Delayed admission to intensive care unit for critically surgical patients is associated with increased mortality

Background

Shortage of beds in intensive care units (ICUs) is an increasing common phenomenon worldwide. Consequently, many critically ill patients have to be cared for in other hospital areas without specialized staff, such as general wards, emergency department, post anesthesia care unit (PACU). However, boarding critically ill patients in general wards or emergency department has been associated with higher mortality. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if a delay in ICU admission, waiting in PACU and managed by anesthesiologists, affects their ICU outcomes for critically surgical patients.

Methods

A retrospective cohort of adult critically surgical patients admitted to our ICU between January 2010 and June 2012 were analyzed. ICU admission was classified as either immediate or delayed (waiting in PACU). A general estimation equation was used to examine the relationship of PACU waiting hours before ICU admission with ICU outcomes by adjusting for age, patient sex, comorbidities, surgical categories, end time of operation, operation hours, and clinical conditions.

Results

A total of 2,279 critically surgical patients were evaluated. Two thousand ninety-four (91.9%) patients were immediately admitted and 185 (8.1%) patients had delayed ICU admission. There was a significant increase in ICU mortality rates with a delay in ICU admission (P < .001). Prolonged waiting hours in PACU (≥6 hours) was associated with higher ICU mortality (adjusted odds ratio 5.32; 95% confidence interval 1.25 to 22.60, P = .024). However, longer PACU waiting times was not associated with mechanical ventilation days, ICU length of stay, and ICU cost.

Conclusion

Prolonged waiting hours in PACU because of ICU bed shortage was associated with higher ICU mortality for critically surgical patients.     

Classification of adverse events occurring in a surgical intensive care unit

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to describe the preventability and provider specificity of surgical intensive care unit (SICU) deaths and complications compared with those in a cohort of trauma patients. METHODS: Data were collected on all trauma and SICU admissions from July 1, 2001, to June 30, 2004, from administrative (Trauma Base and Project Impact) and morbidity databases. Services were protocol driven and staffed by in-house attendings. Performance improvement assessments were made by consensus. Deaths and complications were classified as preventable, potentially preventable, or nonpreventable, and provider-specific or not. Statistical significance was established at the P < .05 level. RESULTS: One hundred sixty-eight deaths (5.6% rate), 464 procedure-related, and 694 non-procedure-related complications were noted in 2969 SICU patients compared with 166 deaths (3.6% rate), 178 procedure-related, and 261 non-procedure-related complications in 4,655 trauma patients. Thirty-one percent of SICU deaths were preventable/potentially preventable compared with 14% of trauma deaths, but only 1.9% was attributable to the SICU provider. SICU complications were less frequently preventable/potentially preventable than in trauma patients (52% versus 61%) and less often provider-specific (5% versus 19%). CONCLUSIONS: SICU complications are deemed preventable less often than in trauma patients and, if so, infrequently incriminate the SICU provider. Preventable and potentially preventable SICU deaths are rarely attributed to SICU care. These data suggest that SICU performance improvement should focus on systems solutions and pre-SICU care.     

Diabetes patients and non-diabetic patients intensive care unit and hospital mortality risks associated with sepsis

AIM:To compare mortality risks associated with known diabetic patients to hyperglycemic non-diabetic patients.METHODS:PubMed data base was searched for patients with sepsis,bacteremia,mortality and diabetes.Articles that also identified new onset hyperglycemia (NOH) (fasting blood glucose125 mg/dL or random blood glucose199 mg/dL) were identified and reviewed.Nine studies were evaluated with regards to hyperglycemia and hospital mortality and five of the nine were summarized with regards to intensive care unit (ICU) mortality.RESULTS:Historically hyperglycemia has been believed to be equally harmful in known diabetic patients and non-diabetics patients admitted to the hospital.Unexpectedly,having a history of diabetes when admitted to the hospital was associated with a reduced risk of hospital mortality.Approximately 17% of patients admitted to hospital have NOH and 24% have diabetes mellitus.Hospital mortality was significantly increased in all nine studies of patients with NOH as compared to known diabetic patients (26.7%±3.4% vs 12.5% ±3.4%,P0.05;analysis of variance).Unadjusted ICU mortality was evaluated in five studies and was more than doubled for those patients with NOH as compared to known diabetic patients (25.3%±3.3% vs 12.8%±2.6%,P0.05) despite having similar blood glucose concentrations.Most importantly,having NOH was associated with an increased ICU and a 2.7-fold increase in hospital mortality when compared to hyperglycemic diabetic patients.The mortality benefit of being diabetic is unclear but may have to do with adaptation to hyperglycemia over time.Having a history of diabetes mellitus and prior episodes of hyperglycemia may provide time for the immune system to adapt to hyperglycemia and result in a reduced mortality risk.Understanding why diabetic patients have a lower than expected hospital mortality rate even with bacteremia or acute respiratory distress syndrome needs further study.CONCLUSION:Having hyperglycemia without a history of previous diabetes mellitus is a major independent risk factor for ICU and hospital mortality.     

