Prevalence and Risk Factors of Burnout Syndrome during COVID-19 Pandemic among Healthcare Providers in Thailand

Objective

To study prevalence, risk factors, and consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic related to Burnout syndrome (BOS) among Thai healthcare providers (HCPs) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional study among HCPs, involved in caring for patients during the pandemic in two periods (1st period, May-Jun 2021, and 2nd period, Sep-Oct 2021). Data were distributed using electronic questionnaires. BOS was defined if respondents exhibited a high level of at least one domain in the Maslach Burnout Inventory criteria. The primary outcome was prevalence of BOS.

Results

Altogether, 2,027 and 1,146 respondents were enrolled in the 1st and 2nd periods, respectively. Most respondents were female (73.3, 68.2%). The top three job positions were physicians (49.2, 58.9%), nurses (41.2, 30.6%), and nursing assistants (4.8, 6.5%), respectively. No difference was found in overall prevalence of Burnout syndrome during the 1st and 2nd periods (73 vs. 73.5%, p=0.80). Using multivariate analysis, significant risk factors for Burnout syndrome in both periods were (1) living with family (odds ratio (OR) 1.3 and 1.5), (2) tertiary care hospital (OR 1.92 and 2.13), (3) nurse (OR 1.38 and 2.29), (4) nursing assistant (OR 0.92 and 4.81), (5) salary ≤40,000 THB (OR 1.53 and 1.53), (6) >20 patients per shift (OR 1.55 and 1.88), (7) >6 shifts after hours monthly (OR 1.26 and 1.49), and (8) ≤1 rest day weekly (OR 1.3 and 1.4).

Conclusion

We found a high prevalence of Burnout syndrome among Thai HCPs during the pandemic. Knowing those risk factors may provide a strategy to BOS during the pandemic.

Hemodynamic profiles with and without left uterine displacement: A randomized study in term pregnancies receiving subarachnoid blockade for cesarean delivery

STUDY OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of left uterine displacement (LUD) on maternal hemodynamic measures following subarachnoid blockade (SAB) for cesarean delivery (CD). The primary outcome was cardiac output (CO) differences between the LUD and non-LUD groups pre-delivery.

DESIGN

Prospective, randomized, controlled study.

SETTING

Obstetric operating room.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We studied hemodynamic profiles in sixty healthy women with term pregnancies who underwent elective CD with SAB. Hemodynamics were measured using a non-invasive CO monitor, the Nexfin™. All women received a crystalloid 10 mL/kg preload, and hypotension was treated with ephedrine boluses.

INTERVENTIONS

Sixty women with term pregnancies were randomized into two groups: LUD group (received 15-30° LUD after SAB, n = 30) and non-LUD group (no LUD after SAB, n = 30).

MEASUREMENTS

Patient's hemodynamic variables including systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), CO, systemic vascular resistance (SVR), and left ventricular contractility index (dP/dT) were measured continuously from pre-SAB until end of surgery.

MAIN RESULTS

In pre-delivery phase at 5 min after spinal anesthesia, the LUD group had significantly higher CO (7.20 ± 1.78 [95%CI 6.53-7.87] vs. 6.23 ± 1.44 L/min [95% CI 5.69-6.77]; p = 0.016) and higher dP/dT (784 ± 313 vs. 604 ± 241 mmHg/s; p = 0.020) than the non-LUD group. The LUD group had a lower incidence of maternal systolic hypotension at 5-min post-SAB (16.7% vs. 53.3% in non-LUD group, p = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

The study demonstrates modest hemodynamic advantages (higher CO, less hypotension, higher dP/dT) with pre-delivery LUD. The results support maternal hemodynamic benefits of LUD until delivery in women with term pregnancies undergoing CD with SAB.

Prediction of massive transfusion in trauma patients in the surgical intensive care units (THAI-SICU study)

PURPOSE

After damage control surgery, trauma patients are transferred to intensive care units to restore the physiology. During this period, massive transfusion might be required for ongoing bleeding and coagulopathy. This research aimed to identify predictors of massive blood transfusion in the surgical intensive care units (SICUs).

METHODS

This is an analysis of the THAI-SICU study which was a prospective cohort that was done in the 9-university-based SICUs in Thailand. The study included only patients admitted due to trauma mechanisms. Massive transfusion was defined as received ≥10 units of packed red blood cells on the first day of admission. Patient characteristics and physiologic data were analyzed to identify the potential factors. A multivariable regression was then performed to identify the significant model.

