Burnout in the intensive care unit professionals

Background:

Professional burnout has been widely explored in health care. We conducted this study in our hospital intensive care unit (ICU) in United States to explore the burnout among nurses and respiratory therapists (RT).

Materials and Methods:

A survey consisting of two parts was used to assess burnout. Part 1 addressed the demographic information and work hours. Part 2 addressed the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Service Survey.

Results:

The analysis included 213 total subjects; Nurses 151 (71%) and RT 62 (29%). On the emotional exhaustion (EE) scale, 54% scored “Moderate” to “High” and 40% scored “Moderate” to “High” on the depersonalization (DP) scale. Notably 40.6% scored “Low” on personal accomplishment (PA) scale.

Conclusion:

High level of EE, DP and lower PAs were seen among two groups of health care providers in the ICUs.     

Physiotherapy practices in Intensive Care Units across Maharashtra

Purpose:

To find out the current physiotherapy practices in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) across Maharashtra.

Materials and Methods:

Study design was exploratory cross-sectional survey. Questionnaires were sent to the physiotherapists working in hospitals across Maharashtra state, India. Four weeks for completion of questionnaire was given in an attempt to ensure good response rates.

Result:

Of 200, 73 questionnaires were received representing a 36% response rate. The study revealed that 76% of the respondents were bachelors qualified, 15% were masters in physiotherapy with only 4% specialized in cardio-respiratory physiotherapy; 82% had <5 years experience in ICU. Almost 19% had not at all attended any seminars/workshops related to ICU management while 61% attended up to three within last 2 years. The availability of a physiotherapist during the night was affirmed by 63%, 58% responded initiation of physiotherapy to be “always physician referred” and 39% mentioned “physiotherapist initiated.” Almost 80% performed chest wall techniques, 86% positioning, 27% postural drainage, 5% manual hyperinflation, 12% application of nebulizer, and 56% bedsores management. Only 5% reported involvement in ventilator setting, 11% had their opinion sought before weaning from ventilator, 29% practiced noninvasive ventilation, 11% were involved in decision-making for extubation and 44% reported involvement in patient family education.

Conclusion:

The study showed that physiotherapists among the responding ICUs surveyed lack in experience and updated knowledge. Physician reference is necessary to initiate physiotherapy and there exists no established criteria for physiotherapy treatment in ICU. All physiotherapists were routinely involved in chest physiotherapy, mobilization, and positioning.     

Cultural adaptation and psychometric evaluation of the Polish version of the Newcastle Satisfaction with Nursing Scale

Introduction

The paper presents the methods of cultural adaptation of the Newcastle Satisfaction with Nursing Scale (NSNS) to the conditions in Polish hospitals.

Material and methods

The process of cultural adaptation of the research tool took into consideration an analysis of different equivalence levels, the translation procedure and the estimation of psychometric parameters. The Polish version of the NSNS questionnaire was correctly completed by 787 patients making up 59.36% of the total number of patients who received the scale.

Results

The Polish version of the NSNS questionnaire was correctly completed by 787 patients making up 59.36% of the total number of patients who received the scale. Cronbach''s α coefficient was 0.921 for the “experience” scale and 0.981 for the “satisfaction” scale. The values of Spearman''s rank correlation coefficient were from 0.224 to 0.797 for “experience” and 0.815–0.894 for “satisfaction”. All questionnaire items of the Polish NSNS version exerted a statistically significant influence on the total results of the scale (p = 0.0001).

Conclusions

The Polish NSNS version, similarly as the original version, can identify differences referring to “experience” and “satisfaction” with nursing care between the particular departments and between hospitals. The Polish NSNS version was conducted among patients during multicentre studies and it meets the criteria of functional, psychometric and façade equivalences.     

Factors Influencing Communication Between the Patients with Cancer and their Nurses in Oncology Wards

Aims:

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the factors influencing nurse-patient communication in cancer care in Iran.

Materials and Methods:

This study was conducted with a qualitative conventional content analysis approach in oncology wards of hospitals in Tabriz. Data was collected through purposive sampling by semi-structured deep interviews with nine patients, three family members and five nurses and analyzed simultaneously. Robustness of data analysis was evaluated by the participants and external control.