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目的 了解外科重症监护病房（SICU）中医院获得性感染（nosocomial infection,NI)的流行病学规律。指导临床防治。方法 对SICU1996年1月至2000年12月间181例NI情况进行回顾性分析。结果 平均感染率9.81%,常见感染部位是呼吸道（36.96%)、胸腹腔（25.47%)和血行感染（9.32%),各部位主要病原菌种类具有统计学差异,呼吸道、胸腹腔和胆道以细菌为主,泌尿道和消化道以真菌为主,混合感染52.25%。常见病原菌是肠球菌、耐甲氧西林的葡萄球菌、铜绿假单胞菌、大肠埃希杆菌、白色念珠菌和热带念珠菌。结论 SICU内NI主要病原菌因感染部位而不同,菌种复杂,耐药菌株多,应建立相应的监控制度,掌握病原菌变化规律,现有效地预防和治疗ICU内获得性感染。     

Classification for coding procedures in the intensive care unit

BACKGROUND: There is no commonly accepted coding system for non-operative procedures in general, including intensive care unit (ICU) procedures. In order to create a classification of codes for ICU procedures, a system developed at the University Hospital of Bergen was evaluated in four Nordic countries. METHODS: Classification codes were constructed using seven main groups of related procedures that were given a letter from A to G. Within each group major procedures were given a number from 00 to 99, with the possibility of up to 10 subclassifications within each procedure. A simple questionnaire regarding the use of coding general ICU procedures and some specific procedures was sent to 171 ICUs in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Norway. They were also asked to give their comments on the new classification coding system, which was attached. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-four questionnaires were returned (response rate 90%). Some or most of the ICU procedures were registered in the ICUs (82.2%). However 38% did not use any coding system and 24% used a specific internal system. The new classification coding system was well received, and was given a mean value of 7.5 using a VAS scale from 0 to 10 (best). Most ICUs would consider using this system if introduced at a national level. CONCLUSION: Most Nordic ICUs do register some or most of the procedures performed. Such procedures are however, registered in very different ways, using several different systems, and are often home-made. The new classification system of ICU procedures was well rated.     

Intensive care unit design and mortality in trauma patients

Background

The architecture of medical care facilities ca affect the safety of a patient, but it is unknown if the architecture affects outcomes. We hypothesized that patients in rooms who are more visible from the central nursing station would experience better outcomes than those patients in less visible rooms.

Materials and methods

A total of 773 patients admitted to the trauma intensive care service over a 12-mo period were retrospectively evaluated. Outcomes were hospital mortality and intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS). The unit is designed with a bank of high-visibility rooms (HVRs) directly across from the nursing station and two side sections of low-visibility rooms (LVRs). No formal triage occurs, but patients are prioritized to HVRs as available.

Results

Patients in the HVRs had a 16% mortality (52 of 320); meanwhile, the patients in the LVRs experienced an 11% mortality (49 of 448, P = 0.03). ICU mortality did not differ significantly when controlling for age, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), Head Abbreviated Injury Score, and the Injury Severity Score (ISS) (P = 0.076). Age, CCI, Head Abbreviated Injury Score, and ISS did individually correlate with mortality (age: P = 0.0008; CCI: P = 0.017; and ISS: P < 0.0001). Visibility was not a predictor of ICU LOS or complications among survivors (mean ICU HVR LOS = 4.8 d; mean ICU LVR LOS = 4.7; P = 0.88, n = 661). Only ISS was a significant predictor of ICU LOS and complications (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Trauma patient room placement within the ICU does not relate to mortality rate significantly when corrected for patient acuity. Instead, variables such as age, ISS, and CCI are associated with mortality. A policy of placing more critically ill patients in HVRs may prevent increased mortality in high-acuity patients.     

