scholarly journals Anemia and Blood Transfusions in Critically Ill Patients

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Kamran Athar ◽  
Nitin Puri ◽  
David R. Gerber

Anemia is common in critically ill patients. As a consequence packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusions are frequent in the critically ill. Over the past two decades a growing body of literature has emerged, linking PRBC transfusion to infections, immunosuppression, organ dysfunction, and a higher mortality rate. However, despite growing evidence that risk of PRBC transfusion outweighs its benefit, significant numbers of critically ill patients still receive PRBC transfusion during their intensive care unit (ICU) stay. In this paper, we summarize the current literature concerning the impact of anemia on outcomes in critically ill patients and the potential complications of PRBC transfusions.

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 561-566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Eduardo Saldanha de Almeida ◽  

ABSTRACT Vascular punctures are often necessary in critically ill patients. They are secure, but not free of complications. Ultrasonography enhances safety of the procedure by decreasing puncture attempts, complications and costs. This study reviews important publications and the puncture technique using ultrasound, bringing part of the experience of the intensive care unit of the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo (SP), Brazil, and discussing issues that should be considered in future studies.


2000 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 192-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
JE Hupcey ◽  
HE Zimmerman

BACKGROUND: Critically ill patients vary in their memories of their experience in the intensive care unit. Some have little recall and need to learn about their critical illness. Others have more vivid memories of their experiences, some of which were extremely unpleasant. Patients' not knowing what was happening may have exacerbated the unpleasant experiences. OBJECTIVES: To elicit the experience of knowing for critically ill patients and to explore the differences in perceptions between patients who were intubated and those who were not intubated during the illness. METHODS: Grounded theory was used to explore the meaning of knowing and not knowing and the process by which knowing occurs. Unstructured interviews were done with 14 patients. RESULTS: Knowing had 2 phases: the need to know (1) during and (2) after the critical illness. The first phase had 3 facets: needing information, needing to be oriented, and having confusing perceptions. The second phase had 2 facets: needing information about what had happened and piecing together events. Many experiences with knowing during and after a critical illness were similar for both intubated and nonintubated patients. The main difference was the intensity of the experience in some categories. CONCLUSIONS: Critically ill patients have a strong need to know throughout and after their time in the intensive care unit. Nurses must address this need for constant reorientation to the past and present in these patients. In addition, adequate nursing staff must be available for these patients.


2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvio A. Ñamendys-Silva ◽  
María O. González-Herrera ◽  
Julia Texcocano-Becerra ◽  
Angel Herrera-Gómez

Purpose: To assess the characteristics of critically ill patients with gynecological cancer, and to evaluate their prognosis. Methods: Fifty-two critically ill patients with gynecological cancer admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) were included. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to identify factors associated with hospital mortality. Results: Thirty-five patients (67.3%) had carcinoma of the cervix uteri and 11 (21.2%) had ovarian cancer. The mortality rate in the ICU was 17.3% (9 of 52) and hospital mortality rate were 23%(12 of 52). In the multivariate analysis, independent prognostic factors for hospital mortality were vasopressor use (odds ratio [OR] = 8.60, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.05-36; P = .03) and the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score (OR = 1.43, 95% CI 1.01-2.09; P = .048). Conclusions: The independent prognostic factors for hospital mortality were the need for vasopressors and the APACHE II score.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 3302
Author(s):  
Michał Czapla ◽  
Raúl Juárez-Vela ◽  
Vicente Gea-Caballero ◽  
Stanisław Zieliński ◽  
Marzena Zielińska

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The impact of poor nutritional status on increased mortality and prolonged ICU (intensive care unit) stay in critically ill patients is well-documented. This study aims to assess how nutritional status and BMI (body mass index) affected in-hospital mortality in critically ill COVID-19 patients Methods: We conducted a retrospective study and analysed medical records of 286 COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit of the University Clinical Hospital in Wroclaw (Poland). Results: A total of 286 patients were analysed. In the sample group, 8% of patients who died had a BMI within the normal range, 46% were overweight, and 46% were obese. There was a statistically significantly higher death rate in men (73%) and those with BMIs between 25.0–29.9 (p = 0.011). Nonsurvivors had a statistically significantly higher HF (Heart Failure) rate (p = 0.037) and HT (hypertension) rate (p < 0.001). Furthermore, nonsurvivors were statistically significantly older (p < 0.001). The risk of death was higher in overweight patients (HR = 2.13; p = 0.038). Mortality was influenced by higher scores in parameters such as age (HR = 1.03; p = 0.001), NRS2002 (nutritional risk score, HR = 1.18; p = 0.019), PCT (procalcitonin, HR = 1.10; p < 0.001) and potassium level (HR = 1.40; p = 0.023). Conclusions: Being overweight in critically ill COVID-19 patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation increases their risk of death significantly. Additional factors indicating a higher risk of death include the patient’s age, high PCT, potassium levels, and NRS ≥ 3 measured at the time of admission to the ICU.


