scholarly journals Negative drift of sedation depth in critically ill patients receiving constant minimum alveolar concentration of isoflurane, sevoflurane, or desflurane: a randomized controlled trial

Critical Care ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian-Iustin Georgevici ◽  
Theodoros Kyprianou ◽  
Jennifer Herzog-Niescery ◽  
Livia Procopiuc ◽  
Sivakkanan Loganathan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Intensive care unit (ICU) physicians have extended the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) to deliver and monitor long-term volatile sedation in critically ill patients. There is limited evidence of MAC’s reliability in controlling sedation depth in this setting. We hypothesized that sedation depth, measured by the electroencephalography (EEG)-derived Narcotrend-Index (burst-suppression N_Index 0—awake N_Index 100), might drift downward over time despite constant MAC values. Methods This prospective single-centre randomized clinical study was conducted at a University Hospital Surgical Intensive Care Unit and included consecutive, postoperative ICU patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Patients were randomly assigned to receive uninterrupted inhalational sedation with isoflurane, sevoflurane, or desflurane. The end-expiratory concentration of the anaesthetics and the EEG-derived index were measured continuously in time-stamped pairs. Sedation depth was also monitored using Richmond-Agitation-Sedation-Scale (RASS). The paired t-test and linear models (bootstrapped or multilevel) have been employed to analyze MAC, N_Index and RASS across the three groups. Results Thirty patients were recruited (female/male: 10/20, age 64 ± 11, Simplified Acute Physiology Score II 30 ± 10). In the first 24 h, 21.208 pairs of data points (N_Index and MAC) were recorded. The median MAC of 0.58 ± 0.06 remained stable over the sedation time in all three groups. The t-test indicated in the isoflurane and sevoflurane groups a significant drop in RASS and EEG-derived N_Index in the first versus last two sedation hours. We applied a multilevel linear model on the entire longitudinal data, nested per patient, which produced the formula N_Index = 43 − 0.7·h (R2 = 0.76), showing a strong negative correlation between sedation’s duration and the N_Index. Bootstrapped linear models applied for each sedation group produced: N_Index of 43–0.9, 45–0.8, and 43–0.4·h for isoflurane, sevoflurane, and desflurane, respectively. The regression coefficient for desflurane was almost half of those for isoflurane and sevoflurane, indicating a less pronounced time-effect in this group. Conclusions Maintaining constant MAC does not guarantee stable sedation depth. Thus, the patients necessitate frequent clinical assessments or, when unfeasible, continuous EEG monitoring. The differences across different volatile anaesthetics regarding their time-dependent negative drift requires further exploration. Trial registration: NCT03860129.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian Iustin Georgevici ◽  
Theodoros Kyprianou ◽  
Jennifer Herzog-Niescery ◽  
Livia Procopiuc ◽  
Sivakkanan Loganathan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Intensive care unit (ICU) physicians have extended the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) to deliver and monitor long-term volatile sedation in critically ill patients. There is limited evidence of MAC’s reliability in controlling sedation depth in this setting. We hypothesized that sedation depth, measured by the electroencephalography (EEG)-derived Narcotrend-Index (burst-suppression N_Index 0 – awake N_Index 100), might drift downward over time despite constant MAC values.Methods: This prospective single-centre randomized clinical study was conducted at a University Hospital Surgical Intensive Care Unit and included consecutive, postoperative ICU patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Patients were randomly assigned to receive uninterrupted inhalational sedation with isoflurane, sevoflurane, or desflurane. The end-expiratory concentration of the anaesthetics and the EEG-derived index were measured continuously in time-stamped pairs. Sedation depth was also monitored using Richmond-Agitation-Sedation-Scale (RASS). The paired t-test and linear models (bootstrapped or multilevel) have been employed to analyze MAC, N_Index and RASS across the three groups. Results: Thirty patients were recruited (female/male: 10/20, age 64±11, Simplified Acute Physiology Score II 30±10). In the first 24 hours, 21.208 pairs of data points (N_Index and MAC) were recorded. The median MAC of 0.58±0.06 remained stable over the sedation time in all three groups. The t-test indicated in the isoflurane and sevoflurane groups a significant drop in RASS and EEG-derived N_Index in the first versus last two sedation hours. We applied a multilevel linear model on the entire longitudinal data, nested per patient, which produced the formula N_Index=43−0.7·hours (R2=0.76), showing a strong negative correlation between sedation’s duration and the N_Index. Bootstrapped linear models applied for each sedation group produced: N_Index of 43–0.9, 45–0.8, and 43–0.4·hours for isoflurane, sevoflurane, and desflurane, respectively. The regression coefficient for desflurane was almost half of those for isoflurane and sevoflurane, indicating a less pronounced time-effect in this group.Conclusions: Maintaining constant MAC does not guarantee stable sedation depth. Thus, the patients necessitate frequent clinical assessments or, when unfeasible, continuous EEG monitoring. The differences across different volatile anaesthetics regarding their time-dependent negative drift requires further exploration.Trial registration: NCT03860129.


