Total ICU Research Articles

P-1706. Understanding Facility Bed Size Changes in NHSN over the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

Abstract Background Antimicrobial use surveillance data within National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) uses patient care location mapping data to define locations and inform risk adjustment. During the COVID-19 public health emergency, many hospitals changed how beds were utilized. This study compares location mapping changes over time within a statewide hospital antimicrobial stewardship collaborative during the COVID-19 public health emergency.Figure 1.Frequency of Facilities by Change in Total Beds from 2019 In this analysis, each facility's change in total bed count was subtracted from the 2019 value to classify the change as an increase, decrease, or no change in each year of analysis. The figure demonstrates that total bed counts varied in the direction of change; there was no significant difference in the direction of change across years (p=0.63) . Methods We utilized facility survey data from facilities who submitted data from 2019-2022 to the Oregon Antimicrobial Stewardship Network (ORASN) NHSN group. Annual total bed and ICU bed counts were compared to 2019 data for each facility. Changes in bed counts were also categorized as increases, decreases, and no change and compared using the Fisher’s exact test.Figure 2.Frequency of Facilities by Change in ICU Beds from 2019 In this analysis, each facility's change in ICU bed count was subtracted from the 2019 value to classify the change as an increase, decrease, or no change in each year of analysis. The figure demonstrates that ICU bed counts increased in all years; there was no significant difference in the direction of change across years (p>0.99) . Results Nineteen hospital facilities contributed sufficient data and were included in analysis. Overall, there was a mean decrease in total bed count in 2020 (-8.16 ± 26.68) and 2021 (-4.16 ± 29.3) but an increase in 2022 (27.89 ± 68.39) when compared to 2019 baseline total bed counts at each facility. The total bed counts decreased in 8.77% of facilities in 2020 and 8.77% in 2021; while increases were observed among 21.05% in 2022 (p = .63; see Figure 1). There was a mean increase in the total number of ICU beds in 2020 (3.95 ± 9.51), 2021 (4.47 ± 10.89), and 2022 (4.63 ± 10.05) when compared to 2019 baseline data. The ICU bed counts increased in 8.77% of facilities in 2020, 8.77% in 2021, and 10.53% of facilities in 2022 (p > .99; see Figure 2). Conclusion The data suggest that location mapping changed meaningfully across the COVID-19 public health emergency with no clear trend. Interpretation of the antimicrobial use data over time and risk adjusted metrics must consider these shifts. Further efforts are needed to understand NHSN location mapping changes in the context of actual historical bed utilization during this time frame. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

P-1749. Implementation of an Automatic 36-hour Stop Order on Empiric Meropenem Usage

Abstract Background Implementation of automatic stop orders (ASOs) for empiric antimicrobials have reduced antimicrobial use without negatively impacting patient outcomes. Given a recent increase in empiric meropenem use at our tertiary referral pediatric hospital, a 36-hour meropenem ASO option was implemented in the EMR for patients with sepsis requiring empiric antibiotics active against ESBL-producing organisms. We sought to evaluate the impact this initiative had on meropenem use and safety outcomes. Methods A 36-hour ASO for meropenem was implemented on October 12th, 2022. We conducted a single-center, retrospective pre/post evaluation of order set implementation of all patients admitted to Riley Hospital for Children and treated with meropenem between 9/01/2019–9/01/2021 (pre-intervention) and 10/13/2022–10/13/2023 (post-intervention). The primary outcome was meropenem utilization, as measured by the number of meropenem days and doses per admission. Secondary outcomes included total hospital and ICU mean length of stay (LOS), mortality within 30 days of meropenem exposure, and 30-day readmission rate. Results 309 admissions during which meropenem was administered were included. Demographics between pre-ASO (147 patients; n = 193 admissions) and post-ASO (88 patients; n = 116 admissions) groups were similar. There was no difference in the number of meropenem days (pre and post-ASO: median = 4; p = 0.88) or the number of meropenem doses (pre-ASO: 11 vs. post-ASO: 10; p = 0.63). Secondary safety outcomes including death within 30 days of meropenem administration (8.7% vs. 8.7%; p = 0.99), hospital LOS (18 vs 15.5 days; p = 0.42), ICU admission, and 30-day readmission rate were not significantly different. The new ASO was utilized in 23.3% of admissions in the post-implementation period. Conclusion Use of the new ASO was not widely adopted, making evaluation of impact difficult. No significant difference in meropenem use nor clinical outcomes were identified after implementation, which has informed the next Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle for quality improvement at our center, likely with a focus on EMR modifications and education. Disclosures Jack G. Schneider, MD, MiraVista Diagnostics: Advisor/Consultant

P-898. Reproducible profiling of eight Brazilian infectious diseases specialist training sites through open databases

