Comparison of outcomes from tunnelled femorally inserted central catheters and peripherally inserted central catheters: a propensity score-matched cohort study

OBJECTIVES

To compare catheter-related outcomes of individuals who received a tunnelled femorally inserted central catheter (tFICC) with those who received a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) in the upper extremities.

DESIGN

A propensity-score matched cohort study.

SETTING

A 980-bed tertiary referral hospital in South West Sydney, Australia.

PARTICIPANTS

In-patients referred to the hospital central venous access service for the insertion of a central venous access device.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome of interest was the incidence of all-cause catheter failure. Secondary outcomes included the rates of catheters removed because of suspected or confirmed catheter-associated infection, catheter dwell and confirmed upper or lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

RESULTS

The overall rate of all-cause catheter failure in the matched tFICC and PICC cohort was 2.4/1000 catheter days (95% CI 1.1 to 4.4) and 3.0/1000 catheter days (95% CI 2.3 to 3.9), respectively, and when compared, no difference was observed (difference -0.63/1000 catheter days, 95% CI -2.32 to 1.06). We found no differences in catheter dwell (mean difference of 14.2 days, 95% CI -6.6 to 35.0, p=0.910); or in the cumulative probability of failure between the two groups within the first month of dwell (p=0.358). No significant differences were observed in the rate of catheters requiring removal for confirmed central line-associated bloodstream infection (difference 0.13/1000 catheter day, 95% CI -0.36 to 0.63, p=0.896). Similarly, no significant differences were found between the groups for confirmed catheter-related DVT (difference -0.11 per 1000 catheter days, 95% CI -0.26 to 0.04, p=1.00).

CONCLUSION

There were no differences in catheter-related outcomes between the matched cohort of tFICC and PICC patients, suggesting that tFICCs are a possible alternative for vascular access when the veins of the upper extremities or thoracic region are not viable for catheterisation.

Association between septic shock and tracheal injury score in intensive care unit patients with invasive ventilation: a prospective single-centre cohort study in China

OBJECTIVES

There was no evidence regarding the relationship between septic shock and tracheal injury scores. Investigate whether septic shock was independently associated with tracheal injury scores in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with invasive ventilation.

DESIGN

Prospective observational cohort study.

SETTING

Our study was conducted in a Class III hospital in Hebei province, China.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients over 18 years of age admitted to the ICU between 31 May 2020 and 3 May 2022 with a tracheal tube and expected to be on the tube for more than 24 hours.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Tracheal injuries were evaluated by examining hyperaemia, ischaemia, ulcers and tracheal perforation by fiberoptic bronchoscope. Depending on the number of lesions, the lesions were further classified as moderate, severe or confluent.

RESULTS

Among the 97 selected participants, the average age was 56.6±16.5 years, with approximately 64.9% being men. The results of adjusted linear regression showed that septic shock was associated with tracheal injury scores (β: 2.99; 95% CI 0.70 to 5.29). Subgroup analysis revealed a stronger association with a duration of intubation ≥8 days (p=0.013).

CONCLUSION

Patients with septic shock exhibit significantly higher tracheal injury scores compared with those without septic shock, suggesting that septic shock may serve as an independent risk factor for tracheal injury.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ChiCTR2000037842, registered 03 September 2020. Retrospectively registered, https://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=57011&htm=4.

Protocol for fever control using external cooling in mechanically ventilated patients with septic shock: SEPSISCOOL II randomised controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Fever treatment is commonly applied in patients with sepsis but its impact on survival remains undetermined. Patients with respiratory and haemodynamic failure are at the highest risk for not tolerating the metabolic cost of fever. However, fever can help to control infection. Treating fever with paracetamol has been shown to be less effective than cooling. In the SEPSISCOOL pilot study, active fever control by external cooling improved organ failure recovery and early survival. The main objective of this confirmatory trial is to assess whether fever control at normothermia can improve the evolution of organ failure and mortality at day 60 of febrile patients with septic shock. This study will compare two strategies within the first 48 hours of septic shock: treatment of fever with cooling or no treatment of fever.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

SEPSISCOOL II is a pragmatic, investigator-initiated, adaptive, multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled, superiority trial in patients admitted to the intensive care unit with febrile septic shock. After stratification based on the acute respiratory distress syndrome status, patients will be randomised between two arms: (1) cooling and (2) no cooling. The primary endpoint is mortality at day 60 after randomisation. The secondary endpoints include the evolution of organ failure, early mortality and tolerance. The target sample size is 820 patients.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study is funded by the French health ministry and was approved by the ethics committee CPP Nord Ouest II (Amiens, France). The results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04494074.

Healthcare Professional's Knowledge of the Systemic ABCDE Approach: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and aim Assessing the knowledge of healthcare professionals regarding the Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, and Exposure (ABCDE) approach is crucial since it prioritizes the initial assessment and treatment of patients who are critically ill, regardless of the underlying cause or their age. Since adherence requires knowledge, this study aimed to evaluate the knowledge level of the ABCDE approach among healthcare professionals. Methods This cross-sectional study among healthcare professionals was performed from April to August 2023 in Taif City, Saudi Arabia. The study included healthcare professionals employed in departments exposed to patients with critical illnesses and excluded those from other specialties and individuals from outside Taif City. Data was collected via Google Forms using a previously validated questionnaire designed to assess the ABCDE approach knowledge among healthcare professionals. Statistical analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS, version 26. Results The study included 242 healthcare professionals with a mean (SD) age of 35.77 (9.93) years. About half of the participants were female (52.5%) nurses (50.8%) and had been working in intensive care units (ICU) and neonate intensive care units (NICU) (41.4%). The mean (SD) of the participants' working experience was 9.28 (8.295) years. The overall mean test score was 52.94 % (SD 16.27). The mean knowledge score among males was significantly higher than females (56.37% vs. 49.85%, respectively) (p-value= 0.001). The mean knowledge score was significantly higher among medical specialists and residents (63.308% and 55.67%) than among nurses (46.34%) (p-value <0.001). Attending an advanced trauma life support course and theoretical lecture significantly impacted the total knowledge score among the participants (p-values= 0.001 and <0.001, respectively). The total knowledge significantly increased with age (r: 0.265, p-value <0.001). Years of experience correlated with total knowledge score; with increasing years of experience, the total knowledge was significantly increased (r: 0.248, p-value <0.001). Conclusion The ABCDE approach is a valuable tool for the initial examination and treatment of patients in acute medical and surgical emergencies. The findings indicate that there is a need for further awareness programs and training on the ABCDE approach, as the total knowledge score among healthcare professionals was found to be suboptimal. Further research is needed to assess the association between knowledge level and clinical performance in different healthcare settings within Saudi Arabia.

Strokes in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients Diagnosed After Deep Sedation: A Single-Center Case Series

In the Philippines, acute cerebrovascular disease is a common neurologic complication in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Because of sedation and limited neurological examination, the diagnosis of stroke in critically ill patients with COVID-19 may be delayed. This retrospective analysis was done on the medical records of adult patients with critical COVID-19 in 2021-2022 who were brought to a tertiary hospital in the Philippines, placed on mechanical ventilation, and later discovered to have had an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke while under deep sedation. The study aimed to explore the delayed diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease clinically concealed by deep sedation and emphasizes the importance of a collaborative, multi-specialty approach to managing such patients. There were nine patients with strokes discovered on imaging after deep sedation due to severe COVID-19 infection. The median age of the cases was 63 years, and 55.5% (n=5) were males. Three of the nine patients had an ischemic stroke with hemorrhagic conversion, three with ischemic infarction, and the other three had a primary intracerebral hemorrhage. This series shows a pattern of delayed diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease clinically concealed by deep sedation that was essential in managing acute respiratory distress syndrome in the background of severe COVID-19 infection before the emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) variants and the discovery of COVID-19 vaccines. The study demonstrates the significance of managing this unique population of patients in a collaborative and multi-specialty manner. With the continuing threat of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants, there is a need to strike a balance between the risks of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke in COVID-19 infection and the care of this patient population.

WHY STOP? A prospective observational vignette-based study to determine the cognitive-behavioural effects of rapid diagnostic PCR-based point-of-care test results on antibiotic cessation in ICU infections

OBJECTIVES

Point-of-care tests (POCTs) for infection offer accurate rapid diagnostics but do not consistently improve antibiotic stewardship (ASP) of suspected ventilator-associated pneumonia. We aimed to measure the effect of a negative PCR-POCT result on intensive care unit (ICU) clinicians' antibiotic decisions and the additional effects of patient trajectory and cognitive-behavioural factors (clinician intuition, dis/interest in POCT, risk averseness).

DESIGN

Observational cohort simulation study.

SETTING

ICU.

PARTICIPANTS

70 ICU consultants/trainees working in UK-based teaching hospitals.

METHODS

Clinicians saw four case vignettes describing patients who had completed a course of antibiotics for respiratory infection. Vignettes comprised clinical and biological data (ie, white cell count, C reactive protein), varied to create four trajectories: clinico-biological improvement (the 'improvement' case), clinico-biological worsening ('worsening'), clinical improvement/biological worsening ('discordant clin better'), clinical worsening/biological improvement ('discordant clin worse'). Based on this, clinicians made an initial antibiotics decision (stop/continue) and rated confidence (6-point Likert scale). A PCR-based POCT was then offered, which clinicians could accept or decline. All clinicians (including those who declined) were shown the result, which was negative. Clinicians updated their antibiotics decision and confidence.

MEASURES

Antibiotics decisions and confidence were compared pre-POCT versus post-POCT, per vignette.

RESULTS

A negative POCT result increased the proportion of stop decisions (54% pre-POCT vs 70% post-POCT, χ2(1)=25.82, p<0.001, w=0.32) in all vignettes except improvement (already high), most notably in discordant clin worse (49% pre-POCT vs 74% post-POCT). In a linear regression, factors that significantly reduced clinicians' inclination to stop antibiotics were a worsening trajectory (b=-0.73 (-1.33, -0.14), p=0.015), initial confidence in continuing (b=0.66 (0.56, 0.76), p<0.001) and involuntary receipt of POCT results (clinicians who accepted the POCT were more inclined to stop than clinicians who declined it, b=1.30 (0.58, 2.02), p<0.001). Clinician risk averseness was not found to influence antibiotic decisions (b=-0.01 (-0.12, 0.10), p=0.872).

CONCLUSIONS

A negative PCR-POCT result can encourage antibiotic cessation in ICU, notably in cases of clinical worsening (where the inclination might otherwise be to continue). This effect may be reduced by high clinician confidence to continue and/or disinterest in POCT, perhaps due to low trust/perceived utility. Such cognitive-behavioural and trajectorial factors warrant greater consideration in future ASP study design.

Elucidation of the needs for telecritical care services in Japan: a qualitative study

OBJECTIVE

To clarify the reasons for consultation, advice sought by frontline physicians and relationship between the patient's pathology and the type of advice provided to guide the future development of telecritical care services.

DESIGN

Secondary analysis of transcripts of telephone calls originally recorded for quality control purposes was conducted using a thematic content analysis. The calls were conducted between December 2019 and April 2021 (total cases: 70; total time: ~15 hour).

SETTINGS

Intensivists provided consultation services to frontline physicians at secondary care institutions in the Kansai and Chubu regions.

PARTICIPANTS

Non-intensive care frontline physicians working in five secondary care institutions in the Kansai and Chubu regions and intensivists providing a consultation service (n=26).

INTERVENTIONS

Not applicable.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

The main outcome was the themes emerging from the language used during telephone and video consultations, indicating the gap filled by the telecritical care service.

FINDINGS

We analysed 70 cases and approximately 15 hours of anonymised audio data. We identified the following reasons for consultation: 'lack of competence in treatment and diagnostic testing' and 'lack of access to consultation in their own hospital'. Frontline physicians most often sought advice related to 'treatment', followed by 'patient triage and transfer', 'diagnosis' and 'diagnostic testing and evaluation'. Regarding the relationship between the patient's pathology and type of advice provided, the most commonly sought advice by frontline physicians varied based on the patient's pathology.

CONCLUSION

This study explored the characteristics of 70 telecritical sessions and identified the reasons for and nature of the consultations. These findings can be used to guide the future provision and scale up of telecritical services.

Impact of dexmedetomidine on mortality in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury: a retrospective propensity score matching analysis

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to estimate the effect of dexmedetomidine (DEX) administration on mortality in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI).

DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

The study sourced its data from the Multiparameter Intelligent Monitoring in Intensive Care Database IV (MIMIC-IV), a comprehensive database of intensive care unit patients.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 15 754 critically ill patients with AKI were enrolled from the MIMIC-IV database.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME

Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality and secondary outcome was 180-day mortality.

RESULTS

15 754 critically ill AKI patients were included in our analysis. We found that DEX use decreased in-hospital mortality risk by 38% (HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.55 to 0.70) and 180-day mortality risk by 23% (HR 0.77, 95% CI 0.69 to 0.85). After adjusting for confounding factors, DEX can reduce all three stages of AKI in in-hospital mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Our retrospective cohort study suggests that DEX significantly correlates with decreased risk-adjusted in-hospital and 180-day mortality in critically ill AKI patients. Nonetheless, future randomised controlled trials are warranted to validate our findings.

Clinical use of an emergency manual by resuscitation teams and impact on performance in the emergency department: a prospective mixed-methods study protocol

INTRODUCTION

Simulation-based studies indicate that crisis checklist use improves management of patients with critical conditions in the emergency department (ED). An interview-based study suggests that use of an emergency manual (EM)-a collection of crisis checklists-improves management of clinical perioperative crises. There is a need for in-depth prospective studies of EM use during clinical practice, evaluating when and how EMs are used and impact on patient management.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This 6-month long study prospectively evaluates a digital EM during management of priority 1 patients in the Skåne University Hospital at Lund's ED. Resuscitation teams are encouraged to use the EM after a management plan has been derived ('Do-Confirm'). The documenting nurse activates and reads from the EM, and checklists are displayed on a large screen visible to all team members. Whether the EM is activated, and which sections are displayed, are automatically recorded. Interventions performed thanks to Do-Confirm EM use are registered by the nurse. Fifty cases featuring such interventions are reviewed by specialists in emergency medicine blinded to whether the interventions were performed prior to or after EM use. All interventions are graded as indicated, of neutral relevance or not indicated. The primary outcome measures are the proportions of interventions performed thanks to Do-Confirm EM use graded as indicated, of neutral relevance, and not indicated. A secondary outcome measure is the team's subjective evaluation of the EM's value on a Likert scale of 1-6. Team members can report events related to EM use, and information from these events is extracted through structured interviews.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study is approved by the Swedish Ethical Review Authority (Dnr 2022-01896-01). Results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and abstracts submitted to national and international conferences to disseminate our findings.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT05649891.

Survival outcomes and mobilization during venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a retrospective cohort study

Introduction

Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO) can be considered in critically ill patient in severe pulmonary failure. However, the mobilization of patients on V-V ECMO can be challenging due to logistic and safety concerns. This study aimed to investigate whether 30 days survival was improved in patients who were mobilized during V-V ECMO support.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort all-comer study that included all patients cannulated for V-V ECMO at a single center. Patients with a V-V ECMO duration below 24 h were excluded from the analysis. The patients were grouped based on the ICU mobility scale documented during V-V ECMO support. The primary endpoint was 30 days survival, and secondary endpoints included weaning from ECMO and mechanical ventilation, as well as hospital survival.

Results

A total of 343 patients were included in the study, with a median age of 56 years and 32% were female. Among them, 28% had chronic lung disease. The ICU mobilization scale ≥2 during ECMO was documented in 62/343 (18%) patients. There were no significant differences in age, gender and preexisting lung disease. Duration of ICU stay (13.1 vs. 15.6 days), time on ECMO (186 vs. 190 h) and mechanical ventilation (11.2 vs. 13.6 days) were slightly shorter in patients with ICU mobility scale <2 compared to those with ≥2 (all p = 0.0001). However, patients with ICU mobilization scale ≥2 showed significantly better 30 days survival (71.0 vs. 48.0%, OR 2.6 (1.5 to 4.8), p = 0.0012) compared to those with <2. In the ≥2 mobility scale group, a significantly higher number of patients were successfully weaned from the ventilator (61.3 vs. 46.6%, OR 1.8 (1.0 to 3.2), p = 0.049). A stronger correlation was observed between more intense mobilizations, such as being in a standing position (OR 5.0 (1.7 to 14.0), p = 0.0038), and higher 30 days survival.

Conclusion

The findings of this study suggest that active mobilization during V-V ECMO support is associated with improved 30 days survival and successful weaning from the respirator. Incorporating mobilization as part of the therapeutic approach during ECMO support may offer potential benefits for critically ill patients.

Closed-Loop Pharmacologic Control of Blood Pressure: A Review of Existing Systems

Blood pressure management is a critical aspect of patient care, particularly in surgical and critical care settings. Closed-loop systems, which utilize real-time data and feedback to adjust treatment interventions, have gained attention for their potential to enhance blood pressure control. This review explores the application of closed-loop systems in blood pressure management. We discuss various closed-loop approaches, including their mechanisms, benefits, and limitations. By harnessing real-time patient data and feedback, closed-loop systems can tailor interventions dynamically, thus enhancing blood pressure regulation. Additionally, we examine the integration of advanced monitoring technologies and artificial intelligence algorithms in closed-loop systems. The review highlights recent studies and their findings, emphasizing the evolving landscape of closed-loop blood pressure management across different clinical scenarios. From the perioperative period to critical care settings, closed-loop systems hold the potential to optimize patient outcomes by precisely adjusting vasopressor administration in response to continuous blood pressure fluctuations. By providing insights into the current state of closed-loop systems for blood pressure control, this review offers a comprehensive overview of their potential contributions to improved patient outcomes and future directions for research and implementation.

A Simple Vitamin Deficiency With Life-Threatening Complications: A Case of B12 Deficiency and Hyperhomocysteinemia-Induced Thrombosis

While macrocytic anemia is common in vitamin B12 deficiency, rarely, pancytopenia and hemolytic anemia can occur. Homocysteine levels are elevated in severe B12 deficiency, and this is linked to thrombus formation with potentially life-threatening complications. We present a patient with severe vitamin B12 deficiency complicated by hyperhomocysteinemia and obstructive shock from pulmonary embolism. A 56-year-old male with no medical history presented to the hospital with altered mentation. The patient's family stated he was experiencing bilateral paresthesias of his lower extremities, progressive depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Initial vitals were blood pressure of 76/36, heart rate of 70 beats per minute, respiratory rate of 14, and temperature of 36.3 degrees Celsius. He was intubated due to severe encephalopathy. Relevant labs indicated severe macrocytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, decreased B12 levels, elevated methylmalonic acid, and elevated homocysteine. Imaging demonstrated a right common femoral vein thrombosis and subsegmental pulmonary emboli. Peripheral blood smear revealed schistocytes, anisopoikilocytosis, and decreased platelet count. The patient required fluid resuscitation, antibiotics, and multiple blood products. Vitamin B12 was administered intramuscularly, which improved the anemia. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) demonstrated gastritis. Gastric and duodenal biopsies were negative for Helicobacter pylori and celiac disease. He was negative for intrinsic factor (IF) antibodies but had elevated gastrin levels. An intravenous unfractionated heparin infusion was started when the platelet count was above 50000. The patient was extubated after seven days. Heparin was transitioned to apixaban and an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter was placed. Hyperhomocysteinemia is a known pro-thrombotic factor that can lead to the development of venous thromboembolism. B12 malabsorption can stem from inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, gastritis, pancreatic insufficiency, gastrectomy, gastric bypass surgery, or antibodies to IF. While this case showed gastritis and negative IF antibodies, gastrin levels were elevated, indicating a mixed picture. This highlights the challenge of definitively diagnosing pernicious anemia as the cause of vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 deficiency may lead to critical illness in which thromboembolism develops secondary to hyperhomocysteinemia.

