Objective To evaluate the effect of exogenous melatonin and its analogues on the prevention of delirium in critically ill patients by meta-analysis. Methods Randomized controlled trials of exogenous melatonin and its analogues in the prevention of delirium in critically ill patients were searched by computer from the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chongqing VIP, Wanfang, and SinoMed databases. The trial group was treated with melatonin or its analogues, while the control group was treated with placebo. The retrieval period was from the establishment of database to January 14th, 2021. Two researchers independently evaluated the literature quality, and meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 software. Results A total of 11 randomized controlled trials containing 1177 patients were enrolled, including 588 patients in the trial group and 589 patients in the control group. The results showed that exogenous melatonin and its analogues could reduce the occurrence of delirium in critically ill patients [odds ratio (OR)=0.45, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.22, 0.91), P=0.03] and shorten the time of mechanical ventilation [standard mean difference (SMD)=−0.49, 95%CI (−0.94, −0.03), P=0.04], while might not affect the mortality rate [OR=0.73, 95%CI (0.46, 1.17), P=0.19] or length of intensive care unit stay [SMD=−0.05, 95%CI (−0.26, 0.15), P=0.61]. Conclusions The current evidence shows that exogenous melatonin and its analogues have some effect on reducing the occurrence of delirium and shortening the duration of mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients, and have no significant effect on reducing the mortality or length of intensive care unit stay. The above conclusions need to be confirmed by more high-quality studies.
Acute kidney injury is a common complication and is associated with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome among critically ill patients in intensive care unit. Once renal replacement therapy in required, the mortality rate was high. Using slow and uninterrupted clearance of retained fluid and toxins, continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) can avoid hemodynamic instability while provide acid-base, electrolytes, and volume homeostasis. For decades, CRRT has become the dominant form of renal replacement therapy as well as multiple organ support in critically ill patient with acute kidney injury. However, there remains wide practice variation in the CRRT care when clinicians take into account the needs of individual patients, available resources, and limitations unique to an institution or type of practice, despite evidences to guide practice. In addition, CRRT is a complex technology that is resource-intensive, costly, and requires specialized training by health providers.Taiwan Society of Critical Care Medicine organized a group of experts in critical care and nephrology to review the recommendations and provide their clinical practice and concerns to write this operational manual. The purpose of this manual is to provide step-by-step instructions on the practice of CRRT and troubleshooting. In addition, it is designed to help the newbies to carry out this complex treatment correctly and efficiently. We hope that this operational manual is of value to improve clinical skills, quality of care, and patient safety.
Objective To explore the diagnosis and treatment of critically ill patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome ( OSAHS) . Methods Critically ill patients with OSAHS admitted in intensive care unit from January 2003 to December 2007 were retrospectively analyzed. Results Seventy-nine critically ill patients were diagnosed as OSAHS. The initial diagnosis of OSAHS was made by history requiring, physical examination, and Epworth sleepiness score evaluation. The final diagnosis was comfirmed by polysomnography thereafter. Base on the treatment of primary critical diseases, the patients were given respiratory support either with continuous positive airway pressure ( CPAP) or with bi-level positive airway pressure ventilation ( BiPAP) . Two cases died and the remaining 77 patients were cured anddischarged. Conclusions Timely diagnosis of OSAHS is important to rescue the critically ill patients. Respiratory support combined with treatment of primary critical diseases can improve the outcomes of these patients.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical value of peripheral blood vitamin D level in predicting the outcome of weaning from mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients.MethodsA total of 130 critically ill patients who undergoing mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours in our hospital were recruited from June 2014 to June 2017. Serum 25(OH)D3 was detected on admission and before spontaneous breathing test (SBT) meanwhile general clinical data and laboratory examination indexes were recorded. The cases were divided into a successful weaning group and a failure weaning group according to the outcome of weaning from mechanical ventilation. Logistic regression equation was used to analyze the relationship between vitamin D level and failure weaning, and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the predictive value for failure weaning.ResultsThere were 46 patients with failure weaning among 130 patients (35.38%). Compared with the successful weaning group, the failure weaning group had significantly higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health EvaluationⅡ score, longer duration in intensive care unit, higher respiratory rate, higher rapid shallow breathing index, higher C-reactive protein, higher N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide, higher serum creatinine, and significantly lower albumin (all P<0.05). 25(OH)D3 level classifications on admission and before SBT in the failure weaning group were worse than those in the successful weaning group (P<0.05). 25(OH)D3 levels of the failure weaning group were lower than those of the successful weaning group [on admission: (18.16±4.33) ng/ml vs. (21.60±5.25) ng/ml, P<0.05; before SBT: (13.50±3.52) ng/mlvs. (18.61±4.30) ng/ml, P<0.05]. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that 25(OH)D3 levels on admission and before SBT were independent risk factors for failure weaning (OR values were 2.257 and 2.613, respectively, both P<0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that areas under ROC curve were 0.772 and 0.836, respectively, with sensitivities of 80.3% and 85.2%, specificities of 69.0% and 71.0%, respectively.Conclusions25(OH)D3 deficiency or insufficiency is common in critically ill patients. The lower the level of vitamin D, the higher the risk of failure weaning. So it may be an independent predictor of failure weaning.
