Prospective evaluation of the risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding after admission to a medical intensive care unit

One hundred seventy-four patients (179 admissions) were prospectively evaluated for the subsequent occurrence of upper gastrointestinal (“stress”) bleeding after admission to a medical/respiratory intensive care unit. Evidence for either overt or occult gastrointestinal bleeding developed in 25 (14 percent). The group of bleeders had a higher mortality (64 percent versus 9 percent), duration of intensive care unit stay (median 14.2 versus 4.2 days), number of patients requiring mechanical ventilatory support (84 percent versus 26 percent), and duration of such support for those who required it (median 9.5 versus 4.2 days) than the group who did not bleed. In three patients, death was related to bleeding. Upon patients' admission to the intensive care unit, diagnoses of an acute respiratory illness (but not specifically chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), a malignancy, or sepsis were more common among those who subsequently bled. Of factors tested, a coagulopathy and the need for mechanical ventilation were most strongly associated with the risk of bleeding. Other factors did not add to the risk once these two were taken into account. Among patients receiving mechanical ventilation, the risk of overt bleeding was particularly low for those who required such support for less than five days (only 3 percent). It is concluded that (1) significant upper gastrointestinal bleeding occurring after medical intensive care unit admission is an uncommon event, and (2) prolonged mechanical ventilation and/or the presence of a coagulopathy are the most potent risk factors. Medical patients with either of the latter conditions are most likely to benefit from prophylaxis regimens against “stress”-induced upper gastrointestinal bleeding.     

Drug withdrawal, cocaine and sedative use disorders increase the need for mechanical ventilation in medical patients

Aims   Alcohol use disorders increase the need for mechanical ventilation (MV) in critically ill medical, surgical and trauma patients. Studies examining other drug use disorders (DUD) in trauma patients have not demonstrated heightened rates of intensive care unit (ICU) complications. Patients with asthma and concurrent cocaine or heroin use disorders have an increased need for MV. The objective of this study is to determine if the presence of DUD and drug withdrawal syndromes are associated with increased need for MV in medical patients.
Design   Analysis of a national database.
Setting   The Nationwide Inpatient Sample, the largest all-payer in-patient database was utilized for the years 2002–2004.
Participants   Adult patients with one of the six common diagnoses associated with medical ICU admission were included.
Intervention   None.
Measurements   Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression were performed to determine if DUD and drug withdrawal were associated independently with the use of MV.
Findings   A total 1 218 875 patients fulfilled one of the six diagnoses; 22 827 (1.9%) had DUD, and 102 841 (8.4%) underwent MV. Independent of the medical diagnosis, DUD was associated with an increased risk for requiring MV by univariate analysis (relative risk = 1.50, P  < 0.0001). By multivariate analyses, sedative and cocaine use disorders remained associated with increased need for MV. Independent of medical diagnosis and substance, drug withdrawal was associated with increased odds of MV by both univariate and multivariate analysis (odds ratio = 2.94, P  < 0.0001).
Conclusions   DUD are associated with increased need for MV in medical patients. This study demonstrates the importance of screening all medical patients for DUD.     

Outcomes of intensive care for patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection

BACKGROUND: Intensive care for patients with human immunodeficiency virus is common, costly, and associated with high morbidity. Accurate and up-to-date outcome and prognostic data are needed to effectively counsel patients and to make difficult decisions regarding admission to the intensive care unit. METHODS: We reviewed the medical charts of 394 adults infected with human immunodeficiency virus who received intensive care at San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, Calif, from 1992 to 1995, and we performed a multivariate analysis to learn which factors were predictive of poor outcomes. RESULTS: Respiratory failure (47%), sepsis (12%), and neurologic disease (11%) were the most common indications for admission to the intensive care unit. Overall, 63% of the patients survived hospitalization; survival rates were 27%, 18%, 13%, and 11% at 1, 2, 3, and 4 years, respectively. Independent predictors of hospital mortality were low serum albumin level, Acute Physiology Score, mechanical ventilation, and a diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia during admission to the intensive care unit. Low CD4+ cell count, low serum albumin level, and mechanical ventilation predicted poor long-term survival. Of the 121 patients who had a CD4+ cell count less than 50 cells/microL (0.05x10(9)/L) and a serum albumin level less than 25 g/L and required mechanical ventilation, 7% survived for 2.5 years or more after hospital discharge. CONCLUSIONS: In this series, which is the largest to date of patients admitted to the intensive care unit with human immunodeficiency virus infection, we found that long-term survival rates were low. However, even among patients who had multiple risk factors for mortality, a substantial minority survived, with a few patients achieving long-term survival.     

