scholarly journals Validity, reliability and applicability of Portuguese versions of sedation-agitation scales among critically ill patients

2008 ◽  
Vol 126 (4) ◽  
pp. 215-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Paulo Nassar Junior ◽  
Ruy Camargo Pires Neto ◽  
Walquiria Barcelos de Figueiredo ◽  
Marcelo Park
Keyword(s):  
Critical Care ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Interrater Reliability ◽  
Weighted Kappa ◽  
Care Physician ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Sedation Scale ◽  
Team Members

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Sedation scales are used to guide sedation protocols in intensive care units (ICUs). However, no sedation scale in Portuguese has ever been evaluated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of Portuguese translations of four sedation-agitation scales, among critically ill patients: Glasgow Coma Score, Ramsay, Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) and Sedation-Agitation Scale (SAS). DESIGN AND SETTING: Validation study in two mixed ICUs of a university hospital. METHODS: All scales were applied to 29 patients by four different critical care team members (nurse, physiotherapist, senior critical care physician and critical care resident). We tested each scale for interrater reliability and for validity, by correlations between them. Interrater agreement was measured using weighted kappa (k) and correlations used Spearman's test. RESULTS: 136 observations were made on 29 patients. All scales had at least substantial agreement (weighted k 0.68-0.90). RASS (weighted k 0.82-0.87) and SAS (weighted k 0.83-0.90) had the best agreement. All scales had a good and significant correlation with each other. CONCLUSIONS: All scales demonstrated good interrater reliability and were comparable. RASS and SAS showed the best correlations and the best agreement results in all professional categories. All these characteristics make RASS and SAS good scales for use at the bedside, to evaluate sedation-agitation among critically ill patients in terms of validity, reliability and applicability.

scholarly journals Optimal Role of the Nephrologist in the Intensive Care Unit

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (1-3) ◽  
pp. 68-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.J. Askenazi ◽  
Michael Heung ◽  
Michael J. Connor Jr. ◽  
Rajit K. Basu ◽  
Jorge Cerdá ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Critical Care ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Kidney Injury ◽  
Health Care Team ◽  
Quality Initiatives ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Delivery Of Care ◽  
Multi Disciplinary Team

As advances in Critical Care Medicine continue, critically ill patients are surviving despite the severity of their illness. The incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) has increased, and its impact on clinical outcomes as well as medical expenditures has been established. The role, indications and technological advancements of renal replacement therapy (RRT) have evolved, allowing more effective therapies with less complications. With these changes, Critical Care Nephrology has become an established specialty, and ongoing collaborations between critical care physicians and nephrologist have improved education of multi-disciplinary team members and patient care in the ICU. Multidisciplinary programs to support these changes have been stablished in some hospitals to maximize the delivery of care, while other programs have continue to struggle in their ability to acquire the necessary resources to maximize outcomes, educate their staff, and develop quality initiatives to evaluate and drive improvements. Clearly, the role of the nephrologist in the ICU has evolved, and varies widely among institutions. This special article will provide insights that will hopefully optimize the role of the nephrologist as the leader of the acute care nephrology program, as clinician for critically ill patients, and as teacher for all members of the health care team.

Cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheila Adam ◽  
Sue Osborne ◽  
John Welch
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Arrest ◽  
Critical Care ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Care Nurse ◽  
Critical Care Nurse ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Cardiac Arrest Team

Critically ill patients are at high risk of cardiac arrest, and the critical care nurse needs to recognize early signs of deterioration, understand what can be done to prevent arrest, and understand the different functions of cardiac arrest team members. This chapter outlines the pathophysiology associated with cardiac arrest, reviews the management of arrest, the practicalities of the techniques and drugs used in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and the care of the patient and family following both successful and unsuccessful resuscitation.

scholarly journals The effect of scenario based teaching for critical care nurses and physicians on their knowledge of fluid creep

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 86
Author(s):  
Ghada Shalaby Khalaf Mahran ◽  
Asmaa Ali Mahgoub ◽  
Mostafa Samy Abass
Keyword(s):  
Critical Care ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Fluid Resuscitation ◽  
Fluid Balance ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Critical Care Nurses ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
P Value ◽  
Nurses And Physicians

