children’s Hospital noted wide variation in nursing practices. These variations were obvious to nursing staff and the discrepancies in practice created a source of frustration for parents of children cared for in these units. Practice variation that is unnecessary has been linked to patient safety concerns. Collaboration to explore discrepancies in nursing practice was needed. Through this initiative, the Critical Care Practice Group (CCPG) was established to determine “best” practice and standardize nursing policy and practice guidelines across the clinical areas (cardiac ICU, neonatal ICU, medical ICU, and medical-surgical ICU). Clinical nurse specialists and staff nurses from each critical care area were invited to participate. The CCPG sets a yearly strategic plan

Do Active Surveillance and Contact Precautions Reduce MRSA Acquisition? A Prospective Interrupted Time Series

BackgroundConsensus for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) control has still not been reached. We hypothesised that use of rapid MRSA detection followed by contact precautions and single room isolation would reduce MRSA acquisition.MethodsThis study was a pre-planned prospective interrupted time series comparing rapid PCR detection and use of long sleeved gowns and gloves (contact precautions) plus single room isolation or cohorting of MRSA colonised patients with a control group. The study took place in a medical-surgical intensive care unit of a tertiary adult hospital between May 21st 2007 and September 21st 2009. The primary outcome was the rate of MRSA acquisition. A segmented regression analysis was performed to determine the trend in MRSA acquisition rates before and after the intervention.FindingsThe rate of MRSA acquisition was 18.5 per 1000 at risk patient days in the control phase and 7.9 per 1000 at-risk patient days in the intervention phase, with an adjusted hazard ratio 0.39 (95% CI 0.24 to 0.62). Segmented regression analysis showed a decline in MRSA acquisition of 7% per month in the intervention phase, (95%CI 1.9% to 12.8% reduction) which was a significant change in slope compared with the control phase. Secondary analysis found prior exposure to anaerobically active antibiotics and colonization pressure were associated with increased acquisition risk.ConclusionContact precautions with single room isolation or cohorting were associated with a 60% reduction in MRSA acquisition. While this study was a quasi-experimental design, many measures were taken to strengthen the study, such as accounting for differences in colonisation pressure, hand hygiene compliance and individual risk factors across the groups, and confining the study to one centre to reduce variation in transmission. Use of two research nurses may limit its generalisability to units in which this level of support is available.

Predictors of cardiopulmonary arrest outcome in a comprehensive cancer center intensive care unit

BackgroundSome comprehensive cancer centers in industrialized countries have reported improved outcomes in their cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) patients. Little is known about the outcomes and predictors of CPA in cancer centers in other parts of the world. The objective of this study was to examine the predictors of CPA outcome in a comprehensive cancer center closed medical-surgical intensive care unit (ICU) located in Amman, Jordan.MethodsIn this retrospective single-center cohort study, we identified 104 patients who had a CPA during their stay in the ICU between 1/1/2008 and 6/30/2009. Demographic data and CPA-related variables and outcome were extracted from medical records. Comparisons between different variables and CPA outcome were conducted using logistic regression.ResultsThe mean age of the group was 49.7 ± 15.3 years. The mean APACHE II score was 23.7 ± 8.0. Thirty six patients (34.6%) were resuscitated successfully but 8 of them (7.7% of the cohort) left the ICU alive and only 6 out of the 8 (5.8% of the cohort) left the hospital alive. The following variables predict resuscitation failure: acute kidney injury (OR 1.7, CI: 1.1 – 2.6), being on mechanical ventilation (OR 3.8, CI: 1.3 – 11), refractory shock (OR 4.7, CI: 1.8 – 12) and CPR duration (OR 1.1, CI: 1.1 – 1.2).ConclusionSurvival among cancer patients who develop CPA in the ICU continues to be poor. Once cancer patients suffered a CPA in the ICU multiple factors predicted resuscitation failure but CPR duration was the only factor that predicted resuscitation failure and ICU as well as hospital mortality.

Prevalence of multidrug resistance, extensive drug resistance and pandrug resistance among multiple Gram-negative isolates: experience in a tertiary-care hospital ICU in North India

Antibiotic resistance is a major worldwide problem in the ICU [1]. The situation in developing countries like India is particularly serious. Since the presence of drug-resistant bacteria in the environment is a threat for public health, up-to-date information on local pathogens and the drug sensitivity pattern is very crucial to treat patients. This study was carried out to evaluate the prevalence of multidrug resistance (MDR), extensive drug resistance (XDR) and pandrug resistance (PDR) among multiple Gram-negative isolates in a medical-surgical ICU in a tertiary care hospital in North India.

