Changes and their prognostic implications in the abbreviated VitalPAC™ Early Warning Score (ViEWS) after admission to hospital of 18,827 surgical patients

Background

It is not known how often, to what extent and over what time frame any early warning scores change in surgical patients, and what the implications of these changes are.

Setting

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Ontario, Canada.

Methods

The changes in the first three recordings of the abbreviated version of the VitalPAC™ Early Warning Score (ViEWS) after admission to hospital of 18,827 surgical patients, and their relationship to subsequent in-hospital mortality were examined.

Results

In the 2.0 SD 2.4 h between admission and the second recording the score changed in 12.6% of patients. If the initial abbreviated ViEWS was =2 points (78% of all patients) the in-hospital mortality was 0.5%, and not significantly different in the 3.7% of patients that either increased or decreased their score. Patients who had an initial score =3 had a significantly higher overall in-hospital mortality (odds ratio 5.48, Chi-square 120.72, p < 0.0001). Of these patients, those with a lower second score (42.3% of patients) had a significantly lower in-hospital mortality than those with an unchanged second score (i.e. 1.5% versus 3.3%, odds ratio 0.43, Chi-square 11.08, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The abbreviated ViEWS score measured on admission identifies the majority of surgical patients who are at low risk of in-hospital death. Patients with an initial abbreviated ViEWS =3 who do not reduce their score within 2–3 h of admission have a further significantly increased mortality.     

Evaluation of pre-arrest morbidity score and prognosis after resuscitation score and other clinical variables associated with in-hospital cardiac arrest in southern Sweden

Objective

To evaluate pre-arrest morbidity score (PAM), prognosis after resuscitation score (PAR) and to identify additional clinical variables associated with survival after in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) treated with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Methods

A retrospective observational study involving all cases of IHCA at Skåne University Hospital Malmö 2007–2010.

Results

Two-hundred-eighty-seven cases of IHCA were identified (61.3% male; mean age 70 years) of whom 20.2% survived until discharge. The odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for death prior to discharge was 6.49 (1.50–28.19) (p = 0.013) for PAM > 6 and 3.88 (1.95–7.73) (p < 0.001) for PAR > 4. At PAM- and PAR-scores >5, specificity exceeded 90%, while sensitivity was only 20–30%. The odds ratio for in-hospital mortality was 0.38 (0.20–0.72) (p = 0.003) for patients with cardiac monitoring, 9.86 (5.08–19.12) (p < 0.001) for non-shockable vs shockable rhythm, 0.32 (0.15–0.69) (p = 0.004) for presence of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), 0.27 (0.09–0.78) (p = 0.016) for patients with independent Activities of Daily Life (ADL) and 13.86 (1.86–103.46) (p = 0.010) for patients with malignancies. Heart rate (HR) on admission (per bpm) [1.024 (1.009–1.040) (p = 0.002)] and sodium plasma concentration on admission (per mmol l⁻¹) [0.92 (0.85–0.99) (p = 0.023)] were significantly associated with in-hospital mortality.

Conclusion

PAM- and PAR-scores do not sufficiently discriminate between in-hospital death and survival after IHCA to be used as clinical tools guiding CPR decisions. We confirm that malignancy is associated with increased in-hospital mortality, and cardiac monitoring, shockable rhythm, STEMI and independent ADL, with decreased in-hospital mortality. Interestingly, our results suggest that HR and plasma sodium concentration upon admission may represent new tools for risk stratification.     

Development and validation of a decision tree early warning score based on routine laboratory test results for the discrimination of hospital mortality in emergency medical admissions

Aim of study

To build an early warning score (EWS) based exclusively on routinely undertaken laboratory tests that might provide early discrimination of in-hospital death and could be easily implemented on paper.

Materials and methods

Using a database of combined haematology and biochemistry results for 86,472 discharged adult patients for whom the admission specialty was Medicine, we used decision tree (DT) analysis to generate a laboratory decision tree early warning score (LDT-EWS) for each gender. LDT-EWS was developed for a single set (n = 3496) (Q₁) and validated in 22 other discrete sets each of three months long (Q₂, Q₃…Q₂₃) (total n = 82,976; range of n = 3428 to 4093) by testing its ability to discriminate in-hospital death using the area under the receiver-operating characteristic (AUROC) curve.