RESULTS

Three hundred and seventy patients were enrolled. Sixteen patients (5%) received massive transfusion in the SICUs. The factors that significantly predicted massive transfusion were an initial sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) ≥9 (risk difference (RD) 0.13, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.03-0.22, p = 0.01); intra-operative blood loss ≥ 4900 mL (RD 0.33, 95% CI: 0.04-0.62, p = 0.02) and intra-operative blood transfusion ≥ 10 units (RD 0.45, 95% CI: 0.06 to 0.84, p = 0.02). The probability to have massive transfusion was 0.976 in patients who had these 3 factors.

CONCLUSION

Massive blood transfusion in the SICUs occurred in 5%. An initial SOFA ≥9, intra-operative blood loss ≥4900 mL, and intra-operative blood transfusion ≥10 units were the significant factors to predict massive transfusion in the SICUs.

The IL20 Genetic Polymorphism Is Associated with Altered Clinical Outcome in Septic Shock

BACKGROUND

The IL10 family of genes includes crucial immune regulators. We tested the hypothesis that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IL10, IL19, IL20, and IL24 of the IL10 family gene cluster alter the clinical outcome of septic shock.

METHODS

Patients with septic shock (n = 1,193) were genotyped for 13 tag SNPs of IL10, IL19, IL20, and IL24. IL20 gene expression was measured in genotyped lymphoblastoid cells in vitro. Cardiac surgical ICU patients (n = 981) were genotyped for IL20 rs2981573 A/G. The primary outcome variable was 28-day mortality.

RESULTS

Patients with the G allele of IL20 rs2981573 had a significantly increased hazard of death over the 28-day period compared to patients with the A allele in the septic shock cohort (adjusted hazard ratio 1.27; 95% confidence interval 1.10-1.47; p = 8.0 × 10-4). Patients with the GG genotype had more organ dysfunction (p < 0.05). The GG genotype was associated with increased IL20 gene expression in stimulated lymphoblastoid cells in vitro (p < 0.05). The cardiac surgical ICU patients with the GG genotype had an increased length of ICU stay (p = 0.032).

CONCLUSIONS

The GG genotype of IL20 rs2981573 SNP was associated with increased IL20 gene expression and increased adverse outcomes in patients with septic shock and following cardiac surgery.

Erratum to: 36th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine: Brussels, Belgium. 15-18 March 2016

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13054-016-1208-6.].

The Impact of Delirium on Clinical Outcomes in Multi-Center Thai Surgical Intensive Care Units: A Prospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

Delirium in intensive care units (ICU) increases risks in prolonged mechanical ventilation, hospitalization, and mortality rate. The purpose of this study is to determine if delirium in the surgical intensive care units (SICU) is an independent predictor of clinical outcomes during hospitalization.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

A multi-center, prospective cohort study was conducted between April 2011 and January 2013. All patients who were admitted to nine university-based SICU were enrolled. Delirium was diagnosed by using the Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklists. The clinical outcomes of study included length of mechanical ventilation, length of hospital stay, ICU and 28 day mortality. Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to assess the effects of delirium on ICU and 28 day mortality.

RESULTS

A total of 4,652 patients were included. One hundred and sixty-three patients were diagnosed delirium (3.5%, 163 of 4,652). Patients who experienced delirium during ICU admission were significantly older (65.0+15.8 years versus 61.6+17.3 years, p = 0.013), had higher American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status (24.3% versus 12.2%, p<0.001), higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score (16 (12-23) versus 10 (7-15), p<0.001), and higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score (5 (2-8) versus 2 (1-5), p<0.001) compared to non-delirium. Delirious patients also had higher ventilator days (7 (4-17) versus 2 (1-4), p<0.001, longer length of hospital stay (22 (14-34) versus 15 (9-26), p<0.001) and higher ICU mortality (24% versus 9%, p<0.001), and 28-day mortality (28% versus 13%, p<0.001). Patients who developed delirium in the intensive care unit were associated with increased 28-day mortality (adjusted HR = 2.47, 95% CI: 1.13-5.41, p = 0.023).

CONCLUSION

Delirium in an ICU was a major predictor of hospital mortality after adjusted for relevant covariates. Routine monitoring of delirium, early detection, and implementation of preventive strategy are recommended.

