Complications of Sedation in Critical Illness: An Update

Intensive care unit-acquired weakness: Recent insights

Intensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) is a common complication in critically ill patients and is associated with a variety of adverse outcomes. These include the need for prolonged mechanical ventilation and ICU stay; higher ICU, in-hospital, and 1-year mortality; and increased in-hospital costs. ICU-AW is associated with multiple risk factors including age, underlying disease, severity of illness, organ failure, sepsis, immobilization, receipt of mechanical ventilation, and other factors related to critical care. The pathological mechanism of ICU-AW remains unclear and may be considerably varied. This review aimed to evaluate recent insights into ICU-AW from several aspects including risk factors, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment strategies; this provides new perspectives for future research.

Intensive Care Unit-Acquired Weakness after Liver Transplantation: Analysis of Seven Cases and a Literature Review

Intensive Care Unit (ICU)-Acquired Weakness (ICU-AW) is a generalized muscle weakness that is clinically detected in critical patients and has no plausible etiology other than critical illness. ICU-AW is uncommon in patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Our report sheds light on the highest number of ICU-AW cases observed in a single center on OLT patients with early allograft dysfunction. Out of 282 patients who underwent OLT from January 2015 to June 2023, 7 (2.5%) developed generalized muscle weakness in the ICU and underwent neurophysiological investigations. The neurologic examination showed preserved extraocular, flaccid quadriplegia with the absence of deep tendon reflexes in all patients. Neurophysiological studies, including electromyography and nerve conduction studies, showed abnormalities with fibrillation potentials and the rapid recruitment of small polyphasic motor units in the examined muscles, as well as a reduced amplitude of the compound muscle action potential and sensory nerve action potential, with an absence of demyelinating features. Pre-transplant clinical status was critical in all patients. During ICU stay, early allograft dysfunction, acute kidney injury, prolonged mechanical ventilation, sepsis, hyperglycemia, and high blood transfusions were observed in all patients. Two patients were retransplanted. Five patients were alive at 90 days; two patients died. In non-cooperative OLT patients, neurophysiological investigations are essential for the diagnosis of ICU-AW. In this setting, the high number of red blood cell transfusions is a potential risk factor for ICU-AW.

A Cross-Sectional Study of the Impact of ICU-Acquired Weakness: Prevalence, Associations, and Severity

Background and objective ICU-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) refers to a group of neuromuscular lesions that can develop in the ICU. It leads to decreased physical function, increased in-ICU and in-hospital mortality, and increased healthcare costs. Given its high prevalence and significant impact on patient outcomes, it is essential to have a deeper understanding of ICU-AW. In light of this, this study aimed to ascertain the prevalence, associations, and severity of ICU-AW at a tertiary hospital in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and to evaluate physician awareness of this condition. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in the ICU of Al Madina General Hospital, Medina, KSA, from April 22 to August 22, 2022, involving patients who were 18 years or older and met the inclusion criteria (n=101). The overall muscle strength was assessed daily by using the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale for muscle strength. ICU-AW was identified in patients who experienced a decline in their MRC-Sum Score (MRC-SS) during their ICU stay. Results A total of 101 patients were enrolled in the study. The incidence of ICU-AW was 16.8% (n=17), with 23.5% exhibiting significant weakness and 76.5% having severe weakness. Post hoc comparisons showed that females had a higher incidence of ICU-AW. Fisher's exact test revealed a statistically significant relationship between ICU-AW and the longer duration of ICU stay (p=0.001), use of mechanical ventilation (p=0.034), and low hemoglobin levels (p=0.037). Conclusions ICU-AW was observed in 16.8% (n=17) of patients in our cohort, highlighting the significance of this condition. The study revealed a noteworthy correlation between ICU-AW and female sex, extended ICU stays, mechanical ventilation, and anemia.

