Performance of standard severity scoring systems for outcome prediction in patients admitted to a respiratory intensive care unit in North India

OBJECTIVE: There are little data on the value of using severity scoring systems developed in western countries to assess critically ill patients in India. The authors evaluated the performance of Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation version II (APACHE II), Simplified Acute Physiology Score version II (SAPS II) and Mortality Probability Models version II at admission and at 24 h (MPM(0) and MPM(24), respectively) in predicting patient outcomes in their Respiratory Intensive Care Unit. METHODS: Data from 459 consecutive adult admissions were collected prospectively. Standardized mortality ratios were computed as an index of the overall model performance. Model calibration was assessed using Lemeshow-Hosmer goodness-of-fit tests and through calibration curves. Model discrimination was assessed through receiver operating curve analysis and by drawing 2 x 2 classification matrices. RESULTS: Overall standardized mortality ratio exceeded 1.5 for all models. All models had modest discrimination (area under receiver-operating-characteristic curves 0.66-0.78) and poor calibration (high Lemeshow-Hosmer C and H statistic values). All models had a tendency to underpredict hospital death in patients with lower mortality probability estimates. There were no major differences between the models with regard to either discrimination or calibration performance. CONCLUSIONS: Standard severity scoring systems developed in western countries are poor at predicting patient outcome in critically ill patients admitted to a respiratory intensive care unit in Northern India. Caution must be exercised in using such models in their present form on Indian patients until either they are customized for local use or fresh models are developed from Indian cohorts.     

State of the art: percutaneous tracheostomy in the intensive care unit

Percutaneous tracheostomy is a commonly performed procedure for patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) and offers many benefits, including decreasing ICU length of stay and need for sedation while improving patient comfort, effective communication, and airway clearance. However, there is no consensus on the optimal timing of tracheostomy in ICU patients. Ultrasound (US) and bronchoscopy are useful adjunct tools to optimize procedural performance. US can be used pre-procedurally to identify vascular structures and to select the optimal puncture site, intra-procedurally to assist with accurate placement of the introducer needle, and post-procedurally to evaluate for a pneumothorax. Bronchoscopy provides real-time visual guidance from within the tracheal lumen and can reduce complications, such as paratracheal puncture and injury to the posterior tracheal wall. A step-by-step detailed procedural guide, including preparation and procedural technique, is provided with a team-based approach. Technical aspects, such as recommended equipment and selection of appropriate tracheostomy tube type and size, are discussed. Certain procedural considerations to minimize the risk of complications should be given in circumstances of patient obesity, coagulopathy, or neurologic illness. Herein, we provide a practical state of the art review of percutaneous tracheostomy in ICU patients. Specifically, we will address pre-procedural preparation, procedural technique, and post-tracheostomy management.     

Bronchoscopy in intubated and non-intubated intensive care unit patients with respiratory failure

Bronchoscopy is one of the important tool for the pulmonary and critical care physicians to diagnose and treat various pulmonary conditions. It is increasingly being used by the intensivist due to its safety and portability. The utilization of bronchoscopy in the intensive care unit (ICU) has made the diagnosis and treatment of many conditions more feasible to intensivists. Sedation, topical or intravenous, usually helps better tolerate the procedure. However, the risks and benefits of bronchoscopy should be carefully considered in critically ill patients. The hypoxic patients in ICU pose a challenge as hypoxemia is one of the known complications of bronchoscopy, and this risk is exacerbated in patients with hypoxic respiratory failure. Bronchoscopy is relatively contraindicated in patients with severe hypoxemia and coagulopathy. However, bronchoscopy in hypoxic patients can have diagnostic as well as therapeutic implications. In patients with hypoxic respiratory failure, the use of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) during bronchoscopy has been shown to reduce the risk of intubation. On the other hand, bronchoscopy in mechanically ventilated patients is not contraindicated and has been widely used. Staying focused, monitoring vital signs closely, limiting the scope time in the airway, and understanding patient’s physiology may help decrease risk of complications. In this review, we discuss indications, techniques, complications, and yield associated with bronchoscopy in critically ill hypoxic patients.     

