The Long and Winding Road to Personalized Glycemic Control in the Intensive Care Unit

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (05) ◽  
pp. 571-579
Author(s):  
Mayanka Tickoo

AbstractIn the critically ill adult, dysglycemia is a marker of disease severity and is associated with worse clinical outcomes. Close monitoring of glucose and use of insulin in critically ill patients have been done for more than 2 decades, but the appropriate target glycemic range in critically ill patients remains controversial. Physiological stress response, levels of inflammatory cytokines, nutritional intake, and level of mobility affect glycemic control, and a more personalized approach to patients with dysglycemia is warranted in critically ill intensive care unit (ICU) patients. We discuss the pathophysiology and downstream effects of altered glycemic response in critical illness, management of glycemic control in the ICU, and future strategies toward personalization of critical care glycemic management.

2007 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jefferson M. Sesler

Gastric ulcers have been known to develop in critically ill patients secondary to physiological stress since the 19th century. It is only relatively recently that stress ulcer prophylaxis has become an established routine practice in the intensive care unit. Numerous terms have been used to describe stress ulcers, but stress-related mucosal disease (SRMD) is commonly used. Significant morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients is caused by SRMD and related bleedings, but the incidence depends on the definition of bleeding. Pathophysiology of SRMD is multifactorial and involves a complex set of interactions that causes a breakdown of mucosal proactive defenses, leading to ulceration. Critically ill patients are at an increased risk for developing SRMD and subsequent bleeding secondary to several risk factors. To minimize stress-related mucosal bleeding, several regimens have been used. This article presents an update on the incidence, pathophysiology, risk factors, and prophylaxis of SRMD.


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-121
Author(s):  
Zheng Yii Lee ◽  
Mohd Yusof Barakatun Nisak ◽  
Ibrahim Noor Airini

The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is one of the disciplines in the hospital that provides close monitoring to the seriously ill or injured patients, also known as the critically ill patients. Critically ill patients in the ICU are usually unable to maintain volitional oral nutrition intake and therefore require nutritional therapy. Nutritional therapy can be delivered via the enteral or parenteral route. Optimal nutrition adequacy (i.e. neither underfeeding nor overfeeding) is very important for better clinical outcome. However, the problem of suboptimal feeding adequacy continues to be reported over the years. This article attempts to give an overview of the literature on feeding adequacy and the relationship of feeding adequacy with clinical outcomes among the critically ill patients in the ICU.Bangladesh Crit Care J September 2017; 5(2): 113-121


TH Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 05 (02) ◽  
pp. e134-e138
Author(s):  
Anke Pape ◽  
Jan T. Kielstein ◽  
Tillman Krüger ◽  
Thomas Fühner ◽  
Reinhard Brunkhorst

AbstractThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has a serious impact on health and economics worldwide. Even though the majority of patients present with moderate and mild symptoms, yet a considerable portion of patients need to be treated in the intensive care unit. Aside from dexamethasone, there is no established pharmacological therapy. Moreover, some of the currently tested drugs are contraindicated for special patient populations like remdesivir for patients with severely impaired renal function. On this background, several extracorporeal treatments are currently explored concerning their potential to improve the clinical course and outcome of critically ill patients with COVID-19. Here, we report the use of the Seraph 100 Microbind Affinity filter, which is licensed in the European Union for the removal of pathogens. Authorization for emergency use in patients with COVID-19 admitted to the intensive care unit with confirmed or imminent respiratory failure was granted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on April 17, 2020.A 53-year-old Caucasian male with a severe COVID-19 infection was treated with a Seraph Microbind Affinity filter hemoperfusion after clinical deterioration and commencement of mechanical ventilation. The 70-minute treatment at a blood flow of 200 mL/minute was well tolerated, and the patient was hemodynamically stable. The hemoperfusion reduced D-dimers dramatically.This case report suggests that the use of Seraph 100 Microbind Affinity filter hemoperfusion might have positive effects on the clinical course of critically ill patients with COVID-19. However, future prospective collection of data ideally in randomized trials will have to confirm whether the use of Seraph 100 Microbind Affinity filter hemoperfusion is an option of the treatment for COVID-19.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephana J. Moss ◽  
Krista Wollny ◽  
Therese G. Poulin ◽  
Deborah J. Cook ◽  
Henry T. Stelfox ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Informal caregivers of critically ill patients in intensive care unit (ICUs) experience negative psychological sequelae that worsen after death. We synthesized outcomes reported from ICU bereavement interventions intended to improve informal caregivers’ ability to cope with grief. Data sources MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and PsycINFO from inception to October 2020. Study selection Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of bereavement interventions to support informal caregivers of adult patients who died in ICU. Data extraction Two reviewers independently extracted data in duplicate. Narrative synthesis was conducted. Data synthesis Bereavement interventions were categorized according to the UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence three-tiered model of bereavement support according to the level of need: (1) Universal information provided to all those bereaved; (2) Selected or targeted non-specialist support provided to those who are at-risk of developing complex needs; and/or (3) Professional specialist interventions provided to those with a high level of complex needs. Outcome measures were synthesized according to core outcomes established for evaluating bereavement support for adults who have lost other adults to illness. Results Three studies of ICU bereavement interventions from 31 ICUs across 26 hospitals were included. One trial examining the effect of family presence at brain death assessment integrated all three categories of support but did not report significant improvement in emotional or psychological distress. Two other trials assessed a condolence letter intervention, which did not decrease grief symptoms and may have increased symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, and a storytelling intervention that found no significant improvements in anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, or complicated grief. Four of nine core bereavement outcomes were not assessed anytime in follow-up. Conclusions Currently available trial evidence is sparse and does not support the use of bereavement interventions for informal caregivers of critically ill patients who die in the ICU.


2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 313-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prashant Parulekar ◽  
Ed Neil-Gallacher ◽  
Alex Harrison

Acute kidney injury is common in critically ill patients, with ultrasound recommended to exclude renal tract obstruction. Intensive care unit clinicians are skilled in acquiring and interpreting ultrasound examinations. Intensive Care Medicine Trainees wish to learn renal tract ultrasound. We sought to demonstrate that intensive care unit clinicians can competently perform renal tract ultrasound on critically ill patients. Thirty patients with acute kidney injury were scanned by two intensive care unit physicians using a standard intensive care unit ultrasound machine. The archived images were reviewed by a Radiologist for adequacy and diagnostic quality. In 28 of 30 patients both kidneys were identified. Adequate archived images of both kidneys each in two planes were possible in 23 of 30 patients. The commonest reason for failure was dressings and drains from abdominal surgery. Only one patient had hydronephrosis. Our results suggest that intensive care unit clinicians can provide focussed renal tract ultrasound. The low incidence of hydronephrosis has implications for delivering the Core Ultrasound in Intensive Care competencies.


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