Chronic critical illness

Can exercise and nutrition stimulate muscle protein gain in the ICU patient?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The intended purpose of nutritional and exercise interventions during ICU stay is often to limit the muscle loss associated with critical illness. Unfortunately, direct measurements of muscle protein turnover or potential surrogates have often been neglected in clinical trials.

RECENT FINDINGS

We discuss the potential advantages and drawbacks of common outcome measures for assessing changes in muscle structure and function over time, and how temporal changes in patient physiology require consideration. There is an increasing awareness of emphasizing functional outcomes in recent clinical trials. We here summarize the latest research on therapies attempting to limit muscle loss in ICU patients, with a focus on muscle protein metabolism. No recent or older studies show any effect of nutritional interventions on muscle protein gain, although some smaller studies show a promising positive effect on muscle thickness and function. Some studies show a positive effect of increased physical activity in the ICU on muscle mass and function but heterogeneity of the interventions and outcome measures make any general conclusions impossible.

SUMMARY

Several knowledge gaps remain regarding the importance of muscle protein regulation as a driver of improved physical function following ICU discharge. In our opinion, physiological investigations are needed to guide the design and interpretation of future clinical trials.

Benchmarking clinical outcomes and the immunocatabolic phenotype of chronic critical illness after sepsis in surgical intensive care unit patients

BACKGROUND

A growing number of patients survive sepsis but remain chronically critically ill. We sought to define clinical outcomes and incidence of chronic critical illness (CCI) after sepsis and to determine whether selected biomarkers of inflammation, immunosuppression, and catabolism differ between these patients and those that rapidly recover (RAP).

METHODS

This 3-year prospective observational cohort study (NCT02276417) evaluated 145 surgical intensive care unit patients with sepsis for the development of CCI (≥14 days of intensive care unit resource utilization with persistent organ dysfunction). Patient clinical demographics, outcomes, and serial serum/urine samples were collected for plasma protein and urinary metabolite analyses.

RESULTS

Of 145 sepsis patients enrolled, 19 (13%) died during their hospitalization and 71 (49%) developed CCI. The CCI patients were significantly older (mean, 63 ± 15 vs. 58 ± 13 years, p = 0.006) and more likely to be discharged to long-term acute care facilities (32% vs. 3%, p < 0.0001), whereas those with RAP were more often discharged to home or a rehabilitation facility. Six-month mortality was significantly higher in CCI as compared with RAP cohort (37% vs. 2%; p < 0.01). Multivariate logistic regression modeling revealed delayed onset sepsis (>48 hours after admission; odds ratio [OR], 10.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.15-28.82]), interfacility transfer (OR, 3.58; 95% CI, 1.43-8.96), vasopressor-dependent septic shock (OR, 3.75; 95% CI, 1.47-9.54), and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score of 5 or greater at 72 hours (OR, 5.03; 95% CI, 2.00-12.62) as independent risk factors for the development of CCI. The CCI patients also demonstrated greater elevations in inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, IL-10), and biomarker profiles are consistent with persistent immunosuppression (absolute lymphocyte count and soluble programmed death ligand 1) and catabolism (plasma insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 and urinary 3-methylhistidine excretion).

CONCLUSION

The development of CCI has become the predominant clinical trajectory in critically ill surgical patients with sepsis. These patients exhibit biomarker profiles consistent with an immunocatabolic phenotype of persistent inflammation, immunosuppression, and catabolism.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic, level II.

Impact of Accuracy of Survival Predictions on Quality of End-of-Life Care Among Patients With Metastatic Cancer Who Receive Radiation Therapy

PURPOSE:

For patients treated with palliative radiation, we examined the association between life expectancy predictions by radiation oncologists and aggressive end-of-life care.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

We included decedents from a study that assessed the ability of oncologists to predict survival of patients with metastatic cancer who received radiation. We identified patients who died within 12 months of study enrollment to assess accuracy of predictions. Aggressive end-of-life care was defined by the National Quality Forum, ASCO Quality Oncology Practice Initiative metrics, and advanced radiation modalities in the last month of life. Survival predictions were categorized as follows: correct (< 12 months), 12 to 18 months, 18 to 24 months, and more than 24 months. We assessed association between prediction and aggressive end-of-life care using a generalized estimation equation.

RESULTS:

Of 489 decedents, we identified 467 encounters with survival estimates. Overall, 156 decedents (32%) met at least one metric of aggressive end-of-life care. Factors associated with aggressive end-of-life care included younger age, female sex, primary cancer diagnosis, no brain metastases, and private insurance. In each encounter when an oncologist predicted survival, 363 predictions (78%) were correct (< 12 months), 54 (11%) incorrectly predicted 12 to 18 months, 27 (6%) predicted 18 to 24 months, and 23 (5%) predicted more than 24 months. Compared with patients who had encounters that had correct survival predictions, patients predicted to live more than 24 months were more likely to meet at least one metric of aggressive end-of-life care (odds ratio, 2.55; 95% CI, 1.09 to 5.99; P = .03).

CONCLUSION:

Inaccurate survival predictions by oncologists are associated with more aggressive end-of-life care for patients with advanced cancer.

Modifiable elements of ICU supportive care and communication are associated with surrogates' PTSD symptoms

PURPOSE

To identify specific components of ICU clinician supportive care and communication that are associated with increased post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms for surrogate decision makers of patients with chronic critical illness (CCI).

METHODS

We conducted a secondary analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial of palliative care-led meetings to provide information and support for CCI surrogates. The primary outcome for this secondary analysis was PTSD symptoms at 90 days, measured by the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R). Caregiver perceptions of clinician support and communication were assessed using a version of the After-Death Bereaved Family Member Interview (ADBFMI) instrument modified for use in non-bereaved in addition to bereaved caregivers. The association between ADBFMI items and IES-R score was analyzed using multiple linear regression.

RESULTS

Ninety-day follow up was complete for 306 surrogates corresponding to 224 patients. Seventy-one percent of surrogates were female, and the mean age was 51 years. Of the domains, negative perception of the patient's physical comfort and emotional support was associated with the greatest increase in surrogate PTSD symptoms (beta coefficient 1.74, 95% CI 0.82-2.65). The three specific preselected items associated with increased surrogate PTSD symptoms were surrogate perception that clinicians did not listen to concerns (beta coefficient 10.7, 95% CI 3.6-17.9), failure of the physician to explain how the patient's pain would be treated (beta coefficient 12.1, 95% CI 4.9-19.3), and lack of sufficient religious contact (beta coefficient 11.7, 95% CI 2-21.3).

CONCLUSION

Modifiable deficits in ICU clinician support and communication were associated with increased PTSD symptoms among CCI surrogates.

