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.

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.

Outcomes and Risk Factors of Extubation Failure: A Multicenter Study of the THAI Surgical Intensive Care Units (SICUs).

Objective: To identify risk factors associated with extubation failure (EF) in patients admitted to surgical ICUs (SICUs). Material and Methods: Data were gathered during April 2011-January 2013 by collecting demographic, admission details, daily summary, nutritional profile, APACHE II scores, and discharge summary from patients admitted to SICUs among nine university hospitals. Exclusion criteria include pediatric patients, non-consent patients, multiple trauma, cardiovascular and thoracic, and neurosurgical patients. Data were collected to the endpoint of 28 days of admission. Morbidity and mortality were determined. Complications or adverse events that occurred during admission were detailed in separate record forms. Result: Of 4,652 patients, 2,890 were intubated. Among them, 2,749 were successfully extubated leaving 141 with extubation failure. Overall incidence of EF was 4.88% (with range from 1.41-7.33). Patient characteristics in EF groups were compared to successful groups. Advanced age, presence of congestive heart failure, vascular disease, COPD, emergency surgery, poor APACHE II and SOFA scores, and concurrent use of vasopressors, inotropes and sedatives were significant differences. The most common causes of EF were respiratory failure, inability to cough and laryngeal edema. Outcomes of EF included prolonged length of ICU stay [2 (IQR 1-5) vs. 11 (IQR 6-15) days] and hospital stay [16 (IQR 10-27) vs. 23 (IQR 15-33) days]. Patients with EF were at risk of 6-fold longer ICU stay than successful extubation. Adjusted odds ratio of age, congestive heart failure, emergency surgery, and SOFA score were identified with statistical significance to be risk factors of EF. Conclusion: EF can affect outcomes of ICU admission. Identifying the risk factors associated with EF will help reduce its incidence and improve ICU outcomes.

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.

The Thai Anesthesia Incident Monitoring Study (Thai AIMS): an analysis of perioperative complication in geriatric patients.

BACