Significant risk factors for intensive care unit-acquired weakness:A processing strategy based on repeated machine learning

BACKGROUND Intensive care unit-acquired weakness(ICU-AW)is a common complication that significantly impacts the patient's recovery process,even leading to adverse outcomes.Currently,there is a lack of effective preventive measures.AIM To identify significant risk factors for ICU-AW through iterative machine learning techniques and offer recommendations for its prevention and treatment.METHODS Patients were categorized into ICU-AW and non-ICU-AW groups on the 14th day post-ICU admission.Relevant data from the initial 14 d of ICU stay,such as age,comorbidities,sedative dosage,vasopressor dosage,duration of mechanical ventilation,length of ICU stay,and rehabilitation therapy,were gathered.The relationships between these variables and ICU-AW were examined.Utilizing iterative machine learning techniques,a multilayer perceptron neural network model was developed,and its predictive performance for ICU-AW was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic curve.RESULTS Within the ICU-AW group,age,duration of mechanical ventilation,lorazepam dosage,adrenaline dosage,and length of ICU stay were significantly higher than in the non-ICU-AW group.Additionally,sepsis,multiple organ dysfunction syndrome,hypoalbuminemia,acute heart failure,respiratory failure,acute kidney injury,anemia,stress-related gastrointestinal bleeding,shock,hypertension,coronary artery disease,malignant tumors,and rehabilitation therapy ratios were significantly higher in the ICU-AW group,demonstrating statistical significance.The most influential factors contributing to ICU-AW were identified as the length of ICU stay(100.0%)and the duration of mechanical ventilation(54.9%).The neural network model predicted ICU-AW with an area under the curve of 0.941,sensitivity of 92.2%,and specificity of 82.7%.CONCLUSION The main factors influencing ICU-AW are the length of ICU stay and the duration of mechanical ventilation.A primary preventive strategy,when feasible,involves minimizing both ICU stay and mechanical ventilation duration.

Being a Father of a Premature Newborn: The Parental Experience and the Father/Premature Newborn Relationship: A Study Carried out in the Department of Neonatology Intensive Care Unit of Mohammed VI University Hospital

Introduction: Despite advances in obstetrics and pediatrics over the past 20 years, premature birth remains an unpredictable event that can have a devastating impact on parenthood. This study aimed to analyze the psycho-affective experiences of fathers of premature newborns. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study, carried out in the department of neonatology and neonatal intensive care unit of the CHU Mohamed VI in OUJDA, over 6 months from March 2022 to August 2022. It focused on 30 fathers of premature newborns hospitalized in our department. Results: The majority of fathers described a state of fear and stress, and attributed their negative experience to the unexpected nature of the premature birth. At the first meeting, half the fathers had a positive image of their newborn’s physical appearance, while 22% of fathers reported feeling uncomfortable about their newborn’s low weight. Most fathers reported that they appreciated the welcome they received, the skill with which they cared for their newborn, and the availability of the pediatrician to provide information on their child’s state of health. Two fathers enjoyed skin-to-skin contact with their newborns. None of the fathers met a psychologist. When they returned home, half the fathers had a positive outlook, marked by happiness at being able to fully invest in their role as fathers, the other half reported being torn between the desire to see their child integrated into the family cocoon and the fear of not being able to manage delicate situations properly without a medical team. Conclusion: Bringing a premature baby into the world can be a difficult experience, leading to the development of even minor psychological distress in some fathers, and hence the need for specific psychological care.

Risk factors for post-traumatic stress disorder among young and middle-aged cancer patients in the intensive care unit:A casecontrol study