Abstract Background Many factors influence the choice of a specialty and a residency training site after essential medical education, including hospital characteristics. We set out to explore characteristics of infectious diseases (ID) and pediatric ID training sites in one Brazilian state, aiming to provide a data-driven input into residency site choice. Number of hospitalizations and age and sex of patients (A) Absolute number of hospitalizations per institution in the 10-year period, and (B) proportion of hospitalizations in each institution along the years. (C) Violin plots of ages for each institution with the same maximum width, and inner boxplots with width proportional to hospitalization count. (D) Frequency plots of male and female patients hospitalized in each institution, with (E) corresponding area plots adding to 100% for every age. Methods We performed a retrospective, descriptive study of hospitalizations in institutions which offer ID and/or peds ID medical training, using Ministry of Health openly available hospitalization databases as sources. We used R software version 4.3.1 for analysis to ensure reproducibility. Procedures performed, length of hospital stay and intensive care unit costs per institution (A) Proportion of diagnostic, clinical, surgical and transplant procedures carried out in each hospital. (B) Proportion of specialty associated with hospital bed used for each hospitalization. (C) Violin plots of days of hospital stay for each institution. (D) Violin plots of total ICU costs (US dollars, log scale) in each hospitalization for each hospital; (E) the same plot, after removing COVID hospitalizations. Results Eight institutions from Rio de Janeiro (RJ) fit the criteria and had available data. From January 2013 to December 2022, they carried out 583,362 hospitalizations. Two hospitals (HGNI, HUPE) accounted for 56.6% of these. The hospitals with peds ID positions (IPPMG, IFF) have different age distributions because one also admits birthing mothers. Most admissions were due to clinical or surgical procedures, with a minority cataloged as diagnostic procedures or cell, tissue and organ transplants. Most patients were discharged within 7 days. HUCFF had the highest proportion of diagnostic and transplant procedures (1.88% and 2.12%, respectively). On average, university hospitals are paid 2∼3 times as much as other institutions per hospitalization. Overall disease burden was diverse, but INI stood out as a center for HIV care. Proportions of ICD-10 chapters or subchapters as leading causes of hospitalization Heatmaps with unsupervised clustering of ICD-10 chapter or subchapter frequency as leading cause of hospitalization, for all hospitalizations (A), for hospitalizations filed under “clinical treatment of infectious and parasitic diseases” or “clinical treatment of HIV/AIDS” (B), or for hospitalizations filed under ICD-10 chapters I or VI (C). Conclusion Hospitals in RJ with ID and peds ID residency spots have distinct workloads, patient profiles, disease burden and government-paid income. Residents from these programs might express similar views, but they do not necessarily reflect the widest picture, and might not be accessible to all interested candidates. Although subjectivity should not be discarded when choosing a training site, open data can inform more precise, transparent distinctions. For example, candidates interested in transplant ID could be more inclined to choose HUCFF, while candidates interested in less complex care could opt for HGNI. The framework we provide can also be employed to analyze other programs and hospitals, such as surgical residencies. Not all hospitals with residency positions feed these databases, thus limiting our analysis. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Clinical significance of toxin EIA positivity in patients with suspected Clostridioides difficile infection: systematic review and meta-analysis.

The laboratory diagnosis of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is controversial. Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) and toxin enzyme immunoassays (EIA) are most widely used, often in combination. However, the interpretation of a positive NAAT and negative toxin immunoassay (NAAT+/EIA-) is uncertain. PubMed and EMBASE were searched for studies reporting clinical outcomes in NAAT+/EIA- versus NAAT+/EIA+ patients. Forty-six studies comprising 33,959 patients were included in this meta-analysis. All-cause mortality (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.80-1.15), attributable mortality (RR 0.61, 95% CI 0.20-1.91), fulminant CDI (RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.57-1.20), radiographic evidence of CDI (RR 0.87, 95% CI 0.65-1.16), total CDI complications (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.59-1.53), colectomies (RR 0.78, 95% CI 0.34-1.79), and ICU admission (RR 1.04, 95% CI 0.84-1.30) did not significantly differ between NAAT+/EIA- and NAAT+/EIA+ patients. However, rates of recurrent (RR 0.62, 95% CI 0.50-0.77) or severe (RR 0.74, 95% CI 0.63-0.88) CDI were significantly lower in NAAT+/EIA- patients than in NAAT+/EIA+ patients. The pooled prevalence of NAAT+/EIA- patients who were treated with antibiotics for CDI was 73.4% (pooled proportion 0.72, 95% CI 0.52-0.88). NAAT+/EIA- patients have lower rates of recurrence and are at reduced risk for severe CDI compared with NAAT+/EIA+ patients but have a risk of CDI-related complications and mortality comparable to that of NAAT+/EIA+ patients. Toxin results cannot rule in or rule out CDI, and the decision whether to treat symptomatic NAAT+/EIA- patients for CDI should be based on clinical presentation and not on the toxin result.IMPORTANCEClostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a common cause of healthcare-associated infections and the leading cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. However, the laboratory diagnosis of CDI, primarily done by nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) and enzyme immunoassay (EIA), is controversial, especially in patients who test positive by NAAT but negative by EIA. In this systematic review, we compared the clinical outcomes of NAAT+/EIA- versus NAAT+/EIA+ patients and found that the two groups have similar risk of mortality and CDI-related complications. However, NAAT+/EIA- patients had significantly lower rates of recurrence and severe CDI than NAAT+/EIA+ patients, and most NAAT+/EIA- patients received CDI therapy. Toxin testing can help to predict the likelihood of CDI recurrence or severe infection, but the toxin result should not be a determining factor in the administration of CDI therapy. The decision on whether to treat NAAT+/EIA- patients should be based on clinical assessment.

