Caring for Critically Ill Patients with the ABCDEF Bundle: Results of the ICU Liberation Collaborative in Over 15,000 Adults

In the ICU - delirium post cardiac arrest

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The present review aims to describe the clinical impact and assessment tools capable of identifying delirium in cardiac arrest survivors and providing strategies aimed at preventing and treating delirium.

RECENT FINDINGS

Patient factors leading to a cardiac arrest, initial resuscitation efforts, and postresuscitation management all influence the potential for recovery and the risk for development of delirium. Data suggest that delirium in cardiac arrest survivors is an independent risk factor for morbidity and mortality. Recognizing delirium in postcardiac arrest patients can be challenging; however, detection is not only achievable, but important as it may aid in predicting adverse outcomes. Serial neurologic examinations and delirium assessments, targeting light sedation when possible, limiting psychoactive medications, and initiating patient care bundles are important care aspects for not only allowing early identification of primary and secondary brain injury, but in improving patient morbidity and mortality.

SUMMARY

Developing delirium after cardiac arrest is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The importance of addressing modifiable risk factors, recognizing symptoms early, and initiating coordinated treatment strategies can help to improve outcomes within this high risk population.

Decreasing Delirium Through Music: A Randomized Pilot Trial

BACKGROUND

Management of delirium in intensive care units is challenging because effective therapies are lacking. Music is a promising nonpharmacological intervention.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the feasibility and acceptability of personalized music (PM), slow-tempo music (STM), and attention control (AC) in patients receiving mechanical ventilation in an intensive care unit, and to estimate the effect of music on delirium.

METHODS

A randomized controlled trial was performed in an academic medical-surgical intensive care unit. After particular inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, patients were randomized to groups listening to PM, relaxing STM, or an audiobook (AC group). Sessions lasted 1 hour and were given twice daily for up to 7 days. Patients wore noise-canceling headphones and used mp3 players to listen to their music/audiobook. Delirium and delirium severity were assessed twice daily by using the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU) and the CAM-ICU-7, respectively.

RESULTS

Of the 1589 patients screened, 117 (7.4%) were eligible. Of those, 52 (44.4%) were randomized, with a recruitment rate of 5 patients per month. Adherence was higher in the groups listening to music (80% in the PM and STM groups vs 30% in the AC group; P = .01), and 80% of patients surveyed rated the music as enjoyable. The median number (interquartile range) of delirium/coma-free days by day 7 was 2 (1-6) for PM, 3 (1-6) for STM, and 2 (0-3) for AC (P = .32). Median delirium severity was 5.5 (1-7) for PM, 3.5 (0-7) for STM, and 4 (1-6.5) for AC (P = .78).

CONCLUSIONS

Music delivery is acceptable to patients and is feasible in intensive care units. Further research testing use of this promising intervention to reduce delirium is warranted.

Predictors of New-Onset Physical Restraint Use in Critically Ill Adults

BACKGROUND

Physical restraints are frequently used for intensive care patients and are associated with substantial morbidity. The effects of common evidence-based critical care interventions on use of physical restraints remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To identify independent predictors of new-onset use of physical restraints in critically ill adults.

METHODS

Secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study involving 5 adult intensive care units in a tertiary care medical center in the United States. Use of physical restraints was determined via daily in-person assessments and medical record review. Mixed-effects logistic regression analysis was used to examine factors associated with new-onset use of physical restraints, adjusting for covariates and within-subject correlation among intensive care unit days.

RESULTS

Of 145 patients who were free of physical restraints within 48 hours of intensive care unit admission, 24 (16.6%) had restraints newly applied during their stay. In adjusted models, delirium (odds ratio [OR], 5.09; 95% CI, 1.83-14.14), endotracheal tube presence (OR, 3.47; 95% CI, 1.22-9.86), and benzodiazepine administration (OR, 3.17; 95% CI, 1.28-7.81) significantly increased the odds of next-day use of physical restraints. Tracheostomy was associated with significantly lowered odds of next-day restraint use (OR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.02-0.73). Compared with patients with a target sedation level, patients who were in a coma (OR, 2.56; 95% CI, 0.80-8.18) or deeply sedated (OR, 2.53; 95% CI, 0.91-7.08) had higher odds of next-day use of physical restraints, and agitated patients (OR, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.00-2.07) were less likely to experience restraint use.

CONCLUSION

Several potentially modifiable risk factors are associated with next-day use of physical restraints.

Delirium prevalence and prevention in patients with acute brain injury: A prospective before-and-after intervention study

OBJECTIVES

Knowledge regarding delirium prevention in patients with acute brain injury remains limited. We tested the hypothesis that an intervention bundle which targeted sedation, sleep, pain, and mobilisation would reduce delirium in patients with acute brain injury.

DESIGN

A prospective before-after intervention study: a five-month phase of standard care was followed by a six-month intervention phase.

SETTING

The neuro-intensive care unit, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Denmark.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist was used to detect delirium. Primary outcome was delirium duration; secondary outcomes were delirium prevalence, ICU length of stay and one year mortality.

RESULTS

Forty-four patients were included during the standard care phase, and 50 during the intervention phase. Delirium was present in 90% of patients in the standard care group and 88% in the intervention group (p = 1.0), and time with delirium was 4 days vs 3.5 days (p = 0.26), respectively. Also, ICU length of stay (13 vs. 10.5 days (p = 0.4)) and the one year mortality (21% vs 12% (p = 0.38))) were similar between groups.

CONCLUSION

We found a high prevalence of delirium in patients with acute brain injury. The intervention bundle did not significantly reduce prevalence or duration of delirium, ICU length of stay or one year mortality.

Influence of sedation on delirium recognition in critically ill patients: A multinational cohort study

BACKGROUND

Guidelines advocate intensive care unit (ICU) patients be regularly assessed for delirium using either the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU (CAM-ICU) or the Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (ICDSC). Single-centre studies, primarily with the CAM-ICU, suggest level of sedation may influence delirium screening results.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to determine the association between level of sedation and delirium occurrence in critically ill patients assessed with either the CAM-ICU or the ICDSC.