BACKGROUND Young and middle-aged cancer patients in intensive care unit(ICU)often suffer from stress and pressure,causing huge physical and mental damage.Currently,there is few research on post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD)among young and middle-aged cancer patients in ICU in China,and the psychological status of patients who have experienced both cancer development and ICU stay is still unclear.AIM To explore the risk factors for PTSD in young and middle-aged patients with cancer in ICU.METHODS Using convenient sampling method,we enrolled 150 young and middle-aged patients with cancer who were admitted to the ICU of our center during the period from July to December 2020.The general data of the patients and PTSDrelated indicators were collected.The Impact of Event Scale-Revised(IES-R)was used for assessing PTSD one month after the discharge from the ICU.Binary Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the independent risk factors for PTSD in these patients.RESULTS Among these 150 patients,32(21.33%)were found to be with PTSD.Binary Logistic regression analysis revealed that factors significantly associated with PTSD among young and middle-aged patients with cancer in ICU included monthly income(OR=0.24,P=0.02),planned transfers(OR=0.208,P=0.019),and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation(APACHE II)score(OR=1.171,P=0.003).CONCLUSION The low monthly income,unplanned transfers,and increased APACHE II score are the risk factors for PTSD in young and middle-aged patients with cancer in ICU.

Causative bacteria of ventilator-associated pneumonia in intensive care unit in Bahrain:Prevalence and antibiotics susceptibility pattern

BACKGROUND Ventilator-associated pneumonia(VAP)is defined as pneumonia that occurs two calendar days following endotracheal intubation or after that.It is the most common infection encountered among intubated patients.VAP incidence showed wide variability between countries.AIM To define the VAP incidence in the intensive care unit(ICU)in the central gove-rnment hospital in Bahrain and review the risk factors and the predominant bacterial pathogens with their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern.METHODS The research was a prospective cross-sectional observational study over six months from November 2019 to June 2020.It included adult and adolescent patients(>14 years old)admitted to the ICU and required intubation and mechanical ventilation.VAP was diagnosed when it occurred after 48 h after endotracheal intubation using the clinical pulmonary infection score,which considers the clinical,laboratory,microbiological,and radiographic evidence.RESULTS The total number of adult patients admitted to the ICU who required intubation and mechanical ventilation during the study period was 155.Forty-six patients developed VAP during their ICU stay(29.7%).The calculated VAP rate was 22.14 events per 1000 ventilator days during the study period,with a mean age of 52 years±20.Most VAP cases had late-onset VAP with a mean number of ICU days before the development of VAP of 9.96±6.55.Gram-negative contributed to most VAP cases in our unit,with multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter being the most identified pathogen.CONCLUSION The reported VAP rate in our ICU was relatively high compared to the international benchmark,which should trigger a vital action plan for reinforcing the implementation of the VAP prevention bundle.

Effect of CICARE communication nursing model combined with motivational psychological intervention in patients with postintensive care unit syndrome

BACKGROUND Post-intensive care syndrome(PICS)is a term used to describe a constellation of new or worsened dysfunctions in the physical,cognitive,or mental health status of critically ill patients after their discharge from the intensive care unit(ICU).These dysfunctions persist beyond the acute phase of illness and have a significant impact on both the patient and their family.Connect,Introduce,Communicate,Ask,Respond,Exit(CICARE)communication advocates that patients should be respected and accepted when receiving medical services.Clinicians should attach importance to the communication mode of feelings,including connection,introduction,communication,ask,response,and exit 6 steps.AIM To assess the impact of CICARE communication on the reduction of anxiety,depression,and post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD)symptoms in patients transitioning from the ICU to other care settings.METHODS This prospective,randomized,controlled study was performed between October 2021 and March 2023.Intensive Care Unit Memory Tool was used to evaluate patients’ICU memory.The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was employed to determine the presence of anxiety or depression symptoms.Impact of Event Scale-Revised was utilized to assess the presence of PTSD.All data were processed and analyzed using R language software version 4.1.0.The measurement data were expressed as mean±SD,and the t test was used.The count data were analyzed by theχ2 test and expressed as[n(%)].RESULTS In total,248 subjects were included in this study.Among them,206 were successfully followed up for three months after transfer from the ICU,and 42 cases were lost to follow-up.There was no significant difference in the composition of ICU memory between the two groups.The application of the CICARE communication nursing model combined with the motivational psychological intervention nursing model,as well as the adoption of only the motivational psychological intervention nursing model,demonstrated favorable effects on PICS.Both groups of patients showed a reduction in anxiety scores,depression scores,and PTSD scores following the implementation of these two nursing models.However,it is noteworthy that the experimental group exhibited greater improvements compared to the control group.CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that CICARE communication nursing mode may have good influence on relieving PICS.