Liver Status Assessment After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

Background Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a common surgical intervention used to treat severe coronary artery disease. The Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score has become a widely used prognostic index for assessing the severity of liver disease and prioritizing liver transplantation. However, its utility in predicting outcomes in cardiac surgery procedures has not been extensively evaluated. Methods This retrospective study gathered data on patients who underwent CABG or CABG combined with other concomitant surgical interventions, such as carotid common or external carotid artery endarterectomy, thoracic aortic aneurysm repair, and aortic or mitral valve replacement or decalcification procedures, at a single tertiary care facility from January 2011 to December 2020. Researchers collected demographic, clinical, and laboratory information, including MELD score and European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) data. The patients were divided into two groups: the first group included only those who underwent CABG, while the second group comprised patients who underwent CABG along with other concomitant cardiac interventions. Results The MELD score at discharge was significantly higher in the CABG and other interventions group compared to the CABG-only group (median = 14.09, IQR = 7.41-18.7 vs. median = 6.41, IQR = 4.61-9.44, p < 0.001). However, the difference in MELD score at admission between the two groups was not statistically significant (p = 0.328). A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically relevant, indicating that liver function worsened postoperatively in the patients with additional interventions. The EuroSCORE was also significantly higher in the CABG and other interventions group, suggesting a higher surgical risk as expected (median = 5.74, IQR = 3.54-11.47 vs. median = 3.34, IQR = 1.97-5.66, p < 0.001). Additionally, differences in laboratory parameters, especially coagulation and hemostasis indicators throughout the postoperative period, including the ICU stay (divided into four equal periods based on each patient's total ICU length of stay) and at discharge, indicate a more complex biological state in patients with additional interventions. These findings may have implications for perioperative management and long-term outcomes. Conclusions The elevated MELD score in patients undergoing CABG with additional interventions emphasizes the need for close monitoring of liver function and coagulation status. Evaluating hepatic status preoperatively would be beneficial, and incorporating liver-protective strategies could help mitigate postoperative repercussions. It may also be useful to include liver function parameters in existing cardiovascular risk scores to improve risk assessment.

Perioperative assessment of diaphragmatic dysfunction in cardiac surgery patients and its effect on outcome; a prospective observational study

Objectives: While the assessment of the diaphragm in different clinical scenarios is quite frequent, there remains a scarcity of studies focused on assessing diaphragm dysfunction using ultrasound in cardiac surgery patients. We investigated the impact of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery on diaphragm function and evaluated its effects on mechanical ventilation. Methodology: A prospective cohort study, on 100 consecutive adult cardiac surgery patients, was conducted at National Heart Institute. Diaphragmatic displacement (DD) or excursion and diaphragmatic thickening fraction (DTF) were measured using motion-mode ultrasound during quite normal breathing pre-operatively (the day before surgery) and post-operatively on mechanical ventilation, while the patient was fully conscious and spontaneously breathing on continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) mode + pressure support 10 cmH2O. Then, the results were correlated to CBP time and important patient outcomes. Results: Post-operative DD was significantly less as compared to the pre-operative reading; (1.39 ± 0.42 cm vs. 2.3 ± 0.52 cm; P &lt; 0.001), as was DTF (23% ± 10% vs. 40% ± 13%; P &lt; 0.001). The incidence of diaphragmatic dysfunction post-cardiac surgery was 17% by the definition of DD &lt; 1 cm, and 49% by the definition of DTF ≤ 20%. DD was positively correlated with CBP time, as well as total ventilation time and ICU stay, indicating a negative impact on overall patient outcomes. Conclusion: The results suggest that diaphragmatic dysfunction is positively correlated with CPB time, total ventilation time and ICU stay, underscoring the importance of monitoring diaphragmatic function in post-operative patients, who are difficult to wean from mechanical ventilation with apparently normal chest X-ray, particularly those with prolonged CPB time. Keywords: cardiac surgery; cardiopulmonary bypass; diaphragm dysfunction; diaphragmatic displacement; diaphragm ultrasound; mechanical ventilation. Citation: Omara ISM, Nagi HK, Mohamed KAA, Abd El Haq HH, Awdallah FF. Perioperative assessment of diaphragmatic dysfunction in cardiac surgery patients and its effect on outcome; a prospective observational study. Anaesth. pain intensive care 2024;28(5):816−823; DOI: 10.35975/apic.v28i5.2555 Received: June 28, 2024; Reviewed: September 04, 2024; Accepted: September 06, 2024