Effect of Prostaglandin Duration on Outcomes in Transposition of the Great Arteries with Intact Ventricular Septum

Objective. To study the effects of duration of preoperative prostaglandin E1 (PGE) exposure on perioperative outcomes of the arterial switch operation in patients with transposition of the great arteries with an intact ventricular septum. Design. Retrospective chart review. Setting. Pediatric cardiac intensive care unit in a tertiary care children's hospital. Patients. All patients with transposition of the great arteries with an intact ventricular septum from 1995 to 2008. Outcome Measures. Inotropic score was calculated for all patients in the first 5 postoperative days and maximum inotropic score was recorded. Length of postoperative mechanical ventilation, fluid balance, mechanical ventilation time, as well as intensive care unit and hospital stay were recorded for all patients. Results. Study population included 59 patients, 41 (69%) underwent balloon atrial septostomy. PGE was used in 52 patients, median exposure of 59 hours, range 0 to 272 hours. Longer preoperative PGE exposure was associated with longer preoperative mechanical ventilation (P < .001). There was no association between preoperative PGE duration and cardiopulmonary bypass time, cross‐clamp time, or total hospital stay. Patients with longer preoperative PGE exposure had a lower postoperative inotrope score (10 vs. 15 P = .02). Conclusion. Greater preoperative PGE exposure was associated with prolonged preoperative mechanical ventilation. Longer PGE exposure was associated with lower postoperative inotrope requirements. Aggressive efforts to avoid or shorten PGE infusion duration may not be warranted in this population.     

Impact of intensive insulin therapy on neuromuscular complications and ventilator dependency in the medical intensive care unit

RATIONALE: Critical illness polyneuropathy/myopathy causes limb and respiratory muscle weakness, prolongs mechanical ventilation, and extends hospitalization of intensive care patients. Besides controlling risk factors, no specific prevention or treatment exists. Recently, intensive insulin therapy prevented critical illness polyneuropathy in a surgical intensive care unit. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the impact of intensive insulin therapy on polyneuropathy/myopathy and treatment with prolonged mechanical ventilation in medical patients in the intensive care unit for at least 7 days. METHODS: This was a prospectively planned subanalysis of a randomized controlled trial evaluating the effect of intensive insulin versus conventional therapy on morbidity and mortality in critically ill medical patients. All patients who were still in intensive care on Day 7 were screened weekly by electroneuromyography. The effect of intensive insulin therapy on critical illness polyneuropathy/myopathy and the relationship with duration of mechanical ventilation were assessed. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Independent of risk factors, intensive insulin therapy reduced incidence of critical illness polyneuropathy/myopathy (107/212 [50.5%] to 81/208 [38.9%], p = 0.02). Treatment with prolonged (> or = 14 d) mechanical ventilation was reduced from 99 of 212 (46.7%) to 72 of 208 (34.6%) (p = 0.01). This was statistically only partially explained by prevention of critical illness polyneuropathy/myopathy. CONCLUSION: In a subset of medical patients in the intensive care unit for at least 7 days, enrolled in a randomized controlled trial of intensive insulin therapy, those assigned to intensive insulin therapy had a reduced incidence of critical illness polyneuropathy/myopathy and were treated with prolonged mechanical ventilation less frequently.     