Introduction: Fluid resuscitation is a major component of the acute management of critically ill patients. The phenomenon of providing excessive fluid resuscitation volumes has been termed “fluid creep”. Today, the science of nursing becomes more complex. Accurate fluid balance assessment and recording is important component of nursing care that assures patient’s safety especially in critically ill patients. The aim of the work is to examine the effect of scenario based teaching for critical care nurses and physicians on their knowledge of fluid balance & fluid creep.Methods: The study design: pre & posttest research design. Setting: This study was implemented in general, trauma, obstetric and burn intensive care units (ICUs) at Assiut university Hospital-Assiut-Egypt. Subjects: 35 critical care nurses and 29 intensive care physicians were drawn from the previously mentioned ICUs. Methodology: A pre & posttest questionnaire of nurses’ and physicians’ knowledge, perception and satisfaction regarding fluid creep and fluid balance was adapted from the articles and was used in data collection before and after the application of scenario based teaching. This questionnaire was implemented on two phases (pre and after the teaching program). The data was collected from January 2018 to July 2018.Results: There is a considerable improvement in participants’ knowledge and perception concerning fluid balance and fluid creep after applying the scenario based teaching (p value < .001).Conclusions: Nowadays, nurses and physicians need advanced level of knowledge to be able to deal with the physiological changes that occur in critically ill.

scholarly journals Report of the first AKI Round Table meeting: an initiative of the ESICM AKI Section

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ostermann ◽  
A. Schneider ◽  
T. Rimmele ◽  
I. Bobek ◽  
M. van Dam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Critical Care ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Renal Replacement Therapy ◽  
Replacement Therapy ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Knowledge Gaps ◽  
Blood Pressure Targets

Abstract Purpose Critical Care Nephrology is an emerging sub-specialty of Critical Care. Despite increasing awareness about the serious impact of acute kidney injury (AKI) and renal replacement therapy (RRT), important knowledge gaps persist. This report represents a summary of a 1-day meeting of the AKI section of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) identifying priorities for future AKI research. Methods International Members of the AKI section of the ESICM were selected and allocated to one of three subgroups: “AKI diagnosis and evaluation”, “Medical management of AKI” and “Renal Replacement Therapy for AKI.” Using a modified Delphi methodology, each group identified knowledge gaps and developed potential proposals for future collaborative research. Results The following key research projects were developed: Systematic reviews: (a) epidemiology of AKI with stratification by patient cohorts and diagnostic criteria; (b) role of higher blood pressure targets in patients with hypertension admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, and (c) specific clearance characteristics of different modalities of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). Observational studies: (a) epidemiology of critically ill patients according to AKI duration, and (b) current clinical practice of CRRT. Intervention studies:( a) Comparison of different blood pressure targets in critically ill patients with hypertension, and (b) comparison of clearance of solutes with various molecular weights between different CRRT modalities. Conclusion Consensus was reached on a future research agenda for the AKI section of the ESICM.

scholarly journals The effect of vitamin K on prothrombin time in critically ill patients: an observational registry study

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofia Dahlberg ◽  
Ulf Schött ◽  
Thomas Kander
Keyword(s):  
Propensity Score ◽  
Prothrombin Time ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Vitamin K ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
International Normalized Ratio ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Red Blood Cell Transfusion ◽  
Registry Study ◽  
Exclusion Criteria

Abstract Background Previous studies have indicated that vitamin K deficiency is common in non-bleeding critically ill patients with slightly prolonged prothrombin time-international normalized ratio (PT-INR). It has never been investigated thoroughly whether the administration of vitamin K to these patients could affect their PT-INR. Therefore, the aim of this registry study was to evaluate changes in PT-INR in response to vitamin K in critically ill patients with PT-INR in the range of 1.3–1.9. Methods Patients admitted to a mixed 9-bed general intensive care unit at a University Hospital, between 2013 and 2019 (n = 4541) with a PT-INR between 1.3 and 1.9 at any time during the stay were identified. Patients who received vitamin K with appropriate sampling times for PT-INR and without exclusion criteria were matched with propensity score to patients from the same cohort who did not receive vitamin K (controls). PT-INR was measured at admission, within 12 h before vitamin K administration and 12–36 h following vitamin K administration. Exclusion criteria included pre-existing liver cirrhosis, any plasma or platelet transfusion, or > 1 unit red blood cell transfusion between PT-INR samplings. Results Propensity score matching resulted in two groups of patients with 129 patients in each group. PT-INR decreased in both groups (1.4 [1.3–1.4] in the vitamin K group and 1.4 [1.3–1.6] in the controls, p < 0.001 and p = 0.004, respectively). The decrease in PT-INR was slightly more pronounced in patients who received vitamin K (delta PT-INR − 0.10 [− 0.30 to − 0.10] in the vitamin K group and − 0.10 [− 0.20 to 0.10] in the controls, p = 0.01). Conclusion In critically ill patients with a PT-INR of 1.3–1.9, the administration of vitamin K resulted in a slightly larger decrease of PT-INR 12–36 h after administration compared to controls. Future studies should focus on identifying which patient populations may benefit most from vitamin K administration as well as whether vitamin K could be a better alternative than plasma or prothrombin complex concentrate to improve PT-INR before non-emergent invasive procedures.