Omega-3 Supplementation in Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Patients: Impact on ICU Stay and Hospital Stay-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background/Objectives: Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is associated with inflammation and complications, potentially leading to prolonged ICU and hospital stays. Omega-3 PUFA has anti-inflammatory properties, thought to potentially reduce complications in CABG patients. This study aims to systematically review and meta-analyze the impact of perioperative omega-3 PUFA supplementation on total ICU and total hospital stays in CABG patients; Methods: Randomized controlled trials examining the effects of omega-3 PUFA supplementation (IV/oral) on ICU and hospital stays in CABG patients were included. Studies were searched for in PubMed, EMBASE, PsychINFO, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trial databases, along with hand searching of reference lists. The quality and risk of bias of the included studies were evaluated by two independent reviewers using the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. Meta-analysis was performed using fixed or random effects models according to the level of heterogeneity by mean difference with their 95% confidence intervals; Results: Twelve studies were included in the qualitative analysis and seven in the meta-analysis. Omega-3 PUFA was associated with a significant reduction in days of hospital stay (-0.58 (95% CI -1.13, -0.04)). Subgroup analysis showed that only oral omega-3 PUFA supplementation resulted in a statistically significant reduction in length of hospitalization after subgroup analysis with MD -0.6 (95% CI -1.17, -0.04); Conclusions: This study suggests that perioperative omega-3 PUFA supplementation may reduce the length of hospitalization in CABG patients, especially when administered orally. However, the findings should be interpreted cautiously due to the high level of heterogeneity.

Influence of Hospice Palliative Care on Medical Service Usage in Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation Cases: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Numerous studies have demonstrated that hospice palliative care interventions for cancer patients can reduce health care utilzation. In Taiwan, 20-25% of patients who require mechanical ventilation are using prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV); however, only a limited number of studies have addressed the effectiveness of hospice palliative care for these patients. This study investigated the impact of hospice palliative care utilization on medical utilization among subjects using PMV. By using the health insurance database of a nationwide population-based study, we identified subjects who had been on mechanical ventilation for > 21 d, were age ≥18 y between 2009 and 2017, and had received hospice palliative care. The control group was formed through 1:1 matching by using propensity scoring after excluding patients who had participated in palliative care for <15 d or for >181 d. Furthermore, we used a conditional logistic regression analysis to investigate the incidence of ICU admission, emergency department presentation, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation within 14 d before death. A total of 186,533 new subjects receiving PMV age ≥ 18 y were admitted between 2009 and 2017. In addition, the number of subjects receiving palliative care increased annually, rising from 0.6% in 2009 to 41.33% in 2017. The emergency department visits (odds ratio [OR] 0.68, 95% CI 0.63-0.74), ICU admission (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.53-0.66), cardiopulmonary resuscitation (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.35-0.46), and total hospitalization cost ($1,319.91 ± $1,821.66 versus $1,544.37 ± $2,309.27 [$USD], P < .001) were significant lower in the palliative care group. Subjects undergoing PMV while receiving hospice palliative care experienced significant reductions in total hospitalization costs, ICU admissions, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and medical expenses within 14 d before death.

294. LEARNING CURVE OF MINIMALLY INVASIVE ESOPHAGECTOMY: OUR SERIES, SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE AND META-ANALYSIS

Abstract Background Minimally invasive esophagectomy has demonstrated non-inferiority in terms of surgical and oncologic outcomes compared with open esophagectomy, with better short-term outcomes. The learning curve of this procedure is protracted before a plateau of ideal results is reached. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of implementing a totally minimally invasive esophagectomy program for cancer in a high-volume center and the impact of the learning curve on perioperative and oncologic outcomes. Methods This is a retrospective non-randomized control study. The study includes 199 patients who underwent surgery from June 2018 to October 2022. Patients undergoing MIE were assigned to the “MIE group” (n=61), while those undergoing Open Esophagectomy to the “OE group” (n=138). By comparing the perioperative and oncological outcomes between the two groups, we assessed the safety and efficacy of the MIE. Subsequently, the MIE group was divided into two subgroups: Early Experience (“EE”) and Late Experience (“LE”) group. By comparing the perioperative surgical outcomes between these two groups we evaluated the presence and the impact of a learning curve. Results Although longer surgical duration (p&amp;lt;0.001), MIE did not compromise surgical radicality (same rate of R0, p=0.345 and higher number of lymph node yields p&amp;lt;0.001). We observed a learning curve effect on postoperative outcomes, with decreasing complication rates (61% vs. 36.7%, p=0.054), and shorter ICU stay (1.6 ± 2.4 vs. 0.6 ± 1.5, p=0.049) and faster recovery in the LE group (19.6 ± 19.8 vs. 12.2 ± 5.9, p=0.055). Analysis of CUSUM plots reveals a decrease in total ICU and recovery starting with patient number 25. A meta-analysis confirms a trend towards lower anastomotic leak rates as the learning curve progresses. Conclusion The findings of this study support the safety and efficacy of implementing a totally MIE program for cancer in a high-volume center. The outcomes are not impaired by the learning curve effect and meet current standards. Comparing the outcomes of the early experience with those of the late experience, we discovered improving trends in postoperative complication and recovery rates. In our high-volume center's experience, improving these outcomes has required 25 to 30 cases.

