Assessment of ICU readmission risk with the Stability and Workload Index for Transfer score

Patient discharge from the ICU is indicated on the basis of clinical evidence and theresult of strategies aimed at improving health care. Nevertheless, some patientsmight be discharged too early. We attempted to identify risk factors for unplannedICU readmission, using a score for risk assessment, designated the Stability andWorkload Index for Transfer (SWIFT) score. We evaluated 100 patients discharged froman ICU and found that the SWIFT score can be used as a tool for improving theassessment of ICU patients and the appropriateness of ICU discharge, thus preventingreadmission.     

Postoperative delirium in the intensive care unit predicts worse outcomes in liver transplant recipients

BACKGROUND:

Delirium is common in intensive care unit patients and is associated with worse outcome.

OBJECTIVE:

To identify early risk factors for delirium in patients admitted to the intensive care unit following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).

METHODS:

An observational study of patients admitted to the intensive care unit from January 2000 to May 2010 for elective or semi-elective OLT was conducted. The primary end point was delirium in the intensive care unit. Pre- and post-transplantation and intraoperative factors potentially associated with this outcome were examined.

RESULTS:

Of the 281 patients included in the study, 28 (10.03%) developed delirium in the intensive care unit at a median of two days (interquartile range one to seven days) after OLT. According to multivariate analysis, independent risk factors for delirium were intraoperative transfusion of packed red blood cells (OR 1.15 [95% CI 1.01 to 1.18]), renal replacement therapy during the pretransplantation period (OR 13.12 [95% CI 2.82 to 72.12]) and Acute Physiologic and Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score (OR per unit increase 1.10 [95% CI 1.03 to 1.29]). Using Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for baseline covariates, delirium was associated with an almost twofold risk of remaining in hospital, a fourfold increased risk of dying in hospital and an almost threefold increased rate of death by one year.

CONCLUSION:

Intraoperative transfusion of packed red blood cells, pretransplantation renal replacement therapy and APACHE II score are predictors for the development of delirium in intensive care unit patients post-OLT and are associated with increased hospital lengths of stay and mortality.     

急性肝衰竭患者重症监护的美国研究组推荐意见(摘要)

本意见是针对急性肝衰竭(acute liver failure,ALF)的标准化重症监护方案.本文中ALF的定义:无既往肝病基础,在黄疸出现后的26周内发生肝性脑病和凝血障碍.本共识由美国成年急性肝衰竭研究组制定[1].     

Preoperative predictive factors for intensive care unit admission after pulmonary resection

Objective:

To determine whether the use of a set of preoperative variables can predict the need for postoperative ICU admission.

Methods:

This was a prospective observational cohort study of 120 patients undergoing elective pulmonary resection between July of 2009 and April of 2012. Prediction of ICU admission was based on the presence of one or more of the following preoperative characteristics: predicted pneumonectomy; severe/very severe COPD; severe restrictive lung disease; FEV₁ or DLCO predicted to be < 40% postoperatively; SpO₂ on room air at rest < 90%; need for cardiac monitoring as a precautionary measure; or American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status ≥ 3. The gold standard for mandatory admission to the ICU was based on the presence of one or more of the following postoperative characteristics: maintenance of mechanical ventilation or reintubation; acute respiratory failure or need for noninvasive ventilation; hemodynamic instability or shock; intraoperative or immediate postoperative complications (clinical or surgical); or a recommendation by the anesthesiologist or surgeon to continue treatment in the ICU.

Results:

Among the 120 patients evaluated, 24 (20.0%) were predicted to require ICU admission, and ICU admission was considered mandatory in 16 (66.6%) of those 24. In contrast, among the 96 patients for whom ICU admission was not predicted, it was required in 14 (14.5%). The use of the criteria for predicting ICU admission showed good accuracy (81.6%), sensitivity of 53.3%, specificity of 91%, positive predictive value of 66.6%, and negative predictive value of 85.4%.

Conclusions:

The use of preoperative criteria for predicting the need for ICU admission after elective pulmonary resection is feasible and can reduce the number of patients staying in the ICU only for monitoring.     

