Tendency of dynamic vasoactive and inotropic medications data as a robust predictor of mortality in patients with septic shock: An analysis of the MIMIC-IV database

Predictive factors for death and long-term outcomes in elderly critically ill patients following tracheotomy: a retrospective analysis

OBJECTIVE

To explore the factors influencing death in elderly critically ill patients within 3 months and 6 months after tracheotomy and to discuss the long-term quality of life of patients and the burden on caregivers by disease type.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 160 elderly patients with tracheostomies. The study aimed to analyze the risk factors associated with mortality at 3 and 6 months post-tracheotomy using both single-factor analysis and multifactor logistic regression. The subjects were categorized into three groups based on the type of disease. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and log-rank tests were utilized to assess differences in survival rates among these groups. Furthermore, the Personal Activities of Daily Living (PADL) scale, the SF- 12 scale, and the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) were administered to analyze and compare the quality of life among the patients.

RESULTS

The PSI score (95% CI: 1.008-1.036), total dose of vasoactive drugs (95% CI: 1.001-1.007), and the number of medical consultations (95% CI: 0.418-0.929,) were identified as independent risk factors for mortality within three months following tracheotomy in elderly patients. Additionally, the PSI score (95% CI: 1.001-1.026, P < 0.05) and the total dose of vasoactive drugs (95% CI: 1.001-1.007, P < 0.05) were also independent risk factors for patient death within six months. No significant differences were observed in the survival rates among the three subgroups followed up for six months, significant differences were noted in the PADL, ZBI, and SF- 12 scores among these subgroups.

CONCLUSION

The quality of life and risk factors for mortality within six months following tracheotomy in critically ill elderly patients warrant careful consideration. Caregivers face varying challenges due to different underlying conditions, particularly in cases involving severe pneumonia and cardiac insufficiency, which require increased social awareness.

Association between phosphorus-to-calcium ratio at ICU admission and all-cause mortality in acute pancreatitis: Insights from the MIMIC-IV database

BACKGROUND

Serum phosphorus and serum calcium are important electrolytes in the body. The relationship between them and acute pancreatitis (AP) has been previously discussed. However, the results seem to lack credibility due to the neglect of mutual influence between them. Thus, a comprehensive indicator is needed.

METHODS

In this study, AP patients with intensive care unit (ICU) treatment were extracted from Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC) database. The outcomes included in-hospital mortality and ICU mortality. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, Cox proportional hazard regression model and restricted cubic spline were employed to investigate the association between the phosphorus-to-calcium ratio (PCR) index and clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 719 AP patients (57.2% male) were enrolled. The in-hospital and ICU mortality were 11.4% and 7.5%, respectively. After adjusting for confounders, Cox proportional hazard analysis indicated patients with a higher PCR index had a significant association with in-hospital mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.88; 95% confidence interval, 1.34-6.19; p = .007). Restricted cubic splines revealed that a progressively increasing risk of all-cause mortality was associated with an elevated PCR index.

CONCLUSION

The PCR index has a strong correlation with in-hospital and ICU all-cause mortality in AP, which provides a reference for clinical decision-making.

Hemodynamic goals in sepsis and septic shock resuscitation: An umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses with trial sequential analysis

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to verify whether any parameter among those used as the target for haemodynamic optimisation (e.g., mean arterial pressure, central venous oxygen saturation, systolic or diastolic dysfunction, CO2 gap, lactates, right ventricular dysfunction, and PvaCO2/CavO2 ratio) is correlated with mortality in an undifferentiated population with sepsis or septic shock.

METHODS

An umbrella review, searching MEDLINE, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Health Technology Assessment Database, and the JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports, was performed. We included systematic reviews and meta-analyses enrolling a population of unselected patients with sepsis or septic shock. The main outcome was mortality. Two authors conducted data extraction and risk-of-bias assessments independently. We used a random-effects model to pool binary and continuous data and summarised estimates of effect using equivalent odds ratios (eORs). We used the ROBIS tool to assess risk of bias and the assessment of multiple systematic reviews 2 score to assess global quality.

DATA SYNTHESIS

17 systematic reviews and meta-analyses (15 828 patients) were included in the quantitative analysis. Diastolic dysfunction (eOR: 1.42; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.14-1.76), PvaCO2/CavO2 ratio (eOR: 2.15; 95% CI: 1.37-3.37), and CO2 gap (eOR: 1.86; 95% CI: 1.07-3.25) showed a significant correlation with mortality. Lactates were the parameter with highest inconsistency (I2 = 92%). Central venous oxygen saturation and right ventricle dysfunction showed significant statistical excess test of significance (p-value = 0.009 and 0.005, respectively). None of the considered parameters showed statistically significant publication bias.

CONCLUSIONS

According to this umbrella review, diastolic dysfunction is the haemodynamic variable that is most closely linked to the prognosis of septic patients. The PvaCO2/CavO2 ratio and the CO2gap are significantly related to the mortality of septic patients, but the poor quality of evidence or the low number of cases, studied so far, limit their clinical applicability.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO: International prospective register of systematic reviews, 2023, CRD42023432813 (Available from: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023432813).