METHODS

This was a secondary analysis of a multinational, prospective cohort study performed in nine ICUs from seven countries. Consecutive ICU patients with a Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) of -3 to 0 at the time of delirium assessment where a RASS ≤ 0 was secondary to a sedating medication. Patients were assessed with either the CAM-ICU or the ICDSC. Logistic regression analysis was used to account for factors with the potential to influence level of sedation or delirium occurrence.

RESULTS

Among 1660 patients, 1203 patients underwent 5741 CAM-ICU assessments [9.6% were delirium positive; at RASS = 0 (3.3% were delirium positive), RASS = -1 (19.3%), RASS = -2 (35.1%); RASS = -3 (39.0%)]. The other 457 patients underwent 3210 ICDSC assessments [11.6% delirium positive; at RASS = 0 (4.9% were delirium positive), RASS = -1 (15.8%), RASS = -2 (26.6%); RASS = -3 (20.6%)]. A RASS of -3 was associated with more positive delirium evaluations (odds ratio: 2.31; 95% confidence interval: 1.34-3.98) in the CAM-ICU-assessed patients (vs. the ICDSC-assessed patients). At a RASS of 0, assessment with the CAM-ICU (vs. the ICDSC) was associated with fewer positive delirium evaluations (odds ratio: 0.58; 95% confidence interval: 0.43-0.78). At a RASS of -1 or -2, no association was found between the delirium assessment method used (i.e., CAM-ICU or ICDSC) and a positive delirium evaluation.

CONCLUSIONS

The influence of level of sedation on a delirium assessment result depends on whether the CAM-ICU or ICDSC is used. Bedside ICU nurses should consider these results when evaluating their sedated patients for delirium. Future research is necessary to compare the CAM-ICU and the ICDSC simultaneously in sedated and nonsedated ICU patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT02518646.

Optimizing energy expenditure and oxygenation toward ventilator tolerance is associated with lower ventilator and intensive care unit days

BACKGROUND

We hypothesize that if both energy expenditure and oxygenation are optimized (EEOO) toward ventilator tolerance, this would provide patients with the best condition to be liberated from the ventilator. We defined ventilator tolerance as having a respiratory quotient value between 0.7 and 1.0 while maintaining saturations above 98% with FIO2 70% or less and a normal respiratory rate without causing disturbances to the patient's pH.

METHODS

This is a single-institution prospective cohort study of ventilator dependent patients within a closed trauma intensive care unit (ICU). The study period was over 52 months. A total of 1,090 patients were part of the primary analysis. The test group (EEOO) was compared to a historical cohort, comparing 26 months in each study group. The primary outcome of this study was number of ventilator days. Secondary outcomes included in-hospital mortality, ICU length of stay (LOS), overall hospital length of stay, tracheostomy rates, reintubation rates, and in-hospital complication rates, such as pneumonia and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) ARDS. Both descriptive and multivariable regression analyses were performed to compare the effects of the EEOO protocol with our standard protocols alone.

RESULTS

The primary outcome of number of ventilator days was significantly shorter the EEOO cohort by nearly 3 days. This was significant even after adjustment for age, sex, race, comorbidities, nutrition type, and injury severity, (4.3 days vs. 7.2 days, p = 0.0001). The EEOO cohort also had significantly lower ICU days, hospital days, and overall complications rates.

CONCLUSION

Optimizing the patient's nutritional regimen to ventilator tolerance and optimizing oxygenation by means of targeted pulmonary mechanics and inspired FIO2 may be associated with lower ventilator and ICU days, as well as overall complication rates.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic, Level IV.

Movements and trends in intensive care pain treatment and sedation: What matters to the patient?

BACKGROUND

Oversedation, delirium and immobilisation in the intensive care unit are associated with increased length of stay in the unit. Routines of systematic pain and sedation assessment and the use of valid tools are highly stressed in international guidelines. For improving the quality of pain treatment and sedation in a Norwegian intensive care unit, in 2009-2015, we compared supplementation with an analgosedation approach and the existing systematic approach, measured by the adherence to current international pain, sedation and delirium guidelines.

METHODS

In a longitudinal study following the Standards for Reporting Implementation Studies, pain, sedation, delirium and mobilisation data from patients' complete intensive care unit stays, encompassing three separate periods of 4-6 months, were compared. The primary outcome was adherence to current protocol including assessment and documentation of patients' level of pain, sedation and prevalence of delirium at least every 8 hr, early mobilisation and titration towards a light level of sedation.

RESULTS

We included 205 patients, corresponding to 1,607 patient intensive care unit days. The patient sedation levels, measured by the Richmond Agitation and Sedation Scale, decreased significantly, from -2.2 in 2009--1.7 in 2015, so did the amount of administrated propofol. Mean pain scores measured by the numeric rating scale during activity were maximum 3.1 in 2014, decreasing to 2.2 in 2015. In patients not able to self-report, pain mean scores were 1.7 in 2014 and 1.6 in 2015, measured by the Critical Care Pain Observational Tool. The number of patients unable to assess for delirium decreased significantly. By discounting the group of patients unable to assess, the prevalence of delirium varied from 32%, 25% and 33%.

CONCLUSION

The goal of having an awake patient able to cooperate, with acceptable levels of pain, was gradually achieved during a 6-year period. The results showed that pain treatment and sedation in the intensive care unit primarily succeeded in the setting of an established routine of systematic assessment and documentation.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

The results of the study draw attention to pain treatment, sedation and delirium in intensive care patients, as well as implementation strategies aimed at achieving healthcare personnel's adherence to international guidelines in clinical practice.