Use of Early Ketamine Sedation and Association With Clinical and Cost Outcomes Among Mechanically Ventilated Patients With COVID-19: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

To describe the utilization of early ketamine use among patients mechanically ventilated for COVID-19, and examine associations with in-hospital mortality and other clinical outcomes. Retrospective cohort study. Six hundred ten hospitals contributing data to the Premier Healthcare Database between April 2020 and June 2021. Adults with COVID-19 and greater than or equal to 2 consecutive days of mechanical ventilation within 5 days of hospitalization. The exposures were early ketamine use initiated within 2 days of intubation and continued for greater than 1 day. Primary was hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included length of stay (LOS) in the hospital and ICUs, ventilator days, vasopressor days, renal replacement therapy (RRT), and total hospital cost. The propensity score matching analysis was used to adjust for confounders. Among 42,954 patients, 1,423 (3.3%) were exposed to early ketamine use. After propensity score matching including 1,390 patients in each group, recipients of ketamine infusions were associated with higher hospital mortality (52.5% vs. 45.9%, risk ratio: 1.14, [1.06-1.23]), longer median ICU stay (13 vs. 12 d, mean ratio [MR]: 1.15 [1.08-1.23]), and longer ventilator days (12 vs. 11 d, MR: 1.19 [1.12-1.27]). There were no associations for hospital LOS (17 [10-27] vs. 17 [9-28], MR: 1.05 [0.99-1.12]), vasopressor days (4 vs. 4, MR: 1.04 [0.95-1.14]), and RRT (22.9% vs. 21.7%, RR: 1.05 [0.92-1.21]). Total hospital cost was higher (median $72,481 vs. $65,584, MR: 1.11 [1.05-1.19]). In a diverse sample of U.S. hospitals, about one in 30 patients mechanically ventilated with COVID-19 received ketamine infusions. Early ketamine may have an association with higher hospital mortality, increased total cost, ICU stay, and ventilator days, but no associations for hospital LOS, vasopressor days, and RRT. However, confounding by the severity of illness might occur due to higher extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and RRT use in the ketamine group. Further randomized trials are needed to better understand the role of ketamine infusions in the management of critically ill patients.

Prognostic Implications of Delirium After Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation: A Retrospective Study

IntroductionIn critically ill patients, delirium is a prognostic indicator of morbidity and mortality. This study investigates the impact of a delirium diagnosis on outcomes after Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) implantation. MethodsThis retrospective study included all adult patients who received LVADs at our institution between January 2016 and December 2020. We compared pre-implantation characteristics between the two groups, with and without a diagnosis of delirium, and compared their outcomes, including 1-month, 6-month, and in-hospital mortality, as well as re-intubation rate, length of stay (LOS), discharge disposition, and readmission rates. ResultsIn total, 361 patients (26.7% women, 75.8% African American) received durable LVADs. Ninety-four patients (26.1%) were diagnosed with delirium during the index admission. Pre-implantation demographic characteristics, past medical and psychiatric conditions, Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS) Profile, and laboratory values did not differ between the two groups with and without a diagnosis of delirium; older age (59 vs 56; P=0.03) was associated with delirium. Delirium diagnosis was associated with higher 1-month (P=0.007), 6-month (P=0.004), and in-hospital mortality (P<0.001), unplanned re-intubations (P<0.001), and a lower likelihood of discharge home (P = 0.03). Total hospital and ICU LOS were higher in patients with a diagnosis of delirium, though these results were not statistically significant. Readmission to hospital after index admission was quicker in patients with a diagnosis of delirium, but this result was not statistically significant. ConclusionsIn this study, a diagnosis of delirium during the LVAD implantation admission was associated with higher mortality, adverse post-surgical outcomes, and unfavorable discharge dispositions. Future prospective research is needed to validate the prognostic implications of delirium in both the short and long term. Additionally, there is a need to identify modifiable risk factors associated with delirium to promote early diagnosis and implement evidence-based management strategies to enhance outcomes within this population.