Efficacy and safety of ciprofol for long-term sedation in patients receiving mechanical ventilation in ICUs: a prospective, single-center, double-blind, randomized controlled protocol

Introduction: Critically ill patients who receive mechanical ventilation after endotracheal intubation commonly experience discomfort and pressure. The major sedative drugs that are currently used in clinical practice present with many complications, such as hypotension, bradycardia, and respiratory depression. Ciprofol (HSK3486), which is a newly developed structural analog of propofol, is a short-acting gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor agonist, and its mechanism of action is sedation or anesthesia by enhancing GABA-mediated chloride influx. The high efficacy of ciprofol for short-term sedation is comparable to that of propofol, and it has a relatively low incidence of adverse effects and high level of safety, which has been confirmed by multiple clinical studies. However, few studies have examined its safety and efficacy for long-term sedation. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ciprofol for long-term sedation in mechanically ventilated patients. Methods: A prospective, single-center, double-blind, randomized, propofol-controlled, non-inferiority trial is proposed. The study will enroll 112 mechanically ventilated patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital affiliated with Tongji University based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study, and randomly assign them to a group sedated with either ciprofol or propofol. The primary outcome is the percentage of time spent under target sedation, and secondary outcomes include drug dose, number of cases requiring additional dextrometropine, incidence of systolic blood pressure <80 or >180 mmHg, incidence of diastolic blood pressure <50 or >100 mmHg, incidence of heart rate <50 beats per minute (bpm) or >120 bpm, inflammatory indicators, blood lipid levels, liver and kidney functions, nutritional indicators, ventilator-free days within the 7-day period after enrollment, 28-day mortality, ICU stay duration, and hospitalization costs. Discussion: We hypothesize that the efficacy and safety of ciprofol for long-term sedation in mechanically ventilated ICU patients will not be inferior to that of propofol. Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trials Registry identifier ChiCTR2200066951.

Effect of a music intervention on anxiety in adult critically ill patients: a multicenter randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Previous studies show positive effect of music on reducing anxiety, pain, and medication requirement. Anxiety has become a more pertinent issue in the intensive care unit (ICU) since wakefulness is preferred according to recent guidelines. Nevertheless, evidence on the effect of music in ICU patients is scarce. Therefore, we studied the effect of music intervention on anxiety in ICU patients.

METHODS

A multicenter randomized clinical trial was conducted between August 2020 and December 2021 in ICU's at an academic medical centre and two regional hospitals. Adult critically ill patients were eligible when hemodynamically stable and able to communicate (Richmond agitation-sedation scale (RASS) of at least - 2). Patients in the intervention arm were offered music twice daily during three days for at least 30 min per session. Patients in the control group received standard care. The primary outcome was anxiety level assessed with the visual analogue scale for anxiety [VAS-A; range 0-10] twice daily (morning and evening). Secondary outcomes included; 6-item state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI-6), sleep quality, delirium, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, pain, RASS, medication, ICU length of stay, patients' memory and experience of ICU stay.

RESULTS

94 patients were included in the primary analysis. Music did not significantly reduce anxiety (VAS-A in the intervention group; 2.5 (IQR 1.0-4.5), 1.8 (0.0-3.6), and 2.5 (0.0-3.6) on day 1, 2, and 3 vs. 3.0 (0.6-4.0), 1.5 (0.0-4.0), and 2.0 (0.0-4.0) in the control group; p > 0.92). Overall median daily VAS-A scores ranged from 1.5 to 3.0. Fewer patients required opioids (21 vs. 29, p = 0.03) and sleep quality was lower in the music group on study day one [5.0 (4.0-6.0) vs. 4.5 (3.0-5.0), p = 0.03]. Other outcomes were similar between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Anxiety levels in this ICU population were low, and music during 3 days did not decrease anxiety. This study indicates that efficacy of music is context and intervention-dependent, given previous evidence showing decreased anxiety. Trial registration Netherlands Trial Register: NL8595, Registered, 1 April 2020.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov ID: NCT04796389, Registered retrospectively, 12 March 2021.

