Objective To identify the predictors for readmission in the ICU among cardiac surgery patients. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 2 799 consecutive patients under cardiac surgery, who were divided into two groups including a readmission group (47 patients, 27 males and 20 females at age of 62.0±14.4 years) and a non readmission group (2 752 patients, 1 478 males and 1 274 females at age of 55.0±13.9 years) in our hospital between January 2014 and October 2016. Results The incidence of ICU readmission was 1.68% (47/2 799). Respiratory disorders were the main reason for readmission (38.3%).Readmitted patients had a significantly higher in-hospital mortality compared to those requiring no readmission (23.4% vs. 4.6%, P<0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that pre-operative renal dysfunction (OR=5.243, 95%CI 1.190 to 23.093, P=0.029), the length of stay in the ICU (OR=1.002, 95%CI 1.001 to 1.004, P=0.049), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in the first postoperative day (OR=1.000, 95%CI 1.000 to 1.001, P=0.038), acute physiology and chronic health evaluationⅡ (APACHEⅡ) score in the first 24 hours of admission to the ICU (OR=1.171, 95%CI 1.088 to1.259, P<0.001), and the drainage on the day of surgery (OR=1.001, 95%CI1.001 to 1.002, P<0.001) were the independent risk factors for readmission to the cardiac surgery ICU. Conclusion The early identification of high risk patients for readmission in the cardiac surgery ICU could encourage both more efficient healthcare planning and resources allocation.
Objective To verify the association between admission serum phosphate level and short-term (<30 days) mortality of severe pneumonia patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) / respiratory intensive care unit (RICU). Methods Severe pneumonia patients admitted to the ICU/RICU of Quanzhou First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University from November 2019 to September 2021 were included in the study. Serum phosphate was demonstrated as an independent risk factor for short-term mortality of severe pneumonia patients admitted to ICU/RICU by logical analysis and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve. The patients were further categorized by serum phosphate concentration to explore the relationship between serum phosphate level and short-term mortality. Results Comparison of baseline indicators at admission between the survival group (n=54) and the non survival group (n=46) revealed that there was significant difference in serum phosphate level [0.9 (0.8, 1.2) mmol/L vs. 1.2 (0.9, 1.5) mmol/L, P<0.05]. Logical analysis showed serum phosphate was an independent risk factor for short-term mortality. ROC curve showed that the prediction ability of serum phosphate was close to pneumonia severity index (PSI). After combining serum phosphate with PSI score, CURB65 score, and sequential organ failure score, the predictive ability of these scores for short-term mortality was improved. Compared with the normophosphatemia group, hyperphosphatemia was found be with significantly higher short-term mortality (85.7% vs. 47.3%, P<0.05), which is absent in hypophosphatemia (25.8%). Conclusions Serum phosphate at admission has a good predictive value on short-term mortality in severe pneumonia patients admitted to the ICU/RICU. Hyperphosphatemia at admission is associated with a higher risk of short-term death.
Objective To retrospectively analyze the clinical features of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in intensive care unit (ICU), so as to improve the level of clinical diagnosis and treatment. Methods A total of 81 patients diagnosed as IPA from March, 2017 to March, 2022 in the ICU of The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China were selected as infection group. A total of 81 non-IPA patients with pulmonary infection and Aspergillus negative sputum culture were selected as the control group. The host factors, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Assessment Ⅱ score at admission, underlying diseases, clinical symptoms and signs, relevant laboratory test results, and lung CT findings were compared between the two groups. Univariate analysis and multivariate conditional logistic regression analysis were used to identify the risk factors for the occurrence of pulmonary aspergillosis in IPA patients in ICU. At the same time, the types of aspergillus in the IPA group and the outcomes of the two groups at 28 days after ICU admission were analyzed. Results Of the 81 IPA patients, 4 were proven diagnosed and 77 were putative diagnosed. IPA patients were mainly infected with Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus. Symptoms and signs such as fever, cough and expectoration, dyspnea and pulmonary rales occurred in both groups. The level of procalcitonin in IPA group was higher than that in non-IPA group, and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.016). The positive rate of serum galactomannan antigen test (GM test) in the IPA group was higher than that in the non-IPA group, and the differences was statistically significant (P=0.000). The incidence of pulmonary imaging cavities in IPA group was higher than that in non-IPA group, and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.022). Univariate analysis showed that central venous catheterization, septic shock, complete parenteral nutrition, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and immunosuppression were risk factors for IPA (P<0.05); Multivariate conditional logistic regression analysis showed that complete parenteral nutrition, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and immunosuppression were independent risk factors for IPA (P<0.05). The 28-day fatality rate in IPA group was higher than that in non-IPA group (55.6% vs. 34.6%, P=0.007). Conclusions IPA patients have no specific clinical symptoms and signs, and are mainly infected with Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus; GM test has guiding significance for the diagnosis of IPA. Serum GM test and pulmonary imaging have cavity findings that are helpful for the diagnosis of IPA. Patients with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunosuppression, or complete parenteral nutrition need to be on high alert for the possibility of IPA during ICU stay.