Results:

The main theme of the research emerged as “three-factor effects” that demonstrates all the factors related to the patient, nurse, and the organization and includes three categories of “Patient as the center of communication”, “Nurse as a human factor”, and “Organizational structures”. The first category consists of two sub-categories of “Imposed changes by the disease” and the “patient''s particular characteristics”. The second category includes sub-categories of “sense of vulnerability” and “perception of professional self: Pre-requisite of patient-centered communication”. The third category consists of the sub-categories of “workload and time imbalance”, “lack of supervision”, and “impose duties in context of neglecting nurse and patient needs”. Characteristics of the patients, nurses, and care environment seemed to be the influential factors on the communication.

Conclusions:

In order to communicate with cancer patients effectively, changes in philosophy and culture of the care environment are essential. Nurses must receive proper trainings which meet their needs and which focus on holistic and patient-centered approach.     

The Perception of Trauma Patients from Social Support in Adjustment to Lower-Limb Amputation: A Qualitative Study

Introduction:

The effect of amputation on an individual''s psychological condition as well as family and social relationships is undeniable because physical disability not just affects the psycho-social adjustment, but also the mental health. When compared to normal people, such people are mostly experiencing social isolation. On the other hand, social support is known as the most powerful force to cope with stressful situations and it allows patients to withstand problems. The present study aims to explain understanding the trauma of patients and the experience of support sources during the process of adaptation to a lower limb amputation.

Materials and Methods:

The present study was conducted using qualitative content analysis. Participants included 20 patients with lower limb amputation due to trauma. Sampling was purposive initially and continued until data saturation. Unstructured interviews were used as the main method of data collection. Collected data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis and constant comparison methods.

Results:

The main theme extracted from the data was support sources. The classes include “supportive family”, “gaining friends’ support”, “gaining morale from peers”, and “assurance and satisfaction with the workplace.”

Conclusion:

Given the high number of physical, mental and social problems in trauma patients, identifying and strengthening support sources can be effective in their adaptation with the disease and improvement of the quality of their life.     

Statins and cardiovascular outcomes in elderly and younger patients with coronary artery disease: a post hoc analysis of the GREACE study

Introduction

The effect of cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention measures aimed at elderly patients requires further evidence. We investigated the effect of statin treatment (targeted to achieve guideline goals) on CVD outcomes in different age groups to determine whether statins are more beneficial in the elderly.

Material and methods

The primary endpoint of this post hoc analysis of the GREek Atorvastatin and Coronary-heart-disease Evaluation (GREACE) study (n = 1,600 patients with established coronary heart disease (CHD), mean follow-up 3 years) was the absolute and relative CVD event (a composite of death, myocardial infarction, revascularization, unstable angina, heart failure and stroke) risk reduction in age quartiles (each n = 200). Patients on “structured care” with atorvastatin (n = 800) followed up by the university clinic and treated to lipid goal were compared with the corresponding quartiles on “usual care” (n = 800) followed up by specialists or general practitioners of the patient''s choice outside the hospital.

Results

In the elderly (mean age 69 ±4 and 70 ±3 years in the “structured” and “usual care”, respectively) the absolute CVD event reduction between “structured” and “usual care” was 16.5% (p < 0.0001), while in the younger patients (mean age 51 ±3 years and 52 ±3 years in the “structured” and “usual care”, respectively) this was 8.5% (p = 0.016); relative risk reduction (RRR) 60% (p < 0.0001) vs. 42% respectively (p = 0.001). The elderly had higher rates of chronic kidney disease and higher uric acid levels, plus an increased prevalence of diabetes, metabolic syndrome and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. These factors might contribute to the increased CVD risk in older patients.

Conclusions

All age groups benefited from statin treatment, but the elderly on “structured care” had a greater absolute and relative CVD risk reduction than the younger patients when compared with the corresponding patients assigned to “usual care”. These findings suggest that we should not deprive older patients of CVD prevention treatment and lipid target achievement.     