2021 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 16-26
Author(s):  
Angela Bonomo ◽  
Diane Lynn Blume ◽  
Katie Davis ◽  
Hee Jun Kim

Background At least 80% of ordered enteral nutrition should be delivered to improve outcomes in critical care patients. However, these patients typically receive 60% to 70% of ordered enteral nutrition volume. In a practice review within a 28-bed medical-surgical adult intensive care unit, patients received a median of 67.5% of ordered enteral nutrition with standard rate-based feeding. Volume-based feeding is recommended to deliver adequate enteral nutrition to critically ill patients. Objective To use a quality improvement project to increase the volume of enteral nutrition delivered in the medical-surgical intensive care unit. Methods Percentages of target volume achieved were monitored in 73 patients. Comparisons between the rate-based and volume-based feeding groups used nonparametric quality of medians test or the χ2 test. A customized volume-based feeding protocol and order set were created according to published protocols and then implemented. Standardized education included lecture, demonstration, written material, and active personal involvement, followed by a scenario-based test to apply learning. Results Immediately after implementation of this practice change, delivered enteral nutrition volume increased, resulting in a median delivery of 99.8% of ordered volume (P = .003). Delivery of a mean of 98% ordered volume was sustained over the 15 months following implementation. Conclusions Implementation of volume-based feeding optimized enteral nutrition delivery to critically ill patients in this medical-surgical intensive care unit. This success can be attributed to a comprehensive, individualized, and proactive process design and educational approach. The process can be adapted to quality improvement initiatives with other patient populations and units.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benedikt Zujalovic ◽  
Benjamin Mayer ◽  
Sebastian Hafner ◽  
Florian Balling ◽  
Eberhard Barth

Abstract Background In consequence of systemic inflammation, up to 70% of septic patients develop a diffuse brain dysfunction, accompanying with an increase in mortality, which is referred to as “septic associated encephalopathy”. Subsuming septic associated encephalopathy as a category of delirium, there is a common pathophysiology (neuro-inflammation and cholinergic transmitter imbalance). This can be approximated by measuring the acetylcholinesterase activity as a surrogate parameter of cholinergic activity. However, conflicting results for acetylcholinesterase activity exists, if single-point measurements have been done. Therefore, we wanted to test the hypothesis, whether longitudinal analysis of acetylcholinesterase activity in Intensive Care Unit patients displays septic associated encephalopathy/delirium in septic patients and reveals significant differences in comparison with non-septic, critically ill patients.Methods In this prospective, observational, single-center study, 175 patients, admitted to the surgical Intensive Care Unit of the University hospital Ulm, Germany, were included. Patients were divided into septic (n = 45) and non-septic (n = 130) patients and were screened for delirium/cognitive dysfunction. Subgroups for patients with delirium and altered acetylcholinesterase activity were built, dependent if an increase/decrease of the acetylcholinesterase activity was observed. Acetylcholinesterase activity was analysed over the course of time by using a linear regression model accounting for repeated measures. By using a time adjusted model, the effect of further possible predictors of acetylcholinesterase activity was analyzed. For nonparametric distributions, quantitative data were compared using Wilcoxon matched-pairs test. For the analysis of the independent samples, we used the Mann-Whitney test. Results There was a statistically significant, time-dependent change in acetylcholinesterase activity (decrease/increase) over a period of at least 5 days in septic patients which revealed septic associated encephalopathy/delirium in about 90%.Conclusion The longitudinal measurement of acetylcholinesterase activity over several consecutive days revealed a shift compared to baseline values exclusively in septic patients with septic associated encephalopathy/delirium. Acetylcholinesterase activity alteration compared to baseline values at the onset of sepsis may help to detect and differentiate septic associated encephalopathy from other delirium entities.Trial registration Retrospectively registered at German Clincial Trials Register, registration number DRKS 00020542, date of registration: January 27, 2020


