Nasogastric tube syndrome:A Meta-summary of case reports

BACKGROUND Since its description in 1790 by Hunter,the nasogastric tube(NGT)is commonly used in any healthcare setting for alleviating gastrointestinal symptoms or enteral feeding.However,the risks associated with its placement are often underes-timated.Upper airway obstruction with a NGT is an uncommon but potentially life-threatening complication.NGT syndrome is characterized by the presence of an NGT,throat pain and vocal cord(VC)paralysis,usually bilateral.It is poten-tially life–threatening,and early diagnosis is the key to the prevention of fatal upper airway obstruction.However,fewer cases may have been reported than might have occurred,primarily due to the clinicians'unawareness.The lack of specific signs and symptoms and the inability to prove temporal relation with NGT insertion has made diagnosing the syndrome quite challenging.AIM To review and collate the data from the published case reports and case series to understand the possible risk factors,early warning signs and symptoms for timely detection to prevent the manifestation of the complete syndrome with life-threatening airway obstruction.METHODS We conducted a systematic search for this meta-summary from the database of PubMed,EMBASE,Reference Citation Analysis(https://www.referencecitation-analysis.com/)and Google scholar,from all the past studies till August 2023.The search terms included major MESH terms"Nasogastric tube","Intubation,Gastrointestinal","Vocal Cord Paralysis",and“Syndrome”.All the case reports and case series were evaluated,and the data were extracted for patient demographics,clinical symptomatology,diagnostic and therapeutic interventions,clinical course and outcomes.A datasheet for evaluation was further prepared.RESULTS Twenty-seven cases,from five case series and 13 case reports,of NGT syndrome were retrieved from our search.There was male predominance(17,62.96%),and age at presentation ranged from 28 to 86 years.Ten patients had diabetes mellitus(37.04%),and nine were hypertensive(33.33%).Only three(11.11%)patients were reported to be immunocompromised.The median time for developing symptoms after NGT insertion was 14.5 d(interquartile range 6.25-33.75 d).The most commonly reported reason for NGT insertion was acute stroke(10,37.01%)and the most commonly reported symptoms were stridor or wheezing 17(62.96%).In 77.78%of cases,bilateral VC were affected.The only treatment instituted in most patients(77.78%)was removing the NG tube.Most patients(62.96%)required tracheostomy for airway protection.But 8 of the 23 survivors recovered within five weeks and could be decannulated.Three patients were reported to have died.CONCLUSION NGT syndrome is an uncommon clinical complication of a very common clinical procedure.However,an under-reporting is possible because of misdiagnosis or lack of awareness among clinicians.Patients in early stages and with mild symptoms may be missed.Further,high variability in the presentation timing after NGT insertion makes diagnosis challenging.Early diagnosis and prompt removal of NGT may suffice in most patients,but a significant proportion of patients presenting with respiratory compromise may require tracheostomy for airway protection.

Deciphering the iron enigma: Navigating the complexities of iron metabolism in critical illness

Iron is a double-edged sword!Despite being essential for numerous physiological processes of the body,a dysregulated iron metabolism can result in tissue da-mage,exaggerated inflammatory response,and increased susceptibility to infection with certain pathogens that thrive in iron-rich environment.During sepsis,there is an alteration of iron metabolism,leading to increased transport and uptake into cells.This increase in labile iron may cause oxidative damage and cellular injury(ferroptosis)which progresses as the disease worsens.Critically ill patients are often complicated with systemic inflammation which may contribute to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome or sepsis,a common cause of mortality in intensive care unit.Originally,ferritin was known to play an important role in the hematopoietic system for its iron storage capacity.Recently,its role has emerged as a predictor of poor prognosis in chronic inflammation and critical illnesses.Apart from predicting the disease outcome,serum ferritin can poten-tially reflect disease activity as well.