Fluid Resuscitation in Septic Shock

To determine whether progressively increasing fluid balance after initial fluid resuscitation for septic shock is associated with increased mortality. A retrospective review of the use of intravenous fluids in patients with septic shock in a large university affiliated hospital with 56 medical-surgical intensive care unit beds. We analyzed the data of 350 patients with septic shock who were managed according to the Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines. Based on net fluid balance at 24 hours, we examined the results of increase in positive fluid balance on the risk of in-hospital mortality. Patients were divided into 4 groups based on the amount of fluid balance by 24 hours, based on 6-L aliquots. At 24 hours, the average fluid balance was +6.5 L. After correcting for age and sequential organ failure assessment score, a more positive fluid balance at 24 hours significantly increased the risk of in-hospital mortality. Using Cox proportional hazard analysis, excess 12-, 18-, and 24-L positive fluid balance had higher risk of mortality than those patients with a neutral to positive 6-L fluid balance (reference group). Adjusted hazard ratios, 1.519 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.353-1.685), 1.740 (95% CI, 1.467-2.013), and 1.620 (95% CI, 1.197-2.043), respectively, P < .05. In patients with septic shock resuscitated according to current guidelines, a more positive fluid balance at 24 hours is associated with an increase in the risk of mortality. Optimal survival occurred at neutral fluid balance and up to 6-L positive fluid balance at 24 hours after the development of septic shock.

A Longitudinal Investigation of Alcohol Use over the Course of the Year Following Medical-Surgical Intensive Care Unit Admission

There have been no studies describing post-intensive care unit (ICU) alcohol use among medical-surgical ICU survivors. To examine alcohol use and identify potentially modifiable risk factors, such as in-hospital probable acute stress disorder, for increased alcohol use following medical-surgical ICU admission. This longitudinal investigation included 150 medical-surgical ICU survivors. In-hospital interviews obtained baseline characteristics including pre-ICU alcohol use with the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and in-hospital probable acute stress disorder with the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-civilian version. Clinical factors were obtained from medical records. Post-ICU alcohol use was ascertained via telephone interviews at 3 and 12 months post-discharge using the AUDIT. Mixed-model linear regression was used to examine potential risk factors for increased post-ICU alcohol use. There was a significant decline in the mean AUDIT score from baseline (3.9, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 2.9, 5.0) to 3 months post-ICU (1.5, 95% CI: 1.0, 2.1) (P < 0.001 by one-way analysis of variance [ANOVA]), with a significant increase between 3 and 12 months post-ICU (2.7, 95% CI: 1.8, 3.5) (P < 0.001 by one-way ANOVA). After adjusting for patient and clinical factors, in-hospital probable acute stress disorder (beta: 3.0, 95% CI: 0.9, 5.0) and pre-ICU unhealthy alcohol use (beta: 5.4, 95% CI: 3.4, 7.4) were independently associated with increased post-ICU alcohol use. Alcohol use decreases in the early aftermath of medical-surgical ICU admission and then increases significantly by one year post-ICU. Interventions for unhealthy alcohol use among medical-surgical ICU survivors that take into account comorbid psychiatric symptoms are needed.

Incidence and outcome of contrast-associated acute kidney injury in a mixed medical-surgical ICU population: a retrospective study

BackgroundContrast-enhanced radiographic examinations carry the risk of contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CA-AKI). While CA-AKI is a well-known complication outside the intensive care unit (ICU) setting, data on CA-AKI in ICU patients are scarce. Our aim was to assess the incidence and short-term outcome of CA-AKI in a mixed medical-surgical ICU population.MethodsWe conducted a single-center retrospective analysis between September 2006 and December 2008 on adult patients who underwent a contrast-enhanced computed tomography for urgent diagnostic purposes. CA-AKI was defined as either a relative increment in serum creatinine of ≥ 25% or an absolute increment in serum creatinine of ≥ 0.3 mg/dL within 48 hrs after contrast administration. ICU mortality rates of patients with and without CA-AKI were compared in univariate and multivariate analyses. The need for renal replacement therapy (RRT) was also recorded.ResultsCA-AKI occurred in 24/143 (16.8%) patients. Coexisting risk factors for kidney injury, such as sepsis, nephrotoxic drugs and hemodynamic failure were commonly observed in patients who developed CA-AKI. ICU mortality was significantly higher in patients with than in those without CA-AKI (50% vs 21%, p = 0.004). In multivariate logistic regression, CA-AKI remained associated with ICU mortality (odds ratio: 3.48, 95% confidence interval: 1.10-11.46, p = 0.04). RRT was required in 7 (29.2%) patients with CA-AKI.ConclusionsIn our cohort, CA-AKI was a frequent complication. It was associated with a poor short-term outcome and seemed to occur mainly when multiple risk factors for kidney injury were present. Administration of ICM should be considered as a potential high-risk procedure and not as a routine innocuous practice in ICU patients.