1989 ◽  
Vol 98 (8) ◽  
pp. 586-590 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Alessi ◽  
David G. Hanson ◽  
George Berci

Telescopic laryngoscopic examination was performed at the bedside after extubation in 29 consecutive surgical intensive care unit patients who required endotracheal intubation for more than 16 hours. The examinations were documented with a portable video recording system. The majority of patients exhibited evidence of acute endolaryngeal trauma. Vocal fold ulceration and vocal fold motion abnormalities were the most common lesions. Patients with abnormal larynges were followed up after discharge from the intensive care unit. Most of the identified injuries resolved without intervention. However, silent aspiration was identified frequently in patients with vocal fold paresis and was thought to be a significant factor in postoperative pulmonary complications. Early identification of significant laryngeal trauma and/or vocal fold paresis in critically ill patients is important for both postoperative pulmonary care and voice rehabilitation. This pilot study demonstrated that documentation of the laryngeal examination is feasible in critically ill patients in an intensive care unit setting.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyoung Moo Im ◽  
Eun Young Kim

Abstract BackgroundBedside ultrasound has become one of the most important non-invasive and readily available diagnostic tools especially for critically ill patients. However, the current ultrasound training program is not standardized and is mostly unavailable to all surgical residents equally. The aim of this study was to assess and evaluate the effectiveness of our new training program in bedside ultrasound for surgical residents.MethodsPostgraduate residents (years 1 to 4) from the department of general surgery in a tertiary hospital attended the newly designed, 8-week training course in bedside ultrasound for critically ill patients at the surgical intensive care unit. Didactic and experimental lectures in basic ultrasound physics and machine usage were delivered, followed by daily hands-on ultrasound training to patients. Each participant prospectively documented their ultrasound findings and completed self-assessment of ultrasound skills using a Likert scale.Results44 residents were enrolled in the current study and only 36.4% of them were previously exposed to bedside ultrasound experience. Following the course completion, the proficiency levels and the objective structured assessment of ultrasound skill (OSAUS) scores showed significant improvement in all elements (P < 0.001). The mean differences in pre- and post-course score between post-graduate years were recorded, except for proficiency in peritoneal cavity (P = 0.163). Post-hoc analysis revealed that post-graduate year 2 residents showed a higher improvement in most elements. The training program showed improvement in post-course scores, whether or not residents had previous experience.ConclusionsOur results revealed that the knowledge and confidence of surgical residents in bedside ultrasound could be improved via short-term and impact training curriculum. The authors believe that such education should be encouraged for all surgical residents to enhance competency in performing bedside ultrasound evaluation of critically ill patients.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Sponholz ◽  
Ole Bayer ◽  
Björn Kabisch ◽  
Karin Wurm ◽  
Katharina Ebert ◽  
...  

Renal failure is a common complication among critically ill patients. Timing, dosage, and mode of renal replacement (RRT) are under debate, but also anticoagulation strategies and vascular access interfere with dialysis success. We present a retrospective, five-year evaluation of patients requiring RRT on a multidisciplinary 50-bed surgical intensive care unit of a university hospital with special regard to anticoagulation strategies and vascular access. Anticoagulation was preferably performed with unfractionated heparin or regional citrate application (RAC). Bleeding and suspected HIT-II were most common causes for RAC. In CVVHD mode filter life span was significantly longer under RAC compared to heparin or other anticoagulation strategies (P=0.001). Femoral vascular access was associated with reduced filter life span (P=0.012), especially under heparin anticoagulation (P=0.015). Patients on RAC had higher rates of metabolic alkalosis (P=0.001), required more transfusions (P=0.045), and showed higher illness severity measured by SOFA scores (P=0.001). RRT with unfractionated heparin represented the most common anticoagulation strategy in this study population. However, patients with bleeding risk and severe organ dysfunction were more likely placed on RAC. Citrate provided longer filter life spans regardless of vascular access site. Attention has to be paid to metabolic disturbances.


Author(s):  
Amy Z. Crepeau

Electroencephalography (EEG) in critically ill patients allows for monitoring of cerebral function when a clinical examination is limited because of altered mental status or coma. Continuous EEG (cEEG) has increasingly been used to monitor critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Implementation of cEEG in the ICU presents a unique set of challenges, requiring special expertise and a multidisciplinary approach.


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