Trauma patients in the intensive care unit: short- and long-term survival and predictors of 30-day mortality

BACKGROUND: The aims of this cohort study were to assess the survival of trauma patients treated in a general intensive care unit (ICU) and to evaluate the simplified acute physiology score (SAPS) II, maximum sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, injury severity score (ISS), age, sex and severe head injury as predictors of 30-day mortality. METHODS: Three hundred and twenty-five adult patients admitted during 1998-2003 were evaluated retrospectively with update of survival data in January 2005. Kaplan-Meier statistics and Cox proportional hazards regression were used to study survival and to assess predictors of mortality, respectively. RESULTS: The 30-day mortality was 16.9%, ICU mortality 13.8% and hospital mortality 17.8%. Long-term survival (observation time, 1-7 years) was 77.8%. After 3.5 years, mortality was the same as for the background population. Severe head injury was the main cause of death and increased the risk of 30-day mortality 2.4-fold. In addition, SAPS II and an age above 50 years proved to be significant predictors of mortality in a multivariate analysis. Sex was not associated with mortality, and ISS and the maximum SOFA score were significant predictors in univariate analyses only. CONCLUSION: Reduced long-term survival was observed up to 3.5 years after acute injury. The 30-day mortality was strongly related to severe head injury, SAPS II and an age above 50 years. These variables may be useful as predictors of mortality, and may contribute to risk adjustment of this subset of trauma patients when treatment results from different centres are compared.     

丙泊酚和咪唑安定用于ICU呼吸机治疗病人的镇静

目的 观察丙泊酚和咪唑安定对ICU呼吸机治疗病人的镇静效果,为危重病人镇静用药提供依据。方法 选拔在ICU呼吸机治疗的病人40例,随机分为两组,丙泊酚组21例,先静注丙泊酚1.5mg/kg镇静诱导,然后改用微量注射泵持续注射丙泊酚,根据Ramsay氏分级标准调整用量;咪唑安定组19例,先静注咪唑安定0.05mg/kg镇诱导,然后改用微量注射泵持续注射咪唑安定,根据不同镇静分级调整用量,分别记录Ramsay氏分级Ⅲ-Ⅵ级时的用药量及用药前后、苏醒时的心率、血压、脉搏血氧饱和度和停药后苏醒时间,停药后再入睡和恶心发生情况,结果 两组病人随镇静程度的加深而用药量增加,但呼吸、循环无明显抑制。丙泊酚组较咪唑安定组苏醒时间快,且苏醒后再入睡及出现恶心病人明显减少。结论 丙泊酚和咪唑安定都能达到ICU病人所需的镇静要求,丙泊酚苏醒快,且苏醒后再入睡和恶心的发生明显少于咪唑安定。     

超声心动图对重症监护室患者管理重要性的研究

目的 超声心动图对重症监护室(intensive care unit,ICU)患者的管理有着重要的作用,研究分析由具备基本心脏超声检查能力的ICU医师完成的超声检查对ICU患者管理的意义.方法 采用回顾性临床观察研究的方法,纳入并记录2009年8月～2010年5月本院ICU中行经胸超声心动图(trans-thoraci...     

Using the intensive care unit to teach end-of-life skills to rotating junior residents

Background

This study tested the effectiveness and perceived value of a palliative/end-of-life (P/EOL) curriculum for junior residents implemented during an intensive care unit (ICU) rotation.

Methods

Residents rotating through the ICU over a 6-month period completed pre- and post-curriculum surveys evaluating their self-assessed efficacy in providing P/EOL care and attitudes towards P/EOL care. Scores were analyzed using a paired Student t test.

Results

Seventeen of 19 (90%) residents completed both the pre- and post-curriculum evaluations. The P/EOL curriculum increased self-assessed efficacy ratings in the domains of pain management (P = .04), psychosocial knowledge (P = .001), communicator knowledge (P = .001), professional knowledge (P = .002), and manager knowledge (P < .001). The rotation was rated as being valuable in preparing residents to care for patients near the end-of-life (P < .05), with surgery residents indicating it to be the most valuable rotation in their training program for learning about P/EOL care.