Impact of post-traumatic stress symptoms on the health-related quality of life in a cohort study with chronically critically ill patients and their partners: age matters

Background

Survivors of an acute critical illness with continuing organ dysfunction and uncontrolled inflammatory responses are prone to become chronically critically ill. As mental sequelae, a post-traumatic stress disorder and an associated decrease in the health-related quality of life (QoL) may occur, not only in the patients but also in their partners. Currently, research on long-term mental distress in chronically critically ill patient-partner dyads, using appropriate dyadic analysis strategies (patients and partners being measured and linked on the same variables) and controlling for contextual factors, is lacking.

Methods

The present study investigates the interdependence of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and the health-related QoL in n = 70 dyads of chronically critically ill patients and their partners, using the Actor-Partner-Interdependence Model (APIM) under consideration of contextual factors (age, gender, length of partnership). The Post-traumatic Stress Scale (PTSS-10) and Euro-Quality of Life (EQ-5D-3L) were applied in both the patients and their partners, within up to 6 months after the transfer from acute care ICU to post-acute ICU.

Results

Clinically relevant post-traumatic stress symptoms were reported by 17.1% of the patients and 18.6% of the partners. Both the chronically critically ill patients and their partners with more severe post-traumatic stress symptoms also showed a decreased health-related QoL. The latter was more pronounced in male partners compared to female partners or female patients. In younger partners (≤ 57 years), higher values of post-traumatic stress symptoms were associated with a decreased QoL in the patients.

Conclusions

Mental health screening and psychotherapeutic treatment options should be offered to both the chronically critically ill patients and their partners. Future research is required to address the special needs of younger patient-partner dyads, following protracted ICU treatment.

Trial registration

German Clinical Trials Register No. DRKS00003386. Registered 13 November 2011

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13054-019-2321-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

In-hospital and subsequent mortality among lung transplant recipients with a prolonged initial hospitalization

The care of lung transplant recipients with prolonged index hospitalizations can be ethically complex, with conflicts arising over whether the expected outcomes justify ongoing intensive interventions. There are limited data to guide these conversations. The objective of this study was to evaluate survival to discharge for lung transplant recipients based on length of stay (LOS). This was a retrospective cohort study of adult lung transplant recipients in the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients. For each day of the index hospitalization the mortality rate among patients who survived to that length of stay or longer was calculated. Post-discharge survival was compared in those with and without a prolonged hospitalization (defined as the 97th percentile [>90 days]). Among the 19 250 included recipients, the index hospitalization mortality was 5.4%. Posttransplant stroke and need for dialysis were the strongest predictors of index hospitalization mortality. No individual or combination of available risk factors, however, was associated with inpatient mortality consistently above 50%. Recipients with >90 day index hospitalization had a 28.8% subsequent inpatient mortality. Their 1, 3 and 5 year survival following discharge was 53%, 26%, and 16%. These data provide additional context to goals of care conversations for transplant recipients with prolonged index hospitalizations.

Nutrient pattern analysis in critically ill patients using Omics technology (NAChO) - Study protocol for a prospective observational study

INTRODUCTION

Intensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) is often observed in critically ill patients with prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stay. We hypothesized that evolving metabolic abnormalities during prolonged ICU stay are reflected by changing nutrient patterns in blood, urine and skeletal muscle, and that these patterns differ in patients with/without ICU-AW and between patients with/without sepsis.

METHODS

In a prospective single-center observational trial, we aim to recruit 100 critically ill patients (ICU length of stay ≥ 5 days) with severe sepsis/septic shock ("sepsis group", n = 50) or severe head trauma/intracerebral hemorrhage ("CNS group", n = 50). Patients will be sub-grouped for presence or absence of ICU-AW as determined by the Medical Research Council sum score. Blood and urine samples will be collected and subjected to comprehensive nutrient analysis at different time points by targeted quantitative mass spectrometric methods. In addition, changes in muscular tissue (biopsy, when available), muscular architecture (ultrasound), electrophysiology, body composition analyses (bioimpedance, cerebral magnetic resonance imaging), along with clinical status will be assessed. Patients will be followed-up for 180 and 360 days including assessment of quality of life.

DISCUSSION

Key objective of this trial is to assess changes in nutrient pattern in blood and urine over time in critically ill patients with/without ICU-AW by using quantitative nutrient analysis techniques. Peer-reviewed published NAChO data will allow for a better understanding of metabolic changes in critically ill patients on standard liquid enteral nutrition and will likely open up new avenues for future therapeutic and nutritional interventions.

Association between Medical Costs and the ProVent Model in Patients Requiring Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to determine whether components of the ProVent model can predict the high medical costs in Korean patients requiring at least 21 days of mechanical ventilation (prolonged mechanical ventilation [PMV]).

METHODS

Retrospective data from 302 patients (61.6% male; median age, 63.0 years) who had received PMV in the past 5 years were analyzed. To determine the relationship between medical cost per patient and components of the ProVent model, we collected the following data on day 21 of mechanical ventilation (MV): age, blood platelet count, requirement for hemodialysis, and requirement for vasopressors.

RESULTS

The mortality rate in the intensive care unit (ICU) was 31.5%. The average medical costs per patient during ICU and total hospital (ICU and general ward) stay were 35,105 and 41,110 US dollars (USD), respectively. The following components of the ProVent model were associated with higher medical costs during ICU stay: age <50 years (average 42,731 USD vs. 33,710 USD, p=0.001), thrombocytopenia on day 21 of MV (36,237 USD vs. 34,783 USD, p=0.009), and requirement for hemodialysis on day 21 of MV (57,864 USD vs. 33,509 USD, p<0.001). As the number of these three components increased, a positive correlation was found betweeen medical costs and ICU stay based on the Pearson's correlation coefficient (γ) (γ=0.367, p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

The ProVent model can be used to predict high medical costs in PMV patients during ICU stay. The highest medical costs were for patients who required hemodialysis on day 21 of MV.

Weaning from Mechanical Ventilation in ARDS: Aspects to Think about for Better Understanding, Evaluation, and Management

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterized by severe inflammatory response and hypoxemia. The use of mechanical ventilation (MV) for correction of gas exchange can cause worsening of this inflammatory response, called “ventilator-induced lung injury” (VILI). The process of withdrawing mechanical ventilation, referred to as weaning from MV, may cause worsening of lung injury by spontaneous ventilation. Currently, there are few specific studies in patients with ARDS. Herein, we reviewed the main aspects of spontaneous ventilation and also discussed potential methods to predict the failure of weaning in this patient category. We also reviewed new treatments (modes of mechanical ventilation, neuromuscular blocker use, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) that could be considered in weaning ARDS patients from MV.