Results

The data generated slightly different models for male and female patients. The ranges of AUROC values (95% CI) for LDT-EWS with in-hospital death as the outcome for the validation sets Q₂–Q₂₃ were: 0.755 (0.727–0.783) (Q₁₆) to 0.801 (0.776–0.826) [all patients combined, n = 82,976]; 0.744 (0.704–0.784, Q16) to 0.824 (0.792–0.856, Q2) [39,591 males]; and 0.742 (0.707–0.777, Q10) to 0.826 (0.796–0.856, Q12) [43,385 females].

Conclusions

This study provides evidence that the results of commonly measured laboratory tests collected soon after hospital admission can be represented in a simple, paper-based EWS (LDT-EWS) to discriminate in-hospital mortality. We hypothesise that, with appropriate modification, it might be possible to extend the use of LDT-EWS throughout the patient's hospital stay.     

Validation of the VitalPAC™ Early Warning Score (ViEWS) in acutely ill medical patients attending a resource-poor hospital in sub-Saharan Africa

Background

The VitalPAC™ Early Warning Score (ViEWS) has an area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUROC) for death of acute unselected medical patients within 24 h of 88% and the UK National Early Warning Scores is based on it. The score's discrimination has been validated on patients in the developed world, but nothing is known of its performance in resource-poor hospitals.

Methods

ViEWS was validated in 844 acutely ill medical patients admitted to Kitovu Hospital, Masaka, Uganda.

Results

The AUROC for death within 24 h of admission was 88.6% (95% CI 82.5–94.7%). The inability to walk without help was found to be an additional independent predictor of in-hospital mortality, and ViEWS modified to include it had an AUROC for death within 24 h of 91.9% (95% CI 86.5–97.2%).

Conclusion

The discrimination of ViEWS in a resource poor sub-Saharan Africa hospital is the same as in the developed world. Inability to walk without help was found to be an additional independent predictor of mortality.     

Hemodynamics and vasopressor support in therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest: Prognostic implications

Aim

Inducing therapeutic hypothermia (TH) in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) can be challenging due to its impact on central hemodynamics and vasopressors are frequently used to maintain adequate organ perfusion. The aim of this study was to assess the association between level of vasopressor support and mortality.

Methods

In a 6-year period, 310 comatose OHCA patients treated with TH were included. Temperature, hemodynamic parameters and level of vasopressors were registered from admission to 24 h after rewarming. Level of vasopressor support was assessed by the cardiovascular sub-score of Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA). The population was stratified by use of dopamine as first line intervention (D-group) or use of dopamine + norepinephrine/epinephrine (DA-group). Primary endpoint was 30-day mortality and secondary endpoint was in-hospital cause of death.

Results

Patients in the DA-group carried a 49% all-cause 30-day mortality rate compared to 23% in the D-group, p_log-rank < 0.0001, corresponding to an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 2.0 (95% CI: 1.3–3.0), p = 0.001). The DA-group had an increased 30-day mortality due to neurological injury (HR = 1.7 (95% CI: 1.1–2.7), p = 0.02). Cause of death was anoxic brain injury in 78%, cardiovascular failure in 18% and multi-organ failure in 4%. The hemodynamic changes of TH reversed at normothermia, although the requirement for vasopressor support (cardiovascular SOFA ≥ 3) persisted in 80% of patients.

Conclusions

In survivors after OHCA treated with TH the induced hemodynamic changes reversed after normothermia, while the need for vasopressor support persisted. Patients requiring addition of norepinephrine/epinephrine on top of dopamine had an increased 30-day all-cause mortality, as well as death from neurological injury.     

Changes and their prognostic implications in the abbreviated Vitalpac™ early warning score (ViEWS) after admission to hospital of 18,853 acutely ill medical patients

Background

The best performing early warning score is Vitalpac™ Early Warning Score (ViEWS). However, it is not known how often, to what extent and over what time frame any early warning scores change, and what the implications of these changes are.