Precedents for meaningful recovery during treatment in a medical intensive care unit. Outcome in patients with hematologic malignancy

The medical records of 77 patients with hematologic malignancy who were admitted to a medical intensive care unit over a 21-month period were reviewed. The overall hospital mortality rate was 80 percent. Sixteen patients (21 percent) were discharged from the intensive care unit but eventually died in the hospital. The cause of death was the result of a new problem in only three of these 16 patients. Hypotension (shock) and acute respiratory failure were the reasons prompting admission to the intensive care unit in 75 percent, but death in the intensive care unit was almost always the result of intractable hypotension rather than refractory hypoxemia. Only four of 52 patients who required mechanical ventilation left the hospital. In all four, the duration of ventilatory support was less than five days and the cause of respiratory failure was noninfectious in nature. Factors such as congestive heart failure, leukopenia, and abnormalities in mental status modified the hospital course, but did not alter outcome once prolonged mechanical ventilation became necessary. The data suggest that once acute respiratory failure develops in patients with lymphoma or leukemia, presumably as a result of infection, and mechanical ventilation for more than a relatively brief period is required, the prognosis is uniformly grim. Decisions to limit aggressive therapies is subsets of intensive care patients such as these should be aided by data that show a lack of precedent for meaningful recovery.     

Nosocomial pneumonia in the intensive care unit of a Brazilian university hospital: an analysis of the time span from admission to disease onset

BACKGROUND: In addition to controversies as to the definition of nosocomial pneumonia (NP) because of the lack of a widely accepted diagnostic standard, there has been no agreement concerning the time span from hospital admission to disease onset. This study aims at both estimating the time span, in hours, from admission to the occurrence of suspected NP and investigating risk factors that might influence this time span. METHODS: This is a cohort study, and subjects were patients with nosocomial infection acquired in the intensive care unit of Edgard Santos University Hospital (HUPES/ICU) in Salvador, Brazil, from January 1995 to December 1997. Patients were observed from admission to 48 hours after discharge from the intensive care unit. The time span from admission to occurrence of suspected NP, the reason for admission, patient's origin, history of surgery, general anesthesia, mechanical ventilation, and use of antibiotic were analyzed and given a multivariate analysis using Cox regression model. RESULTS: Among 246 patients with nosocomial infection, 198 (80.5%) were suspected cases of NP, whereas 48 patients (19.5%) were not classified as such. The mean time, in hours, for the NP-free time span was 85.1 +/- 3.5 hours, and the median time was 72 hours when estimated by Kaplan-Meier method. Patients admitted from surgical heart procedures who had been given general anesthesia, mechanical ventilation, and antibiotics showed statistically significant shorter mean time spans from admission to NP occurrence when compared with the other patients. Age >or=50 years, use of mechanical ventilation, and use of antibiotics were associated with NP. CONCLUSIONS: Our finding for the estimated mean NP-free time span at the HUPES/ICU is somewhat in accordance with the literature (48 to 72 hours). Patients at HUPES/ICU might be considered as showing early NP, because they were diagnosed before the 5th day after admission. Preventive measures to NP should be reviewed and intensified at the HUPES/ICU, especially as related to mechanical ventilation.     

Nosocomial tracheobronchitis in mechanically ventilated patients: incidence, aetiology and outcome.

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence, the organisms responsible for and the impact on outcome of nosocomial tracheobronchitis (NTB) in the intensive care unit (ICU). This prospective observational cohort study was conducted in a 30-bed medical/surgical ICU over a period of 6.5 yrs. All patients ventilated for >48 h were eligible. Patients with nosocomial pneumonia (NP) without prior NTB were excluded. Patients with first episodes of NTB were compared with those without NTB by univariate analysis. The study diagnosed 201 (10.6%) cases of NTB. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most common bacteria. NP rates were similar in patients with NTB compared with patients without NTB. Even in the absence of subsequent NP, NTB was associated with a significantly higher length of ICU stay and duration of mechanical ventilation in both surgical and medical populations. Mortality rates were similar in NTB patients without subsequent NP compared with patients without NTB. Antimicrobial treatment in NTB patients was associated with a trend to a better outcome. Nosocomial tracheobronchitis is common in mechanically ventilated intensive care unit patients. In this population, nosocomial tracheobronchitis was associated with longer durations of intensive care unit stay and mechanical ventilation. Further studies are needed to determine the impact of antibiotics on outcomes of patients with nosocomial tracheobronchitis.     