Optic nerve sheath diameters in nontraumatic brain injury:A scoping review and role in the intensive care unit

BACKGROUND Neuromonitoring in medical intensive care units is challenging as most patients are unfit for invasive intracranial pressure(ICP)modalities or unstable to transport for imaging.Ultrasonography-based optic nerve sheath diameter(ONSD)is an attractive option as it is reliable,repeatable and easily performed at the bedside.It has been sufficiently validated in traumatic brain injury(TBI)to be incorporated into the guidelines.However,currently the data for non-TBI patients is inconsistent for a scientific recommendation to be made.AIM To compile the existing evidence for understanding the scope of ONSD in measuring ICP in adult non-traumatic neuro-critical patients.METHODS PubMed,Google Scholar and research citation analysis databases were searched for studies in adult patients with non-traumatic causes of raised ICP.Studies from 2010 to 2024 in English languages were included.RESULTS We found 37 articles relevant to our search.The cutoff for ONSD in predicting ICP varied from 4.1 to 6.3 mm.Most of the articles used cerebrospinal fluid opening pressure followed by raised ICP on computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging as the comparator parameter.ONSD was also found to be a reliable outcome measure in cases of acute ischaemic stroke,intracerebral bleeding and intracranial infection.However,ONSD is of doubtful utility in septic metabolic encephalopathy,dysnatremias and aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage.CONCLUSION ONSD is a useful tool for the diagnosis of raised ICP in non-traumatic neuro-critically ill patients and may also have a role in the prognostication of a subset of patients.

Dengue induced acute liver failure:A meta summary of case reports

BACKGROUND Dengue fever is the most common cause of viral hemorrhagic fever,with more than 400 million cases being reported annually,worldwide.Even though hepatic involvement is common,acute liver failure(ALF)is a rare complication of dengue fever.AIM To analyze the demographic profile,symptomology,hospital course and outcomes of patients presenting with ALF secondary to dengue infection by reviewing the published case reports.METHODS A systematic search was performed from multiple databases including PubMed,Reference Citation Analysis,Science Direct,and Google Scholar.The search terms used were"dengue"OR"severe dengue"OR"dengue shock syndrome"OR"dengue haemorrhagic syndrome"OR"dengue fever"AND"acute liver failure"OR"hepatic failure"OR"liver injury".The inclusion criteria were:(1)Case reports or case series with individual patient details;(2)Reported acute liver failure secondary to dengue infection;and(3)Published in English language and on adult humans.The data were extracted for patient demographics,clinical sympto-matology,clinical interventions,hospital and intensive care unit course,need for organ support and clinical outcomes.RESULTS Data from 19 case reports fulfilling the predefined inclusion criteria were included.The median age of patients was 38 years(inter quartile range:Q3-Q126.5 years)with a female preponderance(52.6%).The median days from diagnosis of dengue to development of ALF was 4.5 d.The increase in aspartate aminotransferase was higher than that in alanine aminotransferase(median 4625 U/L vs 3100 U/L).All the patients had one or more organ failure,with neurological failure present in 73.7%cases.42.1%patients required vasopressor support and hepatic enceph-alopathy was the most reported complication in 13(68.4%)cases.Most of the patients were managed conser-vatively and 2 patients were taken up for liver transplantation.Only 1 death was reported(5.3%).CONCLUSION Dengue infection may rarely lead to ALF.These patients may frequently require intensive care and organ support.Even though most of these patients may improve with supportive care,liver transplantation may be a therapeutic option in refractory cases.

Clinical prediction scores predicting weaning failure from invasive mechanical ventilation:Role and limitations

Invasive mechanical ventilation(IMV)has become integral to modern-day critical care.Even though critically ill patients frequently require IMV support,weaning from IMV remains an arduous task,with the reported weaning failure(WF)rates being as high as 50%.Optimizing the timing for weaning may aid in reducing time spent on the ventilator,associated adverse effects,patient discomfort,and medical care costs.Since weaning is a complex process and WF is often multifactorial,several weaning scores have been developed to predict WF and aid decision-making.These scores are based on the patient's physiological and ventilatory parameters,but each has limitations.This review highlights the current role and limitations of the various clinical prediction scores available to predict WF.

