Diversity and inclusivity: the way to multidisciplinary intensive care medicine in Europe

European Society of Intensive Care Medicine clinical practice guideline on fluid therapy in adult critically ill patients. Part 1: the choice of resuscitation fluids

PURPOSE

This is the first of three parts of the clinical practice guideline from the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) on resuscitation fluids in adult critically ill patients. This part addresses fluid choice and the other two will separately address fluid amount and fluid removal.

METHODS

This guideline was formulated by an international panel of clinical experts and methodologists. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology was applied to evaluate the certainty of evidence and to move from evidence to decision.

RESULTS

For volume expansion, the guideline provides conditional recommendations for using crystalloids rather than albumin in critically ill patients in general (moderate certainty of evidence), in patients with sepsis (moderate certainty of evidence), in patients with acute respiratory failure (very low certainty of evidence) and in patients in the perioperative period and patients at risk for bleeding (very low certainty of evidence). There is a conditional recommendation for using isotonic saline rather than albumin in patients with traumatic brain injury (very low certainty of evidence). There is a conditional recommendation for using albumin rather than crystalloids in patients with cirrhosis (very low certainty of evidence). The guideline provides conditional recommendations for using balanced crystalloids rather than isotonic saline in critically ill patients in general (low certainty of evidence), in patients with sepsis (low certainty of evidence) and in patients with kidney injury (very low certainty of evidence). There is a conditional recommendation for using isotonic saline rather than balanced crystalloids in patients with traumatic brain injury (very low certainty of evidence). There is a conditional recommendation for using isotonic crystalloids rather than small-volume hypertonic crystalloids in critically ill patients in general (very low certainty of evidence).

CONCLUSIONS

This guideline provides eleven recommendations to inform clinicians on resuscitation fluid choice in critically ill patients.

Anaesthesia training designs across Europe: A survey-based study from the trainees committee of the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care

BACKGROUND

Anaesthesiology training programs in Europe vary in duration, content, and requirements for completion. This survey-based study conducted by the Trainees Committee of the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care explores current anaesthesia training designs across Europe.

METHODS

Between May and July 2018, we sent a 41-item online questionnaire to all National Trainee Representatives, members of the National Anaesthesiologists Societies Committee, and Council Representatives of the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC) of all member countries. We cross-validated inconsistent data with different country representatives.

RESULTS

Forty-three anaesthesiologists from all 39 associated ESAIC countries completed the questionnaire. Results showed considerable variability in teaching formats, frequency of teaching sessions during training, and differences in assessments made during and at the end of training. The reported duration of training was 60 months in 59% (n = 23) of participating countries, ranging from 24 months in Russia and Ukraine to 84 months in the UK.

CONCLUSION

This study shows the significant differences in anaesthesiology training formats across Europe, and highlights the importance of developing standardised training programs to ensure a consistent level of training and to improve patient safety. This study provides valuable insights into European anaesthesia training, and underlines the need for further research and collaboration to improve requirements.

Consistency of data reporting in fluid responsiveness studies in the critically ill setting: the CODEFIRE consensus from the Cardiovascular Dynamic section of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine

PURPOSE

To provide consensus recommendations regarding hemodynamic data reporting in studies investigating fluid responsiveness and fluid challenge (FC) use in the intensive care unit (ICU).

METHODS

The Executive Committee of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) commissioned and supervised the project. A panel of 18 international experts and a methodologist identified main domains and items from a systematic literature, plus 2 ancillary domains. A three-step Delphi process based on an iterative approach was used to obtain the final consensus. In the Delphi 1 and 2, the items were selected with strong (≥ 80% of votes) or week agreement (70-80% of votes), while the Delphi 3 generated recommended (≥ 90% of votes) or suggested (80-90% of votes) items (RI and SI, respectively).

RESULTS

We identified 5 main domains initially including 117 items and the consensus finally resulted in 52 recommendations or suggestions: 18 RIs and 2 SIs statements were obtained for the domain "ICU admission", 11 RIs and 1 SI for the domain "mechanical ventilation", 5 RIs for the domain "reason for giving a FC", 8 RIs for the domain pre- and post-FC "hemodynamic data", and 7 RIs for the domain "pre-FC infused drugs". We had no consensus on the use of echocardiography, strong agreement regarding the volume (4 ml/kg) and the reference variable (cardiac output), while weak on administration rate (within 10 min) of FC in this setting.

CONCLUSION

This consensus found 5 main domains and provided 52 recommendations for data reporting in studies investigating fluid responsiveness in ICU patients.