Sedation selection to reduce delirium risk: Why dexmedetomidine may be a better choice

ABSTRACT

In 2018, the Society of Critical Care Medicine published the Pain Agitation Delirium Immobility and Sleep Disruption guidelines that recommend protocol assessment-based pain and sedation management. Since the publication of these guidelines, multiple studies and meta-analyses have been conducted comparing sedative options in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) setting including dexmedetomidine and propofol. Sedatives are on a continuum when it comes to delirium risk. Propofol, like benzodiazepines, causes changes in sleep patterns by suppressing the rapid eye movement sleep stage not seen with dexmedetomidine, worsening the ICU patient's already poor sleep quality. This reduction in sleep quality increases the risk of delirium. As patient advocates, advanced practice nurses play a vital role in minimizing risk of patient harm. Sedative use and management are areas of opportunity for nurses to minimize this risk. When sedatives are needed, daily sedation vacations should be conducted to re-evaluate the minimum required dose. These practices can reduce sedation risks for delirium and allow for bedside screening and early detection.

COVID-19: What do we need to know about ICU delirium during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic?

In March 2020, the World Health Organisation announced the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. As well as respiratory failure, the SARS-CoV-2 may cause central nervous system (CNS) involvement, including delirium occurring in critically ill patients (ICU delirium). Due attention must be paid to this subject in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Delirium, the detection of which takes less than two minutes, is frequently underestimated during daily routine ICU care, but it may be a prodromal symptom of infection or hypoxia associated with severe respiratory failure. During the COVID-19 pandemic, systematic delirium monitoring using validated tests (CAM-ICU or ICDSC) may be sacrificed. This is likely to be due to the fact that the main emphasis is placed on organisational issues, i.e. the lack of ventilators, setting priorities for limited mechanical ventilation options, and a shortage of personal protective equipment. Early identification of patients with delirium is critical in patients with COVID-19 because the occurrence of delirium may be an early symptom of worsening respiratory failure or of infectious spread to the CNS mediated by potential neuroinvasive mechanisms of the coronavirus. The purpose of this review is to identify problems related to the development of delirium during the COVID-19 epidemic, which are presented in three areas: i) factors contributing to delirium in COVID-19, ii) potential pathophysiological factors of delirium in COVID-19, and iii) long-term consequences of delirium in COVID-19. This article discusses how healthcare workers can reduce the burden of delirium by identifying potential risk factors and difficulties during challenges associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

[Usefulness of diaphragmatic ultrasound in predicting extubation success]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of diaphragmatic ultrasound in predicting extubation success.

DESIGN

A diagnostic accuracy study was carried out.

SCOPE

Intensive Care Unit of an Academic hospital in the city of Bogotá (Colombia).

PATIENTS OR PARTICIPANTS

A consecutive sample of patients >18 years of age subjected to invasive mechanical ventilation for >48h.

INTERVENTIONS

Diaphragmatic ultrasound evaluation at the end of spontaneous ventilation testing.

MAIN VARIABLES OF INTEREST

Diaphragmatic excursion (DE, cm), inspiration time (TPIA_dia, s), diaphragm contraction speed (DE/TPIA_dia, cm/s) and total time (Ttot, s) were evaluated, together with thickening fraction (TF_di, %).

RESULTS

A total of 84 patients were included, 79.8% (n=67) with successful extubation and 20.2% (n=17) with failed extubation. The variable with the best discriminatory capacity in predicting extubation success was diaphragm contraction speed, with AUC-ROC 0.70 (p=0.008).

CONCLUSIONS

Diaphragm contraction speed exhibited acceptable discriminatory capacity. Ultrasound could be part of a multifactorial approach in the extubation process.

Assessment of Variability in End-of-Life Care Delivery in Intensive Care Units in the United States

IMPORTANCE

Overall, 1 of 5 decedents in the United States is admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) before death.

OBJECTIVE

To describe structures, processes, and variability of end-of-life care delivered in ICUs in the United States.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This nationwide cohort study used data on 16 945 adults who were cared for in ICUs that participated in the 68-unit ICU Liberation Collaborative quality improvement project from January 2015 through April 2017. Data were analyzed between August 2018 and June 2019.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Published quality measures and end-of-life events, organized by key domains of end-of-life care in the ICU.

RESULTS

Of 16 945 eligible patients in the collaborative, 1536 (9.1%) died during their initial ICU stay. Of decedents, 654 (42.6%) were women, 1037 (67.5%) were 60 years or older, and 1088 (70.8%) were identified as white individuals. Wide unit-level variation in end-of-life care delivery was found. For example, the median unit-stratified rate of cardiopulmonary resuscitation avoidance in the last hour of life was 89.5% (interquartile range, 83.3%-96.1%; range, 50.0%-100%). Median rates of patients who were pain free and delirium free in last 24 hours of life were 75.1% (interquartile range, 66.0%-85.7%; range, 0-100%) and 60.0% (interquartile range, 43.7%-85.2%; range, 9.1%-100%), respectively. Ascertainment of an advance directive was associated with lower odds of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the last hour of life (odds ratio, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.49-0.99; P = .04), and a documented offer or delivery of spiritual support was associated with higher odds of family presence at the time of death (odds ratio, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.37-2.77; P < .001). Death in a unit with an open visitation policy was associated with higher odds of pain in the last 24 hours of life (odds ratio, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.15-4.27; P = .02). Unsupervised cluster analysis revealed 3 mutually exclusive unit-level patterns of end-of-life care delivery among 63 ICUs with complete data. Cluster 1 units (14 units [22.2%]) had the lowest rate of cardiopulmonary resuscitation avoidance but achieved the highest pain-free rate. Cluster 2 (25 units [39.7%]) had the lowest delirium-free rate but achieved high rates of all other end-of-life events. Cluster 3 (24 units [38.1%]) achieved high rates across all favorable end-of-life events.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In this study, end-of-life care delivery varied substantially among ICUs in the United States, and the patterns of care observed suggest that units can be characterized as higher and lower performing. To achieve optimal care for patients who die in an ICU, future research should target unit-level variation and disseminate the successes of higher-performing units.