Prevalence of nontuberculous mycobacteria in patients with bronchiectasis: a meta-analysis

Introduction

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) have emerged as critical opportunistic pathogens of lung diseases recently. Patients with preexisting bronchiectasis are susceptible to NTM. Nevertheless, patients with preexisting bronchiectasis are susceptible to NTM but the prevalence of NTM pulmonary infection in different species and geographical areas is still not fully understood.

Material and methods

The relevant data of the prevalence of NTM in patients with bronchiectasis were retrieved by searching the main databases such as PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE. This meta-analysis was performed using Rev. Man 5.1 and Stata 11.0 software. The collected information of NTM prevalence was chosen as the effect size.

Results

The results of the meta-analysis showed that the overall prevalence of NTM was 9.3% in patients with bronchiectasis. The further stratification of subgroup analysis indicated that the combined prevalence of NTM was higher in studies whose “sample size” was more than or equal to 100 (p = 0.002), in studies in which “time of study” was after or equal to 2002 (p < 0.001), in studies in which “participants’ geographic location” was Asian (p < 0.001) and in studies whose “method of study” was retrospective (p = 0.002) as well, compared with corresponding groups.

Conclusions

Our findings suggested that the prevalence NTM infection is high in patients with bronchiectasis. A larger number of definitive randomized trials are still required to assess this research issue.     

Creation of Minimum Standard Tool for Palliative Care in India and Self-evaluation of Palliative Care Programs Using It

Background:

It is important to ensure that minimum standards for palliative care based on available resources are clearly defined and achieved.

Aims:

(1) Creation of minimum National Standards for Palliative Care for India. (2) Development of a tool for self-evaluation of palliative care organizations. (3) Evaluation of the tool in India. In 2006, Pallium India assembled a working group at the national level to develop minimum standards. The standards were to be evaluated by palliative care services in the country.

Materials and Methods:

The working group prepared a “standards” document, which had two parts – the first composed of eight “essential” components and the second, 22 “desirable” components. The working group sent the document to 86 hospice and palliative care providers nationwide, requesting them to self-evaluate their palliative care services based on the standards document, on a modified Likert scale.

Results:

Forty-nine (57%) palliative care organizations responded, and their self-evaluation of services based on the standards tool was analyzed. The majority of the palliative care providers met most of the standards identified as essential by the working group. A variable percentage of organizations had satisfied the desirable components of the standards.

Conclusions:

We demonstrated that the “standards tool” could be applied effectively in practice for self-evaluation of quality of palliative care services.     

Effectiveness of Group Psycho-education on Well-being and Depression Among Breast Cancer Survivors of Melaka,Malaysia

Background:

The psychological stress after diagnosis of breast cancer is often severe. Most of the women with breast cancer and their families suffer from emotional, social, financial and psychological disturbances.

Materials and Methods:

A cluster non-randomized trial was conducted at a Cancer Society in Melaka, Malaysia to assess the effectiveness of psycho-education on well-being status and depression among breast cancer patients. The study period was for one month (11^th June 2011 and 16^th July 2011). Participants in this study were 34 adult women suffering from non-metastatic breast cancer and on appropriate allopathic medication. The WHO-five Well-being Index (1998 version) was used as the screening instrument for the assessment of well-being and depression. The data collected were tabulated and analyzed by using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 11.0. Wilcoxon Signed-rank Test was applied for comparison between pre-test and post-test scores. A P value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Results:

This study revealed that majority of the participants was in the state of adequate well-being after the psycho-education 33 (97.1%). The proportion of depressed individuals had also reduced from 8 (23.5%) to 1 (2.9%) after the psychological intervention. The post-test results significantly improved after the intervention for the items related to “I have felt calm and relaxed”, “I woke up feeling fresh and rested” and “my daily life has been filled with things that interest me” along with the “overall impression” in the WHO-5 Well-being Index.

Conclusion:

Group psycho-education played a significant role in improving the well-being status and reducing depression of breast cancer survivors.     

Comparison of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress symptoms in relatives of ICU patients in an American and an Indian public hospital

Context:

An intensive care unit (ICU) admission of a patient causes considerable stress among relatives. Whether this impact differs among populations with differing sociocultural factors is unknown.