scholarly journals Severe liver dysfunction complicating course of COVID-19 in the critically ill: multifactorial cause or direct viral effect?

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Roedl ◽  
Dominik Jarczak ◽  
Andreas Drolz ◽  
Dominic Wichmann ◽  
Olaf Boenisch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Critically Ill ◽  
Liver Dysfunction ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Severity Of Illness ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Severe Liver ◽  
Saps Ii ◽  
Severe Liver Dysfunction ◽  
Global Threat ◽  
The University

Abstract Background SARS-CoV-2 caused a pandemic and global threat for human health. Presence of liver injury was commonly reported in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, reports on severe liver dysfunction (SLD) in critically ill with COVID-19 are lacking. We evaluated the occurrence, clinical characteristics and outcome of SLD in critically ill patients with COVID-19. Methods Clinical course and laboratory was analyzed from all patients with confirmed COVID-19 admitted to ICU of the university hospital. SLD was defined as: bilirubin ≥ 2 mg/dl or elevation of aminotransferase levels (> 20-fold ULN). Results 72 critically ill patients were identified, 22 (31%) patients developed SLD. Presenting characteristics including age, gender, comorbidities as well as clinical presentation regarding COVID-19 overlapped substantially in both groups. Patients with SLD had more severe respiratory failure (paO2/FiO2: 82 (58–114) vs. 117 (83–155); p < 0.05). Thus, required more frequently mechanical ventilation (95% vs. 64%; p < 0.01), rescue therapies (ECMO) (27% vs. 12%; p = 0.106), vasopressor (95% vs. 72%; p < 0.05) and renal replacement therapy (86% vs. 30%; p < 0.001). Severity of illness was significantly higher (SAPS II: 48 (39–52) vs. 40 (32–45); p < 0.01). Patients with SLD and without presented viremic during ICU stay in 68% and 34%, respectively (p = 0.002). Occurrence of SLD was independently associated with presence of viremia [OR 6.359; 95% CI 1.336–30.253; p < 0.05] and severity of illness (SAPS II) [OR 1.078; 95% CI 1.004–1.157; p < 0.05]. Mortality was high in patients with SLD compared to other patients (68% vs. 16%, p < 0.001). After adjustment for confounders, SLD was independently associated with mortality [HR3.347; 95% CI 1.401–7.999; p < 0.01]. Conclusion One-third of critically ill patients with COVID-19 suffer from SLD, which is associated with high mortality. Occurrence of viremia and severity of illness seem to contribute to occurrence of SLD and underline the multifactorial cause.

scholarly journals Feasibility of cardiac output measurements in critically ill patients by medical students

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Geert Koster ◽  
Thomas Kaufmann ◽  
Bart Hiemstra ◽  
Renske Wiersema ◽  
Madelon E. Vos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Output ◽  
Critical Care ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Percentage Error ◽  
Poor Agreement ◽  
Cardiac Output Measurements