Sedative and Analgesic Drug Rotation Protocol in Critically Ill Children With Prolonged Sedation: Evaluation of Implementation and Efficacy to Reduce Withdrawal Syndrome

OBJECTIVES

The first aim of this study was to assess the implementation of a sedative and analgesic drug rotation protocol in a PICU. The second aim was to analyze the incidence of withdrawal syndrome, drug doses, and time of sedative or analgesic drug infusion in children after the implementation of the new protocol.

DESIGN

Prospective observational study.

SETTING

PICU of a tertiary care hospital between June 2012 and June 2016.

PATIENTS

All patients between 1 month and 16 years old admitted to the PICU who received continuous IV infusion of sedative or analgesic drugs for more than 4 days were included in the study.

INTERVENTIONS

A sedative and analgesic drug rotation protocol was designed. The level of sedation, analgesia, and withdrawal syndrome were monitored with validated scales. The relationship between compliance with the protocol and the incidence of withdrawal syndrome was studied.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

One-hundred pediatric patients were included in the study. The protocol was followed properly in 35% of patients. Sixty-seven percent of the overall cohort presented with withdrawal syndrome. There was a lower incidence rate of withdrawal syndrome (34.3% vs 84.6%; p < 0.001), shorter PICU length of stay (median 16 vs 25 d; p = 0.003), less time of opioid infusion (median 5 vs 7 d for fentanyl; p = 0.004), benzodiazepines (median 5 vs 9 d; p = 0.001), and propofol (median 4 vs 8 d; p = 0.001) in the cohort of children in which the protocol was followed correctly.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show that compliance with the drug rotation protocol in critically ill children requiring prolonged sedation may reduce the appearance of withdrawal syndrome without increasing the risk of adverse effects. Furthermore, it may reduce the time of continuous IV infusions for most sedative and analgesic drugs and the length of stay in PICU.

Oversedation Zero as a tool for comfort, safety and intensive care unit management

Sedation is necessary in the management of critically ill patients, both to alleviate suffering and to cure patients with diseases that require admission to the intensive care unit. Such sedation should be appropriate to the patient needs at each timepoint during clinical evolution, and neither too low (undersedation) nor too high (oversedation). Adequate sedation influences patient comfort, safety, survival, subsequent quality of life, bed rotation of critical care units and costs. Undersedation is detected and quickly corrected. In contrast, oversedation is silent and difficult to prevent in the absence of management guidelines, collective awareness and teamwork. The Zero Oversedation Project of the Sedation, Analgesia and Delirium Working Group of the Spanish Society of Intensive and Critical Care Medicine and Coronary Units aims to offer a practical teaching and collective awareness tool for ensuring patient comfort, safety and management with a view to optimizing the clinical outcomes and minimizing the deleterious effects of excessive sedation. The tool is based on a package of measures that include monitoring pain, analgesia, agitation, sedation, delirium and neuromuscular block, keeping patients pain-free, performing dynamic sedation according to clinical objectives, agreeing upon the multidisciplinary protocol to be followed, and avoiding deep sedation where not clinically indicated.

Delirium Management in the ICU

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Delirium occurs frequently in critically ill patients and is associated with adverse outcomes in both the short and long term. In this review, we aim to highlight recent study findings on the prevention and treatment of delirium, provide additional recommendations based on expert guidelines, and indicate knowledge gaps deserving of future study.

RECENT FINDINGS

Multicomponent non-pharmacologic interventions have been shown to be efficacious in non-ICU populations, and multicomponent strategies such as the ABCDEF bundle have been adopted in the ICU with several studies showing a potential benefit in delirium outcomes. Meanwhile, two negative randomized clinical trials of antipsychotics in ICU patients (REDUCE and MIND-USA) have provided strong evidence that such medications neither prevent nor shorten the duration of delirium. Other potential pharmacologic treatments with promising results include dexmedetomidine and, to a lesser extent, ramelteon, but more data is needed before they may be more definitively recommended. Effective and proven delirium management strategies are still largely lacking, though there is evidence to support the use of some non-pharmacologic interventions. Future studies of novel non-pharmacologic interventions and pharmacologic agents other than antipsychotics are warranted.

Long-term cognitive impairment after acute respiratory distress syndrome: a review of clinical impact and pathophysiological mechanisms

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) survivors experience a high prevalence of cognitive impairment with concomitantly impaired functional status and quality of life, often persisting months after hospital discharge. In this review, we explore the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying cognitive impairment following ARDS, the interrelations between mechanisms and risk factors, and interventions that may mitigate the risk of cognitive impairment. Risk factors for cognitive decline following ARDS include pre-existing cognitive impairment, neurological injury, delirium, mechanical ventilation, prolonged exposure to sedating medications, sepsis, systemic inflammation, and environmental factors in the intensive care unit, which can co-occur synergistically in various combinations. Detection and characterization of pre-existing cognitive impairment imparts challenges in clinical management and longitudinal outcome study enrollment. Patients with brain injury who experience ARDS constitute a distinct population with a particular combination of risk factors and pathophysiological mechanisms: considerations raised by brain injury include neurogenic pulmonary edema, differences in sympathetic activation and cholinergic transmission, effects of positive end-expiratory pressure on cerebral microcirculation and intracranial pressure, and sensitivity to vasopressor use and volume status. The blood-brain barrier represents a physiological interface at which multiple mechanisms of cognitive impairment interact, as acute blood-brain barrier weakening from mechanical ventilation and systemic inflammation can compound existing chronic blood-brain barrier dysfunction from Alzheimer’s-type pathophysiology, rendering the brain vulnerable to both amyloid-beta accumulation and cytokine-mediated hippocampal damage. Although some contributory elements, such as the presenting brain injury or pre-existing cognitive impairment, may be irreversible, interventions such as minimizing mechanical ventilation tidal volume, minimizing duration of exposure to sedating medications, maintaining hemodynamic stability, optimizing fluid balance, and implementing bundles to enhance patient care help dramatically to reduce duration of delirium and may help prevent acquisition of long-term cognitive impairment.