Noninvasive ventilation in the pediatric intensive care unit for children with acute respiratory failure

Noninvasive ventilation, a novel treatment to increase alveolar ventilation, is accomplished with either subatmospheric or positive pressure administered via an external interface. In adults with acute respiratory failure, noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) is superior to standard therapy in preventing intubation and reducing mortality. The role of NPPV in pediatric-age patients with acute respiratory distress is not as well established. Early case reports showed that NPPV treatment does acutely improve both the clinical manifestations of respiratory distress and respiratory gas exchange in children with respiratory distress. However, it is not clear whether NPPV in this setting can prevent vs. delay endotracheal intubation. Other uses of NPPV in the pediatric intensive care unit include the treatment of upper airway obstruction, atelectasis, and exacerbations of neuromuscular disorders, and to facilitate weaning from invasive mechanical ventilation. Successful use of NPPV in young infants with respiratory distress is impeded by the lack of suitable size interfaces, and the response characteristics of commercially available bilevel ventilators. Despite these challenges, NPPV is a promising alternate to standard therapies in the treatment of acute respiratory distress in the pediatric-age patient.     

RIFLE classification as predictive factor of mortality in patients with cirrhosis admitted to intensive care unit

Background and Aim:  To evaluate the association of the Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss and End-stage renal failure (RIFLE) score on mortality in patients with decompensated cirrhosis admitted to intensive care unit (ICU).
Methods:  A cohort of 412 patients with cirrhosis consecutively admitted to ICU was classified according to the RIFLE score. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the factors associated with mortality. Liver-specific, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) and RIFLE scores on admission, were compared by receiver–operator characteristic curves.
Results:  The overall mortality during ICU stay or within 6 weeks after discharge from ICU was 61.2%, but decreased over time (76% during first interval, 1989–1992 vs 50% during the last, 2005–2006, P  < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that RIFLE score (odds ratio: 2.1, P  < 0.001) was an independent factor significantly associated with mortality. Although SOFA had the best discrimination (area under receiver–operator characteristic curve = 0.84), and the APACHE II had the best calibration, the RIFLE score had the best sensitivity (90%) to predict death in patients during follow up.
Conclusions:  RIFLE score was significantly associated with mortality, confirming the importance of renal failure in this large cohort of patients with cirrhosis admitted to ICU, but it is less useful than other scores.     

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.     

The severity of nutrition and pneumonia predicts survival in patients with aspiration pneumonia: A retrospective observational study

IntroductionAspiration pneumonia is a common problem among older adults; it has a high mortality rate and the prevalence is increasing. Reports on the risk factors for mortality in patients with aspiration pneumonia are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors for 90‐day survival in patients with aspiration pneumonia.MethodsThis retrospective observational study was conducted at Seirei Mikatahara General Hospital between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2016. Patients with aspiration pneumonia who had dysphagia or aspiration confirmed by modified water swallow test or VideoEndoscopic examination of swallowing were included. The primary endpoint was 90‐day survival. We performed univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses with survival and non‐survival at 90 days as the independent variables.ResultsA total of 276 patients were recruited for this study. The A‐DROP score (odds ratio [OR] = 2.440; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.400–4.270; p < 0.01), Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index score (OR = 0.383; 95% CI, 0.178–0.824; p < 0.05) and sex (OR = 0.365; 95% CI, 0.153–0.869; p < 0.05) were independent early predictors of mortality.ConclusionThe results suggest that nutritional status and the severity of pneumonia are important factors that predict life expectancy in patients with aspiration pneumonia.     