Older adults' medical preferences for the end of life: a cross-sectional population-based survey in Switzerland

OBJECTIVES

Medical decision-making at the end of life is common and should be as patient-centred as possible. Our study investigates older adults' preferences towards three medical treatments that are frequently included in advance directive forms and their association with social, regional and health characteristics.

SETTING

A cross-sectional study using population-based data of wave 8 (2019/2020) of the Swiss component of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe.

PARTICIPANTS

1430 adults aged 58 years and older living in Switzerland.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Three questions on the preferences regarding cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR); life-prolonging treatment in case of high risk of permanent mental incapacity; reduced awareness (sedation) to relieve unbearable pain and symptoms. Their associations with individuals' social, regional and health characteristics.

RESULTS

Most older adults expressed a wish to receive CPR (58.6%) and to forgo life-prolonging treatment in case of permanent mental incapacity (92.2%). Most older adults also indicated that they would accept reduced awareness if necessary to receive effective treatment for pain and distressing symptoms (59.2%). Older adults' treatment preferences for CPR and life-prolonging treatment differed according to sex, age, partnership status, linguistic region and health status, while willingness to accept reduced awareness for effective symptom treatment was more similarly distributed across population groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Simultaneous preferences for CPR and refusal of life-prolonging treatment might appear to be conflicting treatment goals. Considering individuals' values and motivations can help clarify ambivalent treatment decisions. Structured advance care planning processes with trained professionals allows for exploring individuals' motivations and values and helps to identify congruent care and treatment goals.

Assessment of redundancy, methodological and reporting quality, and potential discrepancies of results of systematic reviews of early mobilisation of critically ill adults: a meta-research protocol

INTRODUCTION

Several systematic reviews (SRs) have been conducted to determine the effectiveness of early mobilisation in critically ill adults with heterogeneous methodology and results. Redundancy in conducting SRs, unclear justification when leading new SRs or updating, and discordant results of SRs on the same research question may generate research waste that makes it difficult for clinicians to keep up to date with the best available evidence. This meta-research aims to assess the redundancy, methodological and reporting quality, and potential reasons for discordance in the results reported by SRs conducted to determine the effectiveness of early mobilisation in critically ill adult patients.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

A meta-research of early mobilisation SRs in critically ill adult patients will be conducted. A search of MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Cochrane Library, Epistemonikos and other search resources will be conducted. Two independent reviewers will perform study selection, data extraction and quality appraisal. Discrepancies will be resolved by consensus or a third reviewer. The redundancy of SRs will be assessed by the degree of overlap of primary studies. In addition, the justification for conducting new SRs will be evaluated with the 'Evidence-Based Research' framework. The methodological quality of the SRs will be assessed with the A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews 2 tool, and the quality of the reports through compliance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. To assess the potential reasons for discordance in the results of the SRs considering divergence in results and their interpretation.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

As meta-research, this study does not involve the participation of people whose rights may be violated. However, this overview will be developed rigorously and systematically to achieve valid and reliable results. The findings of this meta-research study will be presented at conferences and published in a peer-reviewed journal related to rehabilitation, critical care or research methodology.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

osf.io/kxwq9.

Non-inferiority trial of a shorter (7 days) compared with a longer (14 days) duration of antimicrobial therapy for the treatment of bacteraemic urinary sepsis, measured by microbiological success after the completion of therapy: a substudy protocol for the Bacteraemia Antibiotic Length Actually Needed for Clinical Effectiveness (BALANCE) multicentre randomised controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

The BALANCE study is a randomised clinical trial (3626 participants) designed to assess the non-inferiority of 7 days (short-course) antibiotic therapy compared with 14 days of therapy for bacteraemia using the pragmatic endpoint of 90-day survival. Based on pilot study data, approximately 30% of enrolees will have a urinary tract infection (UTI) as the source of bacteraemia.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

We aim to assess the non-inferiority of short-course antibiotic therapy for patients with bacteraemia UTIs.Participating sites in four countries will be invited to join this substudy. All participants of this substudy will be enrolled in the main BALANCE study. The intervention will be assigned and treatment administered as specified in the main protocol.We will include participants in this substudy if the probable source of their infection is a UTI, as judged by the site principal investigator, and they have a urine microscopy and culture indicative of a UTI. Participants will be excluded if they have an ileal loop, vesicoureteric reflux or suspected or confirmed prostatitis.The primary outcome is the absence of a positive culture on a test-of-cure urine sample collected 6-12 days after cessation of antimicrobials, with a non-inferiority margin of 15%. Secondary outcomes include the clinical resolution of infection symptoms at test-of-cure.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study has been approved in conjunction with the main BALANCE study through the relevant ethics review process at each participating site. We will disseminate the results through the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases, Canadian Critical Care Trials Group, the Association for Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Canada Clinical Research Network (AMMI Canada CRN) and other collaborators.

UNIVERSAL TRIAL NUMBER

U1111-1256-0874.

MAIN BALANCE TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT03005145.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

Australian Clinical Trial Register: ACTRN12620001108909.

Association between minimal decrease in platelet counts and outcomes in septic patients: a retrospective observational study

OBJECTIVES

Although platelets have been linked to inflammatory development in sepsis, knowledge on their role as an indicator in sepsis treatment is scarce. Here, we investigated the association between time-dependent changes in platelet counts with mortality rates to reveal the role of platelets in sepsis therapy.

DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

We screened the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC-IV), a public database comprising data from critical care subjects at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 7981 patients, who were admitted to the BIDMC between 2008 and 2019, were analysed based on Sepsis-3 criteria from MIMIC-IV.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Primary and secondary outcomes included 30-day mortality after admission and length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay and hospitalisation, respectively.

RESULTS

Patients with ≤10% reduction in proportion of platelet counts were associated with significantly lower 30-day mortality (14.1% vs 23.5%, p<0.001, Kaplan-Meier analysis, p<0.0001). Multivariable analysis revealed that decreased platelet-count percentage ≤10% on day 4 after ICU admission was associated with lower probability of 30-day non-survival (OR=0.73, 95% CI 0.64 to 0.82, p＜0.001). Patients in the ≤10% group had significantly shorter ICU stays than those in the >10% group (6.8 vs 7.5, p＜0.001). Restricted cubic spline curves revealed that mortality rates decreased with increase in proportion of platelet counts.

CONCLUSIONS

A ≤10% decrease in platelet-count percentage among sepsis patients after treatments is independently associated with decreased 30-day mortality, suggesting that changes in proportion of platelet counts after treatments could be an indicator for assessing the therapeutic effects of sepsis.

Study protocol of a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-arm parallel-group, multi-centre phase 3 pivotal trial to investigate the efficacy and safety of recombinant human alkaline phosphatase for treatment of patients with sepsis-associated acute kidney injury

INTRODUCTION

Sepsis, the leading cause of acute kidney injury (AKI), is associated with a high morbidity and mortality. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is an endogenous detoxifying enzyme. A recombinant human ALP compound, ilofotase alfa, showed no safety or tolerability concerns in a phase 2 trial. Renal function improvement over 28 days was significantly greater in the ilofotase alfa group. Moreover, a significant relative reduction in 28-day all-cause mortality of >40% was observed. A follow-up trial has been designed to confirm these findings.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This is a phase 3, global, multi-centre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, sequential design trial in which patients are randomly assigned to either placebo or 1.6 mg/kg ilofotase alfa. Randomisation is stratified by baseline modified Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (mSOFA) score and trial site. The primary objective is to confirm the survival benefit with ilofotase alfa by demonstrating a reduction in 28-day all-cause mortality in patients with sepsis-associated AKI requiring vasopressors. A maximum of 1400 patients will be enrolled at ∼120 sites in Europe, North America, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Up to four interim analyses will take place. Based on predefined decision rules, the trial may be stopped early for futility or for effectiveness. In addition, patients with COVID-19 disease and patients with 'moderate to severe' chronic kidney disease are analysed as 2 separate cohorts of 100 patients each. An independent Data Monitoring Committee evaluates safety data at prespecified intervals throughout the trial.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The trial is approved by relevant institutional review boards/independent ethics committees and is conducted in accordance with the ethical principles of the Declaration of Helsinki, guidelines of Good Clinical Practice, Code of Federal Regulations and all other applicable regulations. Results of this study will determine the potential of ilofotase alfa to reduce mortality in critically ill patients with sepsis-associated AKI and will be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

EudraCT CT Number 2019-0046265-24. US IND Number 117 605 Pre-results.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov number: NCT04411472.

Greener Operations: a James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership to define research priorities in environmentally sustainable perioperative practice through a structured consensus approach

OBJECTIVES

To agree on the 'top 10' research priorities for environmentally sustainable perioperative practice.

DESIGN

Surveys and literature review; final consensus workshop using a nominal group technique.

SETTING

UK-based setting.

PARTICIPANTS

Healthcare professionals, patients, carers and the public.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Initial survey-suggested research questions; interim survey-shortlist of 'indicative' questions (the 20 most frequently nominated by patients, carers and the public, and healthcare professionals); final workshop-ranked research priorities.

RESULTS

Initial survey-1926 suggestions by 296 respondents, refined into 60 indicative questions. Interim survey-325 respondents. Final workshop-21 participants agreed the 'top 10': (1) How can more sustainable reusable equipment safely be used during and around the time of an operation? (2) How can healthcare organisations more sustainably procure (obtain) medicines, equipment and items used during and around the time of an operation? (3) How can healthcare professionals who deliver care during and around the time of an operation be encouraged to adopt sustainable actions in practice? (4) Can more efficient use of operating theatres and associated practices reduce the environmental impact of operations? (5) How can the amount of waste generated during and around the time of an operation be minimised? (6) How do we measure and compare the short-term and long-term environmental impacts of surgical and non-surgical treatments for the same condition? (7) What is the environmental impact of different anaesthetic techniques (eg, different types of general, regional and local anaesthesia) used for the same operation? (8) How should the environmental impact of an operation be weighed against its clinical outcomes and financial costs? (9) How can environmental sustainability be incorporated into the organisational management of operating theatres? (10) What are the most sustainable forms of effective infection prevention and control used around the time of an operation (eg, personal protective equipment, drapes, clean air ventilation)?