Description of Intensive Care and Intermediate Care resources managed by Anaesthesiology Departments in Spain and their adaptation capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic

INTRODUCTION

It is essential to understand the strategic importance of intensive care resources in the sustainable organisation of healthcare systems. Our objective has been to identify the intensive and intermediate care beds managed by Anaesthesiology and Resuscitation Services (A-ICU and A-IMCU) in Spain, their human and technical resources, and the changes made to these resources during the COVID-19 pandemic.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Prospective observational study performed between December 2020 and July 2021 to register the number and characteristics of A-ICU and A-IMCU beds in hospitals listed in the catalogue published by the Spanish Ministry of Health.

RESULTS

Data were obtained from 313 hospitals (98% of all hospitals with more than 500 beds, 70% of all hospitals with more than 100 beds). One hundred and forty seven of these hospitals had an A-ICU with a total of 1702 beds. This capacity increased to 2107 (124%) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Three hundred and eight hospitals had an A-IMCU with a total of 3470 beds, 52.9% (2089) of which provided long-term care. The hospitals had 1900 ventilators, at a ratio of 1.07 respirators per A-ICU; 1559 anaesthesiologists dedicated more than 40% of their working time to intensive care. The nurse-to-bed ratio in A-ICUs was 2.8.

DISCUSSION

A large proportion of fully-equipped ICU and IMCU beds in Spanish hospitals are managed by the anaesthesiology service. A-ICU and A-IMCUs have shown an extraordinary capacity to adapt their resources to meet the increased demand for intensive care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Intensivists' perceptions and attitudes towards infectious diseases management in the ICU: An international survey

OBJECTIVE

Exploring infectious diseases (ID) practice in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to identify gaps and opportunities.

DESIGN

Online international survey (PRACT-INF-ICU) endorsed by the ESICM and open from July 30, 2019 to October 19, 2019.

SETTING

International study conducted in 78 countries.

PARTICIPANTS

Physicians working in ICU.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MAIN VARIABLES OF INTEREST

Practice variations were assessed according to respondents' countries income class, training, and years of practice. Univariate and multivariate ordinal logistic regression were used to estimate associations between respondents' characteristics and their perceptions regarding adequacy of training.

RESULTS

466 intensivists with a median practice of 10 years (interquartile range, 5-19) completed the survey. A third reported no antimicrobial stewardship program and 40% had no regular microbiological rounds in their ICUs. Intensivists were mostly the decision makers for the initial antimicrobial therapy which in 70% of cases were based on guidelines or protocols. Non-ICU expertise were sought more frequently on reviewing (48/72h, culture adjustment and discontinuation in 32%, 39% and 21% respectively) rather than antimicrobial therapy initiation (16%). Only 42% described ID training as adequate. Multivariate ordinal logistic regression showed that low- to middle-income countries (OR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.28-0.61), ICU practice ≤10 years (OR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.39-0.79), and dual training with anaesthesia (OR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.34-0.79) or medicine (OR: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.32-0.76) were associated with less training satisfaction.

CONCLUSION

ID practice is heterogeneous across ICUs while antimicrobial stewardship program is not universally implemented. From intensivists' perspective, ID training and knowledge need improvement.

Intensivists' perceptions and attitudes towards infectious diseases management in the ICU: An international survey

OBJECTIVE

Exploring infectious diseases (ID) practice in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to identify gaps and opportunities.

DESIGN

Online international survey (PRACT-INF-ICU) endorsed by the ESICM and open from July 30, 2019 to October 19, 2019.

SETTING

International study conducted in 78 countries.

PARTICIPANTS

Physicians working in ICU.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MAIN VARIABLES OF INTEREST

Practice variations were assessed according to respondents' countries income class, training, and years of practice. Univariate and multivariate ordinal logistic regression were used to estimate associations between respondents' characteristics and their perceptions regarding adequacy of training.

RESULTS

466 intensivists with a median practice of 10 years (interquartile range, 5-19) completed the survey. A third reported no antimicrobial stewardship program and 40% had no regular microbiological rounds in their ICUs. Intensivists were mostly the decision makers for the initial antimicrobial therapy which in 70% of cases were based on guidelines or protocols. Non-ICU expertise were sought more frequently on reviewing (48/72h, culture adjustment and discontinuation in 32%, 39% and 21% respectively) rather than antimicrobial therapy initiation (16%). Only 42% described ID training as adequate. Multivariate ordinal logistic regression showed that low- to middle-income countries (OR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.28-0.61), ICU practice ≤10 years (OR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.39-0.79), and dual training with anaesthesia (OR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.34-0.79) or medicine (OR: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.32-0.76) were associated with less training satisfaction.

CONCLUSION

ID practice is heterogeneous across ICUs while antimicrobial stewardship program is not universally implemented. From intensivists' perspective, ID training and knowledge need improvement.