The ABCDEF Bundle for the Respiratory Therapist

The clinical approach to the critically ill patient has changed dramatically over the last several decades from one of deep sedation to that of mobilizing patients on mechanical ventilation and limiting sedation. The ABCDEF bundle is a multidisciplinary, evidence-based approach to the holistic management of critically ill patients that aims to optimize patient recovery, minimize iatrogenesis, and engage and empower the patient and family during their hospitalization. To achieve this goal, the bundle includes assessments for pain, delirium, and readiness to stop sedation and to start spontaneous breathing trials. It also encourages early mobilization of the patient, avoidance of restraints, and engagement with the family in bedside rounds to improve communication. Performance of this bundle reduces mortality, ventilator days, intensive care readmissions, delirium, coma, restraint use, and discharge to facilities in a dose-dependent manner. The respiratory therapist, as a key member of the critical care team, is essential to the implementation, performance, and success of the ABCDEF bundle. This review aims to describe each component of the ABCDEF bundle, provide evidence for both the impact of individual interventions as well as the entire bundle, and detail the importance of this multidisciplinary approach to the care of the critically ill patient.

Trends and recommendations for critical care nursing research in the Nordic countries: Triangulation of review and survey data

BACKGROUND

Priorities for critical care nursing research have evolved with societal trends and values. In the 1980s priorities were the nursing workforce, in 1990s technical nursing, in 2000s evidence-based nursing and in 2010s symptom management and family-centred care.

OBJECTIVES

To identify current trends and future recommendations for critical care nursing research in the Nordic countries.

METHODS

We triangulated the results of a literature review and a survey. A review of two selected critical care nursing journals (2016-2017) was conducted using content analysis to identify contemporary published research. A self-administered computerised cross-sectional survey of Nordic critical care nursing researchers (2017) reported current and future areas of research.

RESULTS

A review of 156 papers identified research related to the patient (13%), family (12%), nurse (31%), and therapies (44%). Current trends in the survey (n = 76, response rate 65%) included patient and family involvement, nurse performance and education, and evidence-based protocols. The datasets showed similar trends, but aftercare was only present in the survey. Future trends included symptom management, transitions, rehabilitation, and new nursing roles.

CONCLUSION

Critical care nursing research is trending toward increased collaboration with patient and family, delineating a shift toward user values. Recommendations include long-term outcomes and impact of nursing.

An international perspective on the frequency, perception of utility, and quality of interprofessional rounds practices in intensive care units

PURPOSE

To describe international variation in interprofessional rounds in intensive care units (ICUs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Survey of ICU clinicians on their practices and perceptions of rounds using societal mailing lists and social media.

RESULTS

Out of 2402 respondents, 1752 (72.8%) use rounds. Teams are mostly composed of intensivists, nurses and medical trainees. The majority of rounds (57.5%) last >2 h, and North Americans report the highest rates of rounds allowing family attendance (92.4%). Shorter rounds (1-2 h, OR 0.67, 0.52-0.86, p < 0.01; <1 h, OR 0.72, 0.53-0.97, p = 0.03), and strategies such as designating a person for writing (OR 0.73, 0.57-0.95, p = 0.01), and designating a person to assist other patients (OR 0.75, 0.57-0.98, p = 0.04) are associated with a lower perception of negative outcomes. Using daily goals during rounds is associated with a higher perception of positive outcomes (OR 1.85, 1.17-2.90, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Three-quarters of respondents perform rounds, and models of rounds are heterogeneous, creating challenges for future studies on improving rounds. Respondents reporting better outcomes also experience shorter rounds, and adopt strategies such as discussion of daily goals, and designation individuals for writing or assisting other patients during rounds.

Impact of natural light exposure on delirium burden in adult patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation in the ICU: a prospective study

Objective

To determine whether potential exposure to natural light via windows is associated with reduced delirium burden in critically ill patients admitted to the ICU in a single room.

Design

Prospective single-center study.

Setting

Medical ICU of a university hospital, Paris, France.

Patients

Adult patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation.

Methods

Consecutive patients admitted to a single room with (LIGHT group) or without (DARK group) exposure to natural light via windows were evaluated for delirium. The primary endpoint was the incidence of delirium. Main secondary endpoints included incidence of severe agitation intervened with antipsychotics and incidence of hallucinations.

Results

A total of 195 patients were included (LIGHT group: n = 110; DARK group: n = 85). The incidence of delirium was similar in the LIGHT group and the DARK group (64% vs. 71%; relative risk (RR) 0.89, 95% CI 0.73–1.09). Compared with the DARK group, patients from the LIGHT group were less likely to be intervened with antipsychotics for agitation episodes (13% vs. 25%; RR 0.52, 95% CI 0.27–0.98) and had less frequent hallucinations (11% vs. 22%; RR 0.49, 95% CI 0.24–0.98). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, natural light exposure was independently associated with a reduced risk of agitation episodes intervened with antipsychotics (adjusted odds ratio = 0.39; 95% CI 0.17–0.88).

Conclusion

Admission to a single room with potential exposure to natural light via windows was not associated with reduced delirium burden, as compared to admission to a single room without windows. However, natural light exposure was associated with a reduced risk of agitation episodes and hallucinations.

Fundamental care for people with cognitive impairment in the hospital setting: A study combining positive organisational scholarship and video-reflexive ethnography

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To clarify how high-quality fundamentals of care for people with dementia and/or delirium were practised in a specialist geriatric evaluation and management unit.

BACKGROUND

Older people with cognitive impairment represent a significant number of people who are admitted to hospital. They are at increased risk of dying, readmission and long hospital stays, relative to those without cognitive impairment. There is an urgent need to elucidate the conditions that underpin safe and high-quality fundamental care for these patients and their families.

METHODS

Using the innovative methodologies of positive organisational scholarship in healthcare and video-reflexive ethnography, this 18-month study was conducted within an inpatient geriatric evaluation and management unit for people with dementia and/or delirium in South Australia. Patients, family members and staff members (managerial, clinical and nonclinical) participated by allowing researchers to document ethnographic fieldwork notes and film their practices and/or accounts thereof; and/or interpreting digital recordings with researchers in order to make sense of data in a process of co-analysis. This study is reported using Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research reporting guidelines.