2016 ◽  
Vol 53 (5) ◽  
pp. 250
Author(s):  
Julianti Julianti ◽  
Silvia Triratna ◽  
Aditiawati Aditiawati ◽  
Irfanuddin Irfanuddin

Background Hyperglycemia in critically ill patients is associated with higher mortality. Insulin therapy may improve outcomes, not only by preventing deleterious effects of hyperglycemia, but by improving the molecular dynamics in organ dysfunction.Objectives To assess the effects of insulin therapy on critically ill patients in an intensive care unit (ICU) setting and the risk of hypoglycemia.Methods An open-label, clinical trial was conducted in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) of Dr. Moh. Hoesin Hospital, Palembang, from November 2011 to March 2012. Subjects were consecutively assigned to receive either regular insulin at a dose of 0.05 U/kg/h if the blood glucose level reached >200 mg%, or standard therapy (control group). Blood glucose levels were measured hourly until they reached 80-110 mg%. Dose adjustments were made when the blood glucose level reached 145 mg%, by reducing the insulin dose to 0.025 U/kg/h. Outcomes of therapy were measured by Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction (PELOD) score improvement, mortality rate and the occurrence of hypoglycemia.Results Forty subjects were enrolled in this study, with 20 subjects assigned to the insulin therapy group and 20 subjects to the standard therapy group. Two subjects, one from each group, were not included in the final analysis due to their deaths within 24 hours. There was no significant difference in distribution of PELOD scores before intervention between the groups (OR=0.5; 95%CI 0.1 to 1.9, P=0.32). However, after intervention, the PELOD scores was significantly lower in insulin therapy group compared to control group (OR 0.2; 95% CI 0.05 to 0.8, P=0.02). In the insulin group after intervention, fewer subjects had scores >20.5 and more subjects had scores ≤20.5, indicated a lower risk of organ dysfunction. There was also a significantly lower mortality rate in the insulin group compared to the control group (OR 0.2; 95% CI 0.05 to 0.8, P=0.02). None of the subjects suffered hypoglycemia.Conclusion Insulin is beneficial in improving organ dysfunction and decreasing mortality for critically ill patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Zhou ◽  
Liang-Ying Lin ◽  
Xiao-Ai Liu ◽  
Ye-Sheng Ling ◽  
Yuan-Yuan Zhang ◽  
...  

Background: Invasive blood pressure (IBP) measurement is common in the intensive care unit, although its association with in-hospital mortality in critically ill patients with hypertension is poorly understood.Methods and Results: A total of 11,732 critically ill patients with hypertension from the eICU-Collaborative Research Database (eICU-CRD) were enrolled. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to whether they received IBP. The primary outcome in this study was in-hospital mortality. Propensity score matching (PSM) and inverse probability of treatment weighing (IPTW) models were used to balance the confounding covariates. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between IBP measurement and hospital mortality. The IBP group had a higher in-hospital mortality rate than the no IBP group in the primary cohort [238 (8.7%) vs. 581 (6.5%), p &lt; 0.001]. In the PSM cohort, the IBP group had a lower in-hospital mortality rate than the no IBP group [187 (8.0%) vs. 241 (10.3%), p = 0.006]. IBP measurement was associated with lower in-hospital mortality in the PSM cohort (odds ratio, 0.73, 95% confidence interval, 0.59–0.92) and in the IPTW cohort (odds ratio, 0.81, 95% confidence interval, 0.67–0.99). Sensitivity analyses showed similar results in the subgroups with high body mass index and no sepsis.Conclusions: In conclusion, IBP measurement was associated with lower in-hospital mortality in critically ill patients with hypertension, highlighting the importance of IBP measurement in the intensive care unit.


2021 ◽  
Vol 66 ◽  
pp. 126-131
Author(s):  
Ana Cristina Santos ◽  
Simone Luzia Fidelis de Oliveira ◽  
Virgílio Luiz Marques Macedo ◽  
Paula Lauane Araujo ◽  
Francine Salapata Fraiberg ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 627-637
Author(s):  
Zahra Bagheri ◽  
Zohreh Labbani-Motlagh ◽  
Mahtabalsadat Mirjalili ◽  
Iman Karimzadeh ◽  
Hossein Khalili

Cytopenia is common complication in critically ill patients. Aim: Incidence and pattern of different types of cytopenia as well as its impact on mortality and length of stay in critically ill patients were evaluated. Methods: Critically ill patients with any kind of cytopenia for more than 2 days were evaluated. Results: Anemia was the most common type of cytopenia in the patients (99.14%), followed by lymphocytopenia (32.17%), thrombocytopenia (27.82%), and leukopenia (19.13%). Mortality rate was significantly higher in patients with anemia (p < 0.0001), thrombocytopenia (p < 0.0001), leukopenia (p < 0.0001), neutropenia (p = 0.004), lymphopenia (p = 0.002) and pancytopenia (p < 0.0001). Higher duration of anemia, lymphopenia and thrombocytopenia were associated with longer intensive care unit stay (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Among all assessed variables, incidence of thrombocytopenia could independently predict the mortality.


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