A multicase study of prolonged critical illness in the intensive care unit: Families' experiences

BACKGROUND

It is widely acknowledged a critical illness is a stressful life event for not only the patient but also their family members; when an illness becomes prolonged, the impact is profound. It is suggested that as medical technologies advance, the number of days patients stay in an intensive care unit will increase. Therefore, it is important nurses understand how families experience a prolonged critical illness of their family member in an intensive care unit.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the trajectory of a prolonged critical illness in the intensive care unit from the experiences of family.

METHODS

A qualitative, longitudinal, multi-case design consisting of six cases from New Zealand intensive care units. Findings presented in this article only relate to the family's experiences, although patients and healthcare professionals formed part of each case. Data collection methods included observation, conversations, interviews and document review. Analysis was undertaken using thematic analysis, vignette development and trajectory mapping.

FINDINGS

Relentless uncertainty dominated all phases of the trajectory for the family during a family member's prolonged critical illness in the intensive care unit. When faced with a critical illness, family shifted rapidly into a world of unknowns. Family worked hard to navigate their way through the many uncertainties that dominated each phase of their family member's illness.

CONCLUSIONS

Nurses need to understand the levels of uncertainty families endure in order to provide care that meets the philosophical underpinnings of family centred care.

Chronic Comorbid Illnesses Predict the Clinical Course of 866 Patients Requiring Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation in a Long-Term, Acute-Care Hospital

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether burdens of chronic comorbid illnesses can predict the clinical course of prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV)patients in a long-term, acute-care hospital (LTACH).

METHODS

Retrospective study of 866 consecutive PMV patients whose burdens of chronic comorbid illnesses were quantified using the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS). Based on increasing CIRS scores, 6 groups were formed and compared: group A (≤25; n = 97), group B (26-28; n = 105), group C (29-31; n = 181), group D (32-34; n = 208), group E (35-37; n = 173), and group F (>37; n = 102).

RESULTS

As CIRS scores increased from group A to group F, rates of weaning success, home discharges, and LTACH survival declined progressively from 74% to 17%, 48% to 0%, and 79% to 21%, respectively (all P < .001). Negative correlations between the mean score of each CIRS group and correspondent outcomes also supported patients' group allocation and an accurate prediction of their clinical course (all P < .01). Long-term survival progressively declined from a median survival time of 38.9 months in group A to 3.2 months in group F (P < .001). Compared to group A, risk of death was 75% greater in group F (P = .03). Noteworthy, PMV patients with CIRS score <25 showed greater ability to recover and a low likelihood of becoming chronically critically ill. Diagnostic accuracy of CIRS to predict likelihood of weaning success, home discharges, both LTACH and long-term survival was good (area under the curves ≥0.71; all P <.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The burden of chronic comorbid illnesses was a strong prognostic indicator of the clinical course of PMV patients. Patients with lower CIRS values showed greater ability to recover and were less likely to become chronically critically ill. Thus, CIRS can be used to help guide clinicians caring for PMV patients in transfer decisions to and from postacute care setting.

Patient and Population-Level Approaches to Persistent Critical Illness and Prolonged Intensive Care Unit Stays

The differential diagnosis of prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stays includes intrinsic patient and admitting diagnostic characteristics, occurrences during the course of critical illness, and system failures. Existing data suggest that the most common cause of prolonged ICU stay is the development of new cascading problems, which is now more related to ongoing critical illness than the original reason for ICU admission. Accepting the dynamism inherent in such a clinical course has implications for contemporary clinical care.

Modification of the prolonged mechanical ventilation prognostic model score to predict short-term and 1-year mortalities

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

We aimed to validate the use of the Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation Prognostic Model (ProVent) score in medically ill patients with co-morbidities and to modify the score to improve the prediction power of 1-year mortality.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study of all patients who required at least 14 days of mechanical ventilation (MV) and established two groups (14-20 and ≥21 days of MV) based on the MV duration. We performed external validation of the present ProVent Model in our patients on Day 14 (or Day 21 for the ≥21-day MV group) of MV, and established the extended ProVent model, while considering the albumin and bilirubin levels and co-morbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cancer).

RESULTS

A total of 1288 patients (666 and 622 with 14-20 and ≥21 days of MV, respectively) with at least 14 days of MV were enrolled. The 1-year mortality was 79.9% and 78.7% in the ≥21- and 14-20-day groups, respectively. Most of the observed mortality rates in all groups were within the 95% CI of predicted mortality as per the ProVent Model, except for the ProVent scores of 0 and 5. In the ProVent model, the area under the curve for the prediction of 1-year mortality was 0.69 in all patients with ≥14 days of MV, whereas in the extended ProVent model, the area under the curve was 0.89.

CONCLUSION

The extended ProVent model, which considers co-morbidities and laboratory data, increases the prediction power of 1-year mortality in patients who require prolonged MV.

Ideology and Palliative Care: Moral Hazards at the Bedside

Palliative care has had a long-standing commitment to teaching medical students and other medical professionals about pain management, communication, supporting patients in their decisions, and providing compassionate end-of-life care. Palliative care programs also have a critical role in helping patients understand medical conditions, and in supporting them in dealing with pain, fear of dying, and the experiences of the terminal phase of their lives. We applaud their efforts to provide that critical training and fully support their continued important work in meeting the needs of patients and families. Although we appreciate the contributions of palliative care services, we have noted a problem involving some palliative care professionals' attitudes, methods of decisionmaking, and use of language. In this article we explain these problems by discussing two cases that we encountered.

[Anxiety during the chronic critical illness in the intensive care unit - an interpretive phenomenological study]

Anxiety during the chronic critical illness in the intensive care unit - an interpretive phenomenological study Abstract.

BACKGROUND

Patients with a chronic critical illness (CCI) are persons who are dependent on life-sustaining therapies in the intensive care unit (ICU) for an extended period of time following a life-threatening, acute illness. In the ICU they are exposed to numerous physical and psychological stressors. Anxiety, one of the distressing symptoms, has received little attention.

AIM

This study aims to examine anxiety in adult patients who have developed CCI while treated in an ICU to further understand this phenomenon.

METHOD

An interpretive phenomenological approach was taken. Using an iterative process, data from guided interviews with seven participants were analysed.

RESULTS

The anxiety experienced by the patients with CCI fluctuated with the level of consciousness: anxiety in another reality, anxiety caused by nightmares, anxiety at first awakening and anxiety during wakeful periods. Anxiety was often accompanied by feelings of powerlessness, being lost, insecurity, helplessness and uncertainty.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the study suggest that health care professionals caring for patients, especially nurses, may influence anxiety experienced by patients with CCI. Nurses who are able to recognize anxiety in patients with CCI have a better chance of caring for them in a sensitive manner.

Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation Assistance Interacts Synergistically with Carbapenem for Clostridium difficile Infection in Critically Ill Patients

Objectives: Interactions between mechanical ventilation (MV) and carbapenem interventions were investigated for the risk of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in critically ill patients undergoing concurrent carbapenem therapy. Methods: Taiwan’s National Intensive Care Unit Database (NICUD) was used in this analytical, observational, and retrospective study. We analyzed 267,871 intubated patients in subgroups based on the duration of MV support: 7–14 days (n = 97,525), 15–21 days (n = 52,068), 22–28 days (n = 35,264), and 29–60 days (n = 70,021). The primary outcome was CDI. Results: Age (>75 years old), prolonged MV assistance (>21 days), carbapenem therapy (>15 days), and high comorbidity scores were identified as independent risk factors for developing CDI. CDI risk increased with longer MV support. The highest rate of CDI was in the MV 29–60 days subgroup (adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) = 2.85; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.46–5.58; p < 0.02). Moreover, higher CDI rates correlated with the interaction between MV and carbapenem interventions; these CDI risks were increased in the MV 15–21 days (AHR = 2.58; 95% CI = 1.12–5.91) and MV 29–60 days (AHR = 4.63; 95% CI = 1.14–10.03) subgroups than in the non-MV and non-carbapenem subgroups. Conclusions: Both MV support and carbapenem interventions significantly increase the risk that critically ill patients will develop CDI. Moreover, prolonged MV support and carbapenem therapy synergistically induce CDI. These findings provide new insights into the role of MV support in the development of CDI.

Frailty and the Association Between Long-Term Recovery After Intensive Care Unit Admission

Frailty is common, although infrequently screened for among patients admitted to intensive care. Frailty has been the focus of research in geriatric medicine; however, its epidemiology and interaction with critical illness have only recently been studied. Instruments to screen for and measure frailty require refinement in intensive care settings. Frail critically ill patients are at higher risk of poor outcomes. Frail survivors of critical illness are high users of health resources. Further research is needed to understand how frailty assessment can inform decision-making before and during an episode of critical illness and during an intensive care course for frail patients.

Predictors of Major Depressive Disorder following Intensive Care of Chronically Critically Ill Patients

OBJECTIVE

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common condition following treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Long-term data on MDD in chronically critically ill (CCI) patients are scarce. Hence, the primary aim of the present study was to investigate the frequency and predictors of MDD after intensive care of CCI patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In a prospective cohort study, patients with long-term mechanical ventilation requirements (n=131) were assessed with respect to a diagnosis of MDD, using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, three and six months after the transfer from acute ICU to post-acute ICU. Sociodemographic, psychological, and clinical risk factors with p values ≤ 0.1 were identified in a univariate logistic regression analysis and entered in a multivariable logistic regression model. A mediator analysis was run using the bootstrapping method, testing the mediating effect of perceived helplessness during the ICU stay, between the recalled traumatic experience from the ICU and a post-ICU MDD.

RESULTS

17.6% (n=23) of the patients showed a full- or subsyndromal MDD. Perceived helplessness, recalled experiences of a traumatic event from the ICU, symptoms of acute stress disorder, and the diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after ICU could be identified as significant predictors of MDD. In a mediator analysis, perceived helplessness could be proved as a mediator.

CONCLUSIONS

Every fifth CCI patient suffers from MDD up to six months after being discharged from ICU. Particularly, perceived helplessness during the ICU stay seems to mainly affect the long-term evolvement of MDD. CCI patients with symptoms of acute stress disorder/PTSD should also be screened for MDD.

Value, Chronic Critical Illness, and Choosing Wisely

Management of limited health-care resources has been of growing concern. Stewardship of health-care dollars and avoidance of low-value care is being increasingly recognized as a matter that affects all practitioners. This review aims to examine a particular pathological state with multifactorial origins: chronic critical illness (CCI). This condition exerts a large toll on society as well as individual patients and their families. Here, we offer a brief review as to the incidence/prevalence of CCI and suggestions for prevention. Emphasis should be placed on the importance of early, open communication among physicians and patients about their end-of-life decisions and advanced directives, so that decisions can be made wisely and with the patient's best interests in mind.

Health-related quality of life, participation, and physical and cognitive function of patients with intensive care unit-acquired muscle weakness 1 year after rehabilitation in Germany: the GymNAST cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To describe predictors for health-related quality of life, participation, physical activity and cognitive function in patients with intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired muscle weakness 1 year after discharge from rehabilitation.

DESIGN

This is a cohort study.

PARTICIPANTS

We included 150 chronic critically ill individuals with ICU-acquired muscle weakness.

SETTING

Postacute ICU and rehabilitation units in Germany.

MEASURES

We measured health-related quality of life using the EQ-5D, participation using the Reintegration of Normal Living Index, physical activity using the Physical Activity Scale for Individuals With Physical Disabilities, and basal cognitive function using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) at 6 months, and the Clock Drawing Test 6 and 12 months after discharge from postacute treatment. We described the predictors of the results at 12 months.

RESULTS

The best predictors for good health-related quality of life 1 year after discharge were the time until regaining walking ability (OR=0.96, OR per day, 95% CI 0.93 to 0.99) and the mean MoCA score on admission to our postacute ICU and rehabilitation units (OR=1.25,95% CI 1.02 to 1.52).The best predictor for good participation 1 year after discharge was the MoCA sum score on admission to our postacute ICU and rehabilitation units (OR=0.85,95% CI 0.72 to 1.00). The best predictor for good physical activity 1 year after discharge was the Apache sum score on admission to our postacute ICU and rehabilitation units (OR=1.68,95% CI 0.89 to 3.13). The best predictor for normal cognitive function 1 year after discharge was regaining walking function in rehabilitation (OR=8.0,95% CI 0.49 to 13.69).

CONCLUSION

Recovery of health-related quality of life, participation, physical activity and basal cognitive function was still not complete 12 months after discharge from postacute treatment. We described the predictors for these important outcomes in participants with ICU-acquired muscle weakness 1 year after discharge from rehabilitation.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

DRKS00007181.

Acceptability and feasibility of an interprofessional end-of-life/palliative care educational intervention in the intensive care unit: A mixed-methods study

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to describe a seven hour End-of-Life/Palliative Care educational intervention including online content related to symptom management, communication and decision-making capacity and an in-person group integration activity, from the perspective of the interprofessional team in terms of its acceptability and feasibility.

RESEARCH DESIGN

A mixed-methods study design was used.

SETTING AND SAMPLE

The study was conducted in a medical-surgical Intensive Care Unit in Montreal, Canada. The sample consisted of 27 clinicians of the Intensive Care Unit interprofessional team who completed the End-of-Life/Palliative Care educational intervention, and participated in focus groups and completed a self-administered questionnaire.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The main outcomes were the acceptability and feasibility of the educational intervention.