A longitudinal investigation of posttraumatic stress and depressive symptoms over the course of the year following medical–surgical intensive care unit admission

ObjectiveThe objective was to identify risk factors for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depressive symptoms after medical–surgical intensive care unit (ICU) admission. MethodThis longitudinal investigation included 150 medical–surgical ICU patients. We assessed acute stress and post-ICU PTSD symptoms with the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version and post-ICU depressive symptoms with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Mixed-model linear regression ascertained associations between patient and clinical characteristics and repeated measures of post-ICU PTSD and depressive symptoms. ResultsThe prevalences of substantial PTSD and depressive symptoms were 16% and 31% at 3 months post-ICU and 15% and 17% at 12 months post-ICU, respectively. In-hospital substantial acute stress symptoms [beta: 16.9, 95% confidence Interval (CI): 11.4, 22.4] were independently associated with increased post-ICU PTSD symptoms. Lifetime history of major depression (beta: 2.2, 95% CI: 0.1, 4.2), greater prior trauma exposure (beta: 0.5, 95% CI: 0.2, 0.9) and in-hospital substantial acute stress symptoms (beta: 3.5, 95% CI: 0.8, 6.2) were independently associated with increased post-ICU depressive symptoms. ConclusionsIn-hospital acute stress symptoms may represent a modifiable risk factor for psychiatric morbidity in ICU survivors. Early interventions for at-risk ICU survivors may improve longer-term psychiatric outcomes.

Variation Exists in Rates of Admission to Intensive Care Units for Heart Failure Patients Across Hospitals in the United States

Despite increasing attention on reducing relatively costly hospital practices while maintaining the quality of care, few studies have examined how hospitals use the intensive care unit (ICU), a high-cost setting, for patients admitted with heart failure (HF). We characterized hospital patterns of ICU admission for patients with HF and determined their association with the use of ICU-level therapies and patient outcomes. We identified 166 224 HF discharges from 341 hospitals in the 2009-2010 Premier Perspective database. We excluded hospitals with <25 HF admissions, patients <18 years old, and transfers. We defined ICU as including medical ICU, coronary ICU, and surgical ICU. We calculated the percent of patients admitted directly to an ICU. We compared hospitals in the top quartile (high ICU admission) with the remaining quartiles. The median percentage of ICU admission was 10% (interquartile range, 6%-16%; range, 0%-88%). In top-quartile hospitals, treatments requiring an ICU were used less often; the percentage of ICU days receiving mechanical ventilation was 6% for the top quartile versus 15% for the others; noninvasive positive pressure ventilation, 8% versus 19%; vasopressors and/or inotropes, 9% versus 16%; vasodilators, 6% versus 12%; and any of these interventions, 26% versus 51%. Overall HF in-hospital risk-standardized mortality was similar (3.4% versus 3.5%; P=0.2). ICU admission rates for HF varied markedly across hospitals and lacked association with in-hospital risk-standardized mortality. Greater ICU use correlated with fewer patients receiving ICU interventions. Judicious ICU use could reduce resource consumption without diminishing patient outcomes.

A Preliminary Investigation on the Acceptance and Feasibility of Acupuncture in the Intensive Care Unit

Objective. Acupuncture has been shown to decrease opioid requirements and respiratory distress in selected patients, and it may be helpful as an adjunctive therapy to sedatives and analgesics in the ICU. This preliminary study investigated the acceptance and feasibility of acupuncture in the ICU. Design. Forty-eight patients in a 12-bed medical–surgical ICU at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center who met eligibility criteria were offered the opportunity to receive free-of-charge daily acupuncture treatments during their time in the ICU. Primary endpoints were percentage of patients offered acupuncture who accepted treatment, the percentage of eligible days acupuncture therapy was received, and the incidence of adverse events related to acupuncture treatment. Main Results. Of the 48 patients who were eligible and offered acupuncture therapy, 20 (41%) patients enrolled in the study with an average age of 56 years (range = 18-91 years). The median and average number of days which patients received acupuncture was 2 and 3, respectively (range = 0-11 days), and a majority of patients (13/20) received acupuncture for each of the days for which they were eligible. One patient reported dizziness, which resolved spontaneously and was not associated with hemodynamic changes. No other adverse effects occurred in a total of 64 acupuncture treatments. Conclusions. This preliminary study demonstrates that acupuncture therapy in the ICU is a feasible treatment modality. Further clinical trials are warranted to determine the efficacy of acupuncture therapy as an adjunct to sedative and analgesics in critically ill patients.