A Multi-Center Thai University-Based Surgical Intensive Care Units Study (THAI-SICU Study): Outcome of ICU Care and Adverse Events

OBJECTIVE

Surgical intensive care units (SICUs) are special units for critically ill surgical patients both in the pre and postoperative period. There is little aggregated information about surgical patients who are admitted to the Thai surgical ICU. The objective of this report was to describe patient characteristics, outcomes of ICU care, incidence and outcomes of adverse events in the SICU in the participating SICUs.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

This multi-center, prospective, observational study of nine university-based SICUs was done. All admitted patients with ages >18 years old were included. Information about patient characteristics, underlying medical problems, indication and type of ICU admission, severity score as ASA physical status in operative patients, APACHE II score and SOFA score, adverse events of interest, ventilator days, ICU and 28 days mortality. The association of outcome and predictors was reported by relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Statistical significant difference was defined by p<0.05.

RESULTS

During April 2011-January 2013 of total cohort time, a total of 4,652 patients from nine university-based SICUs were included in this study. Mode of patient age was 71-75 year old for both sexes. Median (IQR) of APACHE II scores and SOFA scores were 10 (7-10) and 2 (1-5), respectively. Seventy eight percent of patients were postoperative patients and 50% of them were ASA physical status III. The median of ICU stay was 2 (IQR 1-4) days. Each day of ICU increment was associated with increased 1.4 days of a hospital stay. Three percent of survived at discharge were clinically inappropriate discharge resulting in ICU readmission. Sixty-five percent were discharged home after ICU admission. ICU and 28 days mortality was 9.6% and 13.8%. The seven most common adverse events were sepsis (19.5%), acute kidney injury (AKI) (16.9%), new cardiac arrhythmias (6.2%), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (5.8%), cardiac arrest (4.9%), delirium (3.5%) and reintubation within 72 hours (3.0%), respectively. Most of the adverse events occurred in the first five days, significantly less occurred after 15 days of ICU admission. The association between adverse events and 28 days mortality were significant for cardiac arrest (RR, 9.5; 95% CI, 8.6-10.4), respiratory failure [acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (RR, 4.6; 95% CI, 3.9-5.3), acute lung injury (ALI) (RR, 2.7; 95% CI, 2.1-3.6)], acute kidney injury (AKI) (RR, 4.2; 95% CI, 3.7-4.8), sepsis (RR, 3.6; 95% CI, 3.2-4.2), iatrogenic pneumothorax (RR, 3.2; 95% CI, 2.1-5.1), new seizure (RR, 3.1, 95% CI, 2.2-4.4), upper GI hemorrhage (RR, 3.0, 95% CI, 2.1-4.1), new cardiac arrhythmias (RR, 2.9; 95% CI, 2.4-3.5), delirium (RR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.7-2.8), acute myocardial infarction (RR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.4-3.1), unplanned extubation (RR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.4-3.1), intra-abdominal hypertension (RR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.2-2.7) and reintubation within 72 hours (RR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1-2.1).

CONCLUSION

This is the first large study of surgical critical care in Thailand, which had a systematic patient follow-up program. Most of the patients were elderly. Adverse events were most frequent during the first 5 days of admission and were associated with ICU and 28 days mortality.

Hazards and Intensive Care Unit Economic Burden of Cigarette Smoking on Critically Ill Surgical Patients: Analysis of the THAI-SICU Study

OBJECTIVE

Cigarette smoking is not only has detrimental effects on the respiratory system but also contributes to development of atherosclerosis and inflammatory vascular reactions. We hypothesized whether smoking is associated with increased risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), sepsis, distant organ dysfunctions, and the increase of total cost of surgical intensive care unit (SICU) in critically ill surgical patients.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

We performed analysis using the THAI-SICU data, a prospective, observational, multicenter study in patients who admitted to SICU in nine university-based hospitals in Thailand. The patients were categorized into 3 groups based on their smoking histories, which were 1) never smoked, 2) former smoker, and 3) current smoker. The primary outcome was probability of ARDS and the secondary outcomes included incidences of SIRS, sepsis, distant organ dysfunction (included acute kidney injury (AKI) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI)), total SICU cost, and 28-day mortality