Conclusions

An ICU P/EOL curriculum improves self-assessed efficacy scores across multiple domains in P/EOL care and is seen as a valuable educational experience.     

Evaluation of the P-POSSUM mortality prediction algorithm in Australian surgical intensive care unit patients

Background: The Physiological and Operative Severity Score for enUmeration of Mortality and Morbidity (POSSUM) is an auditing tool designed to compare surgical outcomes independent of case mix. It uses patient physiological and operative data to predict morbidity and mortality for surgical patients. Thus far most evaluations of the POSSUM algorithm and its modifications have emanated from British hospitals. A single‐centre retrospective study was therefore performed to determine the applicability of this tool to the Australian surgical case mix. Methods: All surgical patients undergoing a surgical procedure admitted to the Royal Brisbane Hospital intensive care facility in 1999 were reviewed retrospectively. Mortality predictions using the Portsmouth modification of the POSSUM algorithm (P?­POSSUM) were compared to the actual outcomes using receiver‐operator characteristic curve analysis and the Hosmer and Lemeshow Goodness‐of‐Fit test. Results: The records of 229 admissions were reviewed. The area under the receiver‐operator characteristic curve was 0.68, significantly greater than 0.5 (P = 0.014). Predicted deaths were significantly greater than actual deaths (50 vs 28, P < 0.001), with over‐prediction of death rates in all mortality groupings except the two lowest risk deciles. Conclusion: The P?POSSUM algorithm tends to over‐estimate mortality in surgical intensive care patients. It may require further calibration before adoption as a surgical audit tool in Australia.     

普通外科重症加强治疗病房获得性感染的耐药性监测

目的监控外科重症加强治疗病房（SICU）中医院获得性感染的病原菌耐药性,指导临床防治。方法监测分析我院SICU2001年1月至2004年12月间医院获得性感染的情况。结果平均感染率为11．3％,常见感染部位是呼吸道（30．9％）、腹腔（29．0％）、血液（9．7％）和胆道（7．2％）;常见病原菌是铜绿假单胞菌（11．6％）、凝固酶阴性葡萄球菌（11．1％）、白色念珠菌（9．7％）。大肠埃希菌和肺炎克雷伯菌中超广谱β内酰胺酶（ESBLs）产生株的检出率分别为66．2％和58．5％;耐甲氧西林的金黄色葡萄球菌（MRSA）和凝固酶阴性葡萄球菌（MRCNS）检出率分别是94．7％和88．2％。碳青霉烯类对肠杆菌的抗菌活性最强,非发酵菌耐药严重;万古霉素、替考拉宁对革兰阳性球菌活性最强,二性霉素B对真菌抗菌活性最强。结论SICU医院获得性感染耐药问题严重,不同感染部位的病原菌各有特点,建立感染监控机制,掌握医院获得性感染的耐药性变化是有效预防和治疗的关键。     

ICU患者下呼吸道感染病原菌的分布及其耐药性分析

目的探讨重症监护病房(ICU)患者下呼吸道感染病原菌的分布特点及耐药情况,为其治疗提供依据。方法对2012年1月至5月于本院ICU住院的患者所送检的痰标本进行细菌培养、鉴定和药敏试验。结果 239例合格痰标本中79例为菌群正常,其余160例共检出177株病原菌,以革兰阴性杆菌为主,占76.8%(136/177),革兰阳性球菌占15.3%(27/177),真菌占7.9%(14/177)。在细菌中鲍曼不动杆菌居第一位(32.5%,53/163),其次为铜绿假单胞菌(23.3%,38/163)、金黄色葡萄球菌(16.6%,27/163)和肺炎克雷伯菌(9.2%,15/163),以上细菌占所分离菌株的81.6%(133/163)。11.0%(16/146)患者出现多重感染,并以金黄色葡萄球菌和革兰阴性杆菌的混合感染为主,占56.2%(9/16)。药敏试验结果显示,鲍曼不动杆菌对17种抗菌药物中16种的耐药率均>68%,而铜绿假单胞菌对17种抗菌药物中14种的耐药率均>55%;肺炎克雷伯菌和大肠埃希菌对16种抗菌药物的耐药率>60%者分别达14种和13种;金黄色葡萄球菌对12种抗菌药物中10种的耐药率均>74%。结论 ICU患者下呼吸道感染的病原菌以革兰阴性杆菌为主,且鲍曼不动杆菌为首位感染病原菌;病原菌显示多重耐药,鲍曼不动杆菌仅对米诺环素敏感性较好,铜绿假单胞菌和肠杆菌科细菌仅对亚胺培南敏感性较好,而金黄色葡萄球菌仅对万古霉素敏感。需加强ICU病原菌及耐药性监测,为临床合理使用抗菌药物提供参考依据。     