Cytomegalovirus infection in non-immunocompromised critically ill patients:A management perspective

Critically ill patients are a vulnerable group at high risk of developing secondary infections.High disease severity,prolonged intensive care unit(ICU)stay,sepsis,and multiple drugs with immunosuppressive activity make these patients prone to immuneparesis and increase the risk of various opportunistic infections,including cytomegalovirus(CMV).CMV seroconversion has been reported in up to 33%of ICU patients,but its impact on patient outcomes remains a matter of debate.Even though there are guidelines regarding the management of CMV infection in immunosuppressive patients with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immuno deficiency syndrome,the need for treatment and therapeutic approaches in immunocompetent critically ill patients is still ambiguous.Even the diagnosis of CMV infection may be challenging in such patients due to non-specific symptoms and multiorgan involvement.Hence,a better understanding of the symptomatology,diagnostics,and treatment options may aid intensive care physicians in ensuring accurate diagnoses and instituting therapeutic interventions.

Artificial intelligence:Applications in critical care gastroenterology

Gastrointestinal(GI)complications frequently necessitate intensive care unit(ICU)admission.Additionally,critically ill patients also develop GI complications requiring further diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.However,these patients form a vulnerable group,who are at risk for developing side effects and complications.Every effort must be made to reduce invasiveness and ensure safety of interventions in ICU patients.Artificial intelligence(AI)is a rapidly evolving technology with several potential applications in healthcare settings.ICUs produce a large amount of data,which may be employed for creation of AI algorithms,and provide a lucrative opportunity for application of AI.However,the current role of AI in these patients remains limited due to lack of large-scale trials comparing the efficacy of AI with the accepted standards of care.

Approach to thromboelastography-based transfusion in cirrhosis:An alternative perspective on coagulation disorders

Viscoelastic tests,specifically thromboelastography and rotational thromboelastometry,are increasingly being used in the management of postoperative bleeding in surgical intensive care units(ICUs).However,life-threatening bleeds may complicate the clinical course of many patients admitted to medical ICUs,especially those with underlying liver dysfunction.Patients with cirrhosis have multiple coagulation abnormalities that can lead to bleeding or thrombotic complications.Compared to conventional coagulation tests,a comprehensive depiction of the coagulation process and point-of-care availability are advantages favoring these devices,which may aid physicians in making a rapid diagnosis and instituting early interventions.These tests may help predict bleeding and rationalize the use of blood products in these patients.

Surgical decompression for the management of abdominal compartment syndrome with severe acute pancreatitis: A narrative review

Intra-abdominal hypertension(IAH)and abdominal compartment syndrome(ACS)play a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of severe acute pancreatitis(SAP)and contribute to new-onset and persistent organ failure.The optimal management of ACS involves a multi-disciplinary approach,from its early recognition to measures aiming at an urgent reduction of intra-abdominal pressure(IAP).A targeted literature search from January 1,2000,to November 30,2022,revealed 20 studies and data was analyzed on the type and country of the study,patient demographics,IAP,type and timing of surgical procedure performed,post-operative wound management,and outcomes of patients with ACS.There was no randomized controlled trial published on the topic.Decom-pressive laparotomy is effective in rapidly reducing IAP(standardized mean difference=2.68,95%confidence interval:1.19-1.47,P<0.001;4 studies).The morbidity and complications of an open abdomen after decompressive laparotomy should be weighed against the inadequately treated but,potentially lethal ACS.Disease-specific patient selection and the role of less-invasive decompressive measures,like subcutaneous linea alba fasciotomy or component separation techniques,is lacking in the 2013 consensus management guidelines by the Abdominal Compartment Society on IAH and ACS.This narrative review focuses on the current evidence regarding surgical decompression techniques for managing ACS in patients with SAP.However,there is a lack of high-quality evidence on patient selection,timing,and modality of surgical decompression.Large prospective trials are needed to identify triggers and effective and safe surgical decompression methods in SAP patients with ACS.

Sodium-glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors induced euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis:A meta summary of case reports