FINDINGS

The intervention was perceived to be appropriate and suitable in providing clinicians with knowledge and skills in symptom management and communication through self-reflection and self-evaluation, provision of assessment tools and promotion of interprofessional teamwork. The online format was more feasible, but the in-person group activity was key for the integration of knowledge and the promotion of interprofessional discussions.

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest that an interprofessional educational intervention integrating on-line content with in-person training has the potential to support clinicians in providing quality End-of-Life/Palliative Care in the Intensive Care Unit.

Update in Hospital Palliative Care: Symptom Management, Communication, Caregiver Outcomes, and Moral Distress

BACKGROUND

Updated knowledge of the palliative care (PC) literature is needed to maintain competency and best address the PC needs of hospitalized patients. We critiqued the recent PC literature with the highest potential to impact hospital practice.

METHODS

We reviewed articles published between January 2016 and December 2016, which were identified through a handsearch of leading journals and a MEDLINE search. The final 9 articles selected were determined by consensus based on scientific rigor, relevance to hospital medicine, and impact on practice.

RESULTS

Key findings include the following: scheduled antipsychotics were inferior to a placebo for nonterminal delirium; a low-dose morphine was superior to a weak opioid for moderate cancer pain; methadone as a coanalgesic improved high-intensity cancer pain; many hospitalized patients on comfort care still receive antimicrobials; video decision aids improved the rates of advance care planning (ACP) and hospice use and decreased costs; standardized, PC-led intervention did not improve psychological outcomes in families of patients with a chronic critical illness; caregivers of patients surviving a prolonged critical illness experienced high and persistent rates of depression; people with non-normative sexuality or gender faced additional stressors with partner loss; and physician trainees experienced significant moral distress with futile treatments.

CONCLUSIONS

Recent research provides important guidance for clinicians caring for hospitalized patients with serious illnesses, including symptom management, ACP, moral distress, and outcomes of critical illness.

Self-reported fatigue following intensive care of chronically critically ill patients: a prospective cohort study

Background

Protracted treatment on intensive care unit (ICU) sets the patients at increased risk for the development of chronic critical illness (CCI). Muscular and cardio-respiratory deconditioning are common long-term sequelae, going along with a state of chronic fatigue. At present, findings regarding the frequency, long-term course, and associated factors of self-reported fatigue following ICU treatment of CCI patients are lacking.

Methods

CCI patients with the diagnosis of critical illness polyneuropathy/myopathy (CIP/CIM) were assessed at three time points. Four weeks following the discharge from ICU at acute care hospital (t1), eligibility for study participation was asserted. Self-reported fatigue was measured using the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20) via telephone contact at 3 (t2, n = 113) and 6 months (t3, n = 91) following discharge from ICU at acute care hospital.

Results

At both 3 and 6 months, nearly every second CCI patient showed clinically relevant fatigue symptoms (t2/t3: n = 53/n = 51, point prevalence rates: 46.9%/45.1%). While total fatigue scores remained stable in the whole sample, female patients showed a decrease from 3 to 6 months. The presence of a coronary heart disease, the perceived fear of dying at acute care ICU, a diagnosis of major depression, and the perceived social support were confirmed as significant correlates of fatigue at 3 months. At 6 months, male gender, the number of medical comorbidities, a diagnosis of major depression, and a prior history of anxiety disorder could be identified. A negative impact of fatigue on the perceived health-related quality of life could be ascertained.

Conclusions

Nearly every second CCI patient showed fatigue symptoms up to 6 months post-ICU. Patients at risk should be informed about fatigue, and appropriate treatment options should be offered to them.

Trial registration

The present study was registered retrospectively at the German Clinical Trials Register (date of registration: 13th of December 2011; registration number: DRKS00003386). Date of enrolment of the first participant to the present trial: 09th of November 2011.

Variation in mortality rates after admission to long-term acute care hospitals for ventilator weaning

PURPOSE

We sought to examine variation in long-term acute care hospital (LTACH) quality based on 90-day in-hospital mortality for patients admitted for weaning from mechanical ventilation.

METHODS

We developed an administrative risk-adjustment model using data from Medicare claims. We validated the administrative model against a clinical model using data from LTACHs participating in a 2002 to 2003 clinical registry. We then used our validated administrative model to assess national variation in 90-day in-hospital mortality rates in LTACHs from 2013.

RESULTS

The administrative risk-adjustment model was derived using data from 9447 patients admitted to 221 LTACHs in 2003. The model had good discrimination (C statistic=0.72) and calibration. Compared to a clinically derived model using data from 1163 patients admitted to 14 LTACHs, the administrative model generated similar performance estimates. National variation in risk-adjusted mortality was assessed using data from 20,453 patients admitted to 380 LTACHs in 2013. LTACH-specific risk-adjusted mortality rates varied from 8.4% to 48.1% (median: 24.2%, interquartile range: 19.7%-30.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

LTACHs vary widely in mortality rates, underscoring the need to better understand the sources of this variation and improve the quality of care for patients requiring long-term ventilator weaning.

Implementing Family Meetings Into a Respiratory Care Unit: A Care and Communication Quality Improvement Project

BACKGROUND

Substantial evidence in critical care literature identifies a lack of quality and quantity of communication between patients, families, and clinicians while in the intensive care unit. Barriers include time, multiple caregivers, communication skills, culture, language, stress, and optimal meeting space. For patients who are chronically critically ill, the need for a structured method of communication is paramount for discussion of goals of care.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this quality improvement project was to identify barriers to communication, then develop, implement, and evaluate a process for semistructured family meetings in a 9-bed respiratory care unit.

METHODS

Using set dates and times, family meetings were offered to patients and families admitted to the respiratory care unit. Multiple avenues of communication were utilized to facilitate attendance. Utilizing evidence-based family meeting literature, a guide for family meetings was developed. Templates were developed for documentation of the family meeting in the electronic medical record.

RESULTS

Multiple communication barriers were identified. Frequency of family meeting occurrence rose from 31% to 88%. Staff satisfaction with meeting frequency, meeting length, and discussion of congruent goals of care between patient/family and health care providers improved. Patient/family satisfaction with consistency of message between team members; understanding of medications, tests, and dismissal plan; and efficacy to address their concerns with the medical team improved.

DISCUSSION

This quality improvement project was implemented to address the communication gap in the care of complex patients who require prolonged hospitalizations. By identifying this need, engaging stakeholders, and developing a family meeting plan to meet to address these needs, communication between all members of the patient's care team has improved.

Chronic critical illness: are we saving patients or creating victims?