ObjectiveTo investigate the protein intake of patients in the general surgery intensive care unit (ICU) and to analyze the factors, both hindering and facilitating, that affecting protein intake from the perspective of healthcare professionals. MethodsA mixed-methods approach was used in this study, including a quantitative study and a qualitative study. The quantitative study was use to assess the protein intake in the ICU patients. The qualitative study was used to analyze the perspectives of healthcare professionals via semi-structured interviews. In the quantitative study, 32 variables were analyzed, and the sample size was estimated to be 10 times the number of study variables. The qualitative study employed the maximum difference sampling strategy, with the sample size determined by data saturation. The multiple linear regression was used to identify the risk factors affecting protein intake achievement, with a significance level of α=0.05. ResultsThe quantitative study included 459 patients, with a protein intake of (0.739±0.552) g/(kg·d). Of the patients, 90 (19.6%) had a protein intake of 1.2–2.0 g/(kg·d), 11 (2.3%) had 2.0 g/(kg·d) or more, and 358 (78.0%) had less 1.2 g/(kg·d). The multiple linear regression analysis identified several risk factors influencing protein intake attainment, including male, higher body mass index, elevated blood glucose levels upon ICU admission, early initiation of enteral nutrition (≤48 h), nasoenteric tube placement, and the only use of enteral nutrition feedings. In the qualitative study, three key themes relevant protein intake attainment were identified from the interviews: inadequate infrastructure, healthcare workers’ factors, and patient-related factors. ConclusionsThe findings of this study suggest a substantial gap between the protein intake of general surgical ICU patients and the guideline-recommended intake. The study highlights patient groups at risk for inadequate protein intake based on identified risk factors. Future efforts should focus on improving the efficiency of protein supplementation, enhancing the nutritional status of patients, standardizing protein supplementation protocols, and increasing education for both healthcare workers and patients.
ObjectiveTo provide recommendations for the management of intensive care unit patients without novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).MethodsWe set up a focus group urgently and identified five key clinical issues through discussion. Total 23 databases or websites including PubMed, National Guideline Clearing-House, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and so on were searched from construction of the library until February 28, 2020. After group discussion and collecting information, we used GRADE system to classify the evidence and give recommendations. Then we apply the recommendations to manage pediatric intensive care unit in the department of critical care medicine in our hospital. ResultsWe searched 13 321 articles and finally identified 21 liteteratures. We discussed twice, and five recommendations were proposed: (1) Patients should wear medical surgical masks; (2) Family members are not allowed to visit the ward and video visitation are used; (3) It doesn’t need to increase the frequency of environmental disinfection; (4) We should provide proper health education about the disease to non-medical staff (workers, cleaners); (5) Medical staff do not need wear protective clothing. We used these recommendations in intensive care unit management for 35 days and there was no novel coronavirus infection in patients, medical staff or non-medical staff. ConclusionThe use of evidence-based medicine for emergency recommendation is helpful for the scientific and efficient management of wards, and is also suitable for the management of general intensive care units in emergent public health events.