RESULTS

A total of 4,652 patients had complete data of smoking and were analyzed. The smoking status was never smoked (2,947 patients), former smokers (1,148 patients), and current smokers (557 patients). Compared to current smokers and former smokers, patients who had never smoked had significantly lower proportion of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (p<0.01) and had significantly higher PaO2/FiO2 ratio on SICU admission (p = 0.02). Compared to patients who had never smoked and former smokers, current smokers had significantly higher probability of ARDS (p = 0.003), higher incidence of SIRS (p = 0.006), and AKI (p<0.001), after adjustment for age, gender, APACHE II score, and patients’ pre-existing diseases. We found that every 1-pack year of cigarette smoking increased risk of ARDS with a hazard ratio of 1.02 (95% CI 1.01-1.03, p = 0.001). There was no difference in incidence of sepsis, AMI, and 28-day mortality among three groups of patients. Current smokers had significantly higher SICU cost, followed by former smokers, and patients who had never smoked (p = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

In critically ill surgical patients, we found dose-response association between smoking pack year and risk of ARDS. Compared to patients who had never smoked and former smokers, current smokers had significantly higher probability of ARDS, higher incidence of SIRS, AKI, and higher total SICU cost. Our findings demonstrated harm of cigarette smoking in critically ill surgical patients who admitted to SICU.

Impact of Time to Report Positive Hemoculture on Mortality in Surgical Critically Ill Patients with Septicemia

OBJECTIVE

In patients receiving inappropriate empirical antimicrobial agents, delaying of time to report positive hemoculture (TRH) may cause delay switching from inappropriate antimicrobial agents to appropriate antimicrobial agents, and thus may increase mortality. We hypothesized that the patients with septicemia from different types of pathogens may have differ duration of TRH, and duration of TRH may had an impact on hospital mortality.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

We performed observational study on the patients who were reported to have bacteremia or fungemia and admitted to the surgical intensive care unit, Phramongkutklao Hospital during a 2-year period. Type of pathogens grew in blood cultures and the sensitivities to antimicrobial agents were collected from blood culture reports. Patients were categorized into three groups based on their blood culture reports which were gram-positive (GP) bacteria, gram-negative (GN) bacteria, and fungus. Primary outcome was duration of TRH and secondary outcome was hospital mortality among the three groups of patients.

RESULTS

There were 9, 32, and 7 patients for whom growth of GP bacteria (18.8%), GN bacteria (66.7%), and fungus (14.6%) were reported in their blood cultures respectively. Patients with fungemia had the longest TRH (130 hours, interquartile range (IQR) 100-137 hours), followed by patients with GN (64 hours, IQR 48-78 hours), and GP bacteremia (55 hours, IQR 42-71 hours) (p = 0.001). There was no difference in hospital mortality (GP 89%, GN 66%, fungus 71%, p = 0.4). TRH was found significantly longer in survivors (n = 14) (81 hours, IQR 56-105 hours) than non-survivors (n = 34) (64 hours, IQR 48-71 hours) (p = 0.035). In multivariate analysis, we found that every 1-hr increasing of TRH was associated with lower risk of hospital mortality with adjusted odd ratio of 0.95 (0.92-0.99, p = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Patients with fungemia had significantly longer TRH than patients with GP and GN bacteremia. TRH was found significantly longer in patients with septicemia who survived than non-survivors.

Prevalence and Impact of Overweight and Obesity in Critically Ill Surgical Patients: Analysis of THAI-SICU Study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prevalence of overweight and obesity, and their impacts in patients admitted to a surgical intensive care unit (SICU) in Thailand.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

We conducted an analysis using the THAI-SICU database. All 4,579 patients who had weight and height measured were classified into four groups using body mass index (BMI) based on the World Health Organization criteria, which were 1) underweight (BMI <18.5 kg/m2), 2) normal BMI (BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m2), 3) overweight (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m2), and 4) obese (BMI >30 kg/m2) groups. Primary outcome was prevalence of overweight and obesity. Secondary outcomes were 28-day survival, and SICU outcomes between four patient groups.

RESULTS

There were 768 (16.8%) of underweight, 2,624 (57.3%) of normal BMI, 858 (18.7%) of overweight, and 329 (7.2%) of obese patients. Compared to other three patient groups, obese had the highest 28-day survival (log-rank, p<0.001), lowest incidence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) (underweight 41.1%, normal BMI 35.6%, overweight 34.5%, and obese 29.5%; p = 0.001), and lowest incidence of new infection (underweight 27.3%, normal BMI 23.3%, overweight 24.5%, and obese 20.4%; p = 0.047). After adjustment for related confounding factors, we found that every one unit increasing of BMI associated with lower risk of hospital mortality [odds ratio, OR, 0.97(95% confidence interval, CI, 0.94-0.99); p = 0.04], higher risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) [OR 1.06 (95% CI 1.03-1.08); p<0.001], and higher risk of intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) [OR 1.06 (95% CI 1.03-1.09); p<0.001].