Setting

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Center, Ontario, Canada.

Methods

The changes in the first three complete sets of the six variables required to retrospectively calculate the abbreviated version of ViEWS (that did not include mental status) after admission to hospital of 18,853 acutely ill medical patients, and their relationship to subsequent in-hospital mortality were examined.

Results

In the 10.4 SD 20.1 (median 5.0) hours between admission and the second recording the score changed in only 5.9% of patients and these changes were of no prognostic value. By the time of the third recording 34.9 SD 21.7 (median 30.0) hours after admission a change in score was clearly associated with a corresponding change in in-hospital mortality (e.g. for patients with an initial score of 5 an increase between the first and third recording of ≥4 points was associated with an increased mortality (OR 6.5 95% CI 2.3–15.9, p < 0.00001), whereas a reduction of ≤−4 points was associated with a reduced mortality (OR 0.4 95% CI 0.2–0.9, p 0.03)).

Conclusion

After a median interval of 30 h both the initial abbreviated ViEWS recording and subsequent changes in it both predict clinical outcome. It remains to be determined what interventions during this time frame will improve patient outcomes.     

APACHE II scoring to predict outcome in post-cardiac arrest

Introduction

Despite advancements in management of cardiac arrest, mortality remains high and few severity of illness scoring systems have been calibrated in this population. The goal of the current investigation was to assess the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score in post-cardiac arrest.

Measurements

This is a prospective observational study of adult post-cardiac arrest patients at a tertiary-care center. The primary outcome variable was in-hospital mortality and secondary outcome variable was neurologic outcome. APACHE II scores were used to predict outcomes using logistic modeling.

Main results

A total of 228 subjects were included in the analysis. The median age of the cohort was 70 (IQR: 64–71) and 32% (72/228) of the patients were female. The median downtime was 15 min (IQR: 7–27) and initial lactate 5.9 mmol/L (IQR: 3.5–8.4). 71 (57%) of deaths occurred prior to the 72-h follow-up and overall in-hospital mortality was 55% (125/228). Discrimination of APACHE II score in all cardiac arrest patients increased in stepwise fashion from 0-h to 72-h follow-up (AUC: 0-h: 0.62; 24-h: 0.75; 48-h: 0.82; 72-h: 0.86).

Conclusions

APACHE II score is a poor predictor of outcome at time zero for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) post-arrest patients consistent with the original development of the score in the critically ill. For in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) at time zero and for both IHCA and OHCA at 24 h and beyond, the APACHE II score was a modest indicator of illness severity and predictor of mortality/neurologic morbidity.     

ED administration of thienopyridines in non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: results from the NCDR

Objective

American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guidelines recommend that patients with definite unstable angina or non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) receive dual antiplatelet therapy on presentation to the hospital when undergoing early invasive management or “as soon as possible” after admission when being managed conservatively. The guidelines do not specify whether these medications should be administered in the emergency department (ED). Our aim was to determine whether ED administration of a thienopyridine was associated with clinical outcomes among patients with NSTEMI.

Methods

We examined thienopyridine use in 39 454 patients with NSTEMI who received a thienopyridine within 24 hours of presentation in the National Cardiovascular Data Registry's Acute Coronary Treatment and Intervention Outcomes Network–Get With The Guidelines Registry from January 2007 to June 2010. Patients who were not seen initially in the ED, were transferred in, or were missing time data were excluded. We analyzed the association between ED administration of thienopyridines and outcomes and patient demographics.

Results

Of the cohort receiving a thienopyridine within 24 hours, 9534 (24.2%) received it in the ED. Emergency department administration of a thienopyridine was not associated with in-hospital major bleeding (multivariable adjusted odds ratio, 0.99; 95% confidence interval, 0.91-1.09) or in-hospital mortality (adjusted 1.02; 95% confidence interval, 0.86-1.20). Independent predictors most strongly associated with ED thienopyridine administration were elevated troponin, ED length of stay, prior percutaneous coronary intervention, and initial electrocardiogram showing ischemic changes.