Intensive care management of liver transplanted patients

Advances in pre-transplant treatment of cirrhosis-related organ dysfunction,intraoperative patient management,and improvements in the treatment of rejection and infections have made human liver transplantation an effective and valuable option for patients with end stage liver disease.However,many important factors,related both to an increasing "marginality" of the implanted graft and unexpected perioperative complications still make immediate post-operative care challenging and the early outcome unpredictable.In recent years sicker patients with multiple comorbidities and organ dysfunction have been undergoing Liver transplantation;appropriate critical care management is required to support prompt graft recovery and prevent systemic complications.Early post-operative management is highly demanding as significant changes may occur in both the allograft and the "distant" organs.A functioning transplanted liver is almost always associated with organ system recovery,resulting in a new life for the patient.However,in the unfortunate event of graft dysfunction,the unavoidable development of multi-organ failure will require an enhanced level of critical care support and a prolonged ICU stay.Strict monitoring and sustainment of cardiorespiratory function,frequent assessment of graft performance,timely recognition of unexpected complications and the institution of prophylactic measures to prevent extrahepatic organ system dysfunction are mandatoryin the immediate post-operative period.A reduced rate of complications and satisfactory outcomes have been obtained from multidisciplinary,collaborative efforts,skillful vigilance,and a thorough knowledge of pathophysiologic characteristics of the transplanted liver.     

Predictive factors for 28-day mortality in acute-on-chronic liver failure patients admitted to the intensive care unit

BackgroundAcute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is an entity comprising an acute deterioration of liver function in cirrhotic patients, associated with organ failure(s) and high short-term mortality. We aimed to identify predictive factors for short-term mortality in patients admitted with ACLF that may benefit most from liver transplantation.MethodsRetrospective analysis of patients admitted in ACLF to a tertiary intensive care unit between 2013 and 2017 was performed. The EASL-CLIF acute-on-chronic liver failure in cirrhosis (CANONIC) criteria were used to define ACLF grade. Multivariable analysis using 28-day mortality as an end-point was performed, including severity-of-disease scores and clinical parameters.ResultsSeventy-seven patients were admitted in ACLF over the study period. The commonest aetiology of liver disease was alcohol related 52/77(68%) and the commonest precipitant of ACLF was variceal haemorrhage 38/77(49%). Overall 28-day mortality was 42/77(55%) [ACLF-(grade)1:3/42(7%); ACLF-2:10/42(24%); and, ACLF-3:29/42(69%);p = 0.002]. On multivariable analysis MELD ≥ 26 [odds ratio(OR) = 11.559; 95% confidence interval(CI):2.820–47.382;p = 0.001], ACLF-3 (OR = 3.287; 95%CI:1.047–10.325;p = 0.042) at admission and requirement for renal replacement therapy (OR = 5.348; 95%CI:1.385–20.645;p = 0.015) were independently associated with 28-day mortality.ConclusionPatients admitted with ACLF to intensive care have a high mortality rate. Defined early thresholds at admission can identify patients at the highest risk that may benefit most from liver transplantation.     

Aspergillus thyroiditis in a living donor liver transplant recipient

Aspergillosis is increasingly recognized as an important nosocomial pathogen in immunocompromised patients. Infection is difficult to diagnose and typically has a fatal outcome. We describe a liver transplant patient with fulminant hepatic failure, who had persistent fever of undetected origin postoperatively and an increased (1–3)-beta-d glucan level. Gallium-67 citrate scanning showed abnormal uptake in the thyroid bilaterally. Fine needle biopsy of the thyroid revealed thyroidal invasion of Aspergillosis. Total thyroidectomy was performed and the C reactive protein level decreased to 1.01 mg/dl. The patient died of liver sepsis due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. (1–3)-beta-d Glucan monitoring and systematic radionuclide images are useful modalities for early diagnosis of Aspergillosis.     

Prognosis-related factors in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with hematological malignancies: A retrospective cohort analysis in a Chinese population

Abstract

Objectives

This study investigates the link between patient characteristics and mortality in patients with hematological malignancies (HM) in three university-affiliated hospitals in Hunan, China.

Methods

We conducted a detailed retrospective chart review of 121 sequential intensive care unit (ICU) admissions with HM over a 5-year period. Outcome measures were short- and long-term mortality rates and were correlated with physiologic and therapeutic factors. We also evaluate the performance of two severity-of-illness scoring systems in this population, particularly the value and trend of the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA).