Clinico-radiological correlation with outcome in acute epidural haematoma: a tertiary centre experience from Nepal.

Epidural haematoma (EDH) accounts for up to 15% of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) cases and remains the most common cause of mortality and disability. Several clinical and radiological factors affect patient outcomes. This study aims to correlate patients' clinical and radiological profiles with acute EDH outcomes. A retrospective, single-centred, consecutive case series was conducted on the patients diagnosed with an acute EDH admitted to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) between May 2019 and April 2023. The modified Rankin scale (mRS) was used to assess the outcome. Univariate analysis and Kruskal-Wallis H test with Dunn-Bonferroni post-hoc test was conducted. There were 107 patients diagnosed with EDH, of which 52.3% were less than 20 years old with male preponderance. Falls were the most common mechanism of injury (64.5%), and most cases were referred to, not brought directly. The majority had a GCS score greater than or equal to 13 (85%) at presentation, and only 5.5% had a GCS score less than or equal to 8. According to the mRS, most patients had favourable outcomes, with 88.7% having no significant disability and 11.3% having a slight disability. This case series is the largest and most recent report from Nepal and demonstrated that GCS, pupillary response, skull fracture, neurological symptoms, pre-hospital and intra-hospital delay, and management modalities are critical factors in determining the total hospital and ICU stay but did not have an impact on the mRS scores.

Endovascular aneurysm repair under local anesthesia through bilateral percutaneous femoral access is a safe strategy to improve early outcomes and reduce hospital stay.

To estimate the impact of anesthetic conduct, alone and in combination with the type of femoral access, on early results after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). A retrospective multicenter analysis on patients undergoing elective standard EVAR at four academic centers was performed. Patients undergoing the procedure through either local or general anesthesia were compared. Comparative subanalyses of the two groups were performed for the type of femoral access to evaluate further impact on outcomes. Five hundred twenty-four patients underwent elective standard EVAR, of which 207 (39.5%) under general anesthesia and 317 (60.5%) under local anesthesia. Patients who underwent general anesthesia had higher 30-day mortality rates (3.4% vs. 0.3%, P=0.005), as well as slightly worse 30-day major systemic complication rates (8.2% vs. 5.4%, P=0.195). There were no differences in terms of reinterventions (2.1% vs. 2.5%, P=0.768) and aneurysm-related mortality (0% vs. 0.4%, P=0.422) at one year. Total intervention times were significantly longer in the general anesthesia group (126 vs. 89 minutes, P=0.001), as well as the total length of hospital stay (7.6 vs. 5.3 days, P=0.007). At subanalyses, the combination of local anesthesia with bilateral percutaneous femoral access further improved 30-day outcomes and determined an additional reduction in total intervention times and ICU stays. EVAR performed under local anesthesia has a significantly better impact on early results when compared to general anesthesia. Combining percutaneous bilateral femoral access to local anesthesia reduced procedural times, ICU stays and consequently improved early results.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of pharmaceutical care in adult critically ill patients: based on a prospective cohort study.

The medication regimen for critically ill patients is complex and dynamic, leading to a high incidence of drug-related problems. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and economic efficiency of pharmaceutical care for these patients. In this prospective cohort study conducted in a tertiary hospital, adult patients were assigned either to a clinical pharmaceutical care group or a control group based on existing clinical grouping rules. Health outcomes and economic indicators were collected, followed by a cost-effectiveness analysis. The acceptance rate for clinical pharmacist interventions was 89.31%. The pharmaceutical care group exhibited significant reductions in the rate of medication errors (40.65% vs. 61.69%, P < 0.001) and adverse drug events (44.52% vs. 56.45%, P = 0.020). The usage rates for special-grade antibiotics (85.16% vs. 91.13%, P = 0.009) and proton pump inhibitors (77.42% vs. 88.71%, P = 0.002) were also lower in the pharmaceutical care group. Secondary outcomes did not show significant differences in total hospital stay (21days vs. 22days, P = 0.092). However, ICU stay was significantly shorter (9days vs. 11days, P = 0.003) in the pharmaceutical care group. Cost-effectiveness analysis demonstrated that each 1% reduction in adverse drug events associated with ICU pharmaceutical care saved $226.75 in ICU hospitalization costs and $203.42 in total ICU drug costs. A 1% reduction in the medication error rate saved $128.57 in ICU hospitalization costs and $115.34 in total ICU drug costs. Pharmaceutical care significantly reduces adverse drug events and medication errors, promotes rational use of medications, decreases the length of ICU stay, and lowers treatment costs in critically ill patients, establishing a definitive advantage in terms of cost-effectiveness.