Objective To evaluate the predictive value of CURB-65 score combined with blood urea nitrogen to albumin ratio (B/A) for intensive care unit (ICU) admission and death in adults with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 523 patients with CAP hospitalized in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University from January 2018 to January 2022. According to whether the patients were admitted to ICU, they were divided into an ICU group (n=36) and a general ward group (n=487). The patients were divided into a death group (n=45) and a non-death group (n=478) according to the death situation during hospitalization. Basic data (age, gender, history of underlying diseases, etc.), hospital stay, antibiotic use days, CURB-65 score, white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophil count (NEUT), procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), serum albumin (Alb), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and BUN to Alb ratio (B/A) of the two groups were compared respectively. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were plotted to evaluate the predictive value of CURB-65 score, B/A, and their combination for death during ICU admission and hospitalization in patients with CAP. Logistic regression was used to analyze risk factors for in-hospital death in the patients with CAP. Results The number of days in hospital, the number of days of antibiotic use, the number of deaths during hospitalization, the proportion of hypertension, diabetes, CURB-65 score, WBC, NEUT, PCT, CRP, BUN and B/A in the ICU group were significantly higher than those in the general ward group. Age, male, combined hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, ICU admission, CURB-65 score, WBC, NEUT, PCT, CRP, BUN and B/A in the death group were significantly higher than those in the non-death group, and Alb in the ICU group and the death group were significantly lower (all P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that B/A was positively correlated with PCT, CRP, WBC, NEUT and CURB-65 scores (correlation coefficient r values were 0.486, 0.291, 0.260, 0.310, 0.666, all P<0.001). The area under ROC curve of CURB-65 combined with B/A to predict ICU admission and death of CAP patients was 0.862 (95%CI 0.807 - 0.918, sensitivity 91.7%, specificity 66.4%) and 0.908 (95%CI 0.864 - 0.952, sensitivity 93.3%, specificity 75.7%), respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that diabetes, high CURB-65 score, low Alb level and B/A≥4.755 mg/g were independent risk factors for death of CAP patients during hospitalization (P<0.05). Conclusions There is a significant correlation between elevated B/A and ICU demand and mortality in CAP patients. Combined use can improve the predictive value of CURB-65 score for ICU admission and mortality in CAP patients.
Objective To investigate the differences in bacteria distribution and drug resistance of pathogens in patients with lower respiratory tract infection between respiratory general wards and respiratory intensive care unit ( RICU) .Methods All the clinical isolates fromsputumor secretion of lower respiratory tract from2007. 1-2010. 10 were analyzed retrospectively. Antibiotic susceptibility was tested by Kirby-Bauer method. Results The total number of isolated strains was 3202. Among 1254 strains isolated from respiratory general wards, Gram-positive bacteria accounted for 2. 63% , Gram-positive bacteria accounted for 42. 42% , and fungi accounted for 54. 95% . Streptococcus pneumoniae ranked first place among Gram-positive bacteria, accounting for 51. 52% . Haemophilus parainfluenzae bacillus ranked first place among Gramnegative bacteria, accounting for 21. 99% . Both were sensitive to the most commonly used antibiotics. Among 1948 strains isolated from RICU ward, Gram-positive bacteria accounted for 4. 52% , Gram-positive bacteria accounted for 37.73% , and fungi accounted for 57. 75% . Staphylococcus aureus ranked first place among Gram-positive bacteria, accounting for 52. 27% . Acinetobacter baumannii ranked first place in Gramnegative bacteria, accounting for 27. 35% . Both were resistant to most commonly used antibiotics. Pseudomonas aeruginosa had a higher rate of infection both in the general wards and RICU, and was resistant to most commonly used antibiotics.Conclusions In lower respiratory tract infection of respiratory general ward, Gram-positive bacteria with Streptococcus pneumoniae mainly and Gram-negative bacteria with Haemophilus parainfluenzae mainly are both sensitive to the most commonly used antibiotics. While in the RICU ward, Gram-positive bacteria infections with Staphylococcus aureus mainly and Gram-negative bacteria infections with Acinetobacter baumannii mainly are both resistant to most commonly used antibiotics.