Opinions and attitudes toward targeted temperature management in the emergency department and intensive care unit in a developing country: a survey study

INTRODUCTION The past two decades have witnessed one of the most contentious scientific debates in the field of temperature management after cardiac arrest in adults.It started in 2002,following the publication of two groundbreaking trials showing lower mortality rates and improved neurologic recovery with the use of active cooling.[1,2]International recommendations advocate active cooling in the range of 32–34℃for comatose survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).[3,4]The year2013 marked the tipping point with the release of the TTM 1 trial.

Epidemic to Different Strains of SERRATIA: Experience of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: About 30 Cases

Serratia is an opportunistic pathogenic bacterium of the Enterobacteriaceae family, occasionally responsible for epidemics of nosocomial infections in critical departments;in particular in neonatal intensive care units Enterobacteriaceae form a large family of Gram-negative bacteria, which cause diseases of highly variable severity, due to distinct pathogenic mechanisms. This family is heterogeneous as it consists of about 30 genera of bacteria and more than 100 species. However, all these germs have in common their preferential location in the digestive system, some being part of the normal flora although they are also present in the environment. Several metabolic processes characterize this bacterial family. These include the ability to reduce nitrate to nitrite (for energy generation), ferment glucose, lack cytochrome oxidase, be aerobic or anaerobic, motile or immobile, … Enterobacteriaceae constitute more than 80% of the germs isolated in the laboratory: Escherichia, Salmonella, Shigella, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Serratia, Proteus, Morganella and Yersinia are the rods most often found. Regarding nosocomial infection to Serratia, this bacterium colonizes the respiratory, digestive and urinary systems of patients, mainly responsible for bacteremia, infections of the lower respiratory tract, urinary and skin infections. Through our work, we report the epidemic experienced in the neonatal intensive care unit MOHAMMED VI university hospital, mother-child hospital MARRAKECH MOROCCO for three months from December at February 2023 interesting 30 newborns whose clinical presentation was different, the positive diagnosis was based on blood and geographical samples taken by the bacteriology department to isolate the offending germs, the therapeutic management of our patients consisted essentially of various hygiene measures in association with dual antibiotic therapy based on meropenem and amikacin. The evolution was marked by the death of 21 patients (70%) and the recovery of 9 patients (30%). The prognosis of infection by serratia remains bleak with high morbidity interest in prevention by respecting the rules of hygiene, which begins with hand disinfection.

A 365-Day Record of Maternal Admissions in Intensive Care Unit at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital in Nigeria

BACKGROUND. The intensive care unit provides critically ill patients with the necessary monitoring, care and supports to optimize their organ/system functions. Parturients are often at risk of sudden deteriorations or exacerbation of chronic illnesses from direct or indirect causes and would often require admissions into the intensive care or high dependency unit. This study is aimed at looking at the trends of maternal admissions in 365 days at the intensive care unit of a tertiary teaching hospital in Southern part of Nigeria, a country that contributes significantly to the global proportion of maternal morbidity and mortality. METHODS. The study adopted a retrospective approach. All critically ill parturients admitted and requiring organ support or close monitoring in the ICU had their files and ICU documents reviewed. The review was held from January-December 2018. RESULTS. Thirty-nine (39) parturients with a mean age (years) of 33 ± 1.3 were admitted, representing 2.9% of annual deliveries. All admissions were postnatal and came predominantly from the unbooked labour ward (51%) and the time lag from maternal deteriorations to presentation to the ICU was 72 ± 10 hours. The main indications for admissions were due to postpartum haemorrhage (33.3%), complications of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (30.9%) and sepsis (25.6%). Nineteen (48.7%) patients died from obstetric haemorrhage, complications of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, sepsis and pulmonary embolism. CONCLUSION. The trend of maternal admissions at this specific time frame reflects the burden of maternal critical care in our environment. It highlights the need to holistically tackle the known scourge with improved care.