Intensive care utilisation after elective surgery in Australia and New Zealand: A point prevalence study

ObjectiveWe aimed to describe the characteristics, outcomes and resource utilisation of patients being cared for in an ICU after undergoing elective surgery in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ). MethodsThis was a point prevalence study involving 51 adult ICUs in ANZ in June 2021. Patients met inclusion criteria if they were being treated in a participating ICU on he study dates. Patients were categorised according to whether they had undergone elective surgery, admitted directly from theatre or unplanned from the ward. Descriptive and comparative analysis was performed according to the source of ICU admission. Resource utilisation was measured by Length of stay, organ support and occupied bed days. Results712 patients met inclusion criteria, with 172 (24%) have undergone elective surgery. Of these, 136 (19%) were admitted directly to the ICU and 36 (5.1%) were an unplanned admission from the ward. Elective surgical patients occupied 15.8% of the total ICU patient bed days, of which 44.3% were following unplanned admissions. Elective surgical patients who were an unplanned admission from the ward, compared to those admitted directly from theatre, had a higher severity of illness (AP2 17 vs 13, p<0.01), require respiratory or vasopressor support (75% vs 44%, p<0.01) and hospital mortality (16.7% vs 2.2%, p < 0.01). ConclusionsICU resource utilisation of patients who have undergone elective surgery is substantial. Those patients admitted directly from theatre have good outcomes and low resource utilisation. Patient admitted unplanned from the ward, although fewer, were sicker, more resource intensive and had significantly worse outcomes.

The impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions on the spread of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia: Simulation approach

ObjectivesThis paper aims to measure the impact of the implemented nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) during the pandemic using simulation modeling. MethodsTo measure the impact of NPI, a hybrid agent-based and system dynamics simulation model was built and validated. Data were collected prospectively on a weekly basis. The core epidemiological model is based on a complex Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Recovered and Dead model of epidemic dynamics. Reverse engineering was performed on a weekly basis throughout the study period as a mean for model validation which reported on four outcomes: total cases, active cases, ICU cases, and deaths cases. To measure the impact of each NPI, the observed values of active and total cases were captured and compared to the projected values of active and total cases from the simulation. To measure the impact of each NPI, the study period was divided into rounds of incubation periods (cycles of 14 days each). The behavioral change of the spread of the disease was interpreted as the impact of NPIs that occurred at the beginning of the cycle. The behavioral change was measured by the change in the initial reproduction rate (R0). ResultsAfter 18 weeks of the reverse engineering process, the model achieved a 0.4 % difference in total cases for prediction at the end of the study period. The results estimated that NPIs led to 64 % change in The R0. Our breakdown analysis of the impact of each NPI indicates that banning going to schools had the greatest impact on the infection reproduction rate (24 %). ConclusionWe used hybrid simulation modeling to measure the impact of NPIs taken by the KSA government. The finding further supports the notion that early NPIs adoption can effectively limit the spread of COVID-19. It also supports using simulation for building mathematical modeling for epidemiological scenarios.

Real-World Analysis of the Underdiagnosis, Clinical Outcomes and Associated Burden of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation-Associated Thrombotic Microangiopathy (HSCT-TMA) in the United States of America

Background: Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) associated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT-TMA) is a serious post-transplant complication. HSCT-TMA is difficult to diagnose due to overlapping symptoms with other conditions and a lack of universally adopted diagnostic criteria. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the incidence and diagnosis of HSCT-TMA in real-world practice across the US, including possible missed diagnoses, alongside clinical outcomes and associated burden of HSCT-TMA. Methodology: This retrospective, observational study investigated the incidence of HSCT-TMA from July 2009-August 2020 using data from the TriNetX US Electronic Medical Record (EMR) database. Patients who underwent autologous or allogenic HSCT procedures and had conditioning regimens recorded were stratified into three cohorts: confirmed TMA, suspected TMA, and non-TMA patients. Confirmed TMA was defined as any individual with at least one recorded hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)/TMA diagnosis code within 12 months of HSCT. Suspected TMA included individuals without a recorded HUS/TMA ICD code, but who met the modified published criteria (Cho BS, et al. Transplantation 2010;90:918-26; Jodele S, et al. Transfus Apher Sci 2016;54:181-90) within 12 months of HSCT; published criteria were adapted to fit data available in the TriNetX database. Non-TMA patients did not meet criteria to be included in either of the previous two cohorts. Adult and pediatric patients were analyzed separately. Demographic and clinical characteristics at baseline, clinical outcomes, and all-cause unadjusted healthcare resource utilization within 12 months of HSCT, were assessed. The baseline period was defined as the six months before the index date (inclusive), unless specified; index date was defined as the date a patient had a HSCT procedure code recorded. Statistical comparisons, where conducted, were made against the non-TMA cohort using the Fisher's exact test for categorical variables, the student's t test for means, and the Mann-Whitney U test for medians. Significance was set at the level of p&amp;lt;0.05. Results: In total, 16,809 adult and 901 pediatric patients had an HSCT procedure code and a recorded conditioning regimen. The confirmed TMA group comprised 125 (0.7%) adult and 30 (3.3%) pediatric patients, the suspected TMA group included 3,029 (18.0%) adult and 94 (10.4%) pediatric patients, and the non-TMA group included 13,655 (81.2%) adult and 777 (86.2%) pediatric patients. Baseline demographics were similar across all groups. Mortality within the first year of HSCT was significantly higher in adult patients with confirmed TMA (40.0%) and suspected TMA (30.7%) compared with patients without TMA (13.6%). Mortality was numerically highest in pediatric patients with confirmed TMA (26.7%) followed by suspected TMA (23.4%), and lowest in non-TMA patients (15.8%). Comorbidity impact (based on the Charlson Comorbidity Index) was significantly higher, and HSCT complications significantly more common, in confirmed and suspected TMA patients (Table 1). Clinical outcomes in the first year after HSCT were significantly worse in confirmed and suspected TMA patients than in non-TMA patients (Table 2). All patients with confirmed and suspected TMA had a significantly higher frequency of oxygen/intubation compared with non-TMA patients. Dialysis rates were significantly higher in all patients with confirmed TMA (adults, 26.4%; pediatrics, 20.0%) and adult patients with suspected TMA (6.9%), compared with patients with no TMA (adults, 2.2%; pediatrics, 4.0%); pediatric patients with suspected TMA (8.5%) had numerically higher dialysis rates compared with those without TMA (4.0%). Patients with confirmed and suspected TMA had significantly greater use of targeted therapies and a higher number of total ICU visits, compared with non-TMA patients (Table 2). Conclusions: This study showed that HSCT-TMA is associated with a high mortality and morbidity burden. Furthermore, these results suggest that HSCT-TMA is underdiagnosed in the real-world setting, as patients with suspected TMA had worse outcomes and a higher burden of disease than patients without TMA following HSCT. This study highlights the need for timely diagnosis of this severe complication, as well as novel approaches to treat and manage this vulnerable population.