Effects of the implementation of a preventive interventions program on the reduction of medication errors in critically ill adult patients

PurposeMedication errors (MEs) are a major factor limiting the effectiveness and safety of pharmacological therapies in critically ill patients. The purpose was to determine if a preventive interventions program (PIP) is associated with a significant reduction on prevalence of patients with MEs in intensive care unit (ICU). MethodsA prospective before-after study was conducted in a random sample of adult patients in a medical-surgical ICU. Between 2 observational phases, a PIP (bundle of interventions to reduce MEs) was implemented by a multidisciplinary team. Direct observation was used to detect MEs at baseline and postintervention. Each medication process, that is, prescription, transcription, dispensing, preparation, and administration, was compared with what the prescriber ordered; if there was a difference, the error was described and categorized. Medication errors were defined according to the National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention. ResultsA total of 410 medications for 278 patients were evaluated. A 31.7% decrease on the prevalence of patients with MEs (41.9%-28.6%; P < .05) was seen. Main variations occurred in anti-infectives for systemic use and prescription and administration stage. ConclusionsThe implementation of PIP by a multidisciplinary team resulted in a significant reduction on the prevalence of patients with ME at an adult ICU.

Thenar oxygen saturation during weaning from mechanical ventilation: an observational study

Our aim was to determine whether thenar tissue oxygen saturation (S(tO2)), measured by noninvasive near-infrared spectroscopy, and its changes derived from an ischaemic challenge are associated with weaning outcome. Our study comprised a prospective observational study in a 26-bed medical-surgical intensive care unit. Patients receiving mechanical ventilation for >48 h, and considered ready to wean by their physicians underwent a 30-min weaning trial. S(tO2) was measured continuously on the thenar eminence. A transient vascular occlusion test was performed prior to and at the end of the 30-min weaning trial, in order to obtain S(tO2) deoxygenation and reoxygenation rates, and estimated local oxygen consumption. 37 patients were studied. Patients were classified as weaning success (n=24) or weaning failure (n=13). No significant demographic, respiratory or haemodynamic differences were observed between the groups at inclusion. Patients who failed the overall weaning process showed a significant increase in deoxygenation and in local oxygen consumption from baseline to 30 min of weaning trial, whereas no significant changes were observed in the weaning success group. Failure to wean from mechanical ventilation was associated with higher relative increases in deoxygenation after 30 min of spontaneous ventilation.

Phenomenologic analysis of healthcare worker perceptions of intensive care unit diaries

IntroductionStudies have reported associations between diaries kept for intensive care unit (ICU) patients and long-term quality-of-life and psychological outcomes in patients and their relatives. Little was known about perceptions of healthcare workers reading and writing in the diaries. We investigated healthcare worker perceptions the better to understand their opinions and responses to reading and writing in the diaries.MethodsWe used a phenomenologic approach to conduct a qualitative study of 36 semistructured interviews in a medical-surgical ICU in a 460-bed tertiary hospital.ResultsTwo domains of perception were assessed: reading and writing in the diaries. These two domains led to four main themes in the ICU workers' perceptions: suffering of the families; using the diary as a source of information for families but also as generating difficulties in writing bad news; determining the optimal interpersonal distance with the patient and relatives; and using the diary as a tool for constructing a narrative of the patient's ICU stay.ConclusionsThe ICU workers thought that the diary was beneficial in communicating the suffering of families while providing comfort and helping to build the patient's ICU narrative. They reported strong emotions related to the diaries and a perception of intruding into the patients' and families' privacy when reading the diaries. Fear of strong emotional investment may adversely affect the ability of ICU workers to perform their duties optimally. ICU workers are in favor of ICU diaries, but activation by the diaries of emotions among younger ICU workers may require specific support.