Aims:

The aim was to compare the psychological impact of an ICU admission on relatives of patients in an American and Indian public hospital.

Settings and Design:

A cross-sectional study was carried out in ICUs of two tertiary care hospitals, one each in major metropolitan cities in the USA and India.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 90 relatives visiting patients were verbally administered a questionnaire between 48 hours and 72 hours of ICU admission that included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and Impact of Events Scale-Revised (IES-R) for post-traumatic stress response.

Statistical Analysis:

Statistical analysis was done using the Mann-Whitney and chi-square tests.

Results:

Relatives in the Indian ICU had more anxiety symptoms (median HADS-A score 11 [inter-quartile range 9-13] vs. 4 [1.5-6] in the American cohort; P<0.0001), more depression symptoms (BDI-II score 14 [8.5-19] vs. 6 [1.5-10.5], P<0.0001) but a comparable post-traumatic stress response (IES-R score>30). 55% of all relatives had an incongruous perception regarding “change in the patient''s condition” compared to the objective change in severity of illness. “Change in worry” was incongruous compared to the perception of improvement of the patient''s condition in 78% of relatives.

Conclusions:

Relatives of patients in the Indian ICU had greater anxiety and depression symptoms compared to those in the American cohort, and had significant differences in factors that may be associated with this psychological impact. Both groups showed substantial discordance between the perceived and objective change in severity of illness.     

Mental health status among younger generation around Chernobyl

Introduction

In order to improve our understanding of how to approach the younger generation around Chernobyl, we screened mental health status among young adults born after the accident living in the Gomel region, Belarus.

Material and methods

We enrolled 697 medical students who were born after the accident. Participants were asked to answer self-administered questionnaires including the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12).

Results

GHQ-12 scores were 1.80 ±2.28 (mean ± SD) among all 697 subjects. When logistic regression analysis was performed with confounding factors, “economic situation” and “association of diseases and/or poor health condition with radiation exposure” were significantly associated with poor mental status.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that anxiety about radiation exposure among highly educated medical students in the Gomel region, although they were born after the accident, affects their poor mental health status.     

Hyponatremia in critically ill patients

Context:

Hyponatremia is a common electrolyte disturbance in critically ill hence understanding its implications is important.

Aims:

This study was carried out to ascertain frequency, predisposing conditions and outcome in critically ill patients with hyponatremia on intensive care unit (ICU) admission.

Settings and Design:

This was an observational, prospective study of a series of ICU patients during a 12-month period.

Materials and Methods:

The patients were divided into two groups: Hyponatremic (serum sodium < 135 mmol/L) and Eunatremic groups (135-145 mmol/L). Clinical examination included volume status and drug history, biochemistries, clinical diagnosis and cause of hyponatremia.

Statistical Analysis Used:

Fisher''s exact test, unpaired t-tests Wilcoxon ranksum tests, profile-likelihood method, log-rank test and Kaplan—Meier curves were used. P < 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant.

Results:

In the hyponatremic group, the frequency of hyponatremia on ICU admission was 34.3%, most were euvolumic, 58.96%. Females comprised of 36.5%. The mean age was 60.4 ± 17.2. The Syndrome of inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone (SIADH) criteria was met in ninety-one patients (36.25%), peumonia being the leading cause of SIADH. Patients with severe sepsis, elective surgery patients, renal failure and heart failure, cirrhosis of liver and subarachnoid hemorrhage were other more likely etiologic causes (P < 0.05). The hyponatremic group spent a longer time in the ICU (P = 0.02), had longer mechanical ventilator days (P < 0.05) and had an increased mortality rate (P = 0.01).

Conclusions:

Hyponatremia present on admission to the ICU is independent risk factors for poor prognosis.     

Validation of the Polish version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale in three populations of gynecologic patients

Introduction

We analyzed the psychometric properties of the Polish version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) in gynecologic patients.