Optimal Glycemic Control for Patients with Pancreatitis in the Intensive Care Unit: A Retrospective Study Based on a Large Intensive Care Unit Database

Objectives: Stress hyperglycemia is a common complication of pancreatitis. This study aimed to determine optimal blood glucose control goals for patients with pancreatitis. Methods: We conducted a screening of adult patients diagnosed with pancreatitis who were admitted to the ICU using data from the Medical Information Marketplace for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database. In total, 574 cases were enrolled in this study and were divided into four groups based on blood glucose levels. We investigated the effects of four groups on the prognosis of patients with pancreatitis. Results: The survival group exhibited lower Glu_mean and Glu_cv values, but there was no significant effect on mortality. Glu_cv and frequency of daily blood glucose monitoring were significantly correlated with length of hospital stay, but had no significant effect on length of ICU stay. Subgroup analysis showed that the mortality rate was the highest when the mean blood glucose was 7.8 - 10.0 mmol/L, and the lowest when Glu_mean was 6.1 - 7.8 mmol/L.

Knowledge of“Guidelines for the prevention of intravascular catheter-related infections(2011)”:A survey of intensive care unit nursing staffs in China

Aims and objectives:To evaluate intensive care unit(ICU)nurses'knowledge of the updated guidelines for the prevention of intravascular catheter-related infections;to identify the factors that affect the nurses'knowledge and to explore the barriers to adherence to evidence-based guidelines in clinical practice in China.Methods:Cross-sectional surveys were carried out in Chinese ICUs from January 2013 to March 2014.The nurses'demographic information,knowledge of the guidelines,and barriers to adherence were assessed by a validated questionnaire and then analyzed statistically.Results:The questionnaires were completed by 455 ICU nurses from 4 provinces of China.The mean score was 8.17 of 20,and higher scores were significantly associated with province,years of experience,and years of ICU experience.Forty-nine(10.7%)nurses had not heard of the guidelines,whereas 231(50.7%)nurses heard of the guidelines but did not receive training for them.Trained nurses'scores were higher than untrained nurses'scores.The three main barriers to compliance with the guidelines were an unfamiliarity with them,an excessive workload due to a shortage of nurses,and a lack of training.Conclusions:ICU nurses'knowledge of the updated guidelines is quite low,which could be a potential risk factor for patient safety.Multidisciplinary interventions and continuous.

Management of procedural pain in the intensive care unit

Pain is a common experience for inpatients,and intensive care unit(ICU)patients undergo more pain than other departmental patients,with an incidence of 50%at rest and up to 80%during common care procedures.At present,the management of persistent pain in ICU patients has attracted considerable attention,and there are many related clinical studies and guidelines.However,the management of transient pain caused by certain ICU procedures has not received sufficient attention.We reviewed the different management strategies for procedural pain in the ICU and reached a conclusion.Pain management is a process of continuous quality improvement that requires multidisciplinary team cooperation,painrelated training of all relevant personnel,effective relief of all kinds of pain,and improvement of patients'quality of life.In clinical work,which involves complex and diverse patients,we should pay attention to the following points for procedural pain:(1)Consider not only the patient's persistent pain but also his or her procedural pain;(2)Conduct multimodal pain management;(3)Provide combined sedation on the basis of pain management;and(4)Perform individualized pain management.Until now,the pain management of procedural pain in the ICU has not attracted extensive attention.Therefore,we expect additional studies to solve the existing problems of procedural pain management in the ICU.

Prevalence and Spectrum of Complex Congenital Heart Disease in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at High Altitude in China

