Journal of intensive care medicine
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J Intensive Care Med · Feb 2021
Critical Care Surge During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implementation and Feedback From Frontline Providers.
Montefiore Medical Center (MMC) in the Bronx, New York, was subjected to an unprecedented surge of critically ill patients with COVID-19 disease during the initial outbreak of the pandemic in New York State in the spring of 2020. It is important to describe our experience in order to assist hospitals in other areas of the country that may soon be subjected to similar surges. ⋯ Given increasing cases and burden of critical illness from COVID-19 across the US, engineering safe and effective expansions of critical care capacity will be crucial. We hope that our description of what worked and what did not at MMC will help guide other hospitals in their pandemic preparedness.
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J Intensive Care Med · Feb 2021
Evaluation of Oxygenation in 129 Proning Sessions in 34 Mechanically Ventilated COVID-19 Patients.
A minority of patients with Severe Acutre Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) disease-2019 (Covid-19) develop pulmonary features consistent with the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). Prone positioning (PP) is an intervention with proven survival benefits in moderate-to-severe and severe ARDS. It is advocated in international guidelines as an intervention in mechanically ventilated Covid-19 patients, despite very few published trials investigating its efficacy in Covid-19. ⋯ Paired analysis of the partial pressure of arterial oxygen(PaO2): fraction of inspired oxygen(FiO2) ratio (PF ratio) (n = 89) and FiO2 (n = 129) was recorded within 3 hours of both the initiation and termination of PP and differences were assessed with the paired Student's t-test and Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test. Proning improved the PF ratio by 43.5 ± 54.9 from 99.8 ± 37.5 to 151.9 ± 58.9 (43.6% increase) [p < 0.0001] and reduced FiO2 by 0.17 ± 0.2 from 0.68 ± 0.2 to 0.51 ± 0.2 (25% decrease) [p < 0.0001]. 82% of proning maneouveres resulted in an improvement in the PF ratio. In summary, PP improved arterial oxygenation and reduced oxygen requirements in most Covid-19 patients in this single- center, retrospective analysis.
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J Intensive Care Med · Jan 2021
Vitamin C, Thiamine, and Hydrocortisone in the Treatment of Sepsis: A Meta-Analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
There is a conflicting body of evidence regarding the benefit of vitamin C, thiamine, and hydrocortisone in combination as an adjunctive therapy for sepsis with or without septic shock. We aimed to assess the efficacy of this treatment among predefined populations. ⋯ Among patients with sepsis with or without septic shock, treatment with vitamin C, thiamine, and hydrocortisone was not associated with a significant reduction in mortality, incidence of AKI, hospital and ICU length of stay, or ICU free days on day 28. There was a significant reduction of SOFA score on day 3 post-randomization. Further studies with a larger number of patients are needed to provide further evidence on the efficacy or lack of efficacy of this treatment.
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J Intensive Care Med · Jan 2021
ReviewEvidence-Based Management of the Critically Ill Adult With SARS-CoV-2 Infection.
Human infection by the novel viral pathogen SARS-CoV-2 results in a clinical syndrome termed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Although the majority of COVID-19 cases are self-limiting, a substantial minority of patients develop disease severe enough to require intensive care. Features of critical illness associated with COVID-19 include hypoxemic respiratory failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), shock, and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). ⋯ Here we synthesize the rapidly expanding literature around the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and management of COVID-19 with a focus on those points most relevant for intensivists tasked with caring for these patients. We specifically highlight evidence-based approaches that we believe should guide the identification, triage, respiratory support, and general ICU care of critically ill patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. In addition, in light of the pressing need and growing enthusiasm for targeted COVID-19 therapies, we review the biological basis, plausibility, and clinical evidence underlying these novel treatment approaches.
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J Intensive Care Med · Jan 2021
Observational StudySemiquantitative Power Doppler Ultrasound Score to Predict Acute Kidney Injury in Patients With Sepsis or Cardiac Failure: A Prospective Observational Study.
Diagnosing acute kidney injury (AKI) stage 3 in critically ill patients may help physicians in making treatment decisions. This diagnosis relies chiefly on urinary output and serum creatinine, which may be of limited value. This study aimed to explore the diagnostic performance of renal resistive index (RRI) and semiquantitative power Doppler ultrasound (PDU) scores in predicting AKI stage 3 in patients with sepsis or cardiac failure. ⋯ Power Doppler ultrasound scores could effectively predict AKI stage 3 in patients with cardiac failure but not in patients with sepsis. Renal resistive index is a poor predictor of AKI stage 3 in patients with sepsis or cardiac failure.