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of overweight and obesity in Thai critically ill surgical patients were 18.7% and 7.2%, respectively. Compared to patients with lower BMI, patients with higher BMI had significantly lower mortality but greater risk of ARDS and IAH.

Prevalence, Outcomes and Risk factors of Acute Kidney Injury in Surgical Intensive Care Unit: A Multi-Center Thai University-Based Surgical Intensive Care Units Study (THAI-SICU Study)

OBJECTIVE

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the most common problems in critically ill patients. AKI associates with poor outcome in ICU. The recognition of the prevalence and risk factors of AKI is important. This could lead to the prevention of AKI and improve patient’s outcome. This study aims to identify the prevalence, outcomes and independent risk factors of AKI in Thai surgical intensive care units.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

We conducted the prospective cohort study from nine university-based SICUs. The patients were diagnosed AKI by Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) classification. The types of RRT and outcomes including mortality were collected. The risk factors of AKI were identified.

RESULTS

A total cohort of 4,652 patients was included for the present study. AKI was diagnosed in 786 (16.89%) patients. The ICU mortality was higher in patients with AKI (29.90% vs. 5.48%, p-value <0.001). Among patients with AKI staging, we found that those with AKIN III had higher ICU mortality compared to patients with AKIN II and AKIN I respectively (47.66% vs. 26.67% vs. 14.69%, p-value <0.001). Patients with AKI had higher 28 day-mortality compared with those without AKI (37.53% vs. 8.98%, p-value <0.001). The independent risk factors of AKI were higher APACHE II scores (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.06, p-value = 0.001), lower serum albumin (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.70-0.97, p-value = 0.020), organ failures which were in the gastrointestinal system (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.13-2.08, p-value = 0.007), cardiovascular system (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.34-2.83, p-value <0.001), neurological system (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.02-1.85, p-value = 0.038) and urinary system (OR 7.00, 95% CI 5.21-9.40, p-value <0.001).

CONCLUSION

Acute kidney injury associates with poor outcomes including increased ICU and 28-day mortality. Independent risk factors of AKI in the present study were higher APACHE II scores, lower serum albumin and organ failures on admission.

Dynamic Measurement of Hemodynamic Parameters and Cardiac Preload in Adults with Dengue: A Prospective Observational Study

Few previous studies have monitored hemodynamic parameters to determine the physiological process of dengue or examined inferior vena cava (IVC) parameters to assess cardiac preload during the clinical phase of dengue. From January 2013 to July 2015, we prospectively studied 162 hospitalized adults with confirmed dengue viral infection using non-invasive cardiac output monitoring and bedside ultrasonography to determine changes in hemodynamic and IVC parameters and identify the types of circulatory shock that occur in patients with dengue. Of 162 patients with dengue, 17 (10.5%) experienced dengue shock and 145 (89.5%) did not. In patients with shock, the mean arterial pressure was significantly lower on day 6 after fever onset (P = 0.045) and the pulse pressure was significantly lower between days 4 and 7 (P<0.05). The stroke volume index and cardiac index were significantly decreased between days 4 and 15 and between days 5 and 8 after fever onset (P<0.05), respectively. A significant proportion of patients with dengue shock had an IVC diameter <1.5 cm and IVC collapsibility index >50% between days 4 and 5 (P<0.05). Hypovolemic shock was observed in 9 (52.9%) patients and cardiogenic shock in 8 (47.1%), with a median (interquartile range) time to shock onset of 6.0 (5.0–6.5) days after fever onset, which was the median day of defervescence. Intravascular hypovolemia occurred before defervescence, whereas myocardial dysfunction occurred on the day of defervescence until 2 weeks after fever onset. Hypovolemic shock and cardiogenic shock each occurred in approximately half of the patients with dengue shock. Therefore, dynamic measures to estimate changes in hemodynamic parameters and preload should be monitored to ensure adequate fluid therapy among patients with dengue, particularly patients with dengue shock.

Incidence and risk factors of delirium in multi-center Thai surgical intensive care units: a prospective cohort study

Background

Delirium in intensive care units increases morbidity and mortality risk. The incidence and risk factors of delirium vary among studies. This study therefore aimed to determine the incidence and risk factors of delirium in Thai university-based surgical intensive care units.