Conclusions

There was no association between ED thienopyridine administration and in-hospital major bleeding or mortality. Emergency department length of stay, electrocardiographic changes, and elevated troponin were associated with ED thienopyridine administration.     

Arterial carbon dioxide tension and outcome in patients admitted to the intensive care unit after cardiac arrest

Background

Arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO₂) affects neuronal function and cerebral blood flow. However, its association with outcome in patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) after cardiac arrest (CA) has not been evaluated.

Methods and results

Observational cohort study using data from the Australian New Zealand (ANZ) Intensive Care Society Adult-Patient-Database (ANZICS-APD). Outcomes analyses were adjusted for illness severity, co-morbidities, hypothermia, treatment limitations, age, year of admission, glucose, source of admission, PaO₂ and propensity score.We studied 16,542 consecutive patients admitted to 125 ANZ ICUs after CA between 2000 and 2011. Using the APD-PaCO₂ (obtained within 24 h of ICU admission), 3010 (18.2%) were classified into the hypo- (PaCO₂ < 35 mmHg), 6705 (40.5%) into the normo- (35–45 mmHg) and 6827 (41.3%) into the hypercapnia (>45 mmHg) group. The hypocapnia group, compared with the normocapnia group, had a trend toward higher in-hospital mortality (OR 1.12 [95% CI 1.00–1.24, p = 0.04]), lower rate of discharge home (OR 0.81 [0.70–0.94, p < 0.01]) and higher likelihood of fulfilling composite adverse outcome of death and no discharge home (OR 1.23 [1.10–1.37, p < 0.001]). In contrast, the hypercapnia group had similar in-hospital mortality (OR 1.06 [0.97–1.15, p = 0.19]) but higher rate of discharge home among survivors (OR 1.16 [1.03–1.32, p = 0.01]) and similar likelihood of fulfilling the composite outcome (OR 0.97 [0.89–1.06, p = 0.52]). Cox-proportional hazards modelling supported these findings.

Conclusions

Hypo- and hypercapnia are common after ICU admission post-CA. Compared with normocapnia, hypocapnia was independently associated with worse clinical outcomes and hypercapnia a greater likelihood of discharge home among survivors.     

Epidemiology and outcomes of in-hospital cardiac arrest in critically ill children across hospitals of varied center volume: A multi-center analysis

Objective

To describe epidemiology and outcomes associated with cardiac arrest among critically ill children across hospitals of varying center volumes.

Methods

Patients <18 years of age in the Virtual PICU Systems (VPS, LLC) Database (2009–2013) were included. Patients with both cardiac and non-cardiac diagnoses were included. Data on demographics, patient diagnosis, cardiac arrest, severity of illness and outcomes were collected. Hierarchical cluster analysis was performed to categorize all the participating centers into low, low-medium, high-medium, and high volume groups using the center volume characteristics (annual hospital discharges per center, annual extracorporeal membrane oxygenation per center, and annual mechanical ventilators per center). Multivariable models were used to evaluate association of center volume with incidence of cardiac arrest, and mortality after cardiac arrest, adjusting for patient and center characteristics.

Results

Of 329,982 patients (108 centers), 2.2% (n = 7390) patients had cardiac arrest with an associated mortality of 35% (n = 2586). In multivariable models controlling for patient and center characteristics, center volume was not associated with either the incidence of cardiac arrest (OR: 1.00; 95% CI: 0.95–1.06; p = 0.98), or mortality in those with cardiac arrest (OR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.82–1.06; p = 0.27). These associations were similar across cardiac and non-cardiac disease categories. Furthermore, we demonstrated that there was no correlation between incidence of cardiac arrest and mortality in those with cardiac arrest across different study hospitals in adjusted models.

Conclusions

Both incidence of cardiac arrest, and mortality in those with cardiac arrest vary substantially across hospitals. However, center volume is not associated with either of these outcomes, after adjusting for patient and center characteristics.     

