Project description:Care of patients with sepsis has improved over the last decade. However, in the recent two years, there was no significant progress in the development of a new drug for critically ill patients. In January 2011, it was announced that the worldwide phase 3 randomized trial of a novel anti-Toll-like receptor-4 compound, eritoran tetrasodium, had failed to demonstrate an improvement in the mortality of patients with severe sepsis. In October 2011, Xigris (drotrecogin alfa, a recombinant activated protein C) was withdrawn from the market following the failure of its worldwide trial that had attempted to demonstrate improved outcome. These announcements were disappointing. The recent failure of 2 promising drugs to further reduce mortality suggests that new approaches are needed. A study was published showing that sepsis can be associated to a state of immunosuppression and loss of immune function in human. However, the timing, incidence, and nature of the immunosuppression remain poorly characterized, especially in humans. This emphasizes the need for a better understanding of sepsis as well as new therapeutic strategies. Many clinical experiences of the extracorporeal membrane oxygenator (ECMO) treatment for adult acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients, which is caused by the H1N1 influenza A virus, were reported. The use of ECMO in severe respiratory failure, particularly in the treatment of adult ARDS, is occurring more commonly.
Project description:Acute heart failure (AHF) continues to be a substantial cause of illness and death, with in-hospital and 3-month mortality rates of 5% and 10%, respectively, and 6-month re-admission rates in excess of 50% in a range of clinical trials and registry studies; the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Heart Failure Long-Term Registry recorded a 1-year death or rehospitalization rate of 36%. As regards the short-term treatment of AHF patients, evidence was collected in the ESC Heart Failure Long-Term Registry that intravenous (i.v.) treatments are administered heterogeneously in the critical phase, with limited reference to guideline recommendations. Moreover, recent decades have been characterized by a prolonged lack of successful innovation in this field, with a plethora of clinical trials generating neutral or inconclusive findings on long-term mortality effects from a multiplicity of short-term interventions in AHF. One of the few exceptions has been the calcium sensitizer and inodilator levosimendan, introduced 20 years ago for the treatment of acutely decompensated chronic heart failure. In the present review, we will focus on the utility of this agent in the wider context of i.v. inotropic and inodilating therapies for AHF and related pathologies.
Project description:BackgroundLittle is known about the longitudinal change in the quality of acute asthma care for hospitalized children and adults in the United States. We investigated whether the concordance of inpatient asthma care with the national guidelines improved over time, identified hospital characteristics predictive of guideline concordance, and determined whether guideline-concordant care is associated with a shorter hospital length of stay (LOS).MethodsThis study was an analysis of data from two multicenter chart review studies of hospitalized patients aged 2 to 54 years with acute asthma during two time periods: 1999-2000 and 2012-2013. Outcomes were guideline concordance at the patient and hospital levels, and association of patient composite concordance with hospital LOS.ResultsThe analytic cohort for the comparison of guideline concordance comprised 1,634 patients: 834 patients from 1999-2000 vs 800 patients from 2012-2013. Over these 15 years, inpatient asthma care became more concordant at the hospital-level, with the mean composite score increasing from 74 to 82 (P < .001). However, during 2012-2013, wide variability in guideline concordance of acute asthma care remained across hospitals, with the greatest variation in provision of individualized written action plan at discharge (SD, 36). Guideline concordance was significantly lower in Midwestern and Southern hospitals compared with Northeastern hospitals. After adjusting for severity, patients who received care perfectly concordant with the guidelines had significantly shorter hospital LOS (-14% [95% CI, -23 to -4]; P = .009).ConclusionsBetween 1999 and 2013, the guideline concordance of acute asthma care for hospitalized patients improved. However, interhospital variability remains substantial. Greater concordance with evidence-based guidelines was associated with a shorter hospital LOS.