Material and methods

A total of 252 patients, consisting of three subgroups – endocrinologic gynecology (n = 67), high-risk pregnancy (n = 124), and outpatient gynecologic clinic (n = 61) – responded to the HADS, the 12-item Well-being Questionnaire (W-BQ12), the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD). Socio-demographic data were obtained by self-report and interviews.

Results

The HADS presented good internal consistency with Cronbach’s α at 0.84 and 0.78 for depression and anxiety subscales, respectively, and 0.88 for the whole questionnaire. The principal component analysis with Eigenvalues > 1 revealed a three-factor structure. Factors 1 (“depression”), and 2 (“anxiety”), as well as the separate Factor 3, explained 23.48%, 21.42%, and 12.07% of the variance, respectively. The items with shared loadings were A1, A3, and A6. The HADS scores correlated strongly with other depression and well-being scales, but not with STAI-X1/X2.

Conclusions

The Polish HADS revealed a three-factor structure, and 3/7 HADS-A items showed ambiguous factor loadings. All other psychometric properties were satisfactory. The HADS seems to be suitable for use in gynecologic patients, preferentially as an indicator for global psychological distress.     

Insomnia with Short Sleep Duration and Mortality: The Penn State Cohort

Study Objectives:

Because insomnia with objective short sleep duration is associated with increased morbidity, we examined the effects of this insomnia subtype on all-cause mortality.

Design:

Longitudinal.

Setting:

Sleep laboratory.

Participants:

1,741 men and women randomly selected from Central Pennsylvania.

Measurements:

Participants were studied in the sleep laboratory and were followed-up for 14 years (men) and 10 years (women). “Insomnia” was defined by a complaint of insomnia with duration ≥ 1 year. “Normal sleeping” was defined as absence of insomnia. Polysomnographic sleep duration was classified into two categories: the “normal sleep duration group” subjects who slept ≥ 6 h and the “short sleep duration group” subjects who slept < 6 h. We adjusted for age, race, education, body mass index, smoking, alcohol, depression, sleep disordered breathing, and sampling weight.

Results:

The mortality rate was 21% for men and 5% for women. In men, mortality risk was significantly increased in insomniacs who slept less than 6 hours compared to the “normal sleep duration, no insomnia” group, (OR = 4.00, CI 1.14-13.99) after adjusting for diabetes, hypertension, and other confounders. Furthermore, there was a marginally significant trend (P = 0.15) towards higher mortality risk from insomnia and short sleep in patients with diabetes or hypertension (OR = 7.17, 95% CI 1.41-36.62) than in those without these comorbid conditions (OR = 1.45, 95% CI 0.13-16.14). In women, mortality was not associated with insomnia and short sleep duration.

Conclusions:

Insomnia with objective short sleep duration in men is associated with increased mortality, a risk that has been underestimated.

Citation:

Vgontzas AN; Liao D; Pejovic S; Calhoun S; Karataraki M; Basta M; Fernández-Mendoza J; Bixler EO. Insomnia with short sleep duration and mortality: the Penn State Cohort. SLEEP 2010;33(9):1159-1164.     

Partnership in Psycho-Social Group Intervention for Cancer Patients: Factors to Creating Group Dynamics

Background

The purpose of this study was to conduct a psycho-social group intervention consisting of 3 parts, educate patients on methods to cope with stress and solve problems, hold group discussions and practice progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) for cancer patients, and investigate the way that group dynamics work in psycho-social group interventions in Japan.

Methods

Three facilitators and 2 sub-facilitators who conducted the group intervention for breast cancer patients were qualitatively and inductively analyzed using a phenomenological approach.

Results

As a result, “hard effort,” “harmony of the whole group” and “collaboration between therapists” were extracted as the partnership functions of participants that work on the creation of group dynamics in psycho-social group interventions. There was a structure in which “harmony of the whole group” and “collaboration between therapists” coexisted based on the basic attitude of “hard effort.”

Conclusion

It was considered that these 3 intervention forms are involved in group dynamics in which participants can easily hold discussions, and are techniques necessary for group intervention contributing to changes in the psychological distress and the coping of participants.     