Prognostic implication of initial coagulopathy in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

Objective

We sought to investigate the prognostic implication of early coagulopathy represented by initial DIC score in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).

Methods

OHCA registry was analyzed to identify patients with ROSC without recent use of anticoagulant between 2008 and 2011. Patients were assessed for prehosptial factors, initial laboratory results and therapeutic hypothermia. Outcome variables were survival discharge, 6-month CPC and survival duration within the first week after ROSC. Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models were used for both univariable and multivariable analysis.

Results

Among 273 eligible patients, initial DIC score was available in 252 (92.3%). Higher DIC score was associated with increased inhospital death (odds ratio [OR], 1.89 per unit; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.48–2.41) and unfavorable long-term outcome (6-month CPC 3–5; OR, 2.21 per unit; 95% CI, 1.60–3.05). The adjusted ORs for both outcomes were 1.61 (95% CI, 1.17–2.22) and 1.84 (95% CI, 1.26–2.67), respectively. We categorized DIC score in five groups as <3, 3, 4, 5 and >5 and analyzed differential mortality risk using Cox proportional hazards model. Compared with reference group (DIC score < 3), the adjusted HR for early mortality in each remaining group was 1.96 (95% CI, 1.13–3.40), 2.26 (95% CI, 1.27–4.02), 2.77 (95% CI, 1.58–4.85) and 4.29 (95% CI, 2.22–8.30), respectively (p-trend < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic of DIC score for prediction of unfavorable long-term outcome was 0.79 (95% CI, 0.69–0.88).

Conclusion

Increased initial DIC score in OHCA was an independent predictor for poor outcomes and early mortality risk.     

The approach to delayed resuscitation in paediatric cardiac arrest: A survey of paediatric intensivists in Canada

Aim

To determine how long a period of having had no cardiopulmonary-resuscitation (CPR) (delay time) is considered to result in subsequent futile efforts at resuscitation.

Methods

In 2007 a survey was mailed to all 77 paediatric intensivists in Canada. Three scenarios of witnessed cardiac arrest were presented: out-of-hospital, in-hospital, and in-hospital with extracorporeal-CPR (E-CPR). Each scenario asked what delay time would make attempts at resuscitation futile for survival to hospital discharge, and for survival to hospital discharge in a better than vegetative state. Comparisons of median [inter-quartile range] used Wilcoxon-signed-rank or Friedman tests with Bonferroni corrections.

Results

The response rate was 49/77 (64%). The delay time was significantly different between rhythms within all scenarios (p < .001); and was significantly shorter for survival than for better than vegetative survival (p < .006) except when E-CPR was to be used. The delay time was not significantly different between the in-hospital and out-of-hospital scenario with the same rhythms (p > .01). The delay time was significantly shorter in scenarios with asystole versus pulseless electrical activity with (p = .010) or without (p < .001) an arterial line with absent pulsation. In out-of-hospital arrest, the delay time for survival varied from 15 [10–20] min for asystole to 20 [15–20] min for pulseless electrical activity. In in-hospital scenarios, the delay time for survival varied from 10 [10–20] min for asystole, to 15 [10–20] min for most other rhythms.

Conclusion

A delay time of 15 [10–20] (range 5–30) min was considered futile for survival. This has implications for pronouncing death in donation after cardiac death.     

Common laboratory tests predict imminent death in ward patients

Objective

To estimate the ability of commonly measured laboratory variables to predict an imminent (within the same or next calendar day) death in ward patients.

Design

Retrospective observational study.

Setting

Two university affiliated hospitals.

Patients

Cohort of 42,701 patients admitted for more than 24 hours and external validation cohort of 13,137 patients admitted for more than 24 hours.

Intervention

We linked commonly measured laboratory tests with event databases and assessed the ability of each laboratory variable or combination of variables together with patient age to predict imminent death.