CONCLUSIONS

A broad range of 'end-users' have identified research priorities for sustainable perioperative care.

Volunteer responder provision of support to relatives of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients: a qualitative study

OBJECTIVES

Smartphone dispatch of volunteer responders for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is implemented worldwide. While basic life support courses prepare participants to provide CPR, the courses rarely address the possibility of meeting a family member or relative in crisis. This study aimed to examine volunteer responders' provision of support to relatives of cardiac arrest patients and how relatives experienced the interaction with volunteer responders.

DESIGN

In this qualitative study, we conducted 16 semistructured interviews with volunteer responders and relatives of cardiac arrest patients.

SETTING

Interviews were conducted face to face and by video and recorded and transcribed verbatim.

PARTICIPANTS

Volunteer responders dispatched to cardiac arrests and relatives of cardiac arrest patients were included in the study. Participants were included from all five regions of Denmark.

RESULTS

A thematic analysis was performed with inspiration from Braun and Clarke. We identified three themes: (1) relatives' experiences of immediate relief at arrival of assistance, (2) volunteer responders' assessment of relatives' needs and (3) the advantage of being healthcare educated.

CONCLUSIONS

Relatives to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients benefited from volunteer responders' presence and support and experienced the mere presence of volunteer responders as supportive. Healthcare-educated volunteer responders felt confident and skilled to provide care for relatives, while some non-healthcare-educated volunteer responders felt they lacked the proper training and knowledge to provide emotional support for relatives. Future basic life support courses should include a lesson on how to provide emotional support to relatives of cardiac arrest patients.

Implementation and clinical utility of a Computer-Aided Risk Score for Mortality (CARM): a qualitative study

OBJECTIVES

The Computer-Aided Risk Score for Mortality (CARM) estimates the risk of in-hospital mortality following acute admission to the hospital by automatically amalgamating physiological measures, blood tests, gender, age and COVID-19 status. Our aims were to implement the score with a small group of practitioners and understand their first-hand experience of interacting with the score in situ.

DESIGN

Pilot implementation evaluation study involving qualitative interviews.

SETTING

This study was conducted in one of the two National Health Service hospital trusts in the North of England in which the score was developed.

PARTICIPANTS

Medical, older person and ICU/anaesthetic consultants and specialist grade registrars (n=116) and critical outreach nurses (n=7) were given access to CARM. Nine interviews were conducted in total, with eight doctors and one critical care outreach nurse.

INTERVENTIONS

Participants were given access to the CARM score, visible after login to the patients' electronic record, along with information about the development and intended use of the score.

RESULTS

Four themes and 14 subthemes emerged from reflexive thematic analysis: (1) current use (including support or challenge clinical judgement and decision making, communicating risk of mortality and professional curiosity); (2) barriers and facilitators to use (including litigation, resource needs, perception of the evidence base, strengths and limitations), (3) implementation support needs (including roll-out and integration, access, training and education); and (4) recommendations for development (including presentation and functionality and potential additional data). Barriers and facilitators to use, and recommendations for development featured highly across most interviews.

CONCLUSION

Our in situ evaluation of the pilot implementation of CARM demonstrated its scope in supporting clinical decision making and communicating risk of mortality between clinical colleagues and with service users. It suggested to us barriers to implementation of the score. Our findings may support those seeking to develop, implement or improve the adoption of risk scores.

Effects of vitamin D insufficiency on sepsis severity and risk of hospitalisation in emergency department patients: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) level on sepsis severity and risk of hospitalisation in emergency department (ED) septic patients when categorised as vitamin D insufficiency according to the level of 25(OH)D<30 ng/mL.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional observational study.

SETTING

A 900-bed academic tertiary hospital with an ED residency training programme in Bangkok, Thailand.

PARTICIPANTS

An observational study of 101 ED septic patients aged ≥18 years was conducted between March 2015 and September 2015.

OUTCOME MEASURES

The level of 25(OH)D was analysed and correlated with sepsis severity assessed by Acute Physiology Age Chronic Health Evaluation-II (APACHE-II) and Mortality in ED Sepsis (MEDS) scores, and the risk of hospitalisation.

RESULTS

One hundred and one patients were enrolled, with an average age of 68±18 years, 56% female, APACHE-II score of 14±6, MEDS score of 8±5 and 25(OH)D level was 19±11 ng/mL. The prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in our ED septic patients was 87% and the admission rate was 88%. A significant association between 25(OH)D level and sepsis severity scores was found, which was measured by APACHE-II and MEDS scores (-0.29; 95% CI -0.41 to -0.17, p<0.001 and -0.15; 95% CI -0.25 to -0.06, p=0.002, respectively). However, vitamin D insufficiency could not determine hospitalisation (OR=1.42; 95% CI 0.27 to 7.34; p=0.68 and OR=1.65; 95% CI 0.07 to 41.7; p=0.76 when adjusted by baseline covariates).

CONCLUSIONS

The vitamin D insufficiency of septic patients in our ED was high and had a significant negative association with sepsis severity. However, vitamin D insufficiency status cannot predict the hospitalisation of septic patients who were admitted to the ED. Further research is needed to investigate the role of vitamin D supplementation in the ED in affecting sepsis severity.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

TCTR20151127001.

Development and validation of a mechanical power-oriented prediction model of weaning failure in mechanically ventilated patients: a retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To develop and validate a mechanical power (MP)-oriented prediction model of weaning failure in mechanically ventilated patients.

DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Data were collected from the large US Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-IV (MIMIC-IV) V.1.0, which integrates comprehensive clinical data from 76 540 intensive care unit (ICU) admissions from 2008 to 2019.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 3695 patients with invasive mechanical ventilation for more than 24 hours and weaned with T-tube ventilation strategies were enrolled from the MIMIC-IV database.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME

Weaning failure.

RESULTS

All eligible patients were randomised into development cohorts (n=2586, 70%) and validation cohorts (n=1109, 30%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis of the development cohort showed that positive end-expiratory pressure, dynamic lung compliance, MP, inspired oxygen concentration, length of ICU stay and invasive mechanical ventilation duration were independent predictors of weaning failure. Calibration curves showed good correlation between predicted and observed outcomes. The prediction model showed accurate discrimination in the development and validation cohorts, with area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values of 0.828 (95% CI: 0.812 to 0.844) and 0.833 (95% CI: 0.809 to 0.857), respectively. Decision curve analysis indicated that the predictive model was clinically beneficial.

CONCLUSION

The MP-oriented model of weaning failure accurately predicts the risk of weaning failure in mechanical ventilation patients and provides valuable information for clinicians making decisions on weaning.

Practical Anemia Bundle for Sustained Blood Recovery (PABST-BR) in critical illness: a protocol for a randomised controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Anaemia is highly prevalent in critical illness and is associated with impaired outcomes during and after hospitalisation. However, the impact of interventions designed to attenuate or treat anaemia during critical illness on post-hospitalisation haemoglobin recovery and functional outcomes is unclear.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The Practical Anemia Bundle for Sustained Blood Recovery (PABST-BR) clinical trial is a pragmatic, open-label, parallel group, single-centre, randomised clinical trial assessing the impact of a multifaceted anaemia prevention and treatment strategy versus standard care for improvement of haemoglobin concentrations and functional outcomes after critical illness. The intervention, which will be delivered early in critical illness for those with moderate-to-severe anaemia (ie, haemoglobin <100 g/L), includes three components: (1) optimised phlebotomy, (2) clinical decision support and (3) pharmacological anaemia treatment directed at the underlying aetiology of anaemia. In-person assessments will occur at 1 and 3 months post-hospitalisation for laboratory evaluations and multidimensional functional outcome assessments. The primary outcome is differences in haemoglobin concentrations between groups, with secondary endpoints of anaemia-related fatigue, physical function, cognition, mental health, quality of life, phlebotomy volumes and frequency, transfusions, readmissions and mortality through 1-year post-hospitalisation.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, USA. A Data Safety Monitoring Plan has been created in accordance with the policies of the Institutional Review Board and the study funder, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The study will comply with NIH data sharing and dissemination policies. Results will be presented at national and international meetings and published in peer-reviewed journals. Designing and testing strategies to optimise haemoglobin recovery and improve functional outcomes after critical illness remain important research gaps. The PABST-BR trial will inform the development of a larger multicentre clinical trial.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT05167734.

Thirst in adult patients in the intensive care unit: protocol for a scoping review

INTRODUCTION

Thirst is one of the most bothersome symptoms experienced by intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Effective diagnosis and management of thirst in the ICU is essential, particularly as patients are less sedated than previously and more aware of this problem. Currently, no overview of publications on thirst identification and management in ICU patients exists. The scoping review will address the broad question 'What is known about thirst as a symptom in adult critically ill patients?' It aims to provide an overview of the causes and risk factors, diagnosis and measurement, the symptom dimensions and its interaction with other symptoms, and thirst management.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The review will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology framework to guide the process and will be reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. Methods include: defining the review questions, eligibility criteria, concepts of interest and context; and outlining the search strategy, study selection process, data extraction and analysis. PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL will be searched from inception to April 2022.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval is not required, as the scoping review will synthesise information from available publications. The scoping review will be submitted for publication to a scientific journal, presented at relevant conferences and disseminated as part of future workshops with ICU support groups and the critical care professional community.

Resource use, availability and cost in the provision of critical care in Tanzania: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES

Critical care is essential in saving lives of critically ill patients, however, provision of critical care across lower resource settings can be costly, fragmented and heterogenous. Despite the urgent need to scale up the provision of critical care, little is known about its availability and cost. Here, we aim to systematically review and identify reported resource use, availability and costs for the provision of critical care and the nature of critical care provision in Tanzania.