Results

The rates for ICU, 1-month and 6-month mortalities were 60.3, 85.9, and 90.9%, respectively. Invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) was associated with worse outcomes at all time points. Both acute physiology and chronic health evaluation and SOFA scores had positive correlation with ICU mortality. An increase or no change in SOFA over the course of the admission or during the first 48 hours after admission was the most powerful adverse predictor. IMV use and renal dysfunction had a negative effect on the 1-month survival.

Conclusion

Patients with HM have less access to intensive care resources in Hunan, China. The use of IMV, APACHII at admission, and SOFA trend have a strong predictive value in this population. Based on our results, we propose a panel of parameters for use when considering ICU transfer to guide patient management.     

Interventional radiology in living donor liver transplant

The shortage of deceased donor liver grafts led to the use of living donor liver transplant (LDLT). Patients who undergo LDLT have a higher risk of complications than those who undergo deceased donor liver transplantation (LT). Interventional radiology has acquired a key role in every LT program by treating the majority of vascular and non-vascular post-transplant complications, improving graft and patient survival and avoiding, in the majority of cases, surgical revision and/or re-transplant. The aim of this paper is to review indications, diagnostic modalities, technical considerations, achievements and potential complications of interventional radiology procedures after LDLT.     

Progressive liver injury and increased mortality risk in COVID-19 patients: A retrospective cohort study in China

BACKGROUND Liver injury is common and also can be fatal,particularly in severe or critical patients with coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19).AIM To conduct an in-depth investigation into the risk factors for liver injury and into the effective measures to prevent subsequent mortality risk.METHODS A retrospective cohort study was performed on 440 consecutive patients with relatively severe COVID-19 between January 28 and March 9,2020 at Tongji Hospital,Wuhan,China.Data on clinical features,laboratory parameters,medications,and prognosis were collected.RESULTS COVID-19-associated liver injury more frequently occurred in patients aged≥65 years,female patients,or those with other comorbidities,decreased lymphocyte count,or elevated D-dimer or serum ferritin(P<0.05).The disease severity of COVID-19 was an independent risk factor for liver injury(severe patients:Odds ratio[OR]=2.86,95%confidence interval[CI]:1.78-4.59;critical patients:OR=13.44,95%CI:7.21-25.97).The elevated levels of on-admission aspartate aminotransferase and total bilirubin indicated an increased mortality risk(P<0.001).Using intravenous nutrition or antibiotics increased the risk of COVID-19-associated liver injury.Hepatoprotective drugs tended to be of assistance to treat the liver injury and improve the prognosis of patients with COVID-19-associated liver injury.CONCLUSION More intensive monitoring of aspartate aminotransferase or total bilirubin is recommended for COVID-19 patients,especially patients aged≥65 years,female patients,or those with other comorbidities.Drug hepatotoxicity of antibiotics and intravenous nutrition should be alert for COVID-19 patients.     

The Charlson comorbidity index and short-term readmission in patients with heart failure: A retrospective cohort study

The relationship between the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) and short-term readmission is as yet unknown. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether the CCI was independently related to short-term readmission in patients with heart failure (HF) after adjusting for other covariates. From December 2016 to June 2019, 2008 patients who underwent HF were enrolled in the study to determine the relationship between CCI and short-term readmission. Patients with HF were divided into 2 categories based on the predefined CCI (low < 3 and high > =3). The relationships between CCI and short-term readmission were analyzed in multivariable logistic regression models and a 2-piece linear regression model. In the high CCI group, the risk of short-term readmission was higher than that in the low CCI group. A curvilinear association was found between CCI and short-term readmission, with a saturation effect predicted at 2.97. In patients with HF who had CCI scores above 2.97, the risk of short-term readmission increased significantly (OR, 2.66; 95% confidence interval, 1.566–4.537). A high CCI was associated with increased short-term readmission in patients with HF, indicating that the CCI could be useful in estimating the readmission rate and has significant predictive value for clinical outcomes in patients with HF.     