The technological advancements that allow support for organ dysfunction have led to an increase in survival rates for the most critically ill patients. Some of these patients survive the initial acute critical condition but continue to suffer from organ dysfunction and remain in an inflammatory state for long periods of time. This group of critically ill patients has been described since the 1980s and has had different diagnostic criteria over the years. These patients are known to have lengthy hospital stays, undergo significant alterations in muscle and bone metabolism, show immunodeficiency, consume substantial health resources, have reduced functional and cognitive capacity after discharge, create a sizable workload for caregivers, and present high long-term mortality rates. The aim of this review is to report on the most current evidence in terms of the definition, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, treatment, and prognosis of persistent critical illness.

Predictors and pattern of weaning and long-term outcome of patients with prolonged mechanical ventilation at an acute intensive care unit in North India

Objective

This study aimed to examine the clinical characteristics, weaning pattern, and outcome of patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation in acute intensive care unit settings in a resource-limited country.

Methods

This was a prospective single-center observational study in India, where all adult patients requiring prolonged ventilation were followed for weaning duration and pattern and for survival at both intensive care unit discharge and at 12 months. The definition of prolonged mechanical ventilation used was that of the National Association for Medical Direction of Respiratory Care.

Results

During the one-year period, 49 patients with a mean age of 49.7 years had prolonged ventilation; 63% were male, and 84% had a medical illness. The median APACHE II and SOFA scores on admission were 17 and 9, respectively. The median number of ventilation days was 37. The most common reason for starting ventilation was respiratory failure secondary to sepsis (67%). Weaning was initiated in 39 (79.5%) patients, with success in 34 (87%). The median weaning duration was 14 (9.5 - 19) days, and the median length of intensive care unit stay was 39 (32 - 58.5) days. Duration of vasopressor support and need for hemodialysis were significant independent predictors of unsuccessful ventilator liberation. At the 12-month follow-up, 65% had survived.

Conclusion

In acute intensive care units, more than one-fourth of patients with invasive ventilation required prolonged ventilation. Successful weaning was achieved in two-thirds of patients, and most survived at the 12-month follow-up.

The patient needing prolonged mechanical ventilation: a narrative review

BACKGROUND

Progress in management has improved hospital mortality of patients admitted to the intensive care units, but also the prevalence of those patients needing weaning from prolonged mechanical ventilation, and of ventilator assisted individuals. The result is a number of difficult clinical and organizational problems for patients, caregivers and health services, as well as high human and financial resources consumption, despite poor long-term outcomes. An effort should be made to improve the management of these patients. This narrative review summarizes the main concepts in this field.

MAIN BODY

There is great variability in terminology and definitions of prolonged mechanical ventilation.There have been several recent developments in the field of prolonged weaning: ventilatory strategies, use of protocols, early mobilisation and physiotherapy, specialised weaning units.There are few published data on discharge home rates, need of home mechanical ventilation, or long-term survival of these patients.Whether artificial nutritional support improves the outcome for these chronic critically ill patients, is unclear and controversial how these data are reported on the optimal time of initiation of parenteral vs enteral nutrition.There is no consensus on time of tracheostomy or decannulation. Despite several individualized, non-comparative and non-validated decannulation protocols exist, universally accepted protocols are lacking as well as randomised controlled trials on this critical issue. End of life decisions should result from appropriate communication among professionals, patients and surrogates and national legislations should give clear indications.

CONCLUSION

Present medical training of clinicians and locations like traditional intensive care units do not appear enough to face the dramatic problems posed by these patients. The solutions cannot be reserved to professionals but must involve also families and all other stakeholders. Large multicentric, multinational studies on several aspects of management are needed.

Fatigue in chronically critically ill patients following intensive care - reliability and validity of the multidimensional fatigue inventory (MFI-20)

Background

Fatigue often occurs as long-term complication in chronically critically ill (CCI) patients after prolonged intensive care treatment. The Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20) has been established as valid instrument to measure fatigue in a wide range of medical illnesses. Regarding the measurement of fatigue in CCI patients, the psychometric properties of the MFI-20 have not been investigated so far. Thus, the present study examines reliability and validity of the MFI-20 in CCI patients.

Methods

A convenience sample of n = 195 patients with Critical Illness Polyneuropathy (CIP) or Myopathy (CIM) were recruited via personal contact within four weeks (t1) following the transfer from acute care ICU to post-acute ICU at a large rehabilitation hospital. N = 113 (median age 61.1 yrs., 72.6% men) patients were again contacted via telephone three (t2) and six (t3) months following the transfer to post-acute ICU. The MFI-20, the Euro-Quality of Life (EQ-5D-3 L) and the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental disorders DSM-IV (SCID-I) were applied within this prospective cohort study.

Results

The internal consistency Cronbach’s α was adequate for the MFI-total and all but the subscale Reduced Motivation (RM) (range: .50–.91). Item-to-total correlations (range: .22–.80) indicated item redundancy for the subscale RM. Confirmatory Factor analyses (CFAs) revealed poor model fit for the original 5-factor model of the MFI-20 (t2/t3, Confirmatory Fit Index, CFI = .783/ .834; Tucker-Lewis Index, TLI = .751/ .809; Root Mean Square Error of Approximation, RMSEA = .112/ .103). Among the alternative models (1-, 2-, 3-factor models), the data best fit to a 3-factor solution summarizing the highly correlated factors General −/ Physical Fatigue/ Reduced Activity (GF/ PF/ RA) (t2/ t3, CFI = .878/ .896, TLI = .846/ .869, RMSEA = .089/ .085, 90% Confidence Interval .073–.104/ .066–.104). The MFI-total score significantly correlated with the health-related quality of life (range: −.65-(−).66) and the diagnosis of major depression (range: .27–.37).

Conclusions

In the present sample of CCI patients, a reliable and valid factor structure of the MFI-20 could not be ascertained. Especially the subscale RM should be revised. Since the factors GF, PF and RA cannot be separated from each other and the unclear factorial structure in the present sample of CCI patients, the MFI-20 is not recommended for use in this context.

Trial registration

German Clinical Trials Registration DRKS00003386. Registered 13 December 2011, retrospectively registered.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12955-018-0862-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Long-Term Outcomes and Health Care Utilization after Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation

RATIONALE

Limited data are available to characterize the long-term outcomes and associated costs for patients who require prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV; defined here as mechanical ventilation for longer than 21 d).

OBJECTIVES

To examine the association between PMV and mortality, health care utilization, and costs after critical illness.

METHODS

Population-based cohort study of adults who received mechanical ventilation in an intensive care unit (ICU) in Ontario, Canada between 2002 and 2013.