Project description:BackgroundEmerging evidence indicates that engaging family members in early mobilization may benefit both patients and family members. However, little is known about the effect of patient and family-member experience and perspectives on mobilization in acute cardiac care. Our goal was to assess the perspectives and experience of patients and their family members regarding early mobilization in acute cardiac care, to better understand patient-related barriers to mobilization and assist in the development of mobilization strategies that increase family-member engagement in care.MethodsPatient and family-member surveys were developed to assess attitudes and knowledge about mobilization, family-members' roles in providing care, and mobilization care the patients received. Surveys were distributed to patients and their family members over a 4-month period.ResultsA total of 101 participants completed the survey (patients, n = 78; family members, n = 23). Most patients (n = 54; 69.2%) agreed or strongly agreed that early mobilization should be routinely performed. Of 72 patients who underwent early mobilization, 60 (83.3%) felt that mobilization helped their recovery. The majority of family members were interested in being involved with mobilization (n = 19; 82.6%). One quarter of family members felt that mobilizing their relatives too soon after admission was potentially dangerous (n = 6; 26.1%).ConclusionsMost patients wish to be mobilized early after admission, and family members want to participate in mobilization efforts. These findings should inform efforts to overcome patient- and family-related barriers to mobilization.
Project description:BackgroundEngaging families in care leads to improved patient- and family-centreed outcomes and is recommended by cardiovascular societies. However, no validated tools are currently available to measure family engagement in acute cardiac care. We previously described the development of the FAMily Engagement (FAME) instrument. The purpose of this study is to validate the FAME instrument in acute cardiac care.MethodsThe FAME questionnaire was administered to family members of patients in a cardiovascular intensive care unit and ward at an academic tertiary care hospital in Montreal, Canada. After hospital discharge, we assessed family satisfaction in the intensive care unit (FS-ICU) and mental health (using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS]). Higher FAME scores indicate increased care engagement. Reliability was assessed using internal consistency testing. Predictive validity was evaluated by assessing the relationship between the FAME score and the FS-ICU score and whether the FAME score was correlated with the HADS score. Convergent validity was assessed by comparing the FAME score with engagement elements of the FS-ICU score.ResultsA total of 160 family participants were included (age 54.8 ± 14.8 years; 66% women; 36% non-White). The most common relationships to the patient were spouse/partner and adult child (both n = 62; 39%). The mean FAME score was 70.8 ± 16.0. The FAME instrument had high internal consistency (Cronbach's a = 0.86). The FAME score was associated with family satisfaction in the multivariable analysis (P < 0.001). No correlation occurred between FAME and HADS anxiety or depression scores.ConclusionsThe FAME tool demonstrated reliability and convergent and predictive validity in the acute care cardiac population. Further research is needed to explore whether selected engagement interventions can impact the FAME score favourably.
Project description:IntroductionThe role of palliative care services in patients with cardiac arrest complicating acute pulmonary embolism has been infrequently studied.MethodsAll adult admissions with pulmonary embolism complicating cardiac arrest were identified using the National Inpatient Sample (2016-2020). The primary outcome of interest was the utilization of palliative care services. Secondary outcomes included predictors of palliative care utilization and its association of with in-hospital mortality, do-not-resuscitate status, discharge disposition, length of stay, and total hospital charges. Multivariable regression analysis was used to adjust for confounding.ResultsBetween 01/01/2016 and 12/31/2020, of the 7,320 admissions with pulmonary embolism complicating cardiac arrest, 1229 (16.8 %) received palliative care services. Admissions receiving palliative care were on average older (68.1 ± 0.9 vs. 63.2 ± 0.4 years) and with higher baseline comorbidity (Elixhauser index 6.3 ± 0.1 vs 5.6 ± 0.6) (all p < 0.001). Additionally, this cohort had higher rates of non-cardiac organ failure (respiratory, renal, hepatic, and neurological) and invasive mechanical ventilation (all p < 0.05). Catheter-directed therapy was used less frequently in the cohort receiving palliative care, (2.8 % vs 7.9 %; p < 0.001) whereas the rates of systemic thrombolysis, mechanical and surgical thrombectomy were comparable. The cohort receiving palliative care services had higher in-hospital mortality (85.7 % vs. 69.1 %; adjusted odds ratio 2.20 [95 % CI 1.41-3.42]; p < 0.001). This cohort also had higher rates of do-not-resuscitate status and fewer discharges to home, but comparable hospitalization costs and length of hospital stay.ConclusionsPalliative care services are used in only 16.8 % of admissions with cardiac arrest complicating pulmonary embolism with significant differences in the populations, suggestive of selective consultation.