Surrogate decision-maker preferences for medical care of severely demented nursing home patients.

BACKGROUND--In the absence of advanced directives, physicians treating demented patients rely on surrogates to help make medical care decisions. METHOD--We surveyed family members of severely demented nursing home residents to determine preferences for medical intervention in five hypothetical situations involving tube feeding, hospitalization, intensive care unit admission, mechanical ventilation, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. RESULTS--Only 11.8% of surrogates rejected all interventions. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation and tube feeding were accepted least frequently (31.6% and 36.4%, respectively). Mechanical ventilation, hospitalization, and intensive care unit admission were accepted by 43.6%, 63.4%, and 75.2%, respectively. There was no correlation between previous surrogate experience with an intervention and its acceptance. Nearly 70% of surrogates indicated that decisions were independent of any previously expressed resident views. CONCLUSIONS--In this study, surrogates of even the most demented nursing home patients prefer hospital level services including intensive care unit care for the treatment of acute illness. Efforts to control access to services on ethical or economic grounds may meet with resistance.     

Outcome of older critically ill patients: a matched cohort study

BACKGROUND: Admission of older patients to intensive care units is a controversial issue. OBJECTIVE: To estimate age-associated mortality of critically ill patients. METHODS: A prospective matched cohort study in the Medical-Surgical Intensive Care Unit of a tertiary hospital was conducted. We included 100 consecutive patients older than 70 years admitted to the intensive care unit (cases) and 100 patients younger than 70 years (controls). The matching criterion was the severity of illness at admission to the intensive care unit as estimated by the simplified acute physiological score (SAPS II) without including age in its calculation. RESULTS: Mortality in the intensive care unit was higher, but not statistically significant, in the older group: 26% vs. 19% (p = 0.23). Patients older than 70 years had a longer duration of mechanical ventilation (median 7 vs. 3 days) and longer stay in the intensive care unit (median 8 vs. 5 days). There were no differences in organ dysfunctions, except for a higher incidence of respiratory failure in the older group (p < 0.001). The use of invasive procedures was similar in both groups. There were more orders for the withholding/withdrawal of treatment in patients older than 70 years (9 vs. 3%, p = 0.07). CONCLUSION: In our study, age was not related with a significant higher mortality. In the older patients included in our study the survival was greater than 70% with a similar resource utilization except for a longer stay in the intensive care unit.     

The prognosis of acute respiratory failure in critically ill cancer patients

Acute respiratory failure (ARF) in patients with cancer is frequently a fatal event. To identify factors associated with survival of cancer patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) for ARF, we conducted a prospective 5-year observational study in a medical ICU in a teaching hospital in Paris, France. The patients were 203 cancer patients with ARF mainly due to infectious pneumonia (58%), but also noninfectious pneumonia (9%), congestive heart failure (12%), and no identifiable cause (21%). We measured clinical characteristics and ICU and hospital mortality rates.ICU mortality was 44.8% and hospital mortality was 47.8%. Noninvasive mechanical ventilation was used in 79 (39%) patients and conventional mechanical ventilation in 114 (56%), the mortality rates being 48.1% and 75.4%, respectively. Among the 14 patients with late noninvasive mechanical ventilation failure (>48 hours), only 1 survived. The mortality rate was 100% in the 19 noncardiac patients in whom conventional mechanical ventilation was started after 72 hours. By multivariable analysis, factors associated with increased mortality were documented invasive aspergillosis (odds ratio [OR], 2.13; 95% confidence intervals [CI], 1.05-14.74), no definite diagnosis (OR, 3.85; 95% CI, 1.26-11.70), vasopressors (OR, 3.19; 95% CI, 1.28-7.95), first-line conventional mechanical ventilation (OR, 8.75; 95% CI, 2.35-35.24), conventional mechanical ventilation after noninvasive mechanical ventilation failure (OR, 17.46; 95% CI, 5.04-60.52), and late noninvasive mechanical ventilation failure (OR, 10.64; 95% CI, 1.05-107.83). Hospital mortality was lower in patients with cardiac pulmonary edema (OR, 0.16; 95% CI, 0.03-0.72).Survival gains achieved in critically ill cancer patients in recent years extend to patients requiring ventilatory assistance. The impact of conventional mechanical ventilation on survival depends on the time from ICU admission to conventional mechanical ventilation and on the patient's response to noninvasive mechanical ventilation.     