DESIGN

This is a systematic review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

DATA SOURCES

Medline, Embase and Global Health databases were searched covering the period 2010 to 17 November 2020.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

We included studies that reported on forms of critical care offered, critical care services offered and/or costs and resources used in the provision of care in Tanzania published from 2010.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

Quality assessment of the articles and data extraction was done by two independent researchers. The Reference Case for Estimating the Costs of Global Health Services and Interventions was used to assess quality of included studies. A narrative synthesis of extracted data was conducted. Costs were adjusted and reported in 2019 US$ and TZS using the World Bank GDP deflators.

RESULTS

A total 31 studies were found to fulfil the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Critical care identified in Tanzania was categorised into: intensive care unit (ICU) delivered critical care and non-ICU critical care. The availability of ICU delivered critical care was limited to urban settings whereas non-ICU critical care was found in rural and urban settings. Paediatric critical care equipment was more scarce than equipment for adults. 15 studies reported on the costs of services related to critical care yet no study reported an average or unit cost of critical care. Costs of medication, equipment (eg, oxygen, personal protective equipment), services and human resources were identified as inputs to specific critical care services in Tanzania.

CONCLUSION

There is limited evidence on the resource use, availability and costs of critical care in Tanzania. There is a strong need for further empirical research on critical care resources availability, utilisation and costs across specialties and hospitals of different level in low/middle-income countries like Tanzania to inform planning, priority setting and budgeting for critical care services.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42020221923.

Correlation between chest CT and RT-PCR testing in India's second COVID-19 wave: a retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

To assess the diagnostic accuracy of chest CT in clinically suspected patients with COVID-19 using reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) as the reference standard and establish the correlation between CT Severity Score (CTSS) and RT-PCR results.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Retrospective cohort study. Single-centre tertiary care hospital-based study.

PARTICIPANTS

We enrolled 112 clinically suspected patients with COVID-19 between 1 April 2021 and 31 May 2021. Chest CT and RT-PCR tests were performed for all patients at a time interval of no longer than 7 days between the two tests. Patients with prior chronic respiratory illnesses were excluded. The diagnostic performance of chest CT was evaluated using RT-PCR as the reference standard. The CTSS was calculated for all patients with positive chest CT findings, and it was correlated with results of the RT-PCR assay.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome measures were determination of the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and diagnostic accuracy of chest CT using RT-PCR as the standard of reference. The correlation between CTSS and RT-PCR was the secondary outcome.

RESULTS

85/112 (76%) patients tested positive on the RT-PCR whereas 91/112 (81%) had chest CT findings typical of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Chest CT had a sensitivity of 90.6% (95% CI 82.3% to 95.8%), a specificity of 48.1% (95% CI 28.7% to 68.0%), a PPV of 84.6% (95% CI 79.2% to 88.8%), an NPV of 61.9% (95% CI 43.0% to 77.8%) and an accuracy of 80.4% (95% CI 71.8% to 87.3%). There was a significant correlation between the CTSS and RT-PCR positivity (p value=0.003).

CONCLUSION

In our experience, chest CT has a good sensitivity and provides a reliable diagnostic tool for moderate-to-severe COVID-19 cases in resource limited settings.

Effectiveness and safety of fibrinolytic therapy in critically ill patients with COVID-19 with ARDS: protocol for a prospective meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

The use of fibrinolytic therapy has been proposed in severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). During the COVID-19 pandemic, anticoagulation has received special attention due to the frequent findings of microthrombi and fibrin deposits in the lungs and other organs. Therefore, the use of fibrinolysis has been regarded as a potential rescue therapy in these patients. In this prospective meta-analysis, we plan to synthesise evidence from ongoing clinical trials and thus assess whether fibrinolytic therapy can improve the ventilation/perfusion ratio in patients with severe COVID-19-caused ARDS as compared with standard of care.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This protocol was registered in PROSPERO. All randomised controlled trials and prospective observational trials that compare fibrinolytic therapy with standard of care in adult patients with COVID-19 and define their primary or secondary outcome as improvement in oxygenation and/or gas exchange, or mortality will be considered eligible. Safety outcomes will include bleeding event rate and requirement for transfusion. Our search on 25 January 2022 identified five eligible ongoing clinical trials. A formal search of MEDLINE (via PubMed), Embase, CENTRAL will be performed every month to identify published results and to search for further trials that meet our eligibility criteria.

DISSEMINATION

This could be the first qualitative and quantitative synthesis summarising evidence of the efficacy and safety of fibrinolytic therapy in critically ill patients with COVID-19. We plan to publish our results in peer-reviewed journals.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42021285281.

External validation of the ProVent score for prognostication of 1-year mortality of critically ill patients with prolonged mechanical ventilation: a single-centre, retrospective observational study in Austria

OBJECTIVES

In critically ill patients requiring mechanical ventilation for at least 21 days, 1-year mortality can be estimated using the ProVent score, calculated from four variables (age, platelet count, vasopressor use and renal replacement therapy). We aimed to externally validate discrimination and calibration of the ProVent score and, if necessary, to update its underlying regression model.

DESIGN

Retrospective, observational, single-centre study.

SETTING

11 intensive care units at one tertiary academic hospital.

PATIENTS

780 critically ill adult patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation for at least 21 days.

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE

1-year mortality after intensive care unit discharge.

RESULTS

380 patients (49%) had died after 1 year. One-year mortality for ProVent scores from 0 to 5 were: 15%, 27%, 57%, 66%, 72% and 76%. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the ProVent probability model was 0.76 (95% CI 0.72 to 0.79), calibration intercept was -0.43 (95% CI -0.59 to -0.27) and calibration slope was 0.76 (95% CI 0.62 to 0.89). Model recalibration and extension by inclusion of three additional predictors (total bilirubin concentration, enteral nutrition and surgical status) improved model discrimination and calibration. Decision curve analysis demonstrated that the original ProVent model had negative net benefit, which was avoided with the extended ProVent model.

CONCLUSIONS

The ProVent probability model had adequate discrimination but was miscalibrated in our patient cohort and, as such, could potentially be harmful. Use of the extended ProVent score developed by us could possibly alleviate this concern.

Glucocorticoid receptor expression in patients with cardiac arrest in the early period after the return of spontaneous circulation: a prospective observational single-centre study

OBJECTIVES

Rapid changes in glucocorticoid (GC) levels and adrenal insufficiency are related to the development of post-cardiac arrest (CA) syndrome. However, GC receptor (GR) expression changes have not been studied. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the association of early changes in GR expression and prognosis and immune response in patients who experienced CA.

DESIGN

Prospective observational study.

SETTING

Emergency department.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients (85) in the early period of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after CA were admitted between October 2018 and October 2019. After a physical examination, age-matched and sex-matched healthy individuals (40) were recruited for the control group.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

GR expression and cell counts of circulatory T and B lymphocytes, natural killer cells and regulatory T (Treg) cells were assessed. Plasma total cortisol and adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) levels were also tested.

RESULTS

All cell counts were lower, and plasma total cortisol levels were higher (p<0.001) in patients who experienced CA than in the healthy control group. GR expression in Treg cells and CD3+CD4+ T lymphocytes were not significantly different, but the mean fluorescence intensity and GR expression in other cells were lower in patients who experienced CA (p<0.05) than in the healthy control group. ACTH levels were not different. There were no significant differences between survivors and non-survivors.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed that GR expression and cell counts rapidly decreased, whereas plasma total cortisol levels increased in the early period after ROSC among patients who experienced CA. Our findings provide important information about GR level and function, and immunosuppressive status in these patients. Assessing GR expression in patients who experienced CA may help screening for those who are more sensitive to GC therapy.

Exploring physician approaches to conflict resolution in end-of-life decisions in the adult intensive care unit: protocol for a systematic review of qualitative research

INTRODUCTION

Conflict is unfortunately well-documented in the adult intensive care unit (AICU). In the context of end-of-life (EOL) decision-making (ie, the withdrawal or withholding of life-sustaining treatment), conflict commonly occurs when a consensus cannot be reached between the healthcare team and the patient's family on the 'best interests' of the critically ill, incapacitated patient. While existing literature has identified potential methods for conflict resolution, it is less clear how these approaches are perceived and used by stakeholders in the EOL decision-making process. We aim to explore this by systematically reviewing and synthesising the published evidence, which addresses the following research question: what does existing qualitative research reveal about physician approaches to addressing conflict arising in EOL decisions in the AICU?

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Peer-reviewed qualitative studies (retrieved from MEDLINE, Project Muse, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and LILACS) examining conflict and dispute resolution in the context of EOL decisions in the AICU setting will be included. Two reviewers will independently screen either all or a randomly selected sample of studies, with a third reviewer independently screening studies of uncertain eligibility. The 'thematic synthesis' approach will be employed to analyse the resulting data. The quality of included papers will be assessed using the 2018 Mixed-Methods Assessment Tool. The 'Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations-Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative research' approach will be used to assess our confidence in the findings.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval is not required for this review, as only published data will be included. We anticipate that the findings will be of interest to healthcare professionals working in AICUs and individuals working in bioethics, given the ethically contentious nature of EOL decisions. The findings will be disseminated at academic conferences and through open-access publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42021193769.

Electronic nudge tool technology used in the critical care and peri-anaesthetic setting: a scoping review protocol

INTRODUCTION

Electronic clinical decision support (eCDS) tools are used to assist clinical decision making. Using computer-generated algorithms with evidence-based rule sets, they alert clinicians to events that require attention. eCDS tools generating alerts using nudge principles present clinicians with evidence-based clinical treatment options to guide clinician behaviour without restricting freedom of choice. Although eCDS tools have shown beneficial outcomes, challenges exist with regard to their acceptability most likely related to implementation. Furthermore, the pace of progress in this field has allowed little time to effectively evaluate the experience of the intended user. This scoping review aims to examine the development and implementation strategies, and the impact on the end user of eCDS tools that generate alerts using nudge principles, specifically in the critical care and peri-anaesthetic setting.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This review will follow the Arksey and O'Malley framework. A search will be conducted of literature published in the last 15 years in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, CENTRAL, Web of Science and SAGE databases. Citation screening and data extraction will be performed by two independent reviewers. Extracted data will include context, e-nudge tool type and design features, development, implementation strategies and associated impact on end users.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This scoping review will synthesise published literature therefore ethical approval is not required. Review findings will be published in topic relevant peer-reviewed journals and associated conferences.

