Critical care medicine
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Critical care medicine · Jan 2024
Multicenter Study Observational StudySafety and Outcome of High-Flow Nasal Oxygen Therapy Outside ICU Setting in Hypoxemic Patients With COVID-19.
High-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) therapy is frequently applied outside ICU setting in hypoxemic patients with COVID-19. However, safety concerns limit more widespread use. We aimed to assess the safety and clinical outcomes of initiation of HFNO therapy in COVID-19 on non-ICU wards. ⋯ In this large cohort of hypoxemic patients with COVID-19, initiation of HFNO outside the ICU was safe, and clinical outcomes were similar to initiation in the ICU. Furthermore, the initiation of HFNO on wards saved time in ICU without excess mortality or complicated course. Our results indicate that HFNO initiation outside ICU should be further explored in other hypoxemic diseases and clinical settings aiming to preserve ICU capacity and healthcare costs.
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Critical care medicine · Jan 2024
ReviewNational ICU Registries as Enablers of Clinical Research and Quality Improvement.
Clinical quality registries (CQRs) have been implemented worldwide by several medical specialties aiming to generate a better characterization of epidemiology, treatments, and outcomes of patients. National ICU registries were created almost 3 decades ago to improve the understanding of case-mix, resource use, and outcomes of critically ill patients. This narrative review describes the challenges, proposed solutions, and evidence generated by National ICU registries as facilitators for research and quality improvement. ⋯ ICU registries have provided increased knowledge of case-mix and outcomes of ICU patients based on real-world data and contributed to improve care delivery through quality improvement initiatives and trials. Recent increases in adoption of new technologies (i.e., cloud-based structures, artificial intelligence, machine learning) will ensure a broader and better use of data for epidemiology, healthcare policies, quality improvement, and clinical trials.
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Critical care medicine · Jan 2024
Delirium During Critical Illness and Subsequent Change of Treatment in Patients With Cancer: A Mediation Analysis.
To assess whether delirium during ICU stay is associated with subsequent change in treatment of cancer after discharge. ⋯ Patients who had delirium during ICU stay had a higher rate of modification of cancer treatment after discharge. The effect of delirium on change in cancer treatment was only partially mediated by the development of functional dependence after discharge. Change in cancer treatment was associated with increased 1-year mortality.
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Critical care medicine · Jan 2024
High Mechanical Power and Driving Pressures are Associated With Postoperative Respiratory Failure Independent From Patients' Respiratory System Mechanics.
High mechanical power and driving pressure (ΔP) have been associated with postoperative respiratory failure (PRF) and may be important parameters guiding mechanical ventilation. However, it remains unclear whether high mechanical power and ΔP merely reflect patients with poor respiratory system mechanics at risk of PRF. We investigated the effect of mechanical power and ΔP on PRF in cohorts after exact matching by patients' baseline respiratory system compliance. ⋯ High mechanical power and ΔP are associated with PRF independent of patient's baseline respiratory system compliance. Our findings support utilization of these parameters for titrating mechanical ventilation in the operating room and ICU.