Alcohol use disorder: risks in anesthesia and intensive care medicine

Approximately 20% of medical and surgical patients in hospital have an alcohol use disorder (AUD). Diagnosis of chronic alcohol abuse is performed by specific medical history, examination and validated tests. Biomarkers are a means of diagnosing chronic alcoholism in sedated, intubated and emergency patients. Chronic alcohol consumption damages the central nervous and cardiovascular system, the liver and the immune system. In medical ICUs more than 50% of liver injuries and chronic pancreatitis are due to chronic alcohol abuse. The alcohol withdrawal syndrome is emerging in 25% of AUD patients in intensive care after reduction of sedative drugs. Long term alcohol abuse also leads to cardiac arrhythmias, dilatative cardiomyopathy and hypotonic circulatory dysregulation. Bleeding complications are two-fold increased during and after surgery. Immune suppression results in an increased incidence of infectious complications like pneumonia, wound infection and urinary tract infection. In particular, septic encephalopathy is often misinterpreted as alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Due to the fact that AUD patients show a two to five-fold higher rate of postoperative complications they require increased attention to avoid latency of treatment and the development of multiple organ failure. Prophylaxis in terms of drug therapy or abstinence intervals and brief intervention strategies can help to prevent or ease some of these complications and can decrease the rate of long-term injuries.     

Outcomes of Ventilated COPD Patients with Nosocomial Tracheobronchitis: A Case-Control Study

Abstract. Background: The aim of this study was to determine the impact of nosocomial tracheobronchitis (NTB) related to new bacteria on the outcome in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Patients and Methods: A prospective observational case-control study was conducted in medical COPD patients requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours. Patients with nosocomial pneumonia were excluded. Six matching criteria were used, including the duration of mechanical ventilation before NTB occurrence. Results: 81 matched case-control pairs were studied. Although the mortality rate was similar (40% vs 34%; p = 0.48), median duration of mechanical ventilation (20 vs 12 days; p = 0.015) and intensive care unit (ICU) stay (25 vs 18 days; p = 0.022) were higher in cases than in controls. NTB was independently associated with a longer than median period of mechanical ventilation among case and control patients (OR = 4.7 [95%CI = 2–10.9]; p < 0.001). In cases with appropriate antibiotic treatment compared with those who did not receive antibiotics, a shorter median duration of mechanical ventilation (12 vs 23 days; p = 0.006) and ICU stay (16 vs 29 days; p = 0.029) were observed. Conclusion: NTB is associated with an increased duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU stays. Further studies are required to determine whether antibiotics could improve the outcome of patients with NTB.     