BACKGROUND Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors(SGLT2i)are commonly prescribed to manage patients with diabetes mellitus.These agents may rarely lead to the development of euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis(EDKA),which may complicate the disease course of these patients.AIM To analyze the demographic profile,predisposing factors,symptomology,clinical interventions and outcomes of patients presenting with EDKA secondary to SGLT2i use by reviewing the published case reports and series.METHODS We performed a systematic search of PubMed,Science Direct,Google Scholar and Reference Citation Analysis databases using the terms“canagliflozin”OR“empagliflozin”OR“dapagliflozin”OR“SGLT2 inhibitors”OR“Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2”AND“euglycemia”OR“euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis”OR“metabolic acidosis”.The inclusion criteria were:(1)Case reports or case series with individual patient details;and(2)Reported EDKA secondary to SGLT2i.Furthermore,the data were filtered from the literature published in the English language and on adults(>18 years).We excluded:(1)Conference abstracts;and(2)Case reports or series which did not have individual biochemical data.All the case reports and case series were evaluated.The data extracted included patient demographics,clinical symptomatology,clinical interventions,intensive care unit course,need for organ support and outcomes.RESULTS Overall,108 case reports and 17 cases series with 169 unique patients that met all the inclusion criteria were included.The majority of patients were females(54.4%,n=92),and the commonly reported symptoms were gastrointestinal(nausea/vomiting 65.1%,abdominal pain 37.3%)and respiratory(breathlessness 30.8%).One hundred and forty-nine(88.2%)patients had underlying type II diabetes,and the most commonly involved SGLT-2 inhibitor reported was empagliflozin(46.8%).A triggering factor was reported in most patients(78.7%),the commonest being acute severe infection(37.9%),which included patients with sepsis,coronavirus disease 2019,other viral illnesses,and acute pancreatitis.61.5%were reported to require intensive unit care,but only a minority of patients required organ support in the form of invasive mechanical ventilation(13%),vasopressors(6.5%)or renal replacement therapy(5.9%).The overall mortality rate was only 2.4%.CONCLUSION Patients on SGLT2i may rarely develop EDKA,especially in the presence of certain predisposing factors,including severe acute infections and following major surgery.The signs and symptoms of EDKA may be similar to that of DKA but with normal blood sugar levels,which may make the diagnosis challenging.Outcomes of EDKA are good if recognized early and corrective actions are taken.Hence,physicians managing such patients must be aware of this potential complication and must educate their patients accordingly to ensure early diagnosis and management.

Upper extremity deep vein thrombosis:An intensivist’s perspective

Upper extremity deep vein thrombosis(UEDVT)is less common than lower extremity DVT but is a cause of significant morbidity and mortality in intensive care unit patients.Increasing cancer incidence,prolonged life expectancy and increasing use of intravascular catheters and devices has led to an increased incidence of UEDVT.It is also associated with high rates of complications like pulmonary embolism,post-thrombotic syndrome and recurrent thrombosis.Clinical prediction scores and D-dimer may not be as useful in identifying UEDVT;hence,a high suspicion index is required for diagnosis.Doppler ultrasound is commonly employed for diagnosis,but other tests like computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging venography may also be required in some patients.Contrast venography is rarely used in patients with clinical and ultrasound findings discrepancies.Anticoagulant therapy alone is sufficient in most patients,and thrombolysis and surgical decompression is seldom indicated.The outcome depends on the cause and underlying comorbidities.

Bedside ultrasonography of optic nerve sheath diameter for detection of raised intracranial pressure in nontraumatic neurocritically ill patients

BACKGROUND Delay in treatment of raised intracranial pressure(ICP)leads to poor clinical outcomes.Optic nerve sheath diameter(ONSD)by ultrasonography(US-ONSD)has shown good accuracy in traumatic brain injury and neurosurgical patients to diagnose raised ICP.However,there is a dearth of data in neuro-medical intensive care unit(ICU)where the spectrum of disease is different.AIM To validate the diagnostic accuracy of ONSD in non-traumatic neuro-critically ill patients.METHODS We prospectively enrolled 114 patients who had clinically suspected raised ICP due to non-traumatic causes admitted in neuro-medical ICU.US-ONSD was performed according to ALARA principles.A cut-off more than 5.7 mm was taken as significantly raised.Raised ONSD was corelated with raised ICP on radiological imaging.Clinical history,general and systemic examination findings,SOFA and APACHE 2 score and patient outcomes were recorded.RESULTS There was significant association between raised ONSD and raised ICP on imaging(P<0.001).The sensitivity,specificity,positive and negative predictive value at this cut-off was 77.55%,89.06%,84.44% and 83.82% respectively.The positive and negative likelihood ratio was 7.09 and 0.25.The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves was 0.844.Using Youden’s index the best cut off value for ONSD was 5.75 mm.Raised ONSD was associated with lower age(P=0.007),poorer Glasgow Coma Scale(P=0.009)and greater need for surgical intervention(P=0.006)whereas no statistically significant association was found between raised ONSD and SOFA score,APACHE II score or ICU mortality.Our limitations were that it was a single centre study and we did not perform serial measurements or ONSD pre-and post-treatment or procedures for raised ICP.CONCLUSION ONSD can be used as a screening a test to detect raised ICP in a medical ICU and as a trigger to initiate further management of raised ICP.ONSD can be beneficial in ruling out a diagnosis in a low-prevalence population and rule in a diagnosis in a high-prevalence population.

