Intrahospital Transport to the Radiology Department: Risk for Adverse Events, Nursing Surveillance, Utilization of a MET and Practice Implications

MRI and the Critical Care Patient: Clinical, Operational, and Financial Challenges

Neuroimaging in conjunction with a neurologic examination has become a valuable resource for today's intensive care unit (ICU) physicians. Imaging provides critical information during the assessment and ongoing neuromonitoring of patients for toxic-metabolic or structural injury of the brain. A patient's condition can change rapidly, and interventions may require imaging. When making this determination, the benefit must be weighed against possible risks associated with intrahospital transport. The patient's condition is assessed to decide if they are stable enough to leave the ICU for an extended period. Intrahospital transport risks include adverse events related to the physical nature of the transport, the change in the environment, or relocating equipment used to monitor the patient. Adverse events can be categorized as minor (e.g., clinical decompensation) or major (e.g., requiring immediate intervention) and may occur in preparation or during transport. Regardless of the type of event experienced, any intervention during transport impacts the patient and may lead to delayed treatment and disruption of critical care. This review summarizes the commentary on the current literature on the associated risks and provides insight into the costs as well as provider experiences. Approximately, one-third of patients who are transported from the ICU to an imaging suite may experience an adverse event. This creates an additional risk for extending a patient's stay in the ICU. The delay in obtaining imaging can negatively impact the patient's treatment plan and affect long-term outcomes as increased disability or mortality. Disruption of ICU therapy can decrease respiratory function after the patient returns from transport. Because of the complex care team needed for patient transport, the staff time alone can cost $200 or more. New technologies and advancements are needed to reduce patient risk and improve safety.

Assessment of Nursing Students' Awareness toward Ionizing Radiation: Cross-Sectional Study

Among healthcare workers, nurses are considered the core of healthcare auth-info services in healthcare facilities because of their responsibilities and duties toward patients. All healthcare professionals, especially nurses, must be completely knowledgeable about the hazards of ionizing radiation, and the most effective radiation protection techniques. This study assessed the attitude and awareness toward radiation protection among final-year nursing students in the Fatima College of Health Sciences (FCHS) campuses. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted between March and April 2022. A total of 200 out of 224 female participants ranging from 18 to 30 years old agreed to participate in the study. The highest percentage of final-year nursing students did not attend any radiation protection course (52%). The results of the last section of the survey indicate a lack of awareness of basic radiation protection knowledge among final-year nursing students in FCHS campuses (less than 80%). The results showed a lack of knowledge and poor attitude toward radiation hazards and radiation protection from final-year nursing students in the FCHS. Formal education about basic radiation and radiation is recommended in the nursing program for safe clinical practice.

Non-Invasive and Minimally-Invasive Cerebral Autoregulation Assessment: A Narrative Review of Techniques and Implications for Clinical Research

The process of cerebral vessels regulating constant cerebral blood flow over a wide range of systemic arterial pressures is termed cerebral autoregulation (CA). Static and dynamic autoregulation are two types of CA measurement techniques, with the main difference between these measures relating to the time scale used. Static autoregulation looks at the long-term change in blood pressures, while dynamic autoregulation looks at the immediate change. Techniques that provide regularly updating measures are referred to as continuous, whereas intermittent techniques take a single at point in time. However, a technique being continuous or intermittent is not implied by if the technique measures autoregulation statically or dynamically. This narrative review outlines technical aspects of non-invasive and minimally-invasive modalities along with providing details on the non-invasive and minimally-invasive measurement techniques used for CA assessment. These non-invasive techniques include neuroimaging methods, transcranial Doppler, and near-infrared spectroscopy while the minimally-invasive techniques include positron emission tomography along with magnetic resonance imaging and radiography methods. Further, the advantages and limitations are discussed along with how these methods are used to assess CA. At the end, the clinical considerations regarding these various techniques are highlighted.