Measurements and main results

In the inception teaching hospital, we studied 418,897 batches of tests in 42,701 patients (males 55%; average age 65.8 ± 17.6 years), for a total of >2.5 million individual measurements. Among these patients, there were 1596 deaths. Multivariable logistic modelling achieved an AUC–ROC of 0.87 (95% CI: 0.85–0.89) for the prediction of imminent death. Using an additional 105,074 batches from a cohort of 13,137 patients from a second teaching hospital, the multivariate model achieved an AUC–ROC of 0.88 (95% CI: 0.85–0.90).

Conclusions

Commonly performed laboratory tests can help predict imminent death in ward patients. Prospective investigations of the clinical utility of such predictions appear justified.     

Lack of improved outcomes with increased use of targeted temperature management following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: A multicenter retrospective cohort study

Study aims

To assess whether increased use of targeted temperature management (TTM) within an integrated healthcare delivery system resulted in improved rates of good neurologic outcome at hospital discharge (Cerebral Performance Category score of 1 or 2).

Methods

Retrospective cohort study of patients with OHCA admitted to 21 medical centers between January 2007 and December 2012. A standardized TTM protocol and educational program were introduced throughout the system in early 2009. Comatose patients eligible for treatment with TTM were included. Adjusted odds of good neurologic outcome at hospital discharge and survival to hospital discharge were assessed using multivariate logistic regression.

Results

A total of 1119 patients were admitted post-OHCA with coma, 59.1% (661 of 1119) of which were eligible for TTM. The percentage of patients treated with TTM markedly increased during the study period: 10.5% in the years preceding (2007–2008) vs. 85.1% in the years following (2011–2012) implementation of the practice improvement initiative. However, unadjusted in-hospital survival (37.3% vs. 39.0%, p = 0.77) and good neurologic outcome at hospital discharge (26.3% vs. 26.6%, p = 1.0) did not change. The adjusted odds of survival to hospital discharge (AOR 1.0, 95% CI 0.85–1.17) or a good neurologic outcome (AOR 0.94, 95% CI 0.79–1.11) were likewise non-significant.

Interpretation

Despite a marked increase in TTM rates across hospitals in an integrated delivery system, there was no appreciable change in the crude or adjusted odds of in-hospital survival or good neurologic outcomes at hospital discharge among eligible post-arrest patients.     

Factors associated with delayed activation of medical emergency team and excess mortality: An Utstein-style analysis

Aim

We used the Utstein template, with special reference to patients having automated patient monitoring, and studied the factors which are associated with delayed medical emergency team (MET) activation and increased hospital mortality.

Design and setting

A prospective observational study in a tertiary hospital with 45 of 769 general ward beds (5.9%) equipped with automated monitoring.

Cohort

569 MET reviews for 458 patients.

Results

Basic MET review characteristics were comparable to literature. We found that 41% of the reviews concerned monitored ward patients. These patients’ vitals had been more frequently documented during the 6 h period preceding MET activation compared to patients in normal ward areas (96% vs. 74%, p < 0.001), but even when adjusted to the documentation frequency of vitals, afferent limb failure (ALF) occurred more often among monitored ward patients (81% vs. 53%, p < 0.001). In MET population, factors associated with increased hospital mortality were non-elective hospital admission (OR 6.25, 95% CI 2.77–14.11), not-for-resuscitation order (3.34, 1.78–6.35), ICD XIV genitourinary diseases (2.42, 1.16–5.06), ICD II neoplasms (2.80, 1.59–4.91), age (1.02, 1.00–1.04), preceding length of hospital stay (1.04, 1.01–1.07), ALF (1.67, 1.02–2.72) and transfer to intensive care (1.85, 1.05–3.27).

Conclusions

Documentation of vital signs before MET activation is suboptimal. Documentation frequency seems to increase if automated monitors are implemented, but our results suggest that benefits of intense monitoring are lost without appropriate and timely interventions, as afferent limb failure, delay to call MET when predefined criteria are fulfilled, was independently associated to increased hospital mortality.     

Nurse staffing,medical staffing and mortality in Intensive Care: An observational study

Objectives

To investigate whether the size of the workforce (nurses, doctors and support staff) has an impact on the survival chances of critically ill patients both in the intensive care unit (ICU) and in the hospital.