RESULTS

High-quality fundamental care for people with dementia and/or delirium in hospital and their families was associated with the special space of the hospital unit; an aptitude for people with dementia; a capacity to translate person-centred fundamentals of care from rhetoric to reality; and an appreciation for teamwork.

CONCLUSION

This study clarified how teams working in hospital can practise high-quality fundamentals of care for older people with dementia and/or delirium. Delivery of high-quality fundamental care in this setting was dependent, not only on nurses, but the entire ward team working cohesively in a "weave of commitment."

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Efforts to improve fundamental care for people with cognitive impairment need to encompass values and philosophy of person-centred care, including the contributions by all staff to care delivery.

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate: is it a feasible alternative to midazolam in long-term mechanically ventilated children?

Aim: Benzodiazepines like midazolam are commonly used for long-term sedation of critically ill children requiring mechanical ventilation. Tolerance to midazolam may occur in these patients resulting in a ceiling effect with insufficient or missing sedative response to increases of midazolam infusion or bolus application. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a drug rotation protocol replacing continuous infusion of midazolam with gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) to counteract midazolam tolerance. Methods: This retrospective, observational study was conducted in a 14-bed pediatric intensive care unit of a tertiary referral center. Thirty-three mechanically ventilated children with tolerance to midazolam who received continuous infusion of GHB were included. Success of drug rotation from midazolam to GHB was defined as adequate sedation with GHB and subsequent reduction of required doses of midazolam. Results: In our cohort, drug rotation for at least 2 days could be successfully performed in 10 out of 34 children resulting in subsequent reduction of required doses of midazolam. Drug rotation to GHB failed in 24 patients due to insufficient sedation resulting in a premature termination of the protocol. In these children, dosing of midazolam could not be reduced following drug rotation. We could not identify factors which predict success or failure of drug rotation from midazolam to GHB. Conclusions: The data from our single-center study suggest that drug rotation from midazolam to GHB may be worth trying in children with midazolam tolerance during long-term sedation, but physicians should be aware of possible treatment failure.

Clinical Impact of an Electronic Dashboard and Alert System for Sedation Minimization and Ventilator Liberation: A Before-After Study

Sedation minimization and ventilator liberation protocols improve outcomes but are challenging to implement. We sought to demonstrate proof-of-concept and impact of an electronic application promoting sedation minimization and ventilator liberation.

DESIGN

Multi-ICU proof-of-concept study and a single ICU before-after study.

SETTING

University hospital ICUs.

PATIENTS

Adult patients receiving mechanical ventilation.

INTERVENTIONS

An automated application consisting of 1) a web-based dashboard with real-time data on spontaneous breathing trial readiness, sedation depth, sedative infusions, and nudges to wean sedation and ventilatory support and 2) text-message alerts once patients met criteria for a spontaneous breathing trial and spontaneous awakening trial. Pre-intervention, sedation minimization, and ventilator liberation were reviewed daily during a multidisciplinary huddle. Post-intervention, the dashboard was used during the multidisciplinary huddle, throughout the day by respiratory therapists, and text alerts were sent to bedside providers.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

We enrolled 115 subjects in the proof-of-concept study. Spontaneous breathing trial alerts were accurate (98.3%), usually sent while patients were receiving mandatory ventilation (88.5%), and 61.9% of patients received concurrent spontaneous awakening trial alerts. We enrolled 457 subjects in the before-after study, 221 pre-intervention and 236 post-intervention. After implementation, patients were 28% more likely to be extubated (hazard ratio, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.01-1.63; p = 0.042) and 31% more likely to be discharged from the ICU (hazard ratio, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.03-1.67; p = 0.027) at any time point. After implementation, the median duration of mechanical ventilation was 2.20 days (95% CI, 0.09-4.31 d; p = 0.042) shorter and the median ICU length of stay was 2.65 days (95% CI, 0.13-5.16 d; p = 0.040) shorter, compared with the expected durations without the application.

CONCLUSIONS

Implementation of an electronic dashboard and alert system promoting sedation minimization and ventilator liberation was associated with reductions in the duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU length of stay.

Postintensive Care Syndrome in Pediatric Critical Care Survivors: Therapeutic Options to Improve Outcomes After Acquired Brain Injury

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Children surviving the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) with neurologic illness or injury have long-term morbidities in physical, cognitive, emotional, and social functioning termed postintensive care syndrome (PICS). In this article, we review acute and longitudinal management strategies available to combat PICS in children with acquired brain injury.

RECENT FINDINGS

Few intervention studies in this vulnerable population target PICS morbidities. Small studies show promise for both inpatient- and outpatient-initiated therapies, mainly focusing on a single domain of PICS and evaluating heterogeneous populations. While evaluating the effects of interventions on longitudinal PICS outcomes is in its infancy, longitudinal clinical programs targeting PICS are increasing. A multidisciplinary team with inpatient and outpatient presence is necessary to deliver the holistic integrated care required to address all domains of PICS in patients and families. While PICS is increasingly recognized as a chronic problem in PICU survivors with acquired brain injury, few interventions have targeted PICS morbidities. Research is needed to improve physical, cognitive, emotional, and social outcomes in survivors and their families.

Medication Use and Risk of Delirium in Mechanically Ventilated Patients

One of the principal complications in patients in the intensive care unit, particularly in those receiving mechanical ventilation, is medication-induced delirium. The present study aimed to intensively analyze pharmaceutical factors affecting the development of delirium in mechanically ventilated patients using the electronic health records. The present study was designed as a retrospective case-control study. The delirium group included 500 mechanically ventilated patients. The non-delirium group included 2,000 patients who were hospitalized during the same period as the delirium group and received mechanical ventilation. A total of seven types of medications (narcotic analgesics, non-narcotic analgesics, psychopharmaceuticals, sleep aid medications, anticholinergics, steroids, and diuretics), conventionally used to manage mechanical ventilation, were found to be major risk factors associated with the occurrence of delirium. Since these medications are an integral part of managing mechanically ventilated patients, prudent protocol-based medication approaches are essential to decrease the risk of delirium.