Surgical checklist application and its impact on patient safety in pediatric surgery

Background:

Surgical care is an essential component of health care of children worldwide. Incidences of congenital anomalies, trauma, cancers and acquired diseases continue to rise and along with that the impact of surgical intervention on public health system also increases. It then becomes essential that the surgical teams make the procedures safe and error proof. The World Health Organization (WHO) has instituted the surgical checklist as a global initiative to improve surgical safety.

Aims:

To assess the acceptance, application and adherence to the WHO Safe Surgery Checklist in Pediatric Surgery Practice at a university teaching hospital.

Materials and Methods:

In a prospective study, spanning 2 years, the checklist was implemented for all patients who underwent operative procedures under general anesthesia. The checklist identified three phases of an operation, each corresponding to a specific period in the normal flow of work: Before the induction of anesthesia (“sign in”), before the skin incision (“time out”) and before the patient leaves the operating room (“sign out”). In each phase, an anesthesiologist,-“checklist coordinator”, confirmed that the anesthesia, surgery and nursing teams have completed the listed tasks before proceeding with the operation and exit. The checklist was used for 3000 consecutive patients.

Results:

No major perioperative errors were noted. In 54 (1.8%) patients, children had the same names and identical surgical procedure posted on the same operation list. The patient identification tag was missing in four (0.1%) patients. Mention of the side of procedures was missing in 108 (3.6%) cases. In 0.1% (3) of patients there was mix up of the mention of side of operation in the case papers and consent forms. In 78 (2.6%) patients, the consent form was not signed by parents/guardians or the side of the procedure was not quoted. Antibiotic orders were missing in five (0.2%) patients. In 12 (0.4%) cases, immobilization of the patients was suboptimal, which led to displacement of diathermy grounding pad. In 54 (1.8%) patients, the checklist was not used at all. In 76 (2.5%) patients the checklist was found to be incompletely filled.

Conclusions:

Our study supports the use of the checklist as an essential safety tool and reinforcement of the same. The checklist may act as a valuable prompt to focus the team, to ensure that even the simple things have been cared for.KEY WORDS: Adverse events, checklist, communication, patient safety     

Could a protocol based on early goal-directed therapy improve outcomes in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock in the Intensive Care Unit setting?

Context:

Sepsis is a disease with high incidence and mortality. Among the interventions of the resuscitation bundle, the early goal-directed therapy (EGDT) is recommended.

Aims:

The aim was to evaluate outcomes in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock using EGDT in real life compared with patients who did not undergo it in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) setting.

Settings and Design:

retrospective and observational cohort study at tertiary hospital.

Subjects and Methods:

All the patients admitted to ICU were screened for severe sepsis or septic shock and included in a registry and followed. The patients were allocated in two groups according to submission or not to EGDT.

Results:

A total of 268 adult patients with severe sepsis or septic shock were included. EGDT was employed in 97/268 patients. The general mortality was higher in no early goal-directed therapy (no-EGDT) then in EGDT groups (49.7% vs. 37.1% [P = 0.04] in hospital and 40.4% vs. 29.9% [P = 0.08] in the ICU, respectively. The general length of stay [LOS] in the no-EGDT and EGDT groups was 45.0 ± 59.8 vs. 29.1 ± 30.1 days [P = 0.002] in hospital and 17.4 ± 19.4 vs. 9.1 ± 9.8 days [P < 0.001] in the ICU, respectively).

Conclusions:

Our study shows reduced mortality and LOS in patients submitted to EGDT in the ICU setting. A simplified EGDT without central venous oxygen saturation is an important tool for sepsis management.     

Ultrafiltration – an alternative method to polyethylene glycol precipitation for macroprolactin detection

Introduction

The aim of the study was to evaluate two methods of macroprolactin (MaPRL) detection – precipitation with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and ultrafiltration and to compare these techniques with “gold standard” – gel filtration chromatography (GFC).

Material and methods

The study was conducted on 245 patients – 45 with organic and 200 with functional hyperprolactinaemia. In all the subjects MaPRL was detected by precipitation with PEG and ultrafiltration. Additionally, gel filtration chromatography was performed in some of the serum samples.