The Feasibility and Safety of Temporary Transcatheter Balloon Occlusion of Bilateral Internal Iliac Arteries during Cesarean Section in a Hybrid Operating Room for Placenta Previa with a High Risk of Massive Hemorrhage

This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of temporary transcatheter balloon occlusion of bilateral internal iliac arteries (TBOIIA) during cesarean section in a hybrid operating room (OR) for placenta previa (PP) with a high risk of massive hemorrhage. This retrospective study analyzed the medical records of 62 patients experiencing PP with a high risk of massive hemorrhage (mean age, 36.2 years; age range 28-45 years) who delivered a baby via planned cesarean section with TBOIIA in a hybrid OR between May 2019 and July 2021. Operation time, estimated blood loss (EBL), amount of intra- and postoperative blood transfusion, perioperative hemoglobin level, hospital stay after operation, balloon time, fluoroscopy time, radiation dose, rate of uterine artery embolization (UAE) and hysterectomy, and complication-related TBOIIA were assessed. The mean operation time was 122 min, and EBL was 1290 mL. Nine out of sixty-two patients (14.5%) received a blood transfusion. The mean hemoglobin levels before surgery, immediately after surgery and within 1 week after surgery were 11.3 g/dL, 10.4 g/dL and 9.2 g/dL, respectively. In terms of radiation dose, the mean dose area product (DAP) and cumulative air kerma were 0.017 Gy/cm² and 0.023 Gy, respectively. Ten out of sixty-two patients (16.1%) underwent UAE postoperatively in the hybrid OR. One out of sixty-two patients had been diagnosed with placenta percreta with bladder invasion based on preoperative ultrasound, and thus underwent cesarean hysterectomy following TBOIIA and UAE. While intra-arterial balloon catheter placement for managing PP with a high risk of hemorrhage remains controversial, a planned cesarean section with TBOIIA in a hybrid OR is effective in eliminating the potential risk of intra-arterial balloon catheter displacement, thus reducing intraoperative blood loss, ensuring safe placental removal and conserving the uterus.

Neuroimaging provides relevant clinical information in patients with burn injuries

INTRODUCTION

Neurological assessment of patients with burn injuries may be complicated by a variety of factors including artificial ventilation and sedation, cerebral hypoxia and intoxication. Medically unstable intubated patients present logistical challenges for radiological imaging. The role of neuroimaging as an adjunct to clinical assessment of burn injured patients has not yet been determined.

AIM

This study aims to investigate the indications, findings and outcomes of neuroimaging studies performed for burn injured patients.

METHODS

A retrospective case series study of adult burn patients admitted over an 8 year period was completed in the National Burns Centre at St James's Hospital, Dublin. Neuroimaging studies carried out for patients admitted during the study period were reviewed by a Consultant Radiologist and Consultant Stroke Physician. Outcomes included neuroimaging findings, prevalence of white matter disease (Fazekas scale), length of stay, discharge destination, predicted and observed mortality.

RESULTS

1328 consecutive patients with burn injuries were admitted during the study period. 56 patients underwent neuroimaging studies with computerised tomography, magnetic resonance imaging or both. 46 out of 56 neuroimaged patients (82.1%) had significant radiological findings, including 14 patients (25%) with acute findings. There was a high prevalence of white matter disease (mean total Fazekas score: 3.59) and acute cerebral infarction (7 patients). Patients with radiological findings required additional in-patient rehabilitation and had increased length of stay (Median 47.0 days vs. 27.5 days, p < 0.027). Patients with resuscitation burns or associated inhalation injury were significantly more likely to undergo neuroimaging (p < 0.0001) and to have positive radiological findings. Predicted mortality was higher in patients with positive neuroimaging findings compared to patients with normal neuroimaging studies, although there was no significant difference in observed mortality between these two groups.

CONCLUSION

Neuroimaging is used appropriately in patients admitted with burns and provides valuable applicable clinical information when indicated.

Pulmonary ultrasound scoring system for intubated critically ill patients and its association with clinical metrics and mortality: A prospective cohort study

PURPOSE

Pulmonary ultrasound (PU) examination at the point-of-care can rapidly identify the etiology of acute respiratory failure (ARF) and assess treatment response. The often-subjective classification of PU abnormalities makes it difficult to document change over time and communicate findings across providers. The study goal was to develop a simple, PU scoring system that would allow for standardized documentation, have high interprovider agreement, and correlate with clinical metrics.