The effect of music on delirium, pain, sedation and anxiety in patients receiving mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit

OBJECTIVES

To examine the effects of music for patients under mechanical ventilation support in the intensive care unit on their delirium, pain, sedation, and anxiety.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY/DESIGN

A single-blind, randomized, controlled trial.

SETTING

The study was conducted with delirium positive patients between August 2020 and September 2021 in the medical/surgical intensive care unit of a university hospital in Turkey.

METHODS

The study sample was selected through a simple and stratified randomization method; patients who met the inclusion criteria were assigned to the music, noise reduction or control group. The data were collected by using a Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU (CAM-ICU), CAM-ICU-7, Critical Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT), Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS), Facial Anxiety Scale (FAS), PRE-DELIRIC model, and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). The interventions were repeated twice a day for five days.

RESULTS

A total of 36 patients were included, with 12 patients in each group. Significant decreases were found in the severity of delirium and pain and the level of sedation and anxiety in the music compared to the other groups (p < 0.05). The number of patients with delirium and the number of days with mechanical ventilation was found to be significantly lower in the music group compared to the other groups (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Music intervention may be used as a nursing intervention to control delirium, pain, need for sedation and anxiety in intensive care unit patients. However, additional studies with larger sample is needed to validate findings.

The effectiveness of music interventions on stress response in intensive care patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM AND OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effectiveness of music interventions on physiological and psychological stress response in intensive care unit (ICU) patients.

BACKGROUND

ICU patients are exposed to several physiological and psychological stressors during their treatments. Music interventions can be implemented to control these negative effects.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis conducted according to PRISMA Guidelines.

METHOD

This meta-analysis was conducted per PRISMA guidelines. Seven electronic literature databases, reference lists of similar reviews, grey literature and the Clinical Trials Registry were searched for potential studies up to 30 September 2021. Studies were expected to meet PICOS inclusion criteria. Two reviewers independently assessed the risk of bias of the included studies by using the Cochrane Collaboration tool. Overall, meta-analysis and subgroup analyses (comparator group and music session frequency) were performed using RevMan 5.4. Meta-analysis was conducted when data were available; otherwise, a narrative description was provided.

RESULTS

Twenty-five articles were included in this review. Music intervention was found to provide reductions in anxiety levels concerning psychological stress. However, it was found that music had an effect only on the systolic blood pressure level concerning the physiological stress and had no effect on the diastolic blood pressure, respiration rate or heart rate. In the subgroup analysis performed against the comparator groups, it was found that music decreased the anxiety level compared to the standard care group but was not effective compared to the noise reduction group. It was found that multiple music sessions reduced the anxiety level better than a single music session.

CONCLUSIONS

Music interventions involving multiple sessions can be used as a nursing intervention to control the anxiety levels of ICU patients.

RELEVANCE TO THE CLINICAL PRACTICE

Using music to reduce anxiety and stress levels may reduce the pharmacological need (for sedative or antipsychotic medications) and the risk of associated side effects in ICU patients.

Use of physiologically‐based pharmacokinetic modeling to inform dosing of the opioid analgesics fentanyl and methadone in children with obesity

Obesity is an increasingly alarming public health threat, with nearly 20% of children classified as obese in the United States today. Children with obesity are commonly prescribed the opioids fentanyl and methadone, and accurate dosing is critical to reducing the risk of serious adverse events associated with overexposure. However, pharmacokinetic studies in children with obesity are challenging to conduct, so there is limited information to guide fentanyl and methadone dosing in these children. To address this clinical knowledge gap, physiologically‐based pharmacokinetic models of fentanyl and methadone were developed in adults and scaled to children with and without obesity to explore the interplay of obesity, age, and pharmacogenomics. These models included key obesity‐induced changes in physiology and pharmacogenomic effects. Model predictions captured observed concentrations in children with obesity well, with an overall average fold error of 0.72 and 1.08 for fentanyl and methadone, respectively. Model simulations support a reduced fentanyl dose (1 vs. 2 μg/kg/h) starting at an earlier age (6 years) in virtual children with obesity, highlighting the importance of considering both age and obesity status when selecting an infusion rate most likely to achieve steady‐state concentrations within the target range. Methadone dosing simulations highlight the importance of considering genotype in addition to obesity status when possible, as cytochrome P450 (CYP)2B6*6/*6 virtual children with obesity required half the dose to match the exposure of wildtype children without obesity. This physiologically‐based pharmacokinetic modeling approach can be applied to explore dosing of other critical drugs in children with obesity.