Abstract 13267: Early Predictors of High-Risk Lymphatic Subtypes on T2-Weighted MRI in Patients After Superior Cavopulmonary Connection

Introduction: Lymphatic subtype as determined by T2-weighted MRI (T2-CMR) after superior cavopulmonary connection (SCPC) is known to predict clinical outcome after Fontan. Factors related to lymphatic subtype development are not well understood. This study aims to identify early predictors of high-risk lymphatic subtypes. Methods: Retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients with pre-Fontan T2-CMR from 2017 to 2021. Patients divided into two groups based on lymphatic subtype: Group 1 - subtypes 1, 2, and 3; Group 2 - subtypes 3+ (defined as type 3 with history of chylothorax) and 4. Pearson’s chi square, Fisher’s exact, Wilcoxon rank sum, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed. Results: We identified 171 patients. The groups differed significantly in total hospital, ICU, and chest tube days, number of catheterizations and number of cardiac surgeries (Table 1). Moderate or greater atrioventricular valve regurgitation (Mod+ AVVR), increased catheterizations and increased chest tube days were associated with high-risk lymphatic subtype. Maintenance of antegrade pulmonary blood flow at the time of SCPC was not significant (Table 2). In multivariate analysis, Mod+ AVVR and number of chest tube days remained in the model after adjusting for other covariates. Overall model significance was 0.007 with an area under the curve of 0.777. Conclusions: Mod+ AVVR and increased chest tube days are predictive of high-risk lymphatic subtype. Further study is needed to determine if lymphatic subtype is acquired via clinical exposure or whether native lymphatic subtype may be predictive of clinical course even prior to cavopulmonary connection.

Bony Facial Trauma Score Predicts Clinical Outcomes in Facial Trauma.

Background: The bony facial trauma score (BFTS) is a rubric used to assess the severity of facial trauma. Objectives: To compare the BFTS with relevant clinical outcomes while controlling for medical comorbidities and polytrauma. Methods: A retrospective review of facial trauma patients evaluated between 2017 and 2022 was conducted. While controlling for medical comorbidities and polytrauma, multivariate regression models were used to assess the relationship between BFTS and outcome variables such as length of stay (LOS) and malocclusion. Results: In total, 176 patients were included in the analysis. The average age was 36.5 years (standard deviation [SD] of 16.8), and 68.8% were male. The most common mechanism of injury was blunt force (92.6%) and the mean BFTS was 10.73 (SD of 11.05). BFTS was found to correlate with the following (p < 0.05): total LOS and ICU LOS, malocclusion, likelihood of requiring multiple surgeries, and diplopia. Conclusion: The BFTS is significantly correlated with multiple outcome variables while controlling for medical comorbidities and polytrauma.

Subcutaneous and visceral fat are associated with worse outcomes in gunshot injuries but not stab injuries to the torso

PurposeThe effect of obesity in penetrating trauma outcomes is poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a protective effect of subcutaneous or visceral fat...