Clinical Sign-Based Rapid Response Team Call Criteria for Identifying Patients Requiring Intensive Care Management in Japan

Background and Objectives: For effective function of the rapid response system (RRS), prompt identification of patients at a high risk of cardiac arrest and RRS activation without hesitation are important. This study aimed to identify clinical factors that increase the risk of intensive care unit (ICU) transfer and cardiac arrest to identify patients who are likely to develop serious conditions requiring ICU management and appropriate RRS activation in Japan. Materials and Methods: We performed a single-center, case control study among patients requiring a rapid response team (RRT) call from 2017 to 2020. We extracted the demographic data, vital parameters, blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) and the fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) from the medical records at the time of RRT call. The patients were divided into two groups to identify clinical signs that correlated with the progression of clinical deterioration. Patient characteristics in the two groups were compared using statistical tests based on the distribution. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to identify the appropriate cut-off values of vital parameters or FiO2 that showed a significant difference between-group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify patient factors that were predictive of RRS necessity. Results: We analyzed the data of 65 patients who met our hospital’s RRT call criteria. Among the clinical signs in RRT call criteria, respiratory rate (RR) (p < 0.01) and the needed FiO2 were significantly increased (p < 0.01) in patients with severe disease course. ROC curve analysis revealed RR and needed FiO2 cut-off values of 25.5 breaths/min and 30%. The odds ratio for the progression of clinical deterioration was 40.5 times higher with the combination of RR ≥ 26 breaths/min and needed FiO2 ≥ 30%. Conclusions: The combined use of RR ≥ 26 breaths/min and needed FiO2 ≥ 30% might be valid for identifying patients requiring intensive care management.

Nosocomial transmission of necrotising fasciitis organisms from prepartum patient to healthcare worker

Necrotising fasciitis is an aggressive skin and soft tissue infection requiring urgent surgical treatment, resuscitative efforts and intensive care management. We herein present a case of necrotising fasciitis with nosocomial transmission of causative organisms from patient to healthcare worker. Bacterial transmission from human to human despite personal protective equipment is quite rare, and with limited reports in the literature. The patient was also prepartum, representing to our knowledge, one of only a handful of cases of prepartum necrotising fasciitis. Recommendations to avoid healthcare worker transmission include wearing Association of the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation level 4 gowns during debridement, as well as eye protection and changing scrubs and showering between cases.

Intravenous Nimodipine in Initial Intensive Care Management of Vasospasm in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Haemorrhage – A Review

Background: As known to every Neuroscientist the spontaneous subarachnoid haemorrhage is a medical condition in which bleeding occurs in subarachnoid space due to cerebrovascular disease most commonly due ruptured aneurysms. Nimodipine is a calcium channel antagonist used to treat vasospasm. When compared to oral, intravenous nimodipine shows better neurological outcome with low dose, less frequency of administration and less fluctuations of blood pressure in between doses ( as in oral ) due to availability of continuous infusion . Titrated dose Intra venous nimodipine is useful in the initial Intensive Care management of Subarachnoid haemorrhage for Vasospasm with close monitoring of blood pressure.Objective: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of intravenous Nimodipine in the management of acute ischemic vasospasm in subarachnoid hemorrhagic patients. Material and methods: The study was a prospective and observational study conducted in all inpatients with SAH having acute ischemic vasospasm in the intensive care unit using IV Nimodipine admitted the department of Neurosurgery in AIMS during a period of 1yr.Results: Evaluation of SAH occurrence in study patients (n=38) showed predominance of females (68.4%) and majority with hypertension (57.9%) as the common comorbid condition. The chance of developing SAH was high in patients who did not practice any form of exercise (60.5%). None of the patients had occurrence of adverse drug reactions while administering IV nimodipine other than hypotension which was corrected with inotropic support with close blood pressure monitoring. Out of the subjects enrolled, 37 patients showed improvement clinically and resolution of ischemic changes in CT scan . Majority of patients experienced cerebral edema. Using pair t test, it was found that the difference between the Glasgow Coma Score pre and follow up post treatment score were mild. Using pair t test, it was found that the difference between the mRS pre and follow up post treatment score were significant.Conclusion: Introduction of IV Nimodipine to the treatment strategy of SAH showed significant improvement in the clinical and radiological outcome.IV Nimodipine showed benefit in treating the condition without any life-threatening adverse events other than correctable hypotension. A significant decrease in the mRS score in majority of patients after treatment indicates the improvement in the quality of life of SAH patients. Pre and Post neurological status strengthens the evidence of improvement in our study subjects.