A prospective, controlled trial of a protocol-based strategy to discontinue mechanical ventilation

Weaning protocols can improve outcomes, but their efficacy may vary with patient and staff characteristics. In this prospective, controlled trial, we compared protocol-based weaning to usual, physician-directed weaning in a closed medical intensive care unit (ICU) with high physician staffing levels and structured, system-based rounds. Adult patients requiring mechanical ventilation for more than 24 hours were assigned to usual care (UC) or protocol weaning based on their hospital identification number. Patients assigned to UC (n=145) were managed at their physicians' discretion. Patients assigned to protocol (n=154) underwent daily screening and a spontaneous breathing trial by respiratory and nursing staff without physician intervention. There were no significant baseline differences in patient characteristics between groups. The proportion of patients (protocol vs. UC) who successfully discontinued mechanical ventilation (74.7% vs. 75.2%, p=0.92), duration of mechanical ventilation (median [interquartile range]: 60.4 hours [28.6-167.0 hours] vs. 68.0 hours [27.1-169.3 hours], p=0.61), ICU (25.3% vs. 28.3%) and hospital mortality (36.4% vs. 33.1%), ICU length of stay (115 vs. 146 hours), and rates of reinstituting mechanical ventilation (10.3% vs. 9.0%) was similar. We conclude that protocol-directed weaning may be unnecessary in a closed ICU with generous physician staffing and structured rounds.     

β-Carbolines in Chronic Alcoholics Undergoing Elective Tumor Resection

The prevalence of chronic alcoholism in patients with carcinomas of the upper digestive tract exceeds 60%. The patient's history and laboratory markers, preoperatively, are often not sensitive or specific enough to detect alcohol-dependent patients, preoperatively, who are at risk of developing alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) during their postoperative intensive care unit (ICU) stay. Previously, it was found that plasma norharman was elevated in chronic alcoholics, suggesting marker characteristics for chronic ethanol misuse and possibly alcohol dependence. We investigated whether β-carbolines (i.e., harman and norharman) were different between chronic alcoholics and nonalcoholics with carcinoma, and how the levels change in alcohol-dependent patients during their hospital stay. Ninety-seven patients with oral, pharyngeal, laryngeal, or esophageal carcinomas were evaluated regarding their drinking habits. Sixty patients were transferred to the ICU following tumor resection. Chronic alcoholics met the DSM-III-R and ICD-10 criteria for alcohol dependence or chronic alcohol abuse/harmful use. The daily ethanol intake in chronic alcoholics was ≥60 g. Blood samples were collected on admission to the hospital, preoperatively, on admission to the ICU and on days 2, 4, and 7 in the ICU. Harman and norharman were determined by HPLC. Elevated norharman was found in chronic alcoholics on admission to the hospital, whereas harman did not differ between groups. On admission, the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve was significantly larger for carbohydrate-deficient transferrin and preoperatively for norharman. The preoperative norharman levels were significantly correlated with the period of mechanical ventilation and the length of ICU stay. Postoperatively, norharman decreased in all patients, except a group of 11 alcohol-dependent patients who developed AWS during their ICU stay. The finding that elevated norharman levels were found in chronic alcoholics on admission to the hospital and preoperatively supports the view of a specific marker for alcoholism. Preoperative norharman was superior to carbohydrate-deficient transferrin and was associated with a prolonged ICU stay and a prolonged period of mechanical ventilation. Further studies are required to determine whether norhaman aids in the preoperative diagnosis of chronic alcohol misuse with respect to the prevention of postoperative complications.     

Outcomes of septic cirrhosis patients admitted to the intensive care unit: A retrospective cohort study