Abstract Background Critical care ultrasonography (CCUS) is increasingly applied also in the intensive care unit (ICU) and performed by non-experts, including even medical students. There is limited data on the training efforts necessary for novices to attain images of sufficient quality. There is no data on medical students performing CCUS for the measurement of cardiac output (CO), a hemodynamic variable of importance for daily critical care. Objective The aim of this study was to explore the agreement of cardiac output measurements as well as the quality of images obtained by medical students in critically ill patients compared to the measurements obtained by experts in these images. Methods In a prospective observational cohort study, all acutely admitted adults with an expected ICU stay over 24 h were included. CCUS was performed by students within 24 h of admission. CCUS included the images required to measure the CO, i.e., the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) diameter and the velocity time integral (VTI) in the LVOT. Echocardiography experts were involved in the evaluation of the quality of images obtained and the quality of the CO measurements. Results There was an opportunity for a CCUS attempt in 1155 of the 1212 eligible patients (95%) and in 1075 of the 1212 patients (89%) CCUS examination was performed by medical students. In 871 out of 1075 patients (81%) medical students measured CO. Experts measured CO in 783 patients (73%). In 760 patients (71%) CO was measured by both which allowed for comparison; bias of CO was 0.0 L min−1 with limits of agreement of − 2.6 L min−1 to 2.7 L min−1. The percentage error was 50%, reflecting poor agreement of the CO measurement by students compared with the experts CO measurement. Conclusions Medical students seem capable of obtaining sufficient quality CCUS images for CO measurement in the majority of critically ill patients. Measurements of CO by medical students, however, had poor agreement with expert measurements. Experts remain indispensable for reliable CO measurements. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov; http://www.clinicaltrials.gov; registration number NCT02912624

scholarly journals Effect of applying nurses driven electrolyte repletion protocol on electrolyte disturbances control among critically ill patients

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 72
Author(s):  
Mohamed E. Abdelgawad ◽  
Nadia T. Ahmed ◽  
Ahmed M. Elmenshawy
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care ◽  
Intensive Care Units ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Improve Patient Care ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Electrolyte Disturbances ◽  
Electrolyte Loss

Background and objective: Electrolyte disturbances remain a common lifesaving issue in the intensive care units. They are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. They are mostly resulted secondary to critical illness itself or associated treatment modalities. Therefore, electrolytes repletion should be done effectively and timely. This could be ensured using nurse driven protocols rather than traditional methods of repletion. These protocols are nurse initiated and collaboratively developed. They have been shown to improve patient care outcomes through the provision of high quality care. They are increasingly being used in the critical care setting. Objective: Determine the effect of applying nurses driven electrolytes repletion protocol on electrolytes disturbance control among critically ill patients.Methods: Quasi experimental research design was used. Sixty two critically ill patients with electrolytes loss were enrolled in the study at Alexandria Main University Hospital intensive care units, Egypt. All episodes of electrolyte loss were evaluated. Repletion of electrolyte loss was done according to unit routine for the control group and nurses driven electrolytes repletion protocol for the study group. Episodes of electrolyte disturbances, adverse events and timing of repletion were evaluated.Results: Neurological disorders represent the most encountered diagnosis. The most common cause of electrolyte loss in was the use of diuretics. Furthermore, there was a highly statistical difference between the two groups as regard electrolytes levels, effectiveness and timing of replacement.Conclusions: Application of nurses driven electrolyte repletion protocol resulted in improvements in the effectiveness and timeliness of electrolyte replacement.

A Systematic Review of Anticoagulation Strategies for Patients With Atrial Fibrillation in Critical Care.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Jayne Nelson ◽  
Brian W Johnston ◽  
Alicia Achiaa Charlotte Waite ◽  
Gedeon Lemma ◽  
Ingeborg Dorothea Welters
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Critical Care ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Major Bleeding ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Thromboembolic Events ◽  
Bleeding Events ◽  
Major Bleeding Events ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Anticoagulated Patients

Background. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia in critically ill patients. There is a paucity of data assessing the impact of anticoagulation strategies on clinical outcomes for general critical care patients with AF. Our aim was to assess the existing literature to evaluate the effectiveness of anticoagulation strategies used in critical care for AF. Methodology. A systematic literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL and PubMed databases. Studies reporting anticoagulation strategies for AF in adults admitted to a general critical care setting were assessed for inclusion. Results. Four studies were selected for data extraction. A total of 44087 patients were identified with AF, of which 17.8-49.4% received anticoagulation. The reported incidence of thromboembolic events was 0-1.4% for anticoagulated patients, and 0-1.3% in non-anticoagulated patients. Major bleeding events were reported in three studies and occurred in 7.2-8.6% of the anticoagulated patients and up to 7.1% of the non-anticoagulated patients. Conclusions. There was an increased incidence of major bleeding events in anticoagulated patients with AF in critical care compared to non-anticoagulated patients. There was no significant difference in the incidence of reported thromboembolic events within studies, between patients who did and did not receive anticoagulation. However, the outcomes reported within studies were not standardised, therefore, the generalisability of our results to the general critical care population remains unclear. Further data is required to facilitate an evidence-based assessment of the risks and benefits of anticoagulation for critically ill patients with AF.

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