Intensive care unit-acquired weakness: Questions the clinician should ask

Intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) is defined as clinically detected weakness in critically ill patients in whom there is no plausible etiology other than critical illness. Using electrophysiological methods, patients with ICU-AW are classified in three subcategories: critical illness polyneuropathy, critical illness myopathy and critical illness neuromyopathy. ICU-AW is a frequent complication occurring in critical ill patients. Risk factors include illness severity and organ failure, age, hyperglycemia, parenteral nutrition, drugs and immobility. Due to short- and long-term complications, ICU-AW results in longer hospital stay and increased mortality. Its management is essentially preventive avoiding modifiable risk factors, especially duration of sedation and immobilization that should be as short as possible. Pharmacological approaches have been studied but none have proven efficacy. In the present review, we propose practical questions that the clinician should ask in case of acquired weakness during ICU stay: when to suspect ICU-AW, what risk factors should be identified, how to diagnose ICU-AW, what is the prognosis and how can recovery be improved?

Study protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial studying the effect of a music intervention on anxiety in adult critically ill patients (The RELACS trial)

INTRODUCTION

Anxiety is common in critically ill patients and has likely become more prevalent in the recent decade due to the imperative of the recent Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Pain, Agitation/Sedation, Delirium, Immobility, and Sleep Disruption in Adult Patients (PADIS) to use low levels of sedation and strive for wakefulness. However, management of anxiety has not been included in the PADIS guidelines, and there is lack of evidence to treat it in spite of its growing importance. Administration of sedative and analgesic medication is often chosen to reduce anxiety, especially when associated with agitation. Sedatives are associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation, delirium and muscle wasting and are therefore preferably minimised. Previous studies have suggested positive effects of music interventions on anxiety in the critically ill. Therefore, we aim to study the effect of music intervention on anxiety in adult critically ill patients.

METHODS AND DESIGN

A multicentre randomised controlled trial was designed to study the effect of a music intervention on the level of anxiety experienced by adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). One hundred and four patients will be included in three centres in the Netherlands. Patient recruitment started on 24-08-2020 and is ongoing in three hospitals. The primary outcome is self-reported anxiety measured on the visual analogue scale. Secondary outcomes include anxiety measured using the six-item State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, sleep quality, agitation and sedation level, medication requirement, pain, delirium, complications, time spend on mechanical ventilation, physical parameters and ICU memory and experience.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The Medical Ethics Review Board of Erasmus MC University Medical Centre Rotterdam, The Netherlands, has approved this protocol. The study is being conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Results of this trial will be published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and conference presentations.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04796389.

Daptomycin Pharmacokinetics in Adolescents Undergoing Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis: A Case Series With Pharmacokinetic Modeling

BACKGROUND

Children who undergo hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis are at increased risk of infection. Daptomcyin is used to treat resistant infections; however, the pharmacokinetics of daptomycin in pediatric and adolescent dialysis patients remain unknown.

METHODS

We report the safety and pharmacokinetics of a single intravenous 5 mg/kg dose of daptomycin for 6 individuals age 12 to 17 years old who underwent HD or continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis (CCPD). Daptomycin concentrations from all samples were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. A non-compartmental analysis was performed to compare the pharmacokinetic parameters among HD and CCPD patients. A population pharmacokinetic model was developed to describe the concentration-time profiles of daptomycin in plasma, urine, and dialysis effluent. Monte Carlo simulations were performed to assess the pharmacodynamic outcomes.