乙型肝炎慢加急性肝功能衰竭严重程度评估的预后评分系统的建立

目的 建立一种适用于乙型肝炎慢加急性肝功能衰竭严重程度评估的预后评分系统,并与终末期肝病模型(MELD)系统比较.方法 对存活组203例和死亡组196例乙型肝炎慢加急性肝功能衰竭患者进行MELD评分,同时选择凝血酶原活动度、血清肌酐、肝性脑病、并发感染、血清总胆红素、肝脏大小和胸腹水量等7个肝功能衰竭相关的临床指标,按严重程度以1～4分评分,并合计总分,再采用t检验及受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线下面积来比较这两种预后评分系统的异同.结果 采用本预后评分系统的存活组为(8.07±3.14)分,死亡组为(16.91士3.54)分,两组间差异有统计学意义(t=26.125,P<0.01),存活组81.32%的患者总分为3.91～12.23分,死亡组81.32%的患者总分为12.23～21.60分,两组分界点在12.23分.采用MELD评分系统存活组为(26.43士5.58)分,死亡组为(40.16±10.22)分,两组间差异有统计学意义(t=16.566,P<0.01),存活组61.02%的患者MELD评分为21.49～31.19分,死亡组61.02%的患者MELD评分为31.19～48.94分,两组分界点在31.19分.本预后评分系统和MELD评分系统的ROC曲线下面积分别为0.960(95%可信区间为0.944～0.977)和0.886(95%可信区间为0.852～0.920),两者95%可信区间无重叠,差异有统计学意义.结论 本预后评分系统适用于乙型肝炎慢加急性肝功能衰竭的严重程度评估,且敏感性近似于MELD预后评分系统.     

四种评分系统对乙型肝炎相关慢加急性肝衰竭患者短期预后的评估价值

目的比较MELD、MELD-Na、i MELD及MESO四种评分系统预测乙型肝炎相关慢加急性肝衰竭(ACLF)患者经过人工肝治疗短期预后的价值。方法选取2007年10月-2013年2月于天津市第二人民医院住院的乙型肝炎相关ACLF患者221例,分为存活组(139例)和死亡组(82例),测量并比较2组的TBil、血清肌酐(Cr)、国际标准化比值(INR)、血清钠(Na+)以及MELD、MELD-Na、i MELD、MESO评分值。计量资料两组间比较采用独立样本Mann-Whitney U检验或t检验,多组间比较采用KruskalWaillis H检验;计数资料组间比较采用χ2检验;受试者工作特征曲线下面积(AUC)比较采用正态Z检验。结果死亡组的年龄、TBil、INR、MELD、MELD-Na、i MELD及MESO评分均高于存活组,血清Na+水平低于存活组,差异均有统计学意义(P值均0.001)。肝衰竭晚期各评分均明显高于中期和早期(P值均0.001),肝衰竭中期各评分均高于早期(P值均0.001)。MELD、MELD-Na、i MELD及MESO评分越高,病死率越高。四种评分的最佳临界值分别为37.989、41.291、55.406和2.693。四种评分系统两两比较差异均无统计学意义(P值均0.05)。结论四种评分系统均能较好地预测乙型肝炎相关ACLF患者经过人工肝联合内科综合治疗后短期临床预后,相比之下,i MELD评分略占优势,但应用时仍应密切结合临床实际情况。     

Scurvy: historically a plague of the sailor that remains a consideration in the modern intensive care unit

We report the case of the case of a 56 year old female with sepsis on a background of rheumatoid arthritis and steroid use manifesting with overt clinical features of scurvy. Ascorbic acid assays were able to demonstrate severe deficiency and confirm a diagnosis of scurvy. Clinical resolution of signs and symptoms following commencement of vitamin C replacement was rapid. The intensivist and dietitian need to consider this diagnosis even in the first world setting, particularly in the presence of sepsis, inflammatory conditions, steroid use and importantly malnutrition.     

激励式护理干预对呼吸衰竭重症监护患者肺功能及心理状态的影响

目的 探讨在激励式护理干预的影响下,呼吸衰竭重症监护患者肺功能及心理状态的变化。方法 以我院2018年3月至2020年5月收治的80例呼吸衰竭重症监护患者为研究对象,随机分为对照组和观察组各40例。对照组使用常规护理干预,观察组使用激励式护理干预。两组患者干预时间均为30d。比较两组患者机械通气时间、ICU治疗时间、住院时间,比较两组患者干预前后FEV₁、FEV₁%、FEV₁/FVC水平及心理状态变化。结果 观察组患者机械通气时间、ICU治疗时间及总住院时间均短于对照组,与干预前相比干预后两组患者FEV₁、FEV₁%、FEV₁/FVC水平均升高,且观察组高于对照组(均P<0.05);护理后观察组的SAS、SDS评分均低于护理前,且低于对照组,差异显著(P<0.05)。结论 激励式护理干预可缓解呼吸衰竭重症监护患者紧张情绪,促进患者肺功能恢复,改善心理状态,效果显著。