ObjectiveTo compare the indirect calorimetry (IC) measured resting energy expenditure (MREE) with adjusted Harris-Benedict formula calculating resting energy expenditure (CREE) in the mechanically ventilated surgical critically ill patients and to evaluate the relationship between the resting energy expenditure (REE) with the severity of illness. MethodsTwenty-one patients undergonging mechanical ventilation for critical illness in the intensive care unit of general surgery between August 2008 and February 2010 were included in this study. Data during the study period of nutrition support were collected for computation of the severity of critical illness by acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ scores (APACHE Ⅱ scores) and organ dysfunction scores (Marshall scores). MREE was measured by using IC of the MedGraphics CCM/D System within the first 7 d after nutrition therapy. CREE was calculated by using the HarrisBenedict formula adjusted with correction factors for illness at the same time. According to APACHE Ⅱ scores on admission, the enrolled patients were divided into two groups: APACHEⅡ score ≥20 scores group (n=8) and APACHE Ⅱ score lt;20 scores group (n=13), and the differences between MREE and CREE of patients in two groups were determined. ResultsThe reduction of variation tendency in CREE other than MREE in the enrolled patients within the first week of nutritional support was statistical significance (Plt;0.001). The CREE of patients 〔(1 984.49±461.83) kcal/d〕 was significantly higher than the MREE 〔(1 563.88±496.93) kcal/d〕 during the first week of nutritional support (Plt;0.001). The MREE on the 0, 1, 2, and 4 d after nutrition therapy were statistically significant lower than CREE at the same time interval in these patients (Plt;0.01), and the differences at the other time points were not significant (Pgt;0.05). There was a trend towards a reduction in APACHE Ⅱ and Marshall scores within the first week of nutrition therapy that reached statistical significance (Plt;0.001). During the first week of nutrition therapy, APACHEⅡ and Marshall scores of patients in ≥20 scores group were significantly higher than those in lt;20 scores group, respectively (Plt;0.05 or Plt;0.01), and the reductions of APACHE Ⅱ scores and Marshall scores were significant in patients of two groups (Plt;0.001). A significant positive correlation was found between CREE with APACHE Ⅱ scores (r=0.656, Plt;0.001) and Marshall scores (r=0.608，Plt;0.001) in patients within the first week after nutrition support. Although no statistically significant correlation was observed between MREE and APACHEⅡ scores (r=-0.045， P=0.563), a significant positive correlation was observed between MREE and Marshall scores (r=0.263, P=0.001) within the first week after nutrition therapy. There was no correlation between MREE and CREE (r=0.064, P=0.408) in patients at the same time interval. The reduction of MREE of patients in ≥20 scores group other than in lt;20 scores group was statistically significant within the first week after nutrition therapy (P=0.034). In addition, the MREE of patients in ≥20 scores group were not significantly different from those in lt;20 scores group (Pgt;0.05), and the mean CREE was not different in two groups patients within the first week of nutritional therapy 〔(1 999.55±372.73) kcal/d vs. (1 918.39±375.27) kcal/d, P=0.887〕. CREE was significantly higher than MREE of patients in ≥20 scores group within the first week except the 3 d and 5 d after nutrition therapy (Plt;0.05), while in lt;20 scores group CREE was significantly higher than MREE in patients only within the first 3 d after nutrition therapy (Plt;0.05 or Plt;0.01). MREE and CREE of patients in ≥20 scores group were not different from those in lt;20 scores group, respectively (Pgt;0.05).
Objective To evaluate the effects and safety of procalcitonin(PCT)-guided algorithms of antibiotic therapy in critically ill patients in intensive care unit (ICU). Methods Literatures in English and Chinese concerning randomized controlled trials(RCTs) on PCT-guided algorithms of antibiotic therapy in critically ill patients was retrieved by electronic and manual search. All related data were extracted. Meta-analysis was conducted using the statistical software RevMan 5.3 on the basis of strict quality evaluation. Results Eight RCTs involving 2708 ICU patients were included, with 1360 patients in the PCT-guided group and 1348 patients in the control group. Compared with the control group, PCT-guided algorithms were associated with a significant reduction in the duration of antibiotic therapy (MD -2.44 days, 95%CI -3.25 to -1.62, P < 0.00001), and the occurrence of adverse reaction of antibiotics was also lower (RR=0.74, 95%CI 0.56 to 0.97, P=0.03), however the mortality exhibited no difference between the PCT-guided group and the control group (RR=1.00, 95%CI 0.89 to 1.13, P=0.99). Conclusion PCT-guided algorithms can shorten the duration of antibiotic therapy and reduce the occurrence of adverse reaction in critically ill patients without significant effect on mortality.
Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is the treatment of choice for critically ill patients with hemodynamic instability who require renal replacement therapy. This review summarizes the impact of CRRT treatment on nutritional support in critically ill patients, including: energy increase caused by citrate-based anticoagulants, energy loss caused by glucose-free replacement fluid and dialysate, a large amount of amino acids loss in the effluent, and the influences on the way of lipid emulsion administration, capacity, electrolyte, vitamins, and trace elements. It is hoped that the intensive care unit doctors, nephrologists, and nutritionists can fully cooperate to determine the CRRT prescription and the nutritional support prescription.
ObjectiveTo investigate the species and resistance phenotypes of the pathogens causing catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) in critically ill patients in West China Hospital of Sichuan University, and to provide the basis for the prevention and treatment of this kind of infection. MethodsThe clinical data and findings of the laboratory examination of the patients, who were admitted to intensive care units and suffered from CAUTI in our hospital during January 2012 to December 2014, were retrospectively analyzed. The pathogens isolates from the urine specimens of the patients with CAUTI and their resistance phenotypes were analyzed. ResultsThree hundred and seventy patients suffering from CAUTI were included in this study. Five hundred and seventeen strains of pathogens were isolated from the urine specimens of these patients, including 222 isolates (42.9%) of fungus, 181 isolates (35.0%) of gram negative bacteria, and 114 isolates (22.0%) of gram positive bacteria. In terms of species distribution, Candida albicans (105 isolates, 20.3%), C.glabrata (78 isolates, 15.1%) and C.glabrata (30 isolates, 5.8%) were the predominant fungus. Among the gram negative bacteria, Escherichia coli (81 isolates, 15.7%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (37 isolates, 7.2%), and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii complex (23 isolates, 4.4%) were the main species. Enterococcus faecium (79 isolates, 15.3%) and E.faecalis (13 isolates, 2.5%) were the frequently isolated gram positive bacteria. Analysis of the resistance phenotype showed that the resistance rates to itraconazole, voriconazole and fluconazole of Candida spp. were above 10%. Thirty percent of the isolates of E.coli and K.pneumoniae, and 60% of the isolates of A.calcoaceticus-Baumannii complex were resistant to many of the regular antibiotics. Imipenem resistance rate of A.calcoaceticus-Baumannii complex was 60.8%. Sixty percent of the isolates of E.faecium and E.faecalis were resistant to many of the regular antibiotics. The vancomycin-resistant isolates accounted for 16.5% of E.faecium and 31.0% of E.faecalis. ConclusionCandida species are the major pathogens for CAUTI in critically ill patients in our hospital and show the resistance to azoles. We should focus on the drug resistance of gram negative bacteria and gram positive bacteria. The rational use of antibiotics and application of effective infection control measures are important to decrease the CAUTI.
Malnutrition is directly related to the outcomes of critically ill children. Providing ideal nutritional treatment can reduce the high catabolic state caused by the critically ill, reduce oxidative damage and regulate immune response, then improving clinical prognosis. Optimized nutritional supply for critically ill children has been transformed from auxiliary support to one of the important treatment methods. Enteral nutrition is the preferred way to provide nutrition, but parenteral nutrition is the only method of supplement and replacement when the supply of enteral nutrition is insufficient or deficient. This article reviews the timing of parenteral nutrition initiation, protein and amino acids in parenteral nutrition, the mechanism of possible adverse effects in early parenteral nutrition, and issues related to parenteral nutrition in premature infants, in order to help clinicians in pediatric intensive care unit improve the evaluation and management of parenteral nutrition use.
Objective To investigate the relationship between the gastrointestinal function and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in critically ill patients who underwent invasive mechanical ventilation. Methods One-hundred and fifty-three cases of critically ill patients receiving mechanically ventilation were recruited in the study. After 5 days of ventilation, the gastrointestinal function score and the C-reactive protein (CRP) of each patient were recorded. The incidence of VAP was recorded during hospitalization. According to the incidence of VAP, all patients were divided intoaVAP group and a non-VAP group. The relationship between gastrointestinal function score and the incidence of VAP was analyzed. The relationship between CRP level and severity degree of VAP was also analyzed. Results VAP occurred in 42 cases with the incidence of 27.45%. The gastrointestinal function score (1.9±1.0 vs. 0.8±1.0, P < 0.05) and CRP level [(52.38±12.06) mg/L vs. (36.69±11.08)mg/L, P < 0.05] were both higher in the VAP group than those in the non-VAP group. At gastrointestinal function score of 0 - 3, the CRP levels were all higher in the VAP group than those in the non-VAP group (P < 0.05). The incidence of VAP was 8.33%, 23.68%, 45.45%, and 59.09% at gastrointestinal function score of 0, 1, 2 and 3, respectively, with significant differences between each other(P < 0.05). Conclusion For critically ill patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation, the more severe the damage of gastrointestinal function is, the higher the incidence of VAP is, and the more serious the disease is.