重症监护病房机械通气相关性肺炎危险因素的前瞻性队列研究

目的　通过研究重症监护病房 (ICU)机械通气相关性肺炎 (VAP)的发病危险因素 ,为ICU的VAP防治提供基础的流行病学资料 ,为制定和采取预防控制措施提供科学依据。方法　以1999年 12月～ 2 0 0 1年 2月我院ICU行气管插管或气管切开患者为对象 ,采用前瞻性队列研究 ,作单因素和logistic回归分析 ,筛选VAP发病的可能危险因素。结果　研究期间共有 2 85例患者行人工气道机械通气 ,98例符合条件入选本研究 ,其中 5 2例发生VAP ,发生率为 5 3 1% ;以插管日计算 ,每 10 0 0个插管日发生 32 4例VAP。将 2 1项变量行单因素分析结果显示 ,COPD史 >15年、白蛋白 <30g/L、连续使用抗生素 >3d等 13项因素有统计学意义。logistic多因素分析显示 ,VAP的独立发病危险因素有 :同时使用 2种以上抗生素、重复气管插管、APACHEⅡ评分 >15分、胃液pH >4、机械通气时间延长。结论　ICU发生VAP是多种因素共同作用的结果。对已筛选的可能危险因素 ,需通过临床试验进一步证实。     

Impact of cytomegalovirus reactivation just before liver transplantation: A prospective cohort study

BACKGROUNDCytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common viral pathogen after liver transplantation (LT). Although reactivation of CMV infection is generally described in the context of immunosuppression, it has also been described in critically ill immunocompetent patients including cirrhotic patients.AIMTo determine the incidence of reactivated CMV prior to LT.METHODSThis was a prospective cohort study evaluating adult patients who underwent LT between 2014 and 2016. A plasma sample was obtained from all patients for CMV quantitative real-time PCR testing right before transplantation. Patients were followed for at least 1 year to assess the following outcomes: Incidence of CMV infection, organ rejection and overall mortality. RESULTSA total of 72 patients were enrolled. Four patients died before transplantation, thus 68 patients were followed up for a median of 44 mo (20-50 mo). In 23/72 patients (31.9%) CMV was reactivated before transplantation. Post-transplantation, 16/68 (23.5%) patients had CMV infection and that was significantly associated with the recipient being CMV negative and a CMV-positive donor. Pre-transplant CMV reactivation was not associated with overall mortality (log rank: 0.9).CONCLUSIONThis study shows that CMV infection is common in patients with chronic liver disease just before LT, but the clinical impact of this infection seems to be negligible.     

28例婴儿活体肝移植的临床分析

目的 总结成人活体供肝婴儿肝移植临床经验,分析术后疗效、并发症及其原因.方法 回顾性分析我院28例成人活体供肝婴儿活体肝移植供、受者临床资料,手术策略、术后治疗和并发症发生情况及其原因.婴儿受者男性和女性各14例,均为胆道闭锁伴胆汁性肝硬化失代偿患者.移植时年龄80d～11.5个月、体质量3.08～10.3 kg;供者分别为:母亲15例,父亲9例、祖母3例和堂兄1例;供肝为:左外叶肝脏27例、Ⅱ段肝脏1例.随访时间5～24个月.结果 术后供者均顺利出院、无并发症发生;20例(71.4%)受者术后出现24个并发症,包括:肝动脉血栓形成4例,肝静脉狭窄1例,腹腔出血4例,肠穿孔4例,肠梗阻2例,呼吸道感染7例,排异反应3例等.围手术期因肝动脉血栓形成死亡3例(10.7%),手术成功率为89.3%.随访期内1例因肝静脉狭窄死亡,另1例因意外食物窒息死亡,其余23例(82.1%)健康生活至本研究结束.结论 成人活体供肝婴儿肝移植是治疗婴儿终末期肝病的有效方法,血管并发症是术后婴儿受者死亡的主要原因.     

Major influence of renal function on hyperlipidemia after living donor liver transplantation