Understanding the use of the National Early Warning Score 2 in acute care settings: a realist review protocol

INTRODUCTION

Failure to recognise and respond to patient deterioration in an appropriate and timely manner has been highlighted as a global patient safety concern. Early Warning Scores (EWSs) using vital signs were introduced to address this concern, with the aim of getting the patient timely and appropriate treatment. The National Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS2) is in use across the NHS, and many other settings globally. While patient improvements have been shown, research has identified that the NEWS2 is not always used as intended. Therefore, this review will use a realist approach to understand what the mechanisms are that influence appropriate use (or not) of the NEWS2 in acute care settings, how, for whom and in which contexts. The findings will inform clinicians of what helps and/or hinders appropriate use of the NEWS2 in clinical practice, thus helping to facilitate successful implementation.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Our realist review will follow Pawson's iterative six step process: (1) Development of initial programme theory. (2) Searching the literature; an information scientist will develop, pilot and refine the search strategy. A systematic search will be completed, based on subject relevancy on the following databases: Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Medline, Embase (OvidSP), Web of Science (Science Citation Index and Social Science Citation), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Joanna Briggs Institute, Ethos, Proquest Dissertations and Theses Global, and Google Scholar for documents dating from 1997 (date of the first published EWS) to present. To retrieve additional relevant data 'snowballing' (finding references and authors by hand, contacting authors, searching reference lists and citation-tracking using Google Scholar) will be used. Inclusion criteria include all documents (including grey literature) that relate to the use of EWSs/NEWS2 in the English language only. Documents set in the paediatric, maternity and primary care settings will be excluded. (3) Selecting documents and quality appraisal. (4) Extracting and organising the data. (5) Synthesising the data. (6) Disseminating the findings. We will recruit a group of stakeholders comprised of experienced clinicians who use the NEWS2 as part of their clinical practice to provide feedback throughout the review. Step 1 has already begun with the development of an initial programme theory. This initial programme theory presents how the NEWS2 is supposed to work (or not), it will now be developed, tested and refined.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval is not required for this study as it is secondary research. Dissemination will include a peer-reviewed publication and conference presentations. Findings will also be amplified through social media platforms with user friendly summaries. Our stakeholder group will also contribute to dissemination of findings in their clinical areas and among existing networks.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42022304497.

Validation of a delirium predictive model in patients admitted to surgical intensive care units: a multicentre prospective observational cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To internally and externally validate a delirium predictive model for adult patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) following surgery.

DESIGN

A prospective, observational, multicentre study.

SETTING

Three university-affiliated teaching hospitals in Thailand.

PARTICIPANTS

Adults aged over 18 years were enrolled if they were admitted to a surgical ICU (SICU) and had the surgery within 7 days before SICU admission.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Postoperative delirium was assessed using the Thai version of the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU. The assessments commenced on the first day after the patient's operation and continued for 7 days, or until either discharge from the ICU or the death of the patient. Validation was performed of the previously developed delirium predictive model: age+(5×SOFA)+(15×benzodiazepine use)+(20×DM)+(20×mechanical ventilation)+(20×modified IQCODE>3.42).

RESULTS

In all, 380 SICU patients were recruited. Internal validation on 150 patients with the mean age of 75±7.5 years resulted in an area under a receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.76 (0.683 to 0.837). External validation on 230 patients with the mean age of 57±17.3 years resulted in an AUROC of 0.85 (0.789 to 0.906). The AUROC of all validation cohorts was 0.83 (0.785 to 0.872). The optimum cut-off value to discriminate between a high and low probability of postoperative delirium in SICU patients was 115. This cut-off offered the highest value for Youden's index (0.50), the best AUROC, and the optimum values for sensitivity (78.9%) and specificity (70.9%).

CONCLUSIONS

The model developed by the previous study was able to predict the occurrence of postoperative delirium in critically ill surgical patients admitted to SICUs.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

Thai Clinical Trail Registry (TCTR20180105001).

Prognostic value of elevated lactate dehydrogenase in patients with COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the prognostic performance of elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in patients with COVID-19.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed, Embase and EuropePMC on 19 November 2020. The outcome of interest was composite poor outcome, defined as a combined endpoint of mortality, severity, need for invasive mechanical ventilation and need for intensive care unit care. Severity followed the included studies' criteria.

RESULTS

There are 10 399 patients from 21 studies. Elevated LDH was present in 44% (34%-53%) of the patients. Meta-regression analysis showed that diabetes was correlated with elevated LDH (OR 1.01 (95% CI 1.00 to 1.02), p=0.038), but not age (p=0.710), male (p=0.068) and hypertension (p=0.969). Meta-analysis showed that elevated LDH was associated with composite poor outcome (OR 5.33 (95% CI 3.90 to 7.31), p<0.001; I2: 77.5%). Subgroup analysis showed that elevated LDH increased mortality (OR 4.22 (95% CI 2.49 to 7.14), p<0.001; I2: 89%). Elevated LDH has a sensitivity of 0.74 (95% CI 0.60 to 0.85), specificity of 0.69 (95% CI 0.58 to 0.78), positive likelihood ratio of 2.4 (95% CI 1.9 to 2.9), negative likelihood ratio of 0.38 (95% CI 0.26 to 0.55), diagnostic OR of 6 (95% CI 4 to 9) and area under curve of 0.77 (95% CI 0.73 to 0.80). Elevated LDH would indicate a 44% posterior probability and non-elevated LDH would in indicate 11% posterior probability for poor prognosis. Meta-regression analysis showed that age, male, hypertension and diabetes did not contribute to the heterogeneity of the analyses.

CONCLUSION

LDH was associated with poor prognosis in patients with COVID-19.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42020221594.

Multicentre observational study on practice of prehospital management of hypotensive trauma patients: the SPITFIRE study protocol

INTRODUCTION

Major haemorrhage after injury is the leading cause of preventable death for trauma patients. Recent advancements in trauma care suggest damage control resuscitation (DCR) should start in the prehospital phase following major trauma. In Italy, Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) assist the most complex injuries and deliver the most advanced interventions including DCR. The effect size of DCR delivered prehospitally on survival remains however unclear.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This is an investigator-initiated, large, national, prospective, observational cohort study aiming to recruit >500 patients in haemorrhagic shock after major trauma. We aim at describing the current practice of hypotensive trauma management as well as propose the creation of a national registry of patients with haemorrhagic shock.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE

the exploration of the effect size of the variation in clinical practice on the mortality of hypotensive trauma patients. The primary outcome measure will be 24 hours, 7-day and 30-day mortality. Secondary outcomes include: association of prehospital factors and survival from injury to hospital admission, hospital length of stay, prehospital and in-hospital complications, hospital outcomes; use of prehospital ultrasound; association of prehospital factors and volume of first 24-hours blood product administration and evaluation of the prevalence of use, appropriateness, haemodynamic, metabolic and effects on mortality of prehospital blood transfusions.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

age >18 years, traumatic injury attended by a HEMS team including a physician, a systolic blood pressure <90 mm Hg or weak/absent radial pulse and a confirmed or clinically likely diagnosis of major haemorrhage. Prehospital and in-hospital variables will be collected to include key times, clinical findings, examinations and interventions. Patients will be followed-up until day 30 from admission. The Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended will be collected at 30 days from admission.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study has been approved by the Ethics committee 'Comitato Etico di Area Vasta Emilia Centro'. Data will be disseminated to the scientific community by abstracts submitted to international conferences and by original articles submitted to peer-reviewed journals.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04760977.

Trends in bacterial sepsis incidence and mortality in France between 2015 and 2019 based on National Health Data System (Système National des données de Santé (SNDS)): a retrospective observational study

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to provide a case definition of sepsis of presumed bacterial aetiology based on 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) codes, to assess trends in sepsis incidence and mortality between 2015 and 2019 in France, and to describe the characteristics of affected patients and hospital stays.

DESIGN

Nationwide, population-based, retrospective observational study.

SETTING

Metropolitan France between 2015 and 2019.

PARTICIPANTS

Between 2015 and 2019, 1 224 433 patients with sepsis of presumed bacterial aetiology were selected from the French National Hospital Discharge Database (Programme de Médicalisation des Systèmes d'Information) and were identified from corresponding ICD-10 codes for explicit sepsis or implicit sepsis.

MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES

Annual overall and age-specific and gender-specific incidence and 95% CI, as well as trends in sepsis incidence and mortality, were estimated. Comorbidities, length of hospital stay and outcomes were described.

RESULTS

The sex-standardised and age-standardised incidence per 100 000 (95% CI) increased from 357 (356.0 to 359.0) in 2015 to 403 (401.9 to 405.0) in 2019 and remained higher for males compared with females. Children under 1 year and patients over 75 years consistently had the highest incidence. The most common comorbidities were cancer and chronic heart failure. The median hospital length of stay was 12 days. Most patients came from home, but only half returned home after their hospital stay and approximately 15% were discharged to long-term care. In-hospital mortality was about 25% and declined along the study period.

CONCLUSIONS

Medico-administrative databases can be used to provide nationwide estimates of the in-hospital burden of bacterial sepsis. The results confirm the high burden of sepsis in France. These data should be complemented by estimating the additional burden associated with fungal and viral infections during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in Kenya: a multicentre cohort study

OBJECTIVES

To assess outcomes of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 and to determine the predictors of mortality.

SETTING

This study was conducted in six facilities, which included both government and privately run secondary and tertiary level facilities in the central and coastal regions of Kenya.

PARTICIPANTS

We enrolled 787 reverse transcriptase-PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV2-infected persons. Patients whose records could not be accessed were excluded.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome was COVID-19-related death. We used Cox proportional hazards regressions to determine factors related to in-hospital mortality.