Results

Macroprolactinaemia was detected in 27 patients – 8 with prolactinoma and 19 with functional hyperprolactinaemia. Assessing positive and negative results for MaPRL, we observed high diagnostic agreement (95.9%) and positive correlation (r = 0.506, p < 0.001) between the methods. The results of precipitation and ultrafiltration positive for MaPRL were concordant in 63%. The dominance of MaPRL detected with precipitation and/or ultrafiltration was confirmed by GFC in 76% of cases (all patients with functional hyperprolactinaemia). Among 6 examined patients with prolactinoma, GFC showed four false-positive results – 1 case of precipitation and 3 cases of ultrafiltration.

Conclusions

Efficacy of MaPRL detection with precipitation and ultrafiltration is comparable especially in cases of functional hyperprolactinaemia. In patients with prolactinoma, precipitation seems to be a more efficient separation method.     

Glycemic variability and outcome in critically ill

Background:

Acute hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia and glycemic variability (GV) have been found to be the three principal domains of glycemic control, which can adversely affect patient outcome. GV may be the confounding factor in tight glycemic control trials in surgical and medical patient.

Objective:

This study was conducted to establish if there was any relationship between GV and intensive care unit (ICU) mortality in the Indian context.

Study Design:

A retrospective review of a large cohort of prospectively collected database.

Setting:

Adult Medical/Surgical/Trauma/Neuro ICU of a tertiary care hospital.

Patient Population:

All patients who had four or more blood glucose measured during the ICU stay.

Outcome:

ICU mortality.

Result:

2208 patients with a total of 11,335 blood glucose values were analyzed. GV measured by the standard deviation (SD) of mean blood glucose and glycemic lability index (GLI), both were significantly (P < 0.001) associated with ICU mortality. This relationship was maintained (odds ratio (OR): 2.023, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.483-2.758) even after excluding patients with hypoglycemia (<60 mg/dl). Patients with blood glucose values in the euglycemic range but highest SD had higher mortality (54%) compared to mortality (24%) in patients above the euglycemic range. Similarly patients with blood sugar values below the average for study cohort and high GLI, another marker of GV had higher mortality (OR: 5.62, CI: 3.865-8.198) than compared to patients in the hyperglycemic range, reflecting the importance of GV as a prognostic marker in patients with blood sugar in the euglycemic range.

Conclusion:

This study demonstrated that high glucose variability is associated with increased ICU mortality in a large heterogeneous cohort of ICU patients. This effect was particularly evident among patients in the euglycemic range.     

Double contrast-enhanced ultrasonography evaluation of preoperative Lauren classification of advanced gastric carcinoma

Introduction

The clinical value of double contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (DCUS) in determining the Lauren classification of advanced gastric carcinoma needed investigation.

Material and methods

Fifty-eight patients with gastric cancer proved by endoscopic biopsy underwent preoperative DCUS examination in which an oral contrast agent was combined with an intravenous agent, and the findings were compared with the postoperative pathological findings using haematoxylin-eosin and Alcian Blue-Periodic Acid Schiff (AB-PAS) staining.

Results

Of 58 patients, 34 (59%) were the intestinal type and 24 (41%) the diffuse type on pathological examination of resected specimens. Among intestinal type patients, 30 (88%) showed homogeneous vascular enhancement and 4 (12%) heterogeneous enhancement with the “sandwich” pattern in 2 patients (50%) and “barrier” pattern in 2 patients (50%). In the diffuse type, 22 of 24 patients (92%) enhanced heterogeneously, with stippled and peripheral enhancement in 9 (41%), the “sandwich” pattern in 8 (36%) and “barrier” pattern in 5 (23%). Two of 24 patients (8%) with the diffuse type enhanced homogeneously. The proportion of heterogeneous enhancement was significantly different between the 2 subtypes of tumour (p = 0.0001). The sensitivity and specificity of heterogeneous enhancement in diagnosing the diffuse type of advanced gastric cancer were 92% and 88%, respectively. Youden’s index was 0.8.

Conclusions

Double contrast-enhanced ultrasonography is a new and useful method to determine Lauren classification in patients with gastric carcinoma.