The effect of acute kidney injury on long-term health-related quality of life: a prospective follow-up study

IntroductionAcute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious complication in critically ill patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). We hypothesized that ICU survivors with AKI would have a worse health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcome than ICU survivors without AKI.MethodsWe performed a long-term prospective observational study. Patients admitted for > 48 hours in a medical-surgical ICU were included and divided in two groups: patients who fulfilled RIFLE criteria for AKI and patients without AKI. We used the Short-Form 36 to evaluate HRQOL before admission (by proxy within 48 hours after admission of the patient), at ICU discharge, hospital discharge, 3 and 6 months following ICU discharge (all by patients). Recovery in HRQOL from ICU-admission onwards was assessed using linear mixed modelling.ResultsBetween September 2000 and January 2007 all admissions were screened for study participation. We included a total of 749 patients. At six months after ICU discharge 73 patients with AKI and 325 patients without AKI could be evaluated. In survivors with and without AKI, the pre-admission HRQOL (by proxy) and at six months after ICU discharge was significantly lower compared with an age matched general population. Most SF-36 dimensions changed significantly over time from ICU discharge. Change over time of HRQOL between the different AKI Rifle classes (Risk, Injury, Failure) showed no significant differences. At ICU discharge, scores were lowest in the group with AKI compared with the group without AKI for the physical functioning, role-physical and general health dimensions. However, there were almost no differences in HRQOL between both groups at six months.ConclusionsThe pre-admission HRQOL (by proxy) of AKI survivors was significantly lower in two dimensions compared with the age matched general population. Six months after ICU discharge survivors with and without AKI showed an almost similar HRQOL. However, compared with the general population with a similar age, HRQOL was poorer in both groups.

Readmissões e óbitos após a alta da UTI: um desafio da terapia intensiva

ObjectivesIdentify patients at risk for intensive care unit readmission, the reasons for and rates of readmission, and mortality after their stay in the intensive care unit; describe the sensitivity and specificity of the Stability and Workload Index for Transfer scale as a criterion for discharge from the intensive care unit. Methods Adult, critical patients from intensive care units from two public hospitals in Porto Alegre, Brazil, comprised the sample. The patients' clinical and demographic characteristics were collected within 24 hours of admission. They were monitored until their final outcome on the intensive care unit (death or discharge) to apply the Stability and Workload Index for Transfer. The deaths during the first intensive care unit admission were disregarded, and we continued monitoring the other patients using the hospitals' electronic systems to identify the discharges, deaths, and readmissions. ResultsReadmission rates were 13.7% in intensive care unit 1 (medical-surgical, ICU1) and 9.3% in intensive care unit 2 (trauma and neurosurgery, ICU2). The death rate following discharge was 12.5% from ICU1 and 4.2% from ICU2. There was a statistically significant difference in Stability and Workload Index for Transfer (p<0.05) regarding the ICU1 patients' outcome, which was not found in the ICU2 patients. In ICU1, 46.5% (N=20) of patients were readmitted very early (within 48 hours of discharge). Mortality was high among those readmitted: 69.7% in ICU1 and 48.5% in ICU2. ConclusionsThe Stability and Workload Index for Transfer scale showed greater efficacy in identifying patients more prone to readmission and death following discharge from a medical-surgical intensive care unit. The patients' intensive care unit readmission during the same hospitalization resulted in increased morbidity, mortality, length of stay, and total costs.

Early alterations of B cells in patients with septic shock

IntroductionIt has recently been proposed that B lymphocytes are involved in sepsis pathogenesis. The goal of this study is to investigate potential abnormalities in a subset distribution and activation of circulating B lymphocytes in patients with septic shock.MethodsThis observational prospective study was conducted in a medical-surgical ICU. All patients with septic shock were eligible for inclusion. B-cell phenotypes (CD19+CD69+, CD19+CD23+, CD19+CD5+, CD19+CD80, CD19+CD86+, CD19+CD40 and CD19+CD95+) were assessed by quantitative flow cytometry upon admission to the ICU and 3, 7, 14 and 28 d later.ResultsFifty-two patients were included. Thirty-six healthy volunteers matched for age and sex were used as controls. The patients had lymphopenia that was maintained during 28 d of follow-up. In patients with septic shock who died, the percentage of CD19+CD23+ was lower during the 7 d of follow-up than it was in survival patients. Moreover, the percentage of CD80+ and CD95+ expression on B cells was higher in patients who died than in survivors. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that a CD19+CD23+ value of 64.6% at ICU admission enabled discrimination between survivors and nonsurvivors with a sensitivity of 90.9% and a specificity of 80.0% (P = 0.0001).ConclusionsPatients with septic shock who survive and those who don't have different patterns of abnormalities in circulating B lymphocytes. At ICU admission, a low percentage of CD23+ and a high of CD80+ and CD95+ on B cells were associated with increased mortality of patients with septic shock. Moreover, a drop in circulating B cells persisted during 28 d of ICU follow-up.