RESULTS

Data from patients with 787 COVID-19 were available. The median age was 43 years (IQR 30-53), with 505 (64%) being men. At admission, 455 (58%) were symptomatic with an additional 63 (9%) developing clinical symptoms during hospitalisation. The most common symptoms were cough (337, 43%), loss of taste or smell (279, 35%) and fever (126, 16%). Comorbidities were reported in 340 (43%), with cardiovascular disease, diabetes and HIV documented in 130 (17%), 116 (15%), 53 (7%), respectively. 90 (11%) were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for a mean of 11 days, 52 (7%) were ventilated with a mean of 10 days, 107 (14%) died. The risk of death increased with age (HR 1.57 (95% CI 1.13 to 2.19)) for persons >60 years compared with those <60 years old; having comorbidities (HR 2.34 (1.68 to 3.25)) and among men (HR 1.76 (1.27 to 2.44)) compared with women. Elevated white cell count and aspartate aminotransferase were associated with higher risk of death.

CONCLUSIONS

The risk of death from COVID-19 is high among older patients, those with comorbidities and among men. Clinical parameters including patient clinical signs, haematology and liver function tests were associated with risk of death and may guide stratification of high-risk patients.

COVID-19-related dynamic coagulation disturbances and anticoagulation strategies using conventional D-dimer and point-of-care Sonoclot tests: a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

Coagulation changes associated with COVID-19 suggest the presence of a hypercoagulable state with pulmonary microthrombosis and thromboembolic complications. We assessed the dynamic association of COVID-19-related coagulation abnormalities with respiratory failure and mortality.

DESIGN

Single-centre, prospective cohort study with descriptive analysis and logistic regression.

SETTING

Tertiary care hospital, North India.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients with COVID-19 pneumonia requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission between August 2020 and November 2020.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

We compared the coagulation abnormalities using standard coagulation tests like prothrombin time, D-dimer, platelet count, etc and point-of-care global coagulation test, Sonoclot (glass beaded(gb) and heparinase-treated(h)). Incidence of thromboembolic or bleeding events and presence of endogenous heparinoids were assessed. Cox proportional Hazards test was used to assess the predictors of 28-day mortality.

MEASUREMENT

All patients underwent Sonoclot (glass beaded) test at admission apart from the routine investigations. In patients at risk of thromboembolic or bleeding phenomena, paired tests were performed at day 1 and 3 with Sonoclot. Activated clotting time (ACT) <110 s and peak amplitude >75 units were used as the cut-off for hypercoagulable state. Presence of heparin-like effect (HLE) was defined by a correction of ACT ≥40 s in h-Sonoclot.

RESULTS

Of 215 patients admitted to ICU, we included 74 treatment naive subjects. A procoagulant profile was seen in 45.5% (n=5), 32.4% (n=11) and 20.7% (n=6) in low-flow, high-flow and invasive ventilation groups. Paired Sonoclot assays in a subgroup of 33 patients demonstrated the presence of HLE in 17 (51.5%) and 20 (62.5%) at day 1 and 3, respectively. HLE (day 1) was noted in 59% of those who bled during the disease course. Mortality was observed only in the invasive ventilation group (16, 55.2%) with overall mortality of 21.6%. HLE predicted the need for mechanical ventilation (HR 1.2 CI 1.04 to 1.4 p=0.00). On multivariate analysis, the presence of HLE (HR 1.01; CI 1.006 to 1.030; p=0.025), increased C reactive protein (HR 1.040; CI 1.020 to 1.090; p=0.014), decreased platelet function (HR 0.901; CI 0.702 to 1.100 p=0.045) predicted mortality at 28days.

CONCLUSION

HLE contributed to hypocoagulable effect and associated with the need for invasive ventilation and mortality in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT04668404; ClinicalTrials.gov.in. Available from https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04668404.

Influence of socioeconomic status on functional recovery after ARDS caused by SARS-CoV-2: a multicentre, observational study

INTRODUCTION

Prognosis of patients with COVID-19 depends on the severity of the pulmonary affection. The most severe cases may progress to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which is associated with a risk of long-term repercussions on respiratory function and neuromuscular outcomes. The functional repercussions of severe forms of COVID-19 may have a major impact on quality of life, and impair the ability to return to work or exercise. Social inequalities in healthcare may influence prognosis, with socially vulnerable individuals more likely to develop severe forms of disease. We describe here the protocol for a prospective, multicentre study that aims to investigate the influence of social vulnerability on functional recovery in patients who were hospitalised in intensive care for ARDS caused by COVID-19. This study will also include an embedded qualitative study that aims to describe facilitators and barriers to compliance with rehabilitation, describe patients' health practices and identify social representations of health, disease and care.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The "Functional Recovery From Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) Due to COVID-19: Influence of Socio-Economic Status" (RECOVIDS) study is a mixed-methods, observational, multicentre cohort study performed during the routine follow-up of post-intensive care unit (ICU) functional recovery after ARDS. All patients admitted to a participating ICU for PCR-proven SARS-CoV-2 infection and who underwent chest CT scan at the initial phase AND who received respiratory support (mechanical or not) or high-flow nasal oxygen, AND had ARDS diagnosed by the Berlin criteria will be eligible. The primary outcome is the presence of lung sequelae at 6 months after ICU discharge, defined either by alterations on pulmonary function tests, oxygen desaturation during a standardised 6 min walk test or fibrosis-like pulmonary findings on chest CT. Patients will be considered to be socially disadvantaged if they have an "Evaluation de la Précarité et des Inégalités de santé dans les Centres d'Examen de Santé" (EPICES) score ≥30.17 at inclusion.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study protocol and the informed consent form were approved by an independent ethics committee (Comité de Protection des Personnes Sud Méditerranée II) on 10 July 2020 (2020-A02014-35). All patients will provide informed consent before participation. Findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international congresses.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04556513.

Impact of employing primary healthcare professionals in emergency department triage on patient flow outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

To identify, critically appraise and summarise evidence on the impact of employing primary healthcare professionals (PHCPs: family physicians/general practitioners (GPs), nurse practitioners (NP) and nurses with increased authority) in the emergency department (ED) triage, on patient flow outcomes.

METHODS

We searched Medline (Ovid), EMBASE (Ovid), Cochrane Library (Wiley) and CINAHL (EBSCO) (inception to January 2020). Our primary outcome was the time to provider initial assessment (PIA). Secondary outcomes included time to triage, proportion of patients leaving without being seen (LWBS), length of stay (ED LOS), proportion of patients leaving against medical advice (LAMA), number of repeat ED visits and patient satisfaction. Two independent reviewers selected studies, extracted data and assessed study quality using the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence quality assessment tool.

RESULTS

From 23 973 records, 40 comparative studies including 10 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and 13 pre-post studies were included. PHCP interventions were led by NP (n=14), GP (n=3) or nurses with increased authority (n=23) at triage. In all studies, PHCP-led intervention effectiveness was compared with the traditional nurse-led triage model. Median duration of the interventions was 6 months. Study quality was generally low (confounding bias); 7 RCTs were classified as moderate quality. Most studies reported that PHCP-led triage interventions decreased the PIA (13/14), ED LOS (29/30), proportion of patients LWBS (8/10), time to triage (3/3) and repeat ED visits (5/6), and increased the patient satisfaction (8/10). The proportion of patients LAMA did not differ between groups (3/3). Evidence from RCTs (n=8) as well as other study designs showed a significant decrease in ED LOS favouring the PHCP-led interventions.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, PHCP-led triage interventions improved ED patient flow metrics. There was a significant decrease in ED LOS irrespective of the study design, favouring the PHCP-led interventions. Evidence from well-designed high-quality RCTs is required prior to widespread implementation.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42020148053.

Impact of targeted hypothermia in expanded-criteria organ donors on recipient kidney-graft function: study protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial (HYPOREME)

INTRODUCTION

Expanded-criteria donors (ECDs) are used to reduce the shortage of kidneys for transplantation. However, kidneys from ECDs are associated with an increased risk of delayed graft function (DGF), a risk factor for allograft loss and mortality. HYPOREME will be a multicentre randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparing targeted hypothermia to normothermia in ECDs, in a country where the use of machine perfusion for organ storage is the standard of care. We hypothesise that hypothermia will decrease the incidence of DGF.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

HYPOREME is a multicentre RCT comparing the effect on kidney function in recipients of targeted hypothermia (34°C-35°C) and normothermia (36.5°C-37.5°C) in the ECDs. The temperature intervention starts from randomisation and is maintained until aortic clamping in the operating room. We aim to enrol 289 ECDs in order to analyse the kidney function of 516 recipients in the 53 participating centres. The primary outcome is the occurrence of DGF in kidney recipients, defined as a requirement for renal replacement therapy within 7 days after transplantation (not counting a single session for hyperkalemia during the first 24 hours). Secondary outcomes include the proportion of patients with individual organs transplanted in each group; the number of organs transplanted from each ECD and the vital status and kidney function of the recipients 7 days, 28 days, 3 months and 1 year after transplantation. An interim analysis is planned after the enrolment of 258 kidney recipients.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The trial was approved by the ethics committee of the French Intensive Care Society (CE-SRLF-16-07) on 26 April 2016 and by the competent French authorities on 20 April 2016 (Comité de Protection des Personnes-TOURS-Région Centre-Ouest 1, registration #2016-S3). Findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented during national and international scientific meetings.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT03098706.

Early mobilisation using a mobile patient lift in the intensive care unit: protocol for a randomised controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

It is important to prevent the deterioration of activities of daily living to improve the long-term prognoses of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). The patients' conditions, along with the lack of human and technical resources, often become barriers to achieving early mobilisation after the introduction of mechanical ventilation. We plan to verify the usefulness of a mobile patient lift for early mobilisation.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

We will conduct a single-centre, open-label, randomised controlled trial. The inclusion criteria are as follows: age ≥18 years, independent walking before admission and expected mechanical ventilation for at least 48 hours. The participants will be randomly divided into groups with (intervention group) or without (control group) a mobile lift protocol. A mobile lift will be used in the intervention group. The primary endpoint will be the number of days required to achieve an ICU mobility scale of ≥4 (standing position). The results of the two groups will be analysed using the Student's t-test.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study will be conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and with the approval of the Toho University Omori Medical Center Ethics Committee (approval number M20259). The results of this study will be presented internationally at academic conferences and published in the literature.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

UMIN000044965.