Background

Investigations of intensive care outcomes suggest that some of the variation in patient survival rates might be related to staffing levels and workload, but the evidence is still equivocal.

Data

Information about patients, including the outcome of care (whether the patient lived or died) came from the Intensive Care National Audit & Research Centre (ICNARC) Case Mix Programme. An Audit Commission survey of ICUs conducted in 1998 gave information about staffing levels. The merged dataset had information on 65 ICUs and 38,168 patients. This is currently the best available dataset for testing the relationship between staffing and outcomes in UK ICUs.

Design

A cross-sectional, retrospective, risk adjusted observational study.

Methods

Multivariable, multilevel logistic regression.

Outcome Measures

ICU and in-hospital mortality.

Results

After controlling for patient characteristics and workload we found that higher numbers of nurses per bed (odds ratio: 0.90, 95% confidence interval: [0.83, 0.97]) and higher numbers of consultants (0.85, [0.76, 0.95]) were associated with higher survival rates. Further exploration revealed that the number of nurses had the greatest impact on patients at high risk of death (0.98, [0.96, 0.99]) whereas the effect of medical staffing was unchanged across the range of patient acuity (1.00, [0.97, 1.03]). No relationship between patient outcomes and the number of support staff (administrative, clerical, technical and scientific staff) was found. Distinguishing between direct care and supernumerary nurses and restricting the analysis to patients who had been in the unit for more than 8 h made little difference to the results. Separate analysis of in-unit and in-hospital survival showed that the clinical workforce in intensive care had a greater impact on ICU mortality than on hospital mortality which gives the study additional credibility.

Conclusion

This study supports claims that the availability of medical and nursing staff is associated with the survival of critically ill patients and suggests that future studies should focus on the resources of the health care team. The results emphasise the urgent need for a prospective study of staffing levels and the organisation of care in ICUs.     

The influence of induced hypothermia and delayed prognostication on the mode of death after cardiac arrest

Background

Brain injury is considered the main cause of death in patients who are hospitalized after cardiac arrest (CA). Induced hypothermia is recommended as neuroprotective treatment after (CA) but may affect prognostic parameters. We evaluated the effect of delayed neurological prognostication on the mode of death in hypothermia-treated CA-survivors.

Study design

Retrospective study at a Swedish university hospital, analyzing all in-hospital and out-of-hospital CA-patients treated with hypothermia during a 5-year period. Cause of death was categorized as brain injury, cardiac disorder or other. Multimodal neurological prognostication and decision on level of care was performed in comatose patients 72 h after rewarming. Neurological function was evaluated by Cerebral Performance Categories scale (CPC).

Results

Among 162 patients, 76 survived to hospital discharge, 65 of whom had a good neurological outcome (CPC 1–2), and 11 were severely disabled (CPC 3). No patient was in vegetative state. The cause of death was classified as brain injury in 61 patients, cardiac disorder in 14 and other in 11. Four patients were declared brain dead and became organ donors. They were significantly younger (median 40 years) and with long time to ROSC. Active intensive care was withdrawn in 50 patients based on a statement of poor neurological prognosis at least 72 h after rewarming. These patients died, mainly from respiratory complications, at a median 7 days after CA.

Conclusion

Following induced hypothermia and delayed neurological prognostication, brain injury remains the main cause of death after CA. Most patients with a poor prognosis statement died within 2 weeks.     

The impact of airway management on quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation: An observational study in patients during cardiac arrest

Background

Minimising interruptions in chest compressions is associated with improved survival from cardiac arrest. Current in-hospital guidelines recommend continuous chest compressions after the airway is secured on the premise that this will reduce no flow time. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of advanced airway use on the no flow ratio and other measures of CPR quality.

Methods

Consecutive adult patients who sustained an in-hospital cardiac arrest were enrolled in this prospective observational study. The quality of CPR was measured using the Q-CPR device (Phillips, UK) before and after an advanced airway device (endotracheal tube [ET] or laryngeal mask airway [LMA]) was inserted. Patients receiving only bag-mask ventilation were used as the control cohort. The primary outcome was no flow ratio (NFR). Secondary outcomes were chest compression rate, depth, compressions too shallow, compressions with leaning, ventilation rate, inflation time, change in impedance and time required to successfully insert airway device.

