Critical care medicine
-
Critical care medicine · Jun 2022
ICU Versus High-Dependency Care Unit for Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Nationwide Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study.
To compare the outcomes of patients with acute myocardial infarction who were treated in ICUs versus high-dependency care units (HDUs). ⋯ Critical care in the ICU compared with that in the HDU was not associated with reduced inhospital mortality among the entire cohort of patients with acute myocardial infarction but was associated with reduced inhospital mortality among the subsets of patients with Killip class IV, intubation, or mechanical circulatory support.
-
Critical care medicine · Jun 2022
Meta AnalysisLow Tidal Volume Ventilation for Emergency Department Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on Practice Patterns and Clinical Impact.
Data suggest that low tidal volume ventilation (LTVV) initiated in the emergency department (ED) has a positive impact on outcome. This systematic review and meta-analysis quantify the impact of ED-based LTVV on outcomes and ventilator settings in the ED and ICU. ⋯ The use of LTVV in the ED is associated with improved clinical outcomes and increased use of lung protection, recognizing low quality of evidence in this domain. Interventions aimed at implementing and sustaining LTVV in the ED should be explored.
-
Critical care medicine · Jun 2022
Multicenter StudyIntracranial Hemorrhages on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: Differences Between COVID-19 and Other Viral Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a potentially lifesaving procedure in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to COVID-19. Previous studies have shown a high prevalence of clinically silent cerebral microbleeds in patients with COVID-19. Based on this fact, together with the hemotrauma and the requirement of therapeutic anticoagulation on ECMO support, we hypothesized an increased risk of intracranial hemorrhages (ICHs). We analyzed ICH occurrence rate, circumstances and clinical outcome in patients that received ECMO support due to COVID-19-induced ARDS in comparison to viral non-COVID-19-induced ARDS intracerebral hemorrhage. ⋯ This retrospective multicenter analysis showed a six-fold increased adjusted risk for ICH and a 3.5-fold increased incidence of ICH in COVID-19 patients on ECMO. Prospective studies are needed to confirm this observation and to determine whether the bleeding risk can be reduced by adjusting anticoagulation strategies.
-
Critical care medicine · Jun 2022
Multicenter Study Observational StudyDoes Unprecedented ICU Capacity Strain, As Experienced During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Impact Patient Outcome?
To determine whether patients admitted to an ICU during times of unprecedented ICU capacity strain, during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, experienced a higher risk of death. ⋯ For patients admitted to ICU during the pandemic, unprecedented levels of ICU capacity strain were significantly associated with higher acute hospital mortality, after accounting for differences in baseline characteristics. Further study into possible differences in the provision of care and outcome for COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients is needed.