METHODS

In this prospective study of 250 adults intubated for ARF, a PU examination was performed at intubation, 48-hours later, and at extubation. A total lung score (TLS) was calculated. Clinical metrics and final diagnosis were extracted from the medical record.

RESULTS

TLS correlated positively with mortality (P = .03), ventilator hours (P = .003), intensive care unit, and hospital length of stay (P = .003, P = .008), and decreasing PaO₂ /FiO₂ (P < .001). Agreement of PU findings was very good (kappa = 0.83). Baseline TLS and subscores differed significantly between ARF categories (nonpulmonary, obstructive, and parenchymal disease).

CONCLUSIONS

A quick, scored, PU examination was associated with clinical metrics, including mortality among a diverse population of patients intubated for ARF. In addition to diagnostic and prognostic information at the bedside, a standardized and quantifiable approach to PU provides objectivity in serial assessment and may enhance communication of findings between providers.

Technical assessment of a prototype cone-beam CT system for imaging of acute intracranial hemorrhage

PURPOSE

A cone-beam CT scanner has been developed for detection and monitoring of traumatic brain injury and acute intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) at the point of care. This work presents a technical assessment of imaging performance and dose for the scanner in phantom and cadaver studies as a prerequisite to clinical translation.

METHODS

The scanner incorporates a compact, rotating-anode x-ray source and a flat-panel detector (43 × 43 cm²) on a mobile U-arm gantry with source-axis distance = 550 mm and source-detector distance = 1000 mm. Central and peripheral doses were measured in 16 cm diameter CTDI phantoms using a 0.6 cm³ Farmer ionization chamber for various scan techniques and as a function of longitudinal position, including out of field. Spatial resolution, contrast, noise, and image uniformity were assessed in quantitative and anthropomorphic head phantoms. Two reconstruction protocols were evaluated, including filtered backprojection (FBP) for high-resolution bone imaging and penalized weighted least squares (PWLS) reconstruction for low-contrast soft tissue (ICH) visualization. A fresh cadaver was imaged with and without simulated ICH using the scanner as well as a diagnostic multidetector CT (MDCT) scanner using a standard head protocol. Images were interpreted by a fellowship-trained neuroradiologist for imaging tasks of ICH detection, gray-white-CSF differentiation, detection of midline shift, and fracture detection.

RESULTS

The nominal scan protocol involved 720 projections acquired over a 360° orbit at 100 kV and 216 mAs, giving a dose (weighted CTDI) of 22.8 mGy (∼1.2 mSv effective dose). Out-of-field dose decreased to <10% within 6 cm of the field edge (approximate to the thyroid position). Image uniformity demonstrated <1% variation between the edge of the field (near the cranium) and center of the image. The high-resolution FBP reconstruction protocol showed ∼0.9 mm point spread function (PSF) full-width at half-maximum (FWHM). The smooth PWLS reconstruction protocol yielded ∼1.2 mm PSF FWHM and contrast-to-noise ratio exceeding 5.7 in ∼50 HU spherical ICH, resulting in conspicuous depiction of ICH down to ∼2 mm (the smallest diameter investigated). Cadaver images demonstrated good differentiation of brain and CSF (sufficient, but inferior to MDCT, recognizing that the CBCT dose was one-third that of MDCT), excellent visualization of cranial sutures and fracture (potentially superior to MDCT), clear detection of midline shift, and conspicuous detection of ICH.

CONCLUSIONS

Technical assessment of the prototype demonstrates dose characteristics and imaging performance consistent with point-of-care detection and monitoring of head injury-most notably, conspicuous detection of ICH-and supports translation of the system to clinical studies.

Safety First! Using a Checklist for Intrafacility Transport of Adult Intensive Care Patients

BACKGROUND

Adult critical care patients in an academic medical center experienced adverse events during intrafacility transport resulting from lack of preparation. An intervention was needed to help keep patients safe during intrafacility transport.

OBJECTIVE

To develop a checklist for transport that is easy to use and effective in preparing patients for transport.