Hypoperfusion context as a predictor of 28-d all-cause mortality in septic shock patients:A comparative observational study

BACKGROUND As per the latest Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines,fluid resuscitation should be guided by repeated measurements of blood lactate levels until normalization.Nevertheless,raised lactate levels should be interpreted in the clinical context,as there may be other causes of elevated lactate levels.Thus,it may not be the best tool for real-time assessment of the effect of hemodynamic resuscitation,and exploring alternative resuscitation targets should be an essential research priority in sepsis.AIM To compare the 28-d mortality in two clinical patterns of septic shock:hyperlactatemic patients with hypoperfusion context and hyperlactatemic patients without hypoperfusion context.METHODS This prospective comparative observational study carried out on 135 adult patients with septic shock that met Sepsis-3 definitions compared patients with hyperlactatemia in a hypoperfusion context(Group 1,n=95)and patients with hyperlactatemia in a non-hypoperfusion context(Group 2,n=40).Hypoperfusion context was defined by a central venous saturation less than 70%,central venousarterial PCO_(2)gradient[P(cv-a)CO_(2)]≥6 mmHg,and capillary refilling time(CRT)≥4 s.The patients were observed for various macro and micro hemodynamic parameters at regular intervals of 0 h,3 h,and 6 h.All-cause 28-d mortality and all other secondary objective parameters were observed at specified intervals.Nominal categorical data were compared using theχ^(2)or Fisher’s exact test.Nonnormally distributed continuous variables were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test.Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis with the Youden index determined the cutoff values of lactate,CRT,and metabolic perfusion parameters to predict the 28-d all-cause mortality.A P value of<0.05 was considered significant.RESULTS Patient demographics,comorbidities,baseline laboratory,vital parameters,source of infection,baseline lactate levels,and lactate clearance at 3 h and 6 h,Sequential Organ Failure scores,need for invasive mechanical ventilation,days on mechanical ventilation,and renal replacement therapy-free days within 28 d,duration of intensive care unit stay,and hospital stay were comparable between the two groups.The stratification of patients into hypoperfusion and nonhypoperfusion context did not result in a significantly different 28-d mortality(24%vs 15%,respectively;P=0.234).However,the patients within the hypoperfusion context with high P(cva)CO_(2)and CRT(P=0.022)at baseline had significantly higher mortality than Group 2.The norepinephrine dose was higher in Group 1 but did not achieve statistical significance with a P>0.05 at all measured intervals.Group 1 had a higher proportion of patients requiring vasopressin and the mean vasopressor-free days out of the total 28 d were lower in patients with hypoperfusion(18.88±9.04 vs 21.08±8.76;P=0.011).The mean lactate levels and lactate clearance at 3 h and 6 h,CRT,P(cv-a)CO_(2)at 0 h,3 h,and 6 h were found to be associated with 28-d mortality in patients with septic shock,with lactate levels at 6 h having the best predictive value(area under the curve lactate at 6 h:0.845).CONCLUSION Septic shock patients fulfilling the hypoperfusion and non-hypoperfusion context exhibited similar 28-d all-cause hospital mortality,although patients with hypoperfusion displayed a more severe circulatory dysfunction.Lactate levels at 6 h had a better predictive value in predicting 28-d mortality than other parameters.Persistently high P(cv-a)CO_(2)(>6 mmHg)or increased CRT(>4 s)at 3 h and 6 h during early resuscitation can be a valuable additional aid for prognostication of septic shock patients.