A retrospective observational study evaluating the association between vasoactive-inotropic score and mortality after major abdominal surgery

The relationship between VISmax and mortality in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the association between VISmax and both short-term and long-term all-cause mortality in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery, VISmax was calculated (VISmax = dopamine dose [µg/kg/min] + dobutamine dose [µg/kg/min] + 100 × epinephrine dose [µg/kg/min] + 10 × milrinone dose [µg/kg/min] + 10,000 × vasopressin dose [units/kg/min] + 100 × norepinephrine dose [µg/kg/min]) using the maximum dosing rates of vasoactives and inotropics within the first 24 h postoperative ICU admission. The study included 512 patients first admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) who were administered vasoactive drugs after major abdominal surgery. The data was extracted from the medical information mart in intensive care-IV database. VISmax was stratified into five categories: 0-5, > 5-15, > 15-30, > 30-45, and > 45. Compared to patients with the lowest VISmax (≤ 5), those with the high VISmax (> 45) had an increased risk of 30-day mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 3.73, 95% CI 1.16-12.02; P = 0.03) and 1-year mortality (HR 2.76, 95% CI 1.09-6.95; P = 0.03) in fully adjusted Cox models. The ROC analysis for VISmax predicting 30-day and 1-year mortality yielded AUC values of 0.69 (95% CI 0.64-0.75) and 0.67 (95% CI 0.62-0.72), respectively. In conclusion, elevated VISmax within the first postoperative 24 h after ICU admission was associated with increased risks of both short-term and long-term mortality in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery.

Effect of age and ICU types on mortality in invasive mechanically ventilated patients with sepsis receiving dexmedetomidine: a retrospective cohort study with propensity score matching

Background: Dexmedetomidine is recommended for sedation in patients on mechanical ventilation. Whether age or ICU types could alter mortality in invasive mechanically ventilated patients with sepsis receiving dexmedetomidine is unknown. Methods: We included patients with sepsis receiving invasive mechanical ventilation from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV database. The exposure was intravenous dexmedetomidine administration during ICU stay. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality. The secondary outcomes were the length of ICU stay and liberation from invasive mechanical ventilation. Propensity score matching (PSM) and Cox proportional hazards regression were used to adjust for confounders and investigate any association. Restricted cubic spline models were used to evaluate potential nonlinear associations. Results: The pre-matched and propensity score-matched cohorts included 5,871 and 2016 patients, respectively. In the PSM cohorts, dexmedetomidine exposure was related to lower 28-day mortality (186 [17.7%] vs. 319 [30.3%]; p < 0.001). Patients receiving dexmedetomidine, regardless of whether they were younger (≤65 years; hazard ratio [HR], 0.31; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.23-0.42; p < 0.001) or elderly (>65 years; HR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.52-0.83; p < 0.001), was associated with lower 28-day mortality (61 [10.3%] vs. 168 [28.2%] for younger; 125 [27.2%] vs. 152 [33.0%] for elderly). Patients receiving dexmedetomidine was also associated with lower 28-day mortality (53 [12.6%] vs. 113 [26.5%] for surgical intensive care unit [SICU]; 133 [21.0%] vs. 206 [32.9%] for non-SICU) regardless of whether the first admission to the SICU (HR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.25-0.50; p < 0.001) or non-SICU (HR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.40-0.62; p < 0.001). Moreover, both dose and duration of dexmedetomidine administration were related to lower 28-day mortality than no dexmedetomidine in younger patients (p < 0.001), but it not statistically significant in elderly patients. Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine was associated with lower 28-day mortality in critically ill patients with sepsis receiving invasive mechanical ventilation, regardless of whether patients were younger or elderly, the first admission to the SICU or non-SICU.

Effects of Early Initiation of Polymyxin B Hemoperfusion Therapy in Patients with Cancer with Refractory Septic Shock

Background: We aimed to analyze the correlation between in-hospital mortality and hemodynamic changes, using polymyxin B-immobilized fiber column direct hemoperfusion (PMX-DHP) initiation time in patients with cancer with refractory septic shock. Methods: Forty-six patients with cancer who received PMX-DHP for refractory septic shock were retrospectively analyzed and classified into early (≤3 h between refractory septic shock and PMX-DHP; n = 17) and late (>3 h; n = 29) initiation groups. The vasopressor inotropic score (VIS), sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, and lactate clearance before and 24 h post-PMX-DHP were compared. Results: Overall, 52.17% died from multiple organ dysfunction, with a lower mortality rate in the early initiation group. The VIS and SOFA score decreased in both groups, but the magnitude of decrease was not significant. Lactate clearance improved in both groups, with greater improvement in the early initiation group. Univariable analysis identified associations of in-hospital mortality with early initiation, ΔC-reactive protein, lactate clearance, ΔSOFA score, and ΔVIS. Multivariable analysis demonstrated associations of in-hospital mortality risk with ΔSOFA score and early PMX-DHP initiation. Overall survival was higher in the early initiation group. Early initiation of PMX-DHP in patients with cancer with refractory septic shock reduced in-hospital mortality and improved lactate clearance.