Background:Previous studies from high altitudes have reported significantly higher prevalence of congenital heart disease(CHD),consisting almost solely of simple CHD.Little is known about the occurrence of complex CHD.Neonates with complex CHD are likely admitted to NICU.We examined the prevalence and spectrum of complex CHD in NICU in order to depict a truer picture of CHD at high altitude.Methods:We reviewed charts of 4,214 neonates admitted to NICU in Qinghai province(average altitude 3,000 m).Echocardiography was performed in 1,943 babies when CHD was suspected based on clinical examinations.Results:CHD was diagnosed in 1,093(56.3%of echoed babies).Mild CHD in 96.8%(1058 babies).Moderate CHD in 0.8%(9)included 1(0.1%)large secundum atrial septal defect,3(0.3%)moderate pulmonary stenosis,2(0.2%)aortic stenosis and 3(0.3%)partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection.Severe CHD in 2.4%(26)included 6(0.5%)complete atrioventricular septal defect,5(0.5%)complete transposition of the great arteries,5(0.5%)hypoplastic right heart,3(0.3%)hypoplastic left heart,3(0.3%)double outlet right ventricle,3(0.3%)tetralogy of Fallot,2(0.2%)truncus arteriosus,2(0.2%)total anomalous pulmonary venous connection,2(0.2%)severe aortic stenosis,2(0.2%)interrupted aortic arch and 2(0.2%)severe pulmonary stenosis and 1(0.1%)single-ventricle abnormality.At two-years follow-up in 737(67.4%)patients,18(90%)with severe CHD and 38(5.3%)with mild and moderate CHD died,and 15 underwent cardiac surgery with 1 early death.Conclusions:At high altitude,a wide spectrum of CHD exists,with many heretofore unreported complex CHD.There is urgent need for routine echocardiography and early interventions in newborns particularly in NICU.

Is every microorganism detected in the intensive care unit a nosocomial infection?Isn’t prevention more important than detection?

The present letter to the editor is related to the study entitled“Multidrug-resistant organisms in intensive care units and logistic analysis of risk factors.”Not every microorganism grown in samples taken from critically ill patients can be considered as an infectious agent.Accurate and adequate information about nosocomial infections is essential in introducing effective prevention programs in hospitals.Therefore,the development and implementation of care bundles for frequently used medical devices and invasive treatment devices(e.g.,intravenous catheters and invasive ventilation),adequate staffing not only for physicians,nurses,and other medical staff but also for housekeeping staff,and infection surveillance and motivational feedback are key points of infection prevention in the intensive care unit.

Evaluation of progressive early rehabilitation training mode in intensive care unit patients with mechanical ventilation

BACKGROUND Mechanical ventilation is a common resuscitation method in the intensive care unit(ICU).Unfortunately,this treatment process prolongs the ICU stay of patients with an increased incidence of delirium,which ultimately affects the prognosis.AIM To evaluate the effect of progressive early rehabilitation training on treatment and prognosis of patients with mechanical ventilation in ICU.METHODS The convenience sampling method selected 190 patients with mechanical ventilation admitted to the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from March 2020 to March 2021.According to the random number table method,they were divided into the control and intervention groups.The control group received routine nursing and rehabilitation measures,whereas the intervention group received progressive early rehabilitation training.In addition,the incidence and duration of delirium were compared for the two groups along with mechanical ventilation time,ICU hospitalization time,functional independence measure(FIM)score,Barthel index,and the incidence of complications(deep venous thrombosis,pressure sores,and acquired muscle weakness).RESULTS In the intervention group,the incidence of delirium was significantly lower than in the control group(28%vs 52%,P<0.001).In the intervention group,the duration of delirium,mechanical ventilation time,and ICU stay were shorter than in the control group(P<0.001).The FIM and Barthel index scores were significantly higher in the intervention group than the control group(P<0.001).The total incidence of complications in the intervention group was 3.15%,which was lower than 17.89%in the control group(P<0.001).CONCLUSION Progressive early rehabilitation training reduced the incidence of delirium and complications in ICU patients with mechanical ventilation,which improved prognosis and quality of life.

Acute Generalized Peritonitis in Intensive Care Unit at University Hospital of Brazzaville, Republic of Congo: Etiological, Therapeutic Aspects and Issues

