Risk factors for poor outcome in older patients admitted in a surgical intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND: The benefit of a stay in an intensive care unit (ICU) is not certain for older patients, particularly in the surgical context. AIMS: The objective of this study was to identify the factors associated with an unfavourable outcome in this population. DESIGN: Prospective, descriptive, monocentric study conducted in the surgical ICU of a French university hospital. METHODS: Patients aged ≥75 years admitted in the surgical ICU for a predicted length of stay ≥48 hours were included. Patients received an initial and a 6-months nutritional and functional assessment performed by physicians and nurses. The outcome was considered as favourable if the Katz Activities of Daily Living (ADL) variation (ADL delta = 6-months ADL - ICU admission ADL) was between 0 and -0.5 point 6 months after ICU discharge and unfavourable if the ADL delta decreased by more than 0.5 points or if the patient had died 6 months after ICU discharge. RESULTS: Fifty-six patients-32 (57%) male-aged 79 [77; 83] y were included. ICU mortality was 19%; 6-month mortality was 22%. Median ADL delta was -0.5 [-0.5-0] points. A low ADL score (P = .0438) and a low albumin level (P = .0213) at admission were the two independent factors associated with an unfavourable outcome. CONCLUSION: Mortality and loss of independence were high in this elderly population during and after their surgical ICU stay. The benefit of a systematic collaboration between intensive care specialists, ICU nurses, and geriatricians, to assess and manage nutritional and functional problems and to prevent a pejorative outcome in patients over 75 years old admitted in surgical ICU needs to be studied. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: There should be systematic screening for objective markers of undernutrition and frailty on ICU admission of older patients as they are associated with a poor prognosis.

Impact of nursing care on lung functional residual capacity in acute respiratory distress syndrome patients.

BACKGROUND: The respiratory consequences of daily nursing care interventions in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are not clearly established. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The main objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of alveolar collapse analysis by the measurement of lung impedance distribution technique during nursing care in patients with ARDS. DESIGN: Prospective observational pilot physiologic study in a surgical intensive care unit of a tertiary care hospital including adult intubated patients with moderate-to-severe ARDS. METHODS: Each patient was monitored for 12 hours using a chest impedance device. Daily care interventions studied were as follows: endotracheal suctioning, mouth care, bed-bathing, and blood sampling. The primary endpoint was the variation in end-expiratory lung impedance (reflecting functional residual capacity) before and 1, 5, 15, and 30 minutes after nursing care interventions. Data are presented as median (interquartile-range). RESULTS: One hundred and eight events were collected in 18 patients. Endotracheal suctioning (n = 42), mouth care (n = 26), and bed-bathing (n = 23) induced a significant decrease in lung impedance after care: endotracheal suctioning (-40.0 [-53.8; -28.6]% at 1 minute [P < .001], -10.4 [-27.9; 1.8]% at 30 minutes [P = .03]; mouth care -17.9 [-45.4; -14.6]% at 1 minute [P < .001], -10.4 [-21.3; 3.4]% at 30 minutes [P = .01]; bed-bathing -40.2 [-53.5; -14.3]% at 1 minute [P < .001], -10.6 [-36.4; 1.6]% at 30 minutes [P = .01]). Blood sampling (n = 17) did not induce significant changes in lung impedance. CONCLUSIONS: The lung impedance distribution technique during nursing care appears feasible in the majority of patients with ARDS. Some daily nursing care in ARDS patients (including bed-bathing and mouth care) resulted in a prolonged decrease in lung functional residual capacity and therefore could be associated with pulmonary de-recruitment. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: A caregiver who has to assess the functional residual capacity of these patients should probably be informed of the schedules of the nursing care interventions.