METHOD

A checklist was developed and implemented. Elements of the checklist include preparation of the patient before transport, screening of patients for criteria that may place them at higher risk during transport, and a checklist for the procedural site.

RESULTS

From May 2011 through July 2014, 2506 transports were conducted. Of these, 97.6% (n = 2445) involved no reported complications.

CONCLUSION

This tool is suitable for bedside clinicians to use when preparing patients for transport.

High incidence of adverse events during intra-hospital transport of critically ill patients and new related risk factors: a prospective, multicenter study in China

BACKGROUND

The aim of the present study was to investigate the incidence of adverse events (AEs) during intra-hospital transport (IHT) of critically ill patients and evaluate the risk factors associated with these events.

METHODS

This prospective multicenter observational study was performed in 34 intensive care units in China during 20 consecutive days from 5 November to 25 November 2012. All consecutive patients who required IHT for diagnostic testing or therapeutic procedures during the study period were included. All AEs that occurred during IHT were recorded. The incidence of AEs was defined as the rate of transports with at least one AE. The statistical analysis included a description of demographic and clinical characteristics of the cohort as well as identification of risk factors for AEs during IHT by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

In total, 441 IHTs of 369 critically ill patients were analyzed. The overall incidence of AEs was 79.8% (352 IHTs). The proportion of equipment- and staff-related adverse events was 7.9% (35 IHTs). The rate of patient-related adverse events (P-AEs) was 79.4% (349 IHTs). The rates of vital sign-related P-AEs and arterial blood gas analysis-related P-AEs were 57.1% (252 IHTs) and 46.9% (207 IHTs), respectively. The incidence of critical P-AEs was 33.1% (146 IHTs). The rates of vital sign-related critical P-AEs and arterial blood gas analysis-related critical P-AEs were 22.9% (101 IHTs) and 15.0% (66 IHTs), respectively. All data collected in our study were considered potential risk factors. In the multivariate analysis, predictive factors for P-AEs were pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood, lactate level, glucose level, and heart rate before IHT. Furthermore, the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood, lactate level, glucose level, heart rate, respiratory rate, pulse oximetry, and sedation before transport were independent influential factors for critical P-AEs during IHT.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of P-AEs during IHT of critically ill patients was high. Risk factors for P-AEs during IHT were identified. Strategies are needed to reduce their frequency.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Chinese Clinical Trial Register identifier ChiCTR-OCS-12002661. Registered 5 November 2012.

Medical emergency team calls in the radiology department: patient characteristics and outcomes

OBJECTIVE

We sought to identify the characteristics of patients who experience medical emergency team calls in the radiology department (MET-RD) and the relationship between these characteristics and patient outcomes.

DESIGN/PARTICIPANTS

Retrospective review of 111 inpatient MET-RD calls (May 2008-April 2010).

SETTING

Academic medical centre with a well established MET system.

MEASUREMENTS

The characteristics of patients before, during and after transport to radiology were extracted from medical records and administrative databases. These characteristics were compared between patients with good and poor outcomes.

MAIN RESULTS

The majority of patients who experience MET-RD calls had a Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥4 and were from non-intensive care units (60%). Almost half (43%) of MET-RD calls occurred during patients' first day in hospital. Patients commonly arrived with nasal cannula oxygen (38%), recent tachypnoea (28%) and tachycardia (34%). A minority (16%) fulfilled MET call criteria in the 12 h before the MET-RD. MET-RD etiologies were cardiac (41%), respiratory (29%) or neurological (25%), and occurred most frequently during CT (44%) and MRI (22%) testing. Post MET-RD, the majority of patients (70%) required a higher level of care. Death before discharge (25%) was associated with need for cardiovascular support prior to RD transport (p=0.02), need for RD monitoring (p=0.02) and need for heightened RD surveillance (p=0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of patients who experienced MET-RD calls came from non-intensive care units, with comorbidities and vital sign alterations prior to arrival at the RD. Risk appeared to be increased for those requiring CT and MRI. These findings suggest that prior identification of a subset of patients at risk of instability in the RD may be possible.