MEASUREMENT AND MAIN RESULTS

We used linked administrative databases to determine discharge disposition, and ascertain 1-year mortality (primary outcome), readmissions to hospital and ICU, and health care costs for hospital survivors. Overall, 11,594 (5.4%) patients underwent PMV, with 42.4% of patients dying in the hospital (vs. 27.6% of patients who did not undergo prolonged ventilation; P < 0.0001). Patients on prolonged ventilation were more frequently discharged to other facilities or home with health care support (84.8 vs. 43.5%, P < 0.0001). Among hospital survivors, estimated mortality was higher for patients who underwent PMV: 16.6 versus 11% at 1 year and 42.0 versus 30.4% at 5 years. At 1 year after hospital discharge, patients on prolonged ventilation had higher rates of hospital readmission (47.2 vs. 37.7%; adjusted odds ratio = 1.20; 95% confidence interval = 1.14-1.26), ICU readmission (19.0 vs. 11.6%; adjusted odds ratio = 1.49; 95% confidence interval: 1.39, 1.60), and total health care costs: median (interquartile range) Can $32,526 ($20,821-$56,102) versus Can $13,657 ($5,946-$38,022). Increasing duration of mechanical ventilation was associated with higher mortality and health care utilization.

CONCLUSIONS

Critically ill patients who undergo mechanical ventilation in an ICU for longer than 21 days have high in-hospital mortality and greater postdischarge mortality, health care utilization, and health care costs compared with patients who undergo mechanical ventilation for a shorter period of time.

The impact of a prolonged stay in the ICU on patients' fundamental care needs

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To explore patients', families' and health professionals' experiences of a long-stay patient in an intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND

The fast-paced technologically driven intensive care unit environment, designed for a short patient stay, supports the provision of complex physiologically focused care for those with life-threatening illnesses. Long-stay patients with pronounced fundamental care needs fall outside predicted patient pathways, and nurses can find caring for these patients challenging.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A longitudinal, qualitative, multicase study of six cases from four New Zealand units. Case participants were patients, family members, nurses and other health professionals. Data collection methods included observation, conversations, interviews and document review. Data were analysed using thematic analysis, vignette development and trajectory mapping.

RESULTS

Challenges and successes of providing fundamental care for long-stay ICU patients are attributed to two interlinked factors. First, the biomedical model influences ICU nursing practices, resulting in prioritising tasks and technology for patient survival while simultaneously devaluing relational and comfort work. Fundamental psychosocial needs such as family presence, comfort, relationships and communication may be unmet. Second, the unit environment and culture have a significant impact on long-stay patients' ICU experiences and form physical and psychological barriers to families being present and involved. Some nurses negotiated these challenges to provide fundamental, patient- and family-centred care by adopting an approach of knowing the patient and these nurses reported satisfaction when seeing patients' positive responses.

CONCLUSION

The care environment and culture provide challenges to the provision of patient- and family-centred care for long-stay patients; however, when nurses prioritise knowing their patient these challenges can be overcome and patient and family distress reduced with the potential to improve patient outcomes.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Recognition that patients have fundamental care needs irrespective of the setting where they receive care. Intensive care environments and cultures create challenges for nurses when there is such a heavy burden of physiological needs to be met and technological tasks to be undertaken, with a focus on acuity; however, improving provision fundamental care can result in positive patient outcomes.

Family and Nurse Prognostication in Chronic Critical Illness

AIMS

The aim of this study was to describe similarities and differences over time in expectations held by family members of long-term critically ill patients and the nurses caring for those patients.

MATERIALS

In addition to demographic data, outcome expectations of family decision makers and ICU nurses were obtained by asking each participant to indicate expectations for the patient, 6 months in the future, for survival, cognition, and functional status. Families also were asked what kind of information was most important in understanding the patient's condition and what was most important in making decisions.

METHODS

This was a descriptive correlational analysis. Nurses and family members were surveyed on the 3^rd-5^th day of the patient's stay, and every 5 days until discharge or death. Correlations between nurse and family predictions were examined using Pearson R. Repeated measures analysis of variance (RMANOVA) was used to explore the relationship between the family member's rating of what was most important in the care of the patient (survival vs. quality of life) and that individual's prediction of the likelihood of survival, over time.

RESULTS

Family members consistently predicted better outcomes than nurses, with >80% of families predicting a high likelihood of survival, while <50% of nurses thought survival probability was high. There were similar differences in expectations for functional status and cognition. Between 14% and 23% of families indicated it was talking with the nurses that were most important.

CONCLUSIONS

Results suggest a need for design and tests of nurse interventions aimed at improving family understanding of patient prognosis and future outcomes.

Critical Care Organizations: Business of Critical Care and Value/Performance Building

OBJECTIVE

New, value-based regulations and reimbursement structures are creating historic care management challenges, thinning the margins and threatening the viability of hospitals and health systems. The Society of Critical Care Medicine convened a taskforce of Academic Leaders in Critical Care Medicine on February 22, 2016, during the 45th Critical Care Congress to develop a toolkit drawing on the experience of successful leaders of critical care organizations in North America for advancing critical care organizations (Appendix 1). The goal of this article was to provide a roadmap and call attention to key factors that adult critical care medicine leadership in both academic and nonacademic setting should consider when planning for value-based care.

DESIGN

Relevant medical literature was accessed through a literature search. Material published by federal health agencies and other specialty organizations was also reviewed. Collaboratively and iteratively, taskforce members corresponded by electronic mail and held monthly conference calls to finalize this report.

SETTING

The business and value/performance critical care organization building section comprised of leaders of critical care organizations with expertise in critical care administration, healthcare management, and clinical practice.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Two phases of critical care organizations care integration are described: "horizontal," within the system and regionalization of care as an initial phase, and "vertical," with a post-ICU and postacute care continuum as a succeeding phase. The tools required for the clinical and financial transformation are provided, including the essential prerequisites of forming a critical care organization; the manner in which a critical care organization can help manage transformational domains is considered. Lastly, how to achieve organizational health system support for critical care organization implementation is discussed.

CONCLUSIONS

A critical care organization that incorporates functional clinical horizontal and vertical integration for ICU patients and survivors, aligns strategy and operations with those of the parent health system, and encompasses knowledge on finance and risk will be better positioned to succeed in the value-based world.

Early Exposure to Recommended Calorie Delivery in the Intensive Care Unit Is Associated With Increased Mortality in Patients With Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

BACKGROUND

The Intensive Nutrition in Acute Lung Injury: Clinical Trial (INTACT), designed to evaluate outcomes of calorie delivery from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) diagnosis through hospital discharge, was stopped due to higher mortality in the intervention group. Post hoc analysis found timing and dose of calorie delivery influenced mortality. The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to determine if early vs late calorie exposure changed the hazard of death among a larger sample of patients with ARDS.