The aim of this study is to examine the outcome of septic patients with cirrhosis admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and predictors of mortality.Single center, retrospective cohort study.The study was conducted in Intensive care Department of King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Data was extracted from a prospectively collected ICU database managed by a full time data collector. All patients with an admission diagnosis of sepsis according to the sepsis-3 definition were included from 2002 to 2017. Patients were categorized into 2 groups based on the presence or absence of cirrhosis.The primary outcome of the study was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included ICU mortality, ICU and hospital lengths of stay and mechanical ventilation duration.A total of 7906 patients were admitted to the ICU with sepsis during the study period, of whom 497 (6.29%) patients had cirrhosis. 64.78% of cirrhotic patients died during their hospital stay compared to 31.54% of non-cirrhotic. On multivariate analysis, cirrhosis patients were at greater odds of dying within their hospital stay as compared to non-cirrhosis patients (Odds ratio {OR} 2.53; 95% confidence interval {CI} 2.04 – 3.15) independent of co-morbidities, organ dysfunction or hemodynamic status. Among cirrhosis patients, elevated international normalization ratio (INR) (OR 1.69; 95% CI 1.29-2.23), hemodialysis (OR 3.09; 95% CI 1.76-5.42) and mechanical ventilation (OR 2.61; 95% CI 1.60–4.28) were the independent predictors of mortality.Septic cirrhosis patients admitted to the intensive care unit have greater odds of dying during their hospital stay. Among septic cirrhosis patients, elevated INR and the need for hemodialysis and mechanical ventilation were associated with increased mortality.     

Outcome of patients with systemic rheumatic disease admitted to medical intensive care units.

The outcome of patients admitted to intensive care units is known to be influenced by such factors as age, previous health status, severity of disease, and diagnosis. To estimate the outcome of such patients with systemic rheumatic diseases and to determine if the severity of these diseases unfavourably influences the prognosis at the time of admission to a medical intensive care unit, the clinical courses of all patients with systemic rheumatic disease admitted to two medical intensive care units between January 1978 and December 1988 were studied retrospectively. Sixty nine patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (n = 16), necrotising vasculitis (n = 19), rheumatoid arthritis (n = 19), and other systemic rheumatic diseases (n = 15) were included. The mean (SD) age on admission into the medical intensive care unit was 53 (17) years and the mean simplified acute physiological score was 12 (5.5). The principal diagnoses on admission were infectious complications (29/69 patients) and acute exacerbation of the systemic rheumatic disease (19/69 patients). The death rate in the medical intensive care unit was 33% (23/69 patients) and was similar to that of a non-selected population with comparable simplified acute physiological score. The death rate in hospital was 42% (29/69 patients). Infection was the main cause of death in the medical intensive care unit (19/23 patients) and the infection was mainly acquired in the unit. Only the simplified acute physiological score on admission was a statistically significant prognostic factor: the simplified acute physiological score in patients who died was 15 (5.2) v 9.9 (4.7) for survivors. Long term outcome analysis showed that 83% (33/40 patients) of patients were still alive after admission to the medical intensive care unit with a follow up time between two months and nine years (mean 38 months). The death rate was relatively high and was mainly due to nosocomial infections. It was not different, however, from that of nonselected patients and the long term prognosis was highly favourable. This shows that the complications are often reversible, particularly infectious applications, and justifies admission to the medical intensive care unit of this group of patients.     

Prognostic factors for intensive care unit admission, intensive care outcome, and post-intensive care survival in patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia: a single center experience

Background

Acute myeloid leukemia is a life-threatening disease associated with high mortality rates. A substantial number of patients require intensive care. This investigation analyzes risk factors predicting admission to the intensive care unit in patients with acute myeloid leukemia eligible for induction chemotherapy, the outcome of these patients, and prognostic factors predicting their survival.

Design and Methods

A total of 406 consecutive patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia (15–89 years) were analyzed retrospectively. Markers recorded at the time of diagnosis included karyotype, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein, and Charlson comorbidity index. In patients requiring critical care, the value of the Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, the need for mechanical ventilation, and vasopressor support were recorded at the time of intensive care unit admission. The independent prognostic relevance of the parameters was tested by multivariate analysis.

Results

Sixty-two patients (15.3%) required intensive care, primarily due to respiratory failure (50.0%) or life-threatening bleeding (22.6%). Independent risk factors predicting intensive care unit admission were lower fibrinogen concentration, the presence of an infection, and comorbidity. The survival rate was 45%, with the Simplified Acute Physiology Score II being the only independent prognostic parameter (P<0.05). Survival was inferior in intensive care patients compared to patients not admitted to an intensive care unit. However, no difference between intensive care and non-intensive care patients was found concerning continuous complete remission at 6 years or survival at 6 years in patients who survived the first 30 days after diagnosis (non-intensive care patients: 28%; intensive care patients: 20%, P>0.05).