[Early mobilisation on the intensive care unit : What we know]

BACKGROUND

Early mobilization is defined as intervention within the first 72 h after intensive care unit (ICU) admission. According to the current state of relevant studies, evidence on early mobilization in critically ill patients is still inconsistent. This leads to insecurity in caretakers and subsequently to incomplete implementation in German ICUs.

OBJECTIVES

What type of intervention is suitable for certain patient groups? Which issues remain unresolved?

RESULTS

To obtain best possible outcomes, early mobilization should be initiated during the first 72 h after ICU admission. Implementation of early mobilization improves clinical outcome and should be integrated in a patient-centered bundle (such as ABCDEF). Mechanical ventilation is not a contraindication to intervention. Evidence in neurocritical care as well as functionally dependent patients is still low. Mode of intervention and dosage of early mobilisation remain unclear.

CONCLUSION

Early mobilization is safe and feasible, resulting in improved outcomes in surgical and medical ICU patients. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the optimal dosage and duration of intervention, especially in neurocritical care patients.

Extracorporeal Life Support for Adults With Respiratory Failure and Related Indications: A Review

IMPORTANCE

The substantial growth over the last decade in the use of extracorporeal life support for adults with acute respiratory failure reveals an enthusiasm for the technology not always consistent with the evidence. However, recent high-quality data, primarily in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome, have made extracorporeal life support more widely accepted in clinical practice.

OBSERVATIONS

Clinical trials of extracorporeal life support for acute respiratory failure in adults in the 1970s and 1990s failed to demonstrate benefit, reducing use of the intervention for decades and relegating it to a small number of centers. Nonetheless, technological improvements in extracorporeal support made it safer to use. Interest in extracorporeal life support increased with the confluence of 2 events in 2009: (1) the publication of a randomized clinical trial of extracorporeal life support for acute respiratory failure and (2) the use of extracorporeal life support in patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome during the influenza A(H1N1) pandemic. In 2018, a randomized clinical trial in patients with very severe acute respiratory distress syndrome demonstrated a seemingly large decrease in mortality from 46% to 35%, but this difference was not statistically significant. However, a Bayesian post hoc analysis of this trial and a subsequent meta-analysis together suggested that extracorporeal life support was beneficial for patients with very severe acute respiratory distress syndrome. As the evidence supporting the use of extracorporeal life support increases, its indications are expanding to being a bridge to lung transplantation and the management of patients with pulmonary vascular disease who have right-sided heart failure. Extracorporeal life support is now an acceptable form of organ support in clinical practice.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

The role of extracorporeal life support in the management of adults with acute respiratory failure is being redefined by advances in technology and increasing evidence of its effectiveness. Future developments in the field will result from technological advances, an increased understanding of the physiology and biology of extracorporeal support, and increased knowledge of how it might benefit the treatment of a variety of clinical conditions.

Intensive Care Role in Disaster Management Critical Care Clinics

The "daily disasters" within the ebb and flow of routine critical care provide a foundation of preparedness for the less-frequent, larger events that affect most health care organizations at some time. Although large disasters can overwhelm, those who strengthen processes and habits through daily practice will be the best prepared to manage them.

Understanding what matters to patients in critical care: An exploratory evaluation

BACKGROUND

The delivery of person-centred care is a key priority for managers, policy makers, and clinicians in health care. The delivery person-centred care in critical care is challenging because of competing demands.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of this quality improvement project was to understand what mattered to patients on a daily basis within the critical care environment. It aimed to understand personal goals and what patients needed to improve their experience. This paper reports on the outputs from this quality improvement project.

DESIGN AND DATA ANALYSIS

During each daily ward round, patients were asked "what matters to you today?" Outputs from this were entered into the Daily Goals Sheet, which is utilized for every patient in our critical care unit or in the nursing notes. Using Framework Analysis, prevalent themes were extracted from the patient statements documented.

RESULTS

A total of 196 unique patients were included in this analysis alongside 592 patient statements. Four broad themes were generated: medical outcomes and information, the critical care environment, personal care, and family and caregivers.

CONCLUSION

The analysis of the data from this quality improvement project has demonstrated that, by asking a simple question within the context of a ward round, care can be enhanced and personalized and long-term outcomes potentially improved. More research is required to understand what the optimal methods are of implementing these requests.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Two main recommendations from practice emerged from this quality improvement project: asking patients "what matters to you?" on a daily basis may help support the humanization of the critical care environment, and visiting and access by families must be discussed with patients to ensure this is appropriate for their needs.

Early Sedation with Dexmedetomidine in Critically Ill Patients

BACKGROUND

Dexmedetomidine produces sedation while maintaining a degree of arousability and may reduce the duration of mechanical ventilation and delirium among patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). The use of dexmedetomidine as the sole or primary sedative agent in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation has not been extensively studied.

METHODS

In an open-label, randomized trial, we enrolled critically ill adults who had been undergoing ventilation for less than 12 hours in the ICU and were expected to continue to receive ventilatory support for longer than the next calendar day to receive dexmedetomidine as the sole or primary sedative or to receive usual care (propofol, midazolam, or other sedatives). The target range of sedation-scores on the Richmond Agitation and Sedation Scale (which is scored from -5 [unresponsive] to +4 [combative]) was -2 to +1 (lightly sedated to restless). The primary outcome was the rate of death from any cause at 90 days.

RESULTS

We enrolled 4000 patients at a median interval of 4.6 hours between eligibility and randomization. In a modified intention-to-treat analysis involving 3904 patients, the primary outcome event occurred in 566 of 1948 (29.1%) in the dexmedetomidine group and in 569 of 1956 (29.1%) in the usual-care group (adjusted risk difference, 0.0 percentage points; 95% confidence interval, -2.9 to 2.8). An ancillary finding was that to achieve the prescribed level of sedation, patients in the dexmedetomidine group received supplemental propofol (64% of patients), midazolam (3%), or both (7%) during the first 2 days after randomization; in the usual-care group, these drugs were administered as primary sedatives in 60%, 12%, and 20% of the patients, respectively. Bradycardia and hypotension were more common in the dexmedetomidine group.