What,why and how to monitor blood glucose in critically ill patients

Critically ill patients are prone to high glycemic variations irrespective of their diabetes status.This mandates frequent blood glucose(BG)monitoring and regulation of insulin therapy.Even though the most commonly employed capillary BG monitoring is convenient and rapid,it is inaccurate and prone to high bias,overestimating BG levels in critically ill patients.The targets for BG levels have also varied in the past few years ranging from tight glucose control to a more liberal approach.Each of these has its own fallacies,while tight control increases risk of hypoglycemia,liberal BG targets make the patients prone to hyperglycemia.Moreover,the recent evidence suggests that BG indices,such as glycemic variability and time in target range,may also affect patient outcomes.In this review,we highlight the nuances associated with BG monitoring,including the various indices required to be monitored,BG targets and recent advances in BG monitoring in critically ill patients.

Liver injury from direct oral anticoagulants

BACKGROUND Drug-induced liver injury(DILI)can be caused by any prescribed drug and is a significant reason for the withdrawal of newly launched drugs.Direct-acting oral anticoagulants(DOACs)are non-vitamin K-based antagonists recently introduced and increasingly used for various clinical conditions.A meta-analysis of 29 randomised controlled trials and 152116 patients reported no increased risk of DILI with DOACs.However,it is challenging to predict the risk factors for DILI in individual patients with exclusion of patients with pre-existing liver disease from these studies.AIM To determine the risk factors and outcomes of patients who developed DILI secondary to DOACs by systematic review and meta-summary of recent case reports and series.METHODS A systematic search was conducted on multiple databases including PubMed,Science Direct,Reference Citation Analysis,and Google Scholar.The search terms included“Acute Liver Failure”OR“Acute-On-Chronic Liver Failure”OR“Acute Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury”OR“Chronic Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury”AND“Factor Xa Inhibitors”OR“Dabigatran”OR“Rivaroxaban”OR“apixaban”OR“betrixaban”OR“edoxaban”OR“Otamixaban”.The results were filtered for literature published in English and on adult patients.Only case reports and case studies reporting cases of DILI secondary to DOACs were included.Data on demographics,comorbidities,medication history,laboratory investigations,imaging,histology,management,and outcomes were extracted.RESULTS A total of 15 studies(13 case reports and 2 case series)were included in the analysis,comprising 27 patients who developed DILI secondary to DOACs.Rivaroxaban was the most commonly implicated DOAC(n=20,74.1%).The mean time to onset of DILI was 40.6 d.The most common symptoms were jaundice(n=15,55.6%),malaise(n=9,33.3%),and vomiting(n=9,33.3%).Laboratory investigations showed elevated liver enzymes and bilirubin levels.Imaging studies and liver biopsies revealed features of acute hepatitis and cholestatic injury.Most patients had a favourable outcome,and only 1 patient(3.7%)died due to liver failure.CONCLUSION DOACs are increasingly used for various clinical conditions,and DILI secondary to DOACs is a rare but potentially serious complication.Prompt identification and cessation of the offending drug are crucial for the management of DILI.Most patients with DILI secondary to DOACs have a favourable outcome,but a small proportion may progress to liver failure and death.Further research,including post-marketing population-based studies,is needed to better understand the incidence and risk factors for DILI secondary to DOACs.

Fungal arthritis:A challenging clinical entity

There has been an increasing incidence of fungal infections in recent years.Rarely joints are also affected by fungal infections.Mainly,these infections develop in prosthetic joints,but sometimes native joints are also involved.Candida infections are mostly reported,but patients may also develop infections secondary to non-Candida fungi,especially Aspergillus.Diagnosis and management of these infections is challenging and may involve multiple surgical interventions and prolonged antifungal therapy.Despite this,these infections are associated with high morbidity and mortality.This review described the clinical features,risk factors,and therapeutic interventions required to manage fungal arthritis.