RESULTS

All subjects tolerated the single dose of daptomycin. During HD, significant drug removal was observed, compared with CCPD (26% vs 5% of total dose). A low daptomycin renal clearance (<12% of total clearance) with moderate variability (40.5%) was observed among subjects with residual renal function. An anuric and obese subject who received CCPD treatment appeared to have >80% higher daptomycin area under the plasma concentration-time curve than the other CCPD subjects. Dosing regimens that achieved predefined pharmacodynamic targets were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Daptomycin clearance was faster in 12- to 17-year-old patients receiving HD than CCPD. Administration of daptomycin immediately after HD reduces drug loss. The CCPD treatment, anuria, and obesity may increase the risk for drug accumulation. Our pharmacokinetic model can be further used to optimize dosing regimens of daptomycin in this population.

ICU-acquired weakness

Critically ill patients often acquire neuropathy and/or myopathy labeled ICU-acquired weakness. The current insights into incidence, pathophysiology, diagnostic tools, risk factors, short- and long-term consequences and management of ICU-acquired weakness are narratively reviewed. PubMed was searched for combinations of “neuropathy”, “myopathy”, “neuromyopathy”, or “weakness” with “critical illness”, “critically ill”, “ICU”, “PICU”, “sepsis” or “burn”. ICU-acquired weakness affects limb and respiratory muscles with a widely varying prevalence depending on the study population. Pathophysiology remains incompletely understood but comprises complex structural/functional alterations within myofibers and neurons. Clinical and electrophysiological tools are used for diagnosis, each with advantages and limitations. Risk factors include age, weight, comorbidities, illness severity, organ failure, exposure to drugs negatively affecting myofibers and neurons, immobility and other intensive care-related factors. ICU-acquired weakness increases risk of in-ICU, in-hospital and long-term mortality, duration of mechanical ventilation and of hospitalization and augments healthcare-related costs, increases likelihood of prolonged care in rehabilitation centers and reduces physical function and quality of life in the long term. RCTs have shown preventive impact of avoiding hyperglycemia, of omitting early parenteral nutrition use and of minimizing sedation. Results of studies investigating the impact of early mobilization, neuromuscular electrical stimulation and of pharmacological interventions were inconsistent, with recent systematic reviews/meta-analyses revealing no or only low-quality evidence for benefit. ICU-acquired weakness predisposes to adverse short- and long-term outcomes. Only a few preventive, but no therapeutic, strategies exist. Further mechanistic research is needed to identify new targets for interventions to be tested in adequately powered RCTs.

Music therapy reduces stress and anxiety in critically ill patients: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials

INTRODUCTION

The underlying clinical condition and the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) environment make critical illness a stressful event. Although the usual management consists of sedation, non-pharmacological interventions such as music therapy have been suggested for their drug-sparing effect. Aim of the present review is to assess the current evidence on the effectiveness of music therapy in reducing stress and anxiety in critically ill, adult patients.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

A systematic review of publications was undertaken using MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, Indice Italiano di Letteratura di Scienze Infermieristiche. We included studies of critically ill patients that assessed any effect of music therapy on stress and anxiety, which were variably assessed according to each study's definition.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Eleven studies were included (10 RCTs and one quasi-experimental design), for a total of 959 patients (range 17-373). The overall quality of the studies was satisfactory; several potential sources for bias were identified. Music therapy was generally provided as a single, 30'-intervention, ranging from 15 to 60'. Only in two studies was the intervention repeated more than once daily. The control groups were standard care, relaxation, headphones with no music or noise-cancelling headphones. Music therapy determined a significant reduction in the levels of anxiety and stress, as assessed by self-reported scales and physiologic parameters. Pooled analysis was not performed due to the heterogeneity of the interventions.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite significant heterogeneity in trial designs, timing and features of the intervention, music therapy is consistently associated with a reduction in anxiety and stress of critically ill patients.