Aim: To determine etiological, therapeutic aspects and issues of AGP in intensive care unit (ICU) at University Hospital of Brazzaville (UHB). Materials and Methods: It was a retrospective and descriptive study carried out from January to December 2016 in ICU at UHB. We collected completed medical records of patients admitted and operated for AGP regardless of age or sex. The parameters studied were age, sex, admission’s reasons, etiologies, management, post-operative complications, length of hospital and mortality. Data were treated in Excel 2010 and Epi info 2007. Results: Thirty-one complete medical records were identified (mean age: 40.6 ± 22.0 years). The sex ratio was 2.4. Shock was the most common reason for admission with 67.7% of the cases. The etiologies of AGP were dominated by gastroduodenal perforating ulcer (41.9%) followed by complicated appendicitis (19.4%). The management of all patients was medico-surgical. The bi antibiotic ceftriaxone-metronidazole was administered in 29 patients (93.6%). 18 patients (59.1%) received vasopressor therapy. The complications had occurred among 9 patients i.e. 29% of the cases;parietal suppurations represented 44.5% of the complications. The average length of hospitalization was 5.2 ± 4.6 days. The overall mortality was 41.9%. Conclusion: In our study, the most frequent etiologies were gastroduodenal perforating ulcer and complicated appendicitis. They affected young patients. The complications were dominated by parietal suppurations. The mortality rate was high.

Trends of central line-associated bloodstream infections in the intensive care unit in the Kingdom of Bahrain:Four years’experience

BACKGROUND The central venous line is an essential component in monitoring and managing critically ill patients.However,it poses patients with increased risks of severe infections with a higher probability of morbidity and mortality.AIM To define the trends of the rates of central line-associated bloodstream infections(CLABSI)over four years,its predicted risk factors,aetiology,and the antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolated pathogens.METHODS The study was a prospective case-control study,performed according to the guidelines of the Center for Disease Control surveillance methodology for CLABSI in patients admitted to the adult intensive care unit(ICU)and auditing the implementation of its prevention bundle.RESULTS Thirty-four CLABSI identified over the study period,giving an average CLABSI rate of 3.2/1000 central line days.The infection's time trend displayed significant reductions over time concomitantly with the CLABSI prevention bundle's reinforcement from 4.7/1000 central line days at the beginning of 2016 to 1.4/1000 central line days by 2018.The most frequently identified pathogens causing CLABSI in our ICU were gram-negative organisms(59%).The most common offending organisms were Acinetobacter,Enterococcus,and Staphylococcus epidermidis,each of them accounted for 5 cases(15%).Multidrug-resistant organisms contributed to 56%of CLABSI.Its rate was higher when using femoral access and longer hospitalisation duration,especially in the ICU.Insertion of the central line in the non-ICU setting was another identified risk factor.CONCLUSION Implementing the prevention bundles reduced CLABSI significantly in our ICU.Implementing the CLABSI prevention bundle is crucial to maintain a substantial reduction in the CLABSI rate in the ICU setting.

Antibiotic sensitivity pattern of bacterial pathogens in the intensive care unit of Fatmawati Hospital,Indonesia

Objective:To evaluate the sensitivity pattern of bacterial pathogens in the intensive care unit(ICU) of a tertiary care of Falmawati Hospital Jakarta Indonesia.Methods:A cross sectional retrospective study of bacterial pathogen was carried out on a total of 722 patients that were admitted to the ICU of Fatmawati Hospital Jakarta Indonesia during January 2009 to March 2010. All bacteria were identified by standard microbiologic methods,and(heir antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using disk diffusion method.Results:Specimens were collected from 385 patients who were given antimicrobial treatment,of which 249(64.68%) were cultured positive and 136(35.32%) were negative.The most predominant isolate was Pseudomonas aeruginosa(P.aeruginosa)(26.5%) followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae(K.pneumoniae)(15.3%) and Staphylococcus epidermidis(14.9%).P.aeruginosa isolates showed high rate of resistance to cephalexin(95.3%),cefotaxime(64.1%),and ceftriaxone(60.9%).Amikacin was the most effective(84.4%) antibiotic against P.aeruginosa followed by imipenem(81.2%),and meropenem(75.0%).K.pneumoniae showed resistance to cephalexin(86.5%),ceftriaxone(75.7%),ceftazidime(73.0%),cefpirome(73.0%) and cefotaxime(67.9%),respectively.Conclusions:Most bacteria isolated from ICU of Fatmawati Hospital Jakarta Indonesia were resistant to the third generation of cephalosporins,and quinolone antibiotics.Regular surveillance of antibiotic susceptibility pallerns is very important for setting orders to guide the clinician in choosing empirical or directed therapy of infected patients.