Conclusions

Ongoing infections, low fibrinogen and comorbidity are predictive for intensive care unit admission in acute myeloid leukemia. Although admission was a risk factor for survival, continuous complete remission and survival of patients alive at day 30 were similar in patients who were admitted or not admitted to an intensive care unit.     

Posteriores reversibles Enzephalopathiesyndrom (PRES)

Background

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is an acute neurological disease. Although there are some case reports of patients with a poor clinical outcome, studies about PRES and intensive care medicine are rare.

Patients and methods

The medical records of our department were screened for the diagnosis of PRES. Data of 26 patients were analyzed retrospectively.

Results

Of the 26 PRES patients, 65.4% were treated in the intensive care unit (n=13) or stroke unit (n=4) for a mean duration of 3.9 days (range: 1–9 days). During admission, the correct diagnose was suspected for only 1 patient. Generalized seizures occurred in 88.5%. Only 1 patient needed artificial ventilation (>12 h).

Conclusion

Patients with PRES are frequently treated in the intensive care unit/stroke unit because of the clinical occurrence of the syndrome as a severe neurological disease. On the other hand, there are many life-threatening differential diagnoses. Epileptic seizures are the most frequent symptoms. Especially the combination of disturbed vision and epileptic seizures make the diagnosis of PRES more likely.     

Elective discontinuation of life-sustaining mechanical ventilation on a chronic ventilator unit

Withdrawal of medical interventions has become common in the hospital for patients with terminal disease. Despite the widespread feeling that medical interventions may be futile in certain patients, many patients, families, and medical staff find withdrawal of care difficult and withdrawal of mechanical ventilation to be the most disturbing secondary to the close proximity of withdrawal and death. Presented is a 6-year retrospective review of elective withdrawal of life-sustaining mechanical ventilation on a chronic ventilator unit (CVU) in an academic nursing home. Of the 98 patients admitted to the 19-bed CVU during this period, only 13 underwent terminal weaning (TW). Statistically, these 13 patients did not differ significantly in age, gender, race, route of nutrition, decisional capacity, or length of stay on the unit compared with the 85 patients who were not terminally weaned (t-test P > .05). Stepwise logistic regression found that patients who were more alert at admission were more likely to have participated in TW (chi2 = 5.22, coefficient for alertness P < .036). The decision to terminate mechanical ventilation was made by patients in eight cases and by family in five cases. The first step in the process leading to TW was a discussion with the patient and family about plan of care, including the patient's desires for attempted resuscitation, rehospitalization, advance directives, and family contacts. Plan of care was reviewed informally in a weekly multidisciplinary round and formally, to address each patient's care plan, in a multidisciplinary family meeting on a regular basis. The second step was to address TW when brought up by the patient, family, or medical staff. A request for TW by a patient or surrogate was referred to the medical staff, who screened the patient for depression or other remediable symptoms. The third step was to refer the patient and family to another formal meeting to discuss the request for TW and, if needed, in the case of multiple family members, to allow questions to be answered and consensus to be formed. Additional meetings were scheduled as needed. The next step occurred once a consensus was reached to proceed with TW; a date and time was set to reconvene the patient, family, and anyone else who wanted to be present at the TW. The TW process began when a peripheral intravenous catheter was placed and the patient was premedicated with low doses of morphine sulfate and a benzodiazepine. After premedication, the patient was removed from the ventilator. The physician, nurse, family, and physician assistant remained at the bedside and additional morphine or benzodiazepine was given, as needed, for symptom management. Death from TW occurred in all patients, at times ranging from 2 minutes to 10.5 hours (average 6.2 hours). A mean total dose of 115 mg morphine and 14 mg diazepam was given for symptom control. There was no correlation between dose of these medications and duration of survival off the ventilator.