Results

One hundred patients were enrolled in the study (2008–2011). Endotracheal tube and LMA placement took similar durations (median 15.8 s (IQR 6.8–19.4) vs LMA median 8.0 s (IQR 5.5–15.9), p = 0.1). The use of an advanced airway was associated with improved no flow ratios (endotracheal tube placement (n = 50) improved NFR from baseline median 0.24 IQR 0.17–0.40) to 0.15 to (IQR 0.09–0.28), p = 0.012; LMA (n = 25) from median 0.28 (IQR 0.23–0.40) to 0.13 (IQR 0.11– 0.19), p = 0.0001). There was no change in NFR in patients managed solely with bag valve mask (BVM) (n = 25) (median 0.29 (IQR 0.18–0.59) vs median 0.26 (IQR 0.12–0.37), p = 0.888). There was no significant difference in time taken to successfully insert the airway device between the two groups.

Conclusion

The use of an advanced airway (ETT or LMA) during in-hospital cardiac arrest was associated with improved no flow ratio. Further studies are required to determine the effect of airway devices on overall patient outcomes.     

Impact of a standardized nurse observation protocol including MEWS after Intensive Care Unit discharge

Background

Analysis of in-hospital mortality after serious adverse events (SAE's) in our hospital showed the need for more frequent observation in medical and surgical wards. We hypothesized that the incidence of SAE's could be decreased by introducing a standard nurse observation protocol.

Aim

To investigate the effect of a standard nurse observation protocol implementing the Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) and a color graphic observation chart.

Methods

Pre- and post-intervention study by analysis of patients records for a 5-day period after Intensive Care Unit (ICU) discharge to 14 medical and surgical wards before (n = 530) and after (n = 509) the intervention.

Results

For the total study population the mean Patient Observation Frequency Per Nursing Shift (POFPNS) during the 5-day period after ICU discharge increased from .9993 (95% C.I. .9637–1.0350) in the pre-intervention period to 1.0732 (95% C.I. 1.0362–1.1101) (p = .005) in the post-intervention period. There was an increased risk of a SAE in patients with MEWS 4 or higher in the present nursing shift (HR 8.25; 95% C.I. 2.88–23.62) and the previous nursing shift (HR 12.83;95% C.I. 4.45–36.99). There was an absolute risk reduction for SAE's within 120 h after ICU discharge of 2.2% (95% C.I. −0.4–4.67%) from 5.7% to 3.5%.

Conclusion

The intervention had a positive impact on the observation frequency. MEWS had a predictive value for SAE's in patients after ICU discharge. The drop in SAE's was substantial but did not reach statistical significance.     

The impact of age on outcome after major surgical procedures

Purpose

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of age on outcome in a large cohort of surgical intensive care unit (ICU) patients.

Methods

In this retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data, all 11?537 adult patients admitted directly from the operating room to our 50-bed surgical ICU between January 1, 2004, and January 31, 2009, were included. Patients were classified into 5 subgroups according to age (18-50 [reference category], 51-65, 66-75, 76-85, > 85 years).

Results

Severity scores and the incidence of comorbid conditions on ICU admission increased steadily with age. Intensive care unit and hospital mortality rates were 4.4% and 8.7%, respectively, and increased with age to reach 12.4% and 28.2%, respectively, in patients older than 85 years. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, age was an independent risk factor for in-hospital death (odds ratio, 1.04; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-1.04, per year; P < .001). Gastrointestinal surgery was independently associated with a higher risk of in-hospital mortality in patients older than 50 years, whereas neurosurgery was associated with a higher risk of in-hospital death only in patients older than 65 years.

Conclusions

Mortality rates increase with age, with an exponential increase in patients older than 65 years. Age is an independent risk factor for in-hospital death, irrespective of the type of surgical intervention.