Logistic Regression Analysis and Nursing Interventions for High-risk Factors for Pressure Sores in Patients in a Surgical Intensive Care Unit

Objective:To investigate the risk factors related to the development of pressure sores in critically ill surgical patients and to establish a basis for the formulation of effective precautions.Methods:A questionnaire regarding the factors for pressure sores in critically ill surgical patients was created using a case control study with reference to the pertinent literature.After being examined and validated by experts,the questionnaire was used to collect data about critically ill surgical patients in a grade A tertiary hospital.Among the 47 patients enrolled into the study,the 14 who developed nosocomial pressure sores were allocated to the pressure sore group,and the remaining33 patients who met the inclusion criteria and did not exhibit pressure sores were allocated to the control group.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to examine the differences in22 indicators between the two groups in an attempt to identify the risk factors for pressure sores.Results:According to the univariate analyses,the maximum value of lactic acid in the arterial blood,the number of days of norepinephrine use,the number of days of mechanical ventilation,the number of days of blood purification,and the number of days of bowel incontinence were statistically greater in the pressure sore group than in the control group(P<0.05).The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the number of days of norepinephrine use and the level of lactic acid in the arterial blood were high risk-factors for pressure sores(P<0.05).Conclusions:The best method for preventing and control pressure sores in surgical critically ill patients is to strongly emphasize the duration of the critical status and to give special attention to patients in a continuous state of shock.The adoption of measures specific to high-risk patient groups and risk factors,including the active control of primary diseases and the application of decompression measures during the treatment of the patients,are helpful for improving the quality of care in the prevention and control of pressure sores in critically ill patients.

Bispectral index in predicting the prognosis of patients with coma in intensive care unit

BACKGROUND: The bispectral(BIS) index is a processed electroencephalogram(EEG) parameter with extensive validation and demonstrated clinical utility. The study aimed to investigate the correlation between the BIS index and the prognosis of patients with coma in the ICU.METHODS: A total of 208 patients with coma in the ICU were enrolled in this study. According to the BIS value, the patients were divided into four groups: group I, BIS value 0 to 20; group II, BIS value 21 to 40; group III, BIS value 41 to 60; and group IV, BIS value greater than 60. The difference in BIS values with the differences in prognosis of patients with coma was compared between the four groups, and the prognosis of patients with coma was stratified into consciousness, coma, vegetative state, and brain death. Subsequently, the best cut-off score of BIS values calculated for determining the correlation between BIS value and mental state was proposed.RESULTS: There are no significant differences in the age and APACHE II scores between the four groups(P>0.05). An inverse correlation was observed between BIS value and mental state(r= –0.749, P=0.00). According to the ROC curve, as BIS value was greater than 42.5, there were higher sensitivity and specificity in conscious-coma patients.CONCLUSION: BIS value is correlated with the prognosis of patients with coma in ICU, and BIS value can be a useful marker for estimating the prognosis of comatose patients.

Incremental value of thoracic ultrasound in intensive care units:Indications,uses,and applications

Emergency physicians are required to care for unstable patients with life-threatening conditions, and thus must make decisions that are both quick and precise about unclear clinical situations. There is increasing consensus in favor of using ultrasound as a real-time bedside clinical tool for clinicians in emergency settings alongside the irreplaceable use of historical and physical examinations. B-mode sonography is an old technology that was first proposed for medical applications more than 50 years ago. Its application in the diagnosis of thoracic diseases has always been considered limited, due to the presence of air in the lung and the presence of the bones of the thoracic cage, which prevent the progression of the ultrasound beam. However, the close relationship between air and water in the lungs causes a variety of artifacts on ultrasounds. At the bedside, thoracic ultrasound is based primarily on the analysis of these artifacts, with the aim of improving accuracy and safety in the diagnosis and therapy of the various varieties of pulmonary pathologic diseases which are predominantly "water-rich" or "air-rich". The indications, contraindications, advantages, disadvantages, and techniques of thoracic ultrasound and its related procedures are analyzed in the present review.