Methods

A multi-center, prospective cohort study was conducted. All patients who had been admitted to surgical intensive care units (SICU) between April 2011 and January 2012 were enrolled. Delirium was diagnosed using the Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklists (ICDSC). The univariable and multivariable risk regression analyses were analyzed and presented as risk ratio (RR) and 95 % confidence interval (CI).

Results

The overall incidence of delirium was 3.6 % (162 of 4450, 95 % CI 3.09–4.19 %) whilst the incidences of delirium for patients being admitted ≤48 and >48 h were 0.7 % (21 of 2967, 95 % CI 0.41–1.01 %) and 8.3 % (141 of 1685, 95 % CI 7.04–9.68 %), respectively. The incidence of delirium on each study site was significantly different (range between 0 and 13.9 %, P < 0.001). Delirious patients had a significantly higher age (65.3 ± 15.6 versus 61.8 ± 17.3 years, P = 0.013), higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score (APACHE II score) (16 (12–23) versus 10 (7–15), P < 0.001), and higher sequential organ failure assessment score (5 (2–8) versus 2 (1–5), P < 0.001). The median duration of delirium was 3 (1–5) days. Delirious patients had significantly longer duration of ICU stay (8 (5–19) versus 2 (1–4), P < 0.001) and higher ICU mortality rate (23.5 versus 8.1 %, P < 0.001). Sepsis (RR = 3.70, 95 % CI 2.33–5.90, P < 0.001), exposure to sedative medications (RR = 3.54, 95 % CI 2.13–5.87, P < 0.001), higher APACHE II score (RR = 2.79, 95 % CI 1.98–3.95, P < 0.001), thoracic surgery (RR = 1.74, 95 % CI 1.09–2.78, P = 0.021), and emergency surgery (RR = 1.70, 95 % CI 1.09–2.65, P = 0.019) were independent risk factors of delirium in SICU.

Conclusions

Sepsis, exposure to sedative medications, higher APACHE II score, thoracic surgery, and emergency surgery were independent risk factors of delirium in Thai university-based surgical intensive care units.

A multi-center Thai university-based surgical intensive care units study (THAI-SICU study): methodology and ICU characteristics

OBJECTIVE

Although there were two large intra-operative observational studies on Thai surgical patients (THAI and THAI-AIMS), there has been no available study on critically ill surgical patients regarding their adverse events and outcomes. A THAI-Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) study has been established for monitoring the occurrence of these adverse events and outcomes in the SICU. The objective of this report is to describe the methodology of the THAI-SICU study and participating SICUs' characteristics as well as the early recruitment results on patients enrolled in the present study.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

The present study is designed as a multi-center, prospective, observational study. This report describes the method of case record form development and summarizes their collected parameters as well as the adverse event surveillance variables. All of nine SICU characteristics are described regarding their management systems, physicians' and nurses' work patterns. The final group of enrolled patients is reported.

RESULTS

A total of nine university-based SICUs were included in the present study. All participating hospitals are residency training centers. Four of the SICUs, fulltime directors are anesthesiologists. Only one hospital's SICU is directed by a surgeon. Two SICUs were closed ICUs, three were mandatory consulting units, one was an elective consultation unit and the remaining three ICUs had no directors. Most of the participating SICUs had heterogeneity of surgical specialty patients. Six SICUs had regular resident rotations and only two of the SICUs had critical care fellowship training. There were significant differences regarding the nursing workload among the ICUs. The patient to registered nurse ratio ranged from 0.9-2.0. After a total of 19.7 months of a recruitment period, the total number of patient admissions was 6,548 (1,894 patients were excluded). A total cohort of 4,654 patients was included for further analytical processes.

CONCLUSION

There were differences in ICU management systems, physician and specialist coverage, nurse burdens, nurse sparing, and types of patients admitted in the university based SICUs. This presentation is the pioneer multi-center study on Thai SICUs in which adverse events and outcomes are reported.

Clinical validation of pulse contour and pulse wave transit time-based continuous cardiac output analyses in Thai patients undergoing cardiac surgery

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the performance of arterial pressure-based cardiac output (APCO) and pulse wave transit time-based cardiac output (esCCO) monitors in Thai patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

The authors studied fifty Thai surgical patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) with cardiopulmonary bypass and requiring pulmonary artery catheters and radial artery catheter placement as a standard of clinical care. All patients were measured for APCO using the Vigileo/FloTrac and esCCO using the esCCO monitoring system. The data were compared to thermodilution cardiac output (TDCO) monitoring as a reference method, simultaneously at pre-induction of anesthesia, post-induction, and every 30 minutes thereafter until the completion of the surgery. The bias and precision were assessed using Bland-Altman analysis.