Project description:Pathological interplay between the heart and kidneys is widely encountered in heart failure (HF) and is linked to worse prognosis and quality of life. Inotropes, along with diuretics and vasodilators, are a core medical response to HF but decompensated patients who need inotropic support often present with an acute worsening of renal function. The impact of inotropes on renal function is thus potentially an important influence on the choice of therapy. There is currently relatively little objective data available to guide the selection of inotrope therapy but recent direct observations on the effects of levosimendan and milrinone on glomerular filtration favour levosimendan. Other lines of evidence indicate that in acute decompensated HF levosimendan has an immediate renoprotective effect by increasing renal blood flow through preferential vasodilation of the renal afferent arterioles and increases in glomerular filtration rate: potential for renal medullary ischaemia is avoided by an offsetting increase in renal oxygen delivery. These indications of a putative reno-protective action of levosimendan support the view that this calcium-sensitizing inodilator may be preferable to dobutamine or other adrenergic inotropes in some settings by virtue of its renal effects. Additional large studies will be required, however, to clarify the renal effects of levosimendan in this and other relevant clinical situations, such as cardiac surgery.
Project description:BACKGROUND:Cardiac catheterization is one of the most widely performed cardiac interventional procedures worldwide. The Austrian National Catheterization Laboratory Registry (ANCALAR), started in 1992, collects annual data on cardiac catheterization in Austria. The registry enables in-depth understanding of the dynamics of cardiac catheterization procedures and their use across 34 cardiac catheterization laboratories in Austria. METHODS:Data from ANCALAR on cardiac catheterization including the latest data for 2017, voluntarily provided by centers with cardiac catheterization laboratories, were analyzed. Where possible, international comparisons in therapeutic and interventional cardiac procedures are made with Switzerland and Germany. RESULTS:Internationally, Austria ranks alongside the top countries in Europe. Whilst the number of people undergoing routine percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) remains stable, complex and acute interventions are increasing year by year in Austria. CONCLUSION:Evidence from ANCALAR revealed that Austria is another example of the difficulties of weighing current guidelines with new emerging evidence and resulting real-life clinical practice in the dynamic world of interventional cardiology.
Project description:BackgroundOvercrowding of hospitals and emergency departments (EDs) is a growing problem. However, not all ED consultations are necessary. For example, 80% of patients in the ED with chest pain do not have an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Artificial intelligence (AI) is useful in analyzing (medical) data, and might aid health care workers in prehospital clinical decision-making before patients are presented to the hospital.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to develop an AI model which would be able to predict ACS before patients visit the ED. The model retrospectively analyzed prehospital data acquired by emergency medical services' nurse paramedics.MethodsPatients presenting to the emergency medical services with symptoms suggestive of ACS between September 2018 and September 2020 were included. An AI model using a supervised text classification algorithm was developed to analyze data. Data were analyzed for all 7458 patients (mean 68, SD 15 years, 54% men). Specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated for control and intervention groups. At first, a machine learning (ML) algorithm (or model) was chosen; afterward, the features needed were selected and then the model was tested and improved using iterative evaluation and in a further step through hyperparameter tuning. Finally, a method was selected to explain the final AI model.ResultsThe AI model had a specificity of 11% and a sensitivity of 99.5% whereas usual care had a specificity of 1% and a sensitivity of 99.5%. The PPV of the AI model was 15% and the NPV was 99%. The PPV of usual care was 13% and the NPV was 94%.ConclusionsThe AI model was able to predict ACS based on retrospective data from the prehospital setting. It led to an increase in specificity (from 1% to 11%) and NPV (from 94% to 99%) when compared to usual care, with a similar sensitivity. Due to the retrospective nature of this study and the singular focus on ACS it should be seen as a proof-of-concept. Other (possibly life-threatening) diagnoses were not analyzed. Future prospective validation is necessary before implementation.