METHODS

Adult patients who met the eligibility criteria for INTACT but did not participate were included. Daily calorie delivery was collected from the date INTACT eligibility was determined to extubation or death. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to model the relationship between hazard of hospital death with average calorie exposure received over increasing study days and after day 7.

RESULTS

A total of 298 patients were included; overall mortality was 33%. Among patients who remained intubated at 1 week (n = 202), higher kcal/kg received from intensive care unit (ICU) days 1-6 increased hazards of subsequent death on days 7+ (hazard ratio [HR], 1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.06); kcal/kg received after ICU day 7 decreased the hazards of death on day 7+ (HR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.33-0.84).

CONCLUSIONS

Higher calorie exposure between ICU days 1 and 7 was associated with higher subsequent hazard of mortality, and provision of high-calorie exposure after day 8 decreased the hazards of death.

The Epidemiology of Chronic Critical Illness After Severe Traumatic Injury at Two Level-One Trauma Centers

OBJECTIVE

To determine the incidence and risk factors of chronic critical illness after severe blunt trauma.

DESIGN

Prospective observational cohort study (NCT01810328).

SETTING

Two level-one trauma centers in the United States.

PATIENTS

One hundred thirty-five adult blunt trauma patients with hemorrhagic shock who survived beyond 48 hours after injury.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Chronic critical illness was defined as an ICU stay lasting 14 days or more with evidence of persistent organ dysfunction. Three subjects (2%) died within the first 7 days, 107 (79%) exhibited rapid recovery and 25 (19%) progressed to chronic critical illness. Patients who developed chronic critical illness were older (55 vs 44-year-old; p = 0.01), had more severe shock (base deficit, -9.2 vs -5.5; p = 0.005), greater organ failure severity (Denver multiple organ failure score, 3.5 ± 2.4 vs 0.8 ± 1.1; p < 0.0001) and developed more infectious complications (84% vs 35%; p < 0.0001). Chronic critical illness patients were more likely to be discharged to a long-term care setting (56% vs 34%; p = 0.008) than to a rehabilitation facility/home. At 4 months, chronic critical illness patients had higher mortality (16.0% vs 1.9%; p < 0.05), with survivors scoring lower in general health measures (p < 0.005). Multivariate analysis revealed age greater than or equal to 55 years, systolic hypotension less than or equal to 70 mm Hg, transfusion greater than or equal to 5 units packed red blood cells within 24 hours, and Denver multiple organ failure score at 72 hours as independent predictors of chronic critical illness (area under the receiver operating curve, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.75-0.95).

CONCLUSIONS

Although early mortality is low after severe trauma, chronic critical illness is a common trajectory in survivors and is associated with poor long-term outcomes. Advancing age, shock severity, and persistent organ dysfunction are predictive of chronic critical illness. Early identification may facilitate targeted interventions to change the trajectory of this morbid phenotype.

Fifty Years of Research in ARDS. Long-Term Follow-up after Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Insights for Managing Medical Complexity after Critical Illness

Critical illness is not a discrete disease state or syndrome. It is the culmination of a multiplicity of heterogeneous disease states and their varied health trajectories leading to extreme illness that requires advanced life support in a distinct geographic location in the hospital. It is a marker of newly acquired or worsened medical complexity and multimorbidities. Fifty years ago, distinguished critical care colleagues identified a syndrome of severe lung injury that united a group of patients with disparate admitting diagnoses. Acute respiratory distress syndrome continues to represent an important, incremental insult and risk modifier of acute and longer-term outcome, but it does not solely define our patients or their outcomes in isolation. Over the next 50 years, our research and clinical agenda needs to sharpen our lens on the fundamental importance of our patients' pre-critical illness health status, their intrinsic susceptibilities to tissue injury, and their innate and varied resiliencies. We need to take responsibility for the contribution that we make to morbidity through our practice in the intensive care unit each day. Engagement in frank and transparent communication with our patients and their caregivers about the very real and morbid consequences of being this sick is essential. We must enforce explicit consent about the morbidity of innovative, experimental, or high-risk medical and surgical procedures and ensure that our ongoing level of treatment aligns with patients' and caregivers' goals and values. Interprofessional and multidisciplinary collaboration is crucial to modify existing complex care pathways for our patients and their families to foster optimal rehabilitation and reintegration into the workplace and community.

The Voice of Surrogate Decision-Makers. Family Responses to Prognostic Information in Chronic Critical Illness

RATIONALE

Information from clinicians about the expected course of the patient's illness is relevant and important for decision-making by surrogates for chronically critically ill patients on mechanical ventilation.

OBJECTIVES

To observe how surrogates of chronically critically ill patients respond to information about prognosis from palliative care clinicians.

METHODS

This was a qualitative analysis of a consecutive sample of audio-recorded meetings from a larger, multisite, randomized trial of structured informational and supportive meetings led by a palliative care physician and nurse practitioner for surrogates of patients in medical intensive care units with chronic critical illness (i.e., adults mechanically ventilated for ≥7 days and expected to remain ventilated and survive for ≥72 h).

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

A total of 66 audio-recorded meetings involving 51 intervention group surrogates for 43 patients were analyzed using grounded theory. Six main categories of surrogate responses to prognostic information were identified: (1) receptivity, (2) deflection/rejection, (3) emotion, (4) characterization of patient, (5) consideration of surrogate role, and (6) mobilization of support. Surrogates responded in multiple and even antithetical ways, within and across meetings.

CONCLUSIONS

Prognostic disclosure by skilled clinician communicators evokes a repertoire of responses from surrogates for the chronically critically ill. Recognition of these response patterns may help all clinicians better communicate their support to patients and families facing chronic critical illness and inform interventions to support surrogate decision-makers in intensive care units. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT 01230099).

Risk Factors of Delayed Onset Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Chronically Critically Ill Patients

The main aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with a delayed-onset posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after the intensive care unit (ICU) treatment of patients with a chronic critical illness (CCI). Patients (n = 97) with critical illness polyneuropathy or critical illness myopathy were interviewed via the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition. The diagnosis of the acute stress disorder was assessed within 1 month (t1), the diagnosis of PTSD at 3 (t2) and 6 (t3) months after transfer from the acute care ICU to the post-acute ICU. Patients showing a delayed-onset or persistent course of PTSD were subsumed in one group; 24.7% (n = 24) showed a delayed-onset PTSD. Significant risk factors were as follows: the severity of the medical illness, the perceived fear of dying at the ICU, the number of traumatic memories from the ICU, and the presence of a coronary heart disease. Every fourth patient with CCI showed a delayed-onset PTSD up to 6 months after the ICU treatment. Markers for a delayed-onset PTSD should already be assessed at the time of discharge from the ICU.