RESULTS

310 pairs of simultaneous measurements of APCO vs. TDCO and 303 pairs of esCCO vs. TDCO were obtained from fifty patients. Both APCO (R = 0.53, p < 0.0001) and esCCO values (R = 0.56, p < 0.0001) were correlated with TDCO values. Either of the changes in APCO (R = 0.63, p < 0.0001) or any changes in esCCO (R = 0.60, p < 0.0001) were correlated with changes in TDCO. For APCO relative to TDCO, the bias, precision, and the limits of agreement were 0.70, +/- 1.63, and -2.5 to 3.9 L/min while of esCCO were 1.20, +/-1.59 and -1.9 to 4.3 L/min, respectively. Comparisons of the bias of APCO and esCCO revealed a level of significance of p < 0.001.

CONCLUSION

Despite the overestimation of CO measurements, APCO and esCCO calibrated with patient information has shown an acceptable trend as compared to TDCO in Thai patients undergoing CABG with cardiopulmonary bypass. Compared to esCCO, APCO demonstrated no significant differences ofprecision however; a lower mean bias was exhibited.

The role of health information technology on critical care services in Thailand

Health information technology (IT) has become an important part of current medical practice, especially in critical care services. One significant advance is the use of telemedicine which was initiated in Thailand nearly two decades ago. Telemedicine is also used in the intensive care unit or what has been termed the "Tele-ICU". It has evolved as an alternate paradigm linking the intensivist and critical care specialists to critically ill patients in remote areas. In this article, the author has reviewed the evidence of health IT on critical care services in Thailand, focusing on telemedicine, as well as the concept of the 'Tele-ICU' and its challenges. These factors may assist intensivists to reach more critically ill patients in remote areas.

One size does not fit all in severe infection: obesity alters outcome, susceptibility, treatment, and inflammatory response

Introduction

Obesity is an increasingly common comorbidity in critically ill patients. Whether obesity alters sepsis outcome, susceptibility, treatment, and response is not completely understood.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis comparing three group of septic shock patients based on the intervals of actual body mass index (BMI) in patients enrolled in the VASST (Vasopressin and Septic Shock Trial) cohort. Primary outcome measurement was 28-day mortality. We tested for differences in patterns of infection by comparing the primary site of infection and organism. We also compared the treatments (fluids and vasopressors) and inflammatory response, measuring adipose tissue-related cytokine concentrations (interleukin [IL]-6, monocyte chemotactic protein [MCP]-1, tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α, and resistin) in plasma in a subset of 382 patients. Of the 778 patients in VASST, 730 patients who had body weight and height measurements were analyzed. Patients with BMI <25 kg/m² (n = 276) were grouped as a reference and compared to 'overweight' (25< BMI <30 kg/m², n = 209) and 'obese' (BMI >30 kg/m^2, n = 245) patients.

Results

Obese patients had the lowest 28-day mortality followed by overweight patients while patients with BMI <25 kg/m² had the highest mortality (p = 0.02). Compared to the patients with BMI <25 kg/m², obese and overweight patients also had a different pattern of infection with less lung (obese 35%, overweight 45%, BMI<25 kg/m² 50%, p = 0.003) and fungal infection (obese 8.2%, overweight 11%, and BMI<25 kg/m² 15.6%, p = 0.03). Per kilogram, obese and overweight patients received less fluid during the first four days (p<0.05) and received less norepinephrine (obese 0.14, overweight 0.21, BMI <25 kg/m² 0.26 µg/kg/min, p<0.0001) and vasopressin (obese 0.28, overweight 0.36, BMI <25 kg/m² 0.43 µU/kg/min, p<0.0001) on day 1 compared to patients with BMI <25 kg/m². Obese and overweight patients also had a lower plasma IL-6 concentration at baseline (obese 106 [IQR 34-686], overweight 190 [IQR 44-2339], BMI <25 kg/m² 235 [IQR 44-1793] pg/mL, p = 0.046).

Conclusions

Overall obesity was associated with improved survival in septic shock and differences in pattern of infection, fluids, and vasopressors. Importantly, the magnitude of inflammatory IL-6 response is muted in the obese.