AIM: To investigate the impact of renal and graft function on post-transplant hyperlipidemia (PTHL) in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT).METHODS: A total of 115 adult patients undergoing LDLT from January 2007 to May 2009 at a single center were enrolled. Data were collected and analyzed by the China Liver Transplant Registry retrospectively. PTHL was defined as serum triglycerides ≥ 150 mg/dL or serum cholesterol ≥ 200 mg/dL or the need for pharmacologic treatment at the sixth month after LDLT. Early renal dysfunction (ERD) was defined as serum creatinine ≥ 2 mg/dL and/or the need for renal replacement therapy in the first post-transplant week.RESULTS: In 115 eligible patients, the incidence of PTHL was 24.3%. Recipients with PTHL showed a higher incidence of post-transplant cardiovascular events compared to those without PTHL (17.9% vs 4.6%, P = 0.037). Serum creatinine showed significant positive correlations with total serum triglycerides, both at post-transplant month 1 and 3 (P < 0.01). Patients with ERD had much higher pre-transplant serum creatinine levels (P < 0.001) and longer duration of pre-transplant renal insufficiency (P < 0.001) than those without ERD. Pre-transplant serum creatinine, graft-to-recipient weight ratio, graft volume/standard liver volume ratio, body mass index (BMI) and ERD were identified as risk factors for PTHL by univariate analysis. Furthermore, ERD [odds ratio (OR) = 9.593, P < 0.001] and BMI (OR = 6.358, P = 0.002) were identified as independent risk factors for PTHL by multivariate analysis.CONCLUSION: Renal function is closely associated with the development of PTHL in LDLT. Post-transplant renal dysfunction, which mainly results from pre-transplant renal insufficiency, contributes to PTHL.     

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.     

成人间活体肝移植受体术后肺部感染分析

目的 探讨活体肝移植受体术后早期(≤30 d)肺部感染的发生率、主要病原菌,预后以及肺部感染的危险因素.方法 回顾性分析四川大学华西医院肝移植中心2005年3月至2008年9月,术前无呼吸系统疾病的108例成人活体肝移植受体的临床资料,分析术后肺部感染的发生率、主要病原菌、患者的预后以及肺部感染的危险因素.对所有相关因素先用单因素分析(t检验,秩和检验及卡方检验)逐一筛选,然后将所有P<0.05的因素进行非条件Logistic回归分析.结果 肺部感染发生率为22.2%(24例),病原体包括细菌23例,其中4例患者为细菌与真菌混合感染,细菌中革兰阴性菌18例(78.3%),巨细胞病毒l例.24例中6例术后早期死亡,病死率为25.0%,84例未发生肺部感染者,有4例术后早期死亡,病死率为4.8%,X2=6.850,P=0.009,差异有统计学意义.单因素分析提示术后肺部感染与术中输全血/红细胞悬液量、术中输血浆量、术中输液总量、术后拔管时间、术后待重症监护室时间及急性排斥有关.Logistic回归分析提示仅术后拔管时间及急性排斥与术后肺部感染相关.结论 肺部感染是活体肝移植术后常见的并发症,有较高病死率,革兰阴性细菌为主要的病原菌,其发生与术后拔管时间及急性排斥密切相关.     

Marginal donor liver versus standard donor liver: A single-center observational study

Background: The effectiveness and safety of marginal donor livers remain controversial. This study aimed to investigate the clinical efficacy of marginal donor livers in patients with liver transplantation (LT). Methods: This study included 199 liver donors (including 16 split donors) and 206 liver recipients from January 1, 2018 to January 27, 2020, with case follow-up until July 31, 2021. Clinical data of donors and recipients were retrospectively analyzed and were divided into the marginal donor and standard donor groups according to the criteria of marginal donor livers. Indices of liver and kidney functions, complications, and survival curves of the two groups were compared. Results: Compared with the standard donor group, the blood creatinine levels were significantly higher in the marginal donor group in the first week after operation ( P < 0.05); there were no significant differences in alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and total bilirubin levels after LT (all P > 0.05); there was no significant difference in the incidence of complications after LT ( P > 0.05); there was also no significant difference in the survival curve ( P = 0.335). Conclusions: There were no significant differences in liver and kidney function and survival curve between the standard donor and marginal donor groups. The marginal donor liver appears safe and reliable for LT and may be an important strategy to expand the donor pool and solve the shortage of organs.     

重症监护病房医院感染早期预测模型的建立

目的:回顾性分析衡水市二级以上医院重症监护病房(ICU)的医院感染患者入住ICU 24 h内的高危因素,建立ICU医院感染早期预测模型。方法:回顾性查阅衡水市二级以上医院2011年1月至2015年12月ICU医院感染患者相关病原学数据和原始病历资料。记录患者一般临床资料,包括患者性别、年龄、转入原因,入住ICU 24 ...