Objective To investigate the predictive value of the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) for 28-day all-cause mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in intensive care unit (ICU). Methods The relationship between PNI and short-term mortality in COPD patients was analysed using COX proportional hazards and restricted cubic spline (RCS) models. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted and area under the ROC curve (AUC) was calculated to assess the predictive performance of PNI. The optimal cut-off value for PNI was determined using the Youden index, and the data were divided into a low PNI group and a high PNI group. Kaplan-Meier curves were then constructed and the log-rank test was used to assess differences in survival between the two groups. Results A total of 980 COPD patients were included in the study. Multivariable COX regression analysis showed that PNI was an independent factor influencing short-term mortality in the severe COPD patients (HR=0.972, 95%CI 0.948 - 0.995, P=0.019). RCS curve results showed a non-linear relationship between PNI and short-term mortality in the severe COPD patients (P for non-linear=0.032), with the risk of death gradually decreasing as PNI increased. The ROC curve indicated that PNI had some predictive power, comparable to that of SOFA score [(AUCPNI=0.693) vs. (AUCSOFA=0.672)]. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis showed a significant difference in survival time between the low (≤38.3) PNI group and the high (>38.3) PNI group (P<0.05). Conclusions PNI has a certain predictive role for short-term all-cause mortality in patients with severe COPD. Patients with low PNI at ICU admission have a higher risk of short-term mortality.
Objective To investigate the antibiotic resistance distribution and profiles of multidrug resistant bacteria in respiratory intensive care unit ( RICU) , and to analyze the related risk factors for multidrug resistant bacterial infections. Methods Pathogens from79 patients in RICU from April 2008 to May 2009 were analyzed retrospectively. Meanwhile the risk factors were analyzed by multi-factor logistic analysis among three groups of patients with non-multidrug, multidrug and pandrug-resistant bacterialinfection. Results The top three in 129 isolated pathogenic bacteria were Pseudomonas aeruginosa ( 24. 0% ) , Staphylococcus aureus( 22. 5% ) , and Acinetobacter baumannii( 15. 5% ) . The top three in 76 isolated multidrug-resistant bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus ( 38. 9% ) , Pseudomonas aeruginosa ( 25. 0% ) , and Acinetobacter baumannii( 19. 4% ) . And the two main strains in 29 isolated pandrug-resistant bacteria were Pseudomonas aeruginosa ( 48. 3% ) and Acinetobacter baumannii ( 44. 8% ) . Multi-factor logistic analysis revealed that the frequency of admition to RICU, the use of carbapenem antibiotics, the time of mechanical ventilation, the time of urethral catheterization, and complicated diabetes mellitus were independent risk factors for multidrug-resistant bacterial infection( all P lt; 0. 05) . Conclusions There is a high frequency of multidrug-resistant bacterial infection in RICU. Frequency of admition in RICU, use of carbapenem antibiotics, time of mechanical ventilation, time of urethral catheterization, and complicated diabetes mellitus were closely related withmultidrug-resistant bacterial infection.
ObjectiveTo assess the effectiveness of phrenic nerve electrical stimulation (PNES) on extubation outcomes in intensive care unit (ICU) patients undergoing mechanical ventilation using a meta-analysis approach. Methods A comprehensive search was conducted on the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from database inception to December 2023, evaluating the effect of PNES on extubation outcomes in ICU patients receiving mechanical ventilation. The control group received standard rehabilitation measures, while the intervention group received PNES in addition to standard rehabilitation. Two reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan5.4 software. Results Nine RCTs were included in the final analysis. The quality assessment indicated that one study was rated as Grade A and eight as Grade B, reflecting relatively high study quality. Meta-analysis results demonstrated that PNES significantly improved extubation success rates [relative risk (RR)=1.33, 95%CI 1.09 - 1.62, P=0.006], maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) [mean difference (MD)=1.36, 95%CI 0.46 - 2.27, P=0.003], and diaphragmatic thickness fraction (DTF) (MD=7.11, 95%CI 0.53 - 13.69, P=0.03) compared with the control group. PNES also significantly reduced the duration of mechanical ventilation (MD=–2.23, 95%CI –3.07- –1.38, P<0.000 01), re-intubation rates (RR=0.35, 95%CI 0.15 - 0.85, P=0.02), and rapid shallow breathing index (RSBI) (MD=–11.57, 95%CI –18.51 - –4.62, P=0.001). Additionally, PNES shortened ICU length of stay (MD=–4.03, 95%CI –5.95 - –2.11, P<0.000 1), with all differences being statistically significant. Conclusion PNES effectively reduces the duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU length of stay, decreases re-intubation rates and RSBI, and improves extubation success, MIP, and DTF in ICU patients. Future high-quality, large-scale, multi-center RCTs are needed to further validate these findings.