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients undergoing mechanical ventilation in the ICU, those who received early dexmedetomidine for sedation had a rate of death at 90 days similar to that in the usual-care group and required supplemental sedatives to achieve the prescribed level of sedation. More adverse events were reported in the dexmedetomidine group than in the usual-care group. (Funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia and others; SPICE III ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01728558.).

Analgesia-first sedation in critically ill adults: A U.S. pilot, randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE

To determine the feasibility of conducting a multicenter ICU RCT of AFS compared to either protocol-directed sedation (PDS) or both PDS and daily sedation interruption (DSI) in North America.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This single-center RCT compared AFS [fentanyl (bolus ± infusions) to reach CPOT ≤2; if RASS ≥1, CPOT ≤2 and additional fentanyl failed to reach RASS goal (-2 to 0), low-dose propofol (up to 6 h) was given] with either PDS or both PDS and DSI daily in adults mechanically ventilated (MV) ≥48 h. Relevant feasibility, safety, and clinical outcomes were defined and evaluated.

RESULTS

90 of 160 eligible patients were enrolled [AFS = 27; PDS = 28; PDS + DSI = 31]; rate = 3/month. Time from intubation to randomization was 17.5 ± 11.6 h. Study days fully adherent to the study intervention [AFS = 95%; PDS = 99%; PDS + DSI = 96%] and time spent in the first 48 h after randomization without pain (CPOT ≤2)[AFS = 82%; PDS = 78%; PDS + DSI = 77%] and at goal RASS[AFS = 88%; PDS = 83%; PDS + DSI = 95%] were high and similar. Nurse-perceived [median (IQR)] study workload (10-point VAS) was higher with AFS [4(2-6)] than PDS [1(1-3)] or PDS + DSI [2(1-5)]; p = .002). Unplanned extubation was rare (AFS = 1; PDS = 0; PDS + DSI = 1). Days [median (IQR)] free of MV in the 28d after intubation [AFS 24(23,26); PDS 24(20,26); PDS + DSI 24(21,26)] was not different (p = .62).

CONCLUSION

A multicenter RCT evaluating AFS is feasible to conduct in North America.

Implementation, Evolution and Impact of ICU Telepharmacy Services Across a Health care System

Purpose: A review of the implementation and development of telepharmacy services that ensure access to a critical care-trained pharmacist across a healthcare system. Summary: Teleintensive care unit (tele-ICU) services use audio, video, and electronic databases to assist bedside caregivers. Telepharmacy, as defined by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, is a method in which a pharmacist uses telecommunication technology to oversee aspects of pharmacy operations or provide patient care services. Telepharmacists can ensure accurate and timely order verification, recommend interventions to improve patient care, provide drug information to clinicians, assist in standardization of care, and promote medication safety. This tele-ICU pharmacy team is one of the only entirely clinical-based tele-ICU pharmacy models among the tele-ICU programs across the United States. The use of technology for customized alert generation and intervention proposal with medication orders and chart notation are unique. In a 34-month period from September 2015 to July 2018, more than 110 000 alerts were generated and 13 000 interventions were performed by telepharmacists. Conclusions: Tele-ICU pharmacists employ limited resources to provide critical care pharmacy expertise to multiple sites within a healthcare system during nontraditional hours with documented clinical and financial benefits. Further study is needed to determine the impact of tele-ICU pharmacists on ICU and hospital length of stay, morbidity, and mortality.

Determinants of Depressive Symptoms at 1 Year Following ICU Discharge in Survivors of ≥ 7 Days of Mechanical Ventilation: Results From the RECOVER Program, a Secondary Analysis of a Prospective Multicenter Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Moderate to severe depressive symptoms occur in up to one-third of patients at 1 year following ICU discharge, negatively affecting patient outcomes. This study evaluated patient and caregiver factors associated with the development of these symptoms.

METHODS

This study used the Rehabilitation and Recovery in Patients after Critical Illness and Their Family Caregivers (RECOVER) Program (Phase 1) cohort of 391 patients from 10 medical/surgical university-affiliated ICUs across Canada. We determined the association between patient depressive symptoms (captured by using the Beck Depression Inventory II [BDI-II]), patient characteristics (age, sex, socioeconomic status, Charlson score, and ICU length of stay [LOS]), functional independence measure (FIM) motor subscale score, and caregiver characteristics (Caregiver Assistance Scale and Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale) by using linear mixed models at time points 3, 6, and 12 months.

RESULTS

BDI-II data were available for 246 patients. Median age at ICU admission was 56 years (interquartile range, 45-65 years), 143 (58%) were male, and median ICU LOS was 19 days (interquartile range, 13-32 days). During the 12-month follow-up, 67 of 246 (27.2%) patients had a BDI-II score ≥ 20, indicating moderate to severe depressive symptoms. Mixed models showed worse depressive symptoms in patients with lower FIM motor subscale scores (1.1 BDI-II points per 10 FIM points), lower income status (by 3.7 BDI-II points; P = .007), and incomplete secondary education (by 3.8 BDI-II points; P = .009); a curvilinear relation with age (P = .001) was also reported, with highest BDI-II at ages 45 to 50 years. No associations were found between patient BDI-II and comorbidities (P = .92), sex (P = .25), ICU LOS (P = .51), or caregiver variables (Caregiver Assistance Scale [P = .28] and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale [P = .74]).

CONCLUSIONS

Increased functional dependence, lower income, and lower education are associated with increased severity of post-ICU depressive symptoms, whereas age has a curvilinear relation with symptom severity. Knowledge of risk factors may inform surveillance and targeted mental health follow-up. Early mobilization and rehabilitation aiming to improve function may serve to modify mood disorders.