Journal of intensive care medicine
-
J Intensive Care Med · May 2020
Observational StudyComparison of Self-Reported and Behavioral Pain Assessment Tools in Critically Ill Patients.
Self-reported and behavioral pain assessment scales are often used interchangeably in critically ill patients due to fluctuations in mental status. The correlation between scales is not well elucidated. The purpose of this study was to describe the correlation between self-reported and behavioral pain scores in critically ill patients. ⋯ Self-reported pain scales and behavioral pain scales cannot be used interchangeably. Current validated behavioral pain scales may not accurately reflect self-reported pain in critically ill patients.
-
J Intensive Care Med · May 2020
The Impact of Implementing an Intensivist Model With Nighttime In-Hospital Nocturnist and Effect on ICU Outcomes.
Various intensivist staffing models have been suggested, but the long-term sustainability and outcomes vary and may not be sustained. We examined the impact of implementing a high-intensity intensivist coverage model with a nighttime in-house nocturnist (non-intensivist) and its effect on intensive care unit (ICU) outcomes. ⋯ Implementing an intensivist service with nighttime nocturnist staffing in a high-intensity large teaching hospital is feasible and improved ICU outcomes in a sustained manner that persisted after the initial implementation phase. The model resulted in reduced and sustained observed-to-predicted length of ICU stay.
-
Studies exploring the effect of body mass index (BMI) on outcomes in the intensive care unit (ICU) have yielded mixed results, with few studies assessing patients at the extremes of obesity. We sought to understand the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with super obesity (BMI > 50 kg/m2) as compared to morbid obesity (BMI > 40 kg/m2) and obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m2). ⋯ Super obese patients are most commonly admitted to the MICU with pulmonary diagnoses and have an increased use of noninvasive ventilation. Super obesity was not associated with increased ICU mortality. Clinicians should be prepared to offer NIMV to super obese patients and anticipate a longer LOS in this group.
-
J Intensive Care Med · May 2020
Observational StudyRed Blood Cell Product Transfusion Thresholds and Clinical Outcomes.
To determine whether patients transfused red blood cell (RBC) products according to guideline-specified pretransfusion hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations or for other reasons were more likely to survive their intensive care unit (ICU) stay. ⋯ Conservative RBC product transfusion practices for groups that are targeted by guidelines are justified by outcomes observed in clinical practice. This study provides evidence for the liberal administration of RBC products to critically ill adults with acute blood loss based on association with lower risk of mortality.
-
J Intensive Care Med · May 2020
Multicenter Study Observational StudyComplementary Role of Hypothermia Identification to the Quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Score in Predicting Patients With Sepsis at High Risk of Mortality: A Retrospective Analysis From a Multicenter, Observational Study.
Although the quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) has been recommended for identifying patients at higher risk of hospital death, it has only a 60% sensitivity for in-hospital mortality. On the other hand, hypothermia associates with increased mortality and organ failure in patients with sepsis. This study aimed to assess the predictive validity of qSOFA for identifying patients with sepsis at higher risk of multiple organ dysfunction or death and the complementary effect of hypothermia. ⋯ A qSOFA score ≥2 may identify >90% of 28-day deaths among patients with severe sepsis; hypothermia may complement the predictive ability of qSOFA.