AA genotype of IL-8 -251A/T is associated with low PaO(2)/FiO(2) in critically ill patients and with increased IL-8 expression

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a central chemokine in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and the IL-8 gene contains a functional single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) -251A/T in its promoter region. We hypothesized that IL-8 -251A/T SNP is associated with PaO(2)/FiO(2) in critically ill patients.

METHODS

We conducted genetic-association studies in intensive care units at academic teaching centres using a derivation septic shock cohort (vasopressin and septic shock trial (VASST), n = 467) and a validation post-cardiopulmonary bypass surgery cohort (CPB, n = 739) of Caucasian patients. Patients in both cohorts were genotyped for IL-8 -251A/T. The primary outcome variable in both cohorts was the fraction of patients who had a PaO(2) /FiO(2) < 200. IL-8 mRNA expression was measured in genotyped lymphoblastoid cells in vitro.

RESULTS

The frequency of the patients with PaO(2)/FiO(2) <200 was significantly greater in patients who had the AA genotype of -251A/T than in patients who had the AT or TT genotypes in both VASST (AA = 60.8% vs AT and TT = 53.8% and 48.0%, P = 0.038) and the CPB cohort (AA = 37.0% vs AT and TT = 27.0% and 26.0%, P = 0.039). Patients having the AA genotype had a higher probability to remain on mechanical ventilation (P = 0.047) in the first 14 days. Lymphoblastoid cells having the AA genotype had significantly higher IL-8 mRNA expression than cells having the AT or TT genotype (P = 0.022).

CONCLUSIONS

Critically ill Caucasian patients who had the AA genotype of IL-8 -251A/T had an increased risk of PaO(2)/FiO(2) <200. The AA genotype was associated with greater IL-8 mRNA expression than the AT or TT genotypes.

Predicting fluid responsiveness in septic shock patients by using 3 dynamic indices: is it all equally effective?

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness and accuracy of three dynamic indices, currently available in intensive care monitoring devices, which are pulse pressure variation (PPV), stroke volume variation (SVV) and pulse oximetry plethysmographic waveform variation (POPV) in septic patients.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

This prospective clinical trial was conducted in 20 deeply sedated septic patients 18 years of age and older who had invasive blood pressure monitoring with an intraarterial cannula. PPV, SVV and POPV (%) were calculated using five consecutive snapshots from every patient's monitor. Statistical analysis compared using linear regression, paired t-test or student t-test, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

RESULTS

The authors found that, strong correlation existed of PPV for the detection of percent cardiac index change (r2 = 0.794, p < 0.001). A respiratory variation in POPV exceeding 14% (sensitivity of 72%, specificity of 90%), SVV exceeding 11% (sensitivity 90%, specificity 92%) allowed detection of PPV exceeding 12% (sensitivity 84%, specificity 96%).

CONCLUSION

Comparing of PPV, SVV and POPV, PPV is the most correlate with percent change in cardiac index and the most effective dynamic index for predict fluid responsiveness in adult septic critically ill patients who are on controlled mechanical ventilator, followed by SVV and POPV.

Perioperative management for surgical correction of frontoethmoidal encephalomeningocele in children: a review of 102 cases

BACKGROUND

Frontoethmoidal encephalomeningocele (FEEM) is a congenital neural tube defect characterized by herniation of brain and meninges through an anterior skull defect. The extruding mass results in a cutaneous expanding lesion and facial deformity. The objective of this study was to review perioperative management for surgical correction of this condition.

METHODS

We reviewed the charts of FEEM children who were treated by surgical correction in King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital during 1995-2005. The collected data were categorized into preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative data. In addition, average blood loss was calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 102 charts were reviewed. Preoperative data: The mean age of the patients was 4.62 years. Forty-six patients (45%) were smaller than average weight or height. Preoperative-associated abnormal conditions were found in 69 cases (68%). Intraoperative data: The mean duration of the anesthesia and surgery were 6.35 h and 5.51 h, respectively. The estimated mean red cell mass loss was 13.04 ml.kg(-1). There is one case of difficult intubation. No major anesthetic complication was found. Postoperative data: The average intensive care unit stay and hospital stay were 1.55 days and 11.51 days, respectively. The main postoperative complications were tonic-clonic seizure and serious infection including septic shock from wound infection and meningitis.

CONCLUSIONS

We reported perioperative management in 102 FEEM children. Comprehensive care during preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative period is essential for successful outcome.