Journal of critical care
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Journal of critical care · Oct 2020
Critical care guidelines on pain, agitation and delirium management: Which one to use? A systematic literature search and quality appraisal with AGREE II.
Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) facilitate the provision of standardized, high-quality intensive care medicine. For the management of pain, agitation and delirium, several coexisting CPGs have been published. This study aims at the appraisal of CPGs on pain, agitation and delirium management in the intensive care unit to (a) identify high quality guidelines appropriate for clinical use and (b) identify potential areas for future improvement. ⋯ Three of the eight reviewed guidelines exceeded the quality threshold in all domains, while the overall guideline quality was also very high. Focusing on guideline applicability and identifying strategies to facilitate implementation can improve future CPGs.
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Journal of critical care · Oct 2020
Case ReportsClinically significant anticardiolipin antibodies associated with COVID-19.
The novel coronavirus strain known as SARS-CoV-2 has rapidly spread around the world creating distinct challenges to the healthcare workforce. Coagulopathy contributing to significant morbidity in critically ill patients with SARS-CoV-2 has now been well documented. ⋯ Obtaining serial inflammatory markers in conjunction with anti-phospholipid antibody testing revealed clinically significant Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). This case series reviews the details preceding APS observed in SARS-CoV-2 and aims to report findings that could potentially further our understanding of the disease.
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Journal of critical care · Oct 2020
Identification of risk factors for hypertension and tachycardia upon dexmedetomidine discontinuation.
Dexmedetomidine may cause hypertension and tachycardia upon discontinuation. Risk factors are poorly described but may include prolonged infusion, higher doses, a history of hypertension, and abrupt cessation. This study aims to identify risk factors for hypertension and tachycardia upon dexmedetomidine discontinuation. ⋯ Approximately one third of patients experienced hypertension or tachycardia upon dexmedetomidine discontinuation. A past medical history of hypertension was the only independent risk factor identified in this study based on the clinical data collected.
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Journal of critical care · Oct 2020
Observational StudyRisk of incident bleeding after acute kidney injury: A retrospective cohort study.
End-stage kidney disease (ESKD) causes bleeding diathesis; however, whether these findings are extrapolable to acute kidney injury (AKI) remains uncertain. We assessed whether AKI is associated with an increased risk of bleeding. ⋯ AKI-requiring dialysis was associated with incident bleeding, independent of anticoagulant administration. Studies are needed to better understand how AKI affects coagulation and clinical outcomes.
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A recent meta-analysis by Munshi et al. (Lancet Respiratory Medicine, 2019) claimed mortality treatment efficacy for extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in the acute respitratory syndrome (ARDS) despite very low meta-analytic study numbers (n = 2 (RCTs), risk-ratio (RR) 0·73 (95%CI: 0·58-0·92); n = 5 (2 RCT, 3 observational), RR 0·69 (95%CI: 0·50-0·95)). We explore this efficacy claim by a comprehensive re-analysis of the data. ⋯ Having canvassed the conduct of both meta-analyses presented by Munshi et al. and proffered alternative methods, we find no certainty regarding the efficacy of ECMO in ARDS.