新生儿重症监护病房重症脓毒症临床流行病学研究

目的 研究新生儿重症监护病房(SlCU)重症脓毒症临床流行病学特征.方法 回顾性调查2006年6月至2007年5月入住NICU患儿的病例资料,统计重症脓毒症的发生率、人口学特征、感染特点、病死率及死亡的危险因素等.结果 依据2005年颁布的国际儿科脓毒症诊断标准,本研究新生儿甭症脓毒症在NICU的发病率、病死率分别为19.8%(48/243)和45.8%(22/48),70.8%(34/48)系男性患儿;相对于其他危重病患儿,重症脓毒症病例的Apgar评分低、PRISM评分和病死率高.48名重症脓毒症患儿中,56.3%(27/48)有明确培养结果 ,大肠杆菌为最常检出的病原微生物;52.1%(25/48)患儿≥3个器官功能受损,最常见受累的是呼吸系统.重症脓毒症死亡危险因素的单因素分析发现PRISM评分高、功能障碍器官数目多、出现循环系统/血液系统/神经系统功能障碍的患儿死亡的相对危险度显著增加.结论 重症脓毒症是NICU中发生率高、病死率高的危重症,感染特征与国内外研究基本一致.多中心、大规模、不同年龄段的儿童承症脓毒症临床流行病学研究将有助于推动我国儿童脓毒症的规范诊治,提高新生儿危重病的治愈率.     

Techniques of tracheostomy for intensive care unit patients

The author and his colleagues believe that the surgical technique used constructing a tracheostomy can have a profound effect on the safety and care of patients in the intensive care unit particularly in the first few days after the operation. The Bj?rk procedure is commended to the surgeons.     

Clinical role and efficacy of landiolol in the intensive care unit

Beta-adrenergic receptor blockers have proved to be effective for the management of various cardiovascular diseases and the prevention of perioperative cardiac events and cerebrovascular accidents. Landiolol is a short-acting beta-blocker, with high beta 1-selectivity and a short duration of action. We thought landiolol was valuable and suitable for intensive care unit (ICU) patients, and conducted a retrospective study. The records of 80 patients (58 post-surgical patients; group S and 22 internal medicine patients; group IM) were reviewed. Thirty-seven (64%) of the group S patients were post-coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and the IM group consisted mostly of patients with acute myocardial infarction. The most common indication for landiolol in group S was the prevention of myocardial ischemia (50%), and in group IM, it was atrial fibrillation (45%). The median infusion rate of landiolol was 5 μg·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹ and the median infusion time was 2 days. Twenty-six patients were continued on oral beta-adrenergic receptor blockers. Landiolol reduced heart rate significantly without reducing blood pressure, and stabilized hemodynamics. We confirmed that landiolol is valuable as a bridge to starting oral beta-adrenergic receptor blockers and as an anti-arrhythmic agent, and that it is suitable for ICU patients due to its high beta 1-selectivity and rapid onset and offset of action.     

Sepsis in the intensive care unit

Sepsis remains a major cause of mortality in intensive care. The past 10 years has seen a more uniform, worldwide approach to the management of sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock. This has resulted in improved survival. It is important to recognize the early symptoms and signs of sepsis; the confused, hypoxic, hypotensive patient with pyrexia, tachycardia, tachypnoea and leucocytosis. Examination must include finding a source for infection and early drainage or debridement. Next take appropriate cultures, and give fluids and broad-spectrum antibiotics. If the picture does not improve over the next 6 hours step-up the treatment to include urine output, blood gases for base excess, lactate, haemoglobin, and glucose. These will guide the management of vasopressors, insulin, fluids, transfusion and bicarbonate. If the hypotension persists (septic shock) the patient should be moved to intensive care. Steroids should be added and additional inotropes. This should be instituted with 24 hours of the start of sepsis. Further advanced care may include mechanical ventilation which requires special consideration. Prevention by screening, stopping cross-infection and appropriate use of antibiotics remains the first priority.