Role of cerebrospinal fluid lactate in diagnosing meningitis in critically ill patients

BACKGROUND Meningitis is a life-threatening clinical condition associated with high mortality and morbidity.Early diagnosis and specific treatment may improve outcomes.Lack of specific clinical signs or tests make the diagnosis challenging.AIM To assess the efficacy of cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)lactate in diagnosing meningitis in critically ill patients.METHODS A prospective,observational cohort study was carried out in a neuro-medical intensive care unit(ICU)over a 22 mo period.Adult patients,with suspected meningitis admitted in ICU,were serially recruited.Patients who refused consent,those with peripheral sensorineural deficit,or with any contraindication to lumber puncture were excluded.CSF cytology,bio-chemistry,lactates,culture and polymerase chain reaction based meningo-encephalitis panel were evaluated.Patients were divided in two groups based on clinical diagnosis of meningitis.The efficacy of CSF lactate in diagnosing meningitis was evaluated and compared with other tests.RESULTS Seventy-one patients were included and 23 were diagnosed with meningitis.The mean values of CSF total leucocyte count(TLC),proteins and lactates were significantly higher in meningitis group.There was a significant correlation of CSF lactate levels with CSF cultures and meningo-encephalitis panel.CSF lactate(>2.72 mmol/L)showed good accuracy in diagnosing meningitis with an area under the curve of 0.81(95% confidence interval:0.69-0.93),sensitivity of 82.6%,and specificity 72.9%.These values were comparable to those of CSF TLC and protein.Twelve patients with bacterial meningitis had significantly higher CSF lactate(8.9±4.7 mmol/L)than those with non-bacterial meningitis(4.2±3.8 mmol/L),P=0.006.CONCLUSION CSF lactate may be used to aid in our diagnosis of meningitis in ICU patients.CSF lactate(>2.72 mmol/L)showed good accuracy,sensitivity,and specificity in diagnosing meningitis and may also help to differentiate between bacterial and non-bacterial meningitis.

Transient elastography(FibroScan)in critical care:Applications and limitations

FibroScan®is a non-invasive device that assesses the‘hardness’(or stiffness)of the liver via the technique of transient elastography.Because fibrous tissue is harder than normal liver,the degree of hepatic fibrosis can be inferred from the liver hardness.This technique is increasingly being employed to diagnose liver fibrosis,even in critically ill patients.It is now being used not only for diagnosis and staging of liver cirrhosis,but also for outcome prognostication.However,the presence of several confounding factors,especially in critically ill patients,may make interpretation of these results unreliable.Through this review we aim to describe the indications and pitfalls of employing FibroScan in patients admitted to intensive care units.

Severe sepsis and septic shock in the elderly:An overview

The incidence of severe sepsis and septic shock is increasing in the older population leading to increased admissions to the intensive care units(ICUs). The elderly are predisposed to sepsis due to co-existing comorbidities, repeated and prolonged hospitalizations, reduced immunity, functional limitations and above all due to the effects of aging itself. A lower threshold and a higher index of suspicion is required to diagnose sepsis in this patient population because the initial clinical picture may be ambiguous, and aging increases the risk of a sudden deterioration in sepsis to severe sepsis and septic shock. Management is largely based on standard international guidelines with a few modifications. Age itself is an independent risk factor for death in patients with severe sepsis, however, many patients respond well to timely and appropriate interventions. The treatment should not be limited or deferred in elderly patients with severe sepsis only on the grounds of physician prejudice, but patient and family preferences should also be taken into account as the outcomes are not dismal. Future investigations in the management of sepsis should not only target good functional recovery but also ensure social independence and quality of life after ICU discharge.

Delphi methodology in healthcare research:How to decide its appropriateness

The Delphi technique is a systematic process of forecasting using the collective opinion of panel members.The structured method of developing consensus among panel members using Delphi methodology has gained acceptance in diverse fields of medicine.The Delphi methods assumed a pivotal role in the last few decades to develop best practice guidance using collective intelligence where research is limited,ethically/logistically difficult or evidence is conflicting.However,the attempts to assess the quality standard of Delphi studies have reported significant variance,and details of the process followed are usually unclear.We recommend systematic quality tools for evaluation of Delphi methodology;identification of problem area of research,selection of panel,anonymity of panelists,controlled feedback,iterative Delphi rounds,consensus criteria,analysis of consensus,closing criteria,and stability of the results.Based on these nine qualitative evaluation points,we assessed the quality of Delphi studies in the medical field related to coronavirus disease 2019.There was inconsistency in reporting vital elements of Delphi methods such as identification of panel members,defining consensus,closing criteria for rounds,and presenting the results.We propose our evaluation points for researchers,medical journal editorial boards,and reviewers to evaluate the quality of the Delphi methods in healthcare research.