Severe acute kidney injury predicting model based on transcontinental databases: a single-centre prospective study

OBJECTIVES

There are many studies of acute kidney injury (AKI) diagnosis models lack of external validation and prospective validation. We constructed the models using three databases to predict severe AKI within 48 hours in intensive care unit (ICU) patients.

DESIGN

A retrospective and prospective cohort study.

SETTING

We studied critically ill patients in our database (SHZJU-ICU) and two other public databases, the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC) and AmsterdamUMC databases, including basic demographics, vital signs and laboratory results. We predicted the diagnosis of severe AKI in patients in the next 48 hours using machine-learning algorithms with the three databases. Then, we carried out real-time severe AKI prediction in the prospective validation study at our centre for 1 year.

PARTICIPANTS

All patients included in three databases with uniform exclusion criteria.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Effect evaluation index of prediction models.

RESULTS

We included 58 492 patients, and a total of 5257 (9.0%) patients met the definition of severe AKI. In the internal validation of the SHZJU-ICU and MIMIC databases, the best area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of the model was 0.86. The external validation results by AmsterdamUMC database were also satisfactory, with the best AUROC of 0.86. A total of 2532 patients were admitted to the centre for prospective validation; 358 positive results were predicted and 344 patients were diagnosed with severe AKI, with the best sensitivity of 0.72, the specificity of 0.80 and the AUROC of 0.84.

CONCLUSION

The prediction model of severe AKI exhibits promises as a clinical application based on dynamic vital signs and laboratory results of multicentre databases with prospective and external validation.

Respiratory and circulatory insufficiency during emergent long-distance critical care interhospital transports to tertiary care in a sparsely populated region: a retrospective analysis of late mortality risk

OBJECTIVES

To test if impaired oxygenation or major haemodynamic instability at the time of emergency intensive care transport, from a smaller admitting hospital to a tertiary care centre, are predictors of long-term mortality.

DESIGN

Retrospective observational study. Impaired oxygenation was defined as oxyhaemoglobin %-inspired oxygen fraction ratio (S/F ratio)<100. Major haemodynamic instability was defined as a need for treatment with norepinephrine infusion to sustain mean arterial pressure (MAP) at or above 60 mm Hg or having a mean MAP <60. Logistic regression was used to assess mortality risk with impaired oxygenation or major haemodynamic instability.

SETTING

Sparsely populated Northern Sweden. A fixed-wing interhospital air ambulance system for critical care serving 900 000 inhabitants.

PARTICIPANTS

Intensive care cases transported in fixed-wing air ambulance from outlying hospitals to a regional tertiary care centre during 2000-2016 for adults (16 years old or older). 2142 cases were included.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

All-cause mortality at 3 months after transport was the primary outcome, and secondary outcomes were all-cause mortality at 1 and 7 days, 1, 6 and 12 months.

RESULTS

S/F ratio <100 was associated with increased mortality risk compared with S/F>300 at all time-points, with adjusted OR 6.3 (2.5 to 15.5, p<0.001) at 3 months. Major haemodynamic instability during intensive care unit (ICU) transport was associated with increased adjusted OR of all-cause mortality at 3 months with OR 2.5 (1.8 to 3.5, p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Major impairment of oxygenation and/or major haemodynamic instability at the time of ICU transport to get to urgent tertiary intervention is strongly associated with increased mortality risk at 3 months in this cohort. These findings support the conclusion that these conditions are markers for many fold increase in risk for death notable already at 3 months after transport for patients with these conditions.

Improving the quality of the performance and delivery of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) to critically ill patients across a healthcare system: QUALITY CRRT: a study protocol

INTRODUCTION

Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is a continuous form of dialysis used to support critically ill patients with acute kidney injury. The ideal delivery of CRRT requires ongoing monitoring and reporting to adjust practice and deliver optimal therapy. However, this practice occurs variably.

METHODS

QUALITY CRRT is a multicentre, prospective, stepped-wedged, interrupted time series (ITS) evaluation of the effectiveness, safety and cost of implementing a multifaceted CRRT quality assurance and improvement programme across an entire healthcare system. This study will focus on the standardisation of CRRT programmes with similar structure, process and outcome metrics by the reporting of CRRT key performance indicators (KPIs). The primary outcome will be the quarterly performance of CRRT KPIs. Secondary outcomes will include patient-centred outcomes and economic outcomes. Analysis will compare pre-implementation and post-implementation groups as well as for the performance of KPIs using an ITS methodology. The health economic evaluation will include a within-study analysis and a longer-term model-based analysis.

DISCUSSION

The effective delivery of CRRT to critically ill patients ideally requires a standardised approach of best practice assessment and ongoing audit and feedback of standardised performance measures. QUALITY CRRT will test the application of this strategy stakeholder engagement and stepped-wedged implementation across an entire healthcare system.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study has received ethics approval. We will plan to publish the results in a peer-reviewed journal.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04221932.

PROTOCOL VERSION

1.0 (15 June 2020).

User interface approaches implemented with automated patient deterioration surveillance tools: protocol for a scoping review

INTRODUCTION

Early identification of patients who may suffer from unexpected adverse events (eg, sepsis, sudden cardiac arrest) gives bedside staff valuable lead time to care for these patients appropriately. Consequently, many machine learning algorithms have been developed to predict adverse events. However, little research focuses on how these systems are implemented and how system design impacts clinicians' decisions or patient outcomes. This protocol outlines the steps to review the designs of these tools.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

We will use scoping review methods to explore how tools that leverage machine learning algorithms in predicting adverse events are designed to integrate into clinical practice. We will explore the types of user interfaces deployed, what information is displayed, and how clinical workflows are supported. Electronic sources include Medline, Embase, CINAHL Complete, Cochrane Library (including CENTRAL), and IEEE Xplore from 1 January 2009 to present. We will only review primary research articles that report findings from the implementation of patient deterioration surveillance tools for hospital clinicians. The articles must also include a description of the tool's user interface. Since our primary focus is on how the user interacts with automated tools driven by machine learning algorithms, electronic tools that do not extract data from clinical data documentation or recording systems such as an EHR or patient monitor, or otherwise require manual entry, will be excluded. Similarly, tools that do not synthesise information from more than one data variable will also be excluded. This review will be limited to English-language articles. Two reviewers will review the articles and extract the data. Findings from both researchers will be compared with minimise bias. The results will be quantified, synthesised and presented using appropriate formats.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethics review is not required for this scoping review. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications.

Training and redeployment of healthcare workers to intensive care units (ICUs) during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES

The rapid influx of patients with COVID-19 to intensive care at a rate that exceeds pre-existing staff capacity has required the rapid development of innovative redeployment and training strategies, which considered patient care and infection control. The aim of this study was to provide a detailed understanding of redeployment and training during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic by capturing and considering the merit of the strategies enlisted and the experiences and needs of redeployed healthcare workers (HCWs).

DESIGN

The review involved a systematic search of key terms related to intensive care AND training AND redeployment AND healthcare workers within nine databases (Medline, CINAHL, PsychINFO, MedRxiv, Web of Science, The Health Management Consortium database, Social Science Research Network, OpenGrey and TRIP), which took place on 16 July 2021. Analysis consisted of a synthesis of quantitative study outputs and framework-based thematic analysis of qualitative study outputs and grey literature. These results were then combined applying an interpretative synthesis. We followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, and the review protocol was available online.

RESULTS

Forty papers were analysed. These took place primarily in the UK (n=15, 37.5%) and USA (n=17, 42.5%). Themes presented in the results are redeployment: implementation strategies and learning; redeployed HCWs' experience and strategies to address their needs; redeployed HCWs' learning needs; training formats offered and training evaluations; and future redeployment and training delivery. Based on this, key principles for successful redeployment and training were proposed.

CONCLUSIONS

The COVID-19 pandemic presents unique challenges to develop flexible redeployment strategies and deliver training promptly while following infection control recommendations. This review synthesises original approaches to tackle these challenges, which are relevant to inform the development of targeted and adaptative training and redeployment plans considering the needs of HCWs.

Does adherence to a quality indicator regarding early weaning from invasive ventilation improve economic outcome? A single-centre retrospective study

OBJECTIVES

To measure and assess the economic impact of adherence to a single quality indicator (QI) regarding weaning from invasive ventilation.

DESIGN

Retrospective observational single-centre study, based on electronic medical and administrative records.

SETTING

Intensive care unit (ICU) of a German university hospital, reference centre for acute respiratory distress syndrome.

PARTICIPANTS

Records of 3063 consecutive mechanically ventilated patients admitted to the ICU between 2012 and 2017 were extracted, of whom 583 were eligible adults for further analysis. Patients' weaning protocols were evaluated for daily adherence to quality standards until ICU discharge. Patients with <65% compliance were assigned to the low adherence group (LAG), patients with ≥65% to the high adherence group (HAG).

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Economic healthcare costs, clinical outcomes and patients' characteristics.

RESULTS

The LAG consisted of 378 patients with a median negative economic results of -€3969, HAG of 205 (-€1030), respectively (p<0.001). Median duration of ventilation was 476 (248; 769) hours in the LAG and 389 (247; 608) hours in the HAG (p<0.001). Length of stay (LOS) in the LAG on ICU was 21 (12; 35) days and 16 (11; 25) days in the HAG (p<0.001). LOS in the hospital was 36 (22; 61) days in the LAG, and within the HAG, respectively, 26 (18; 48) days (p=0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

High adherence to this single QI is associated with better clinical outcome and improved economic returns. Therefore, the results support the adherence to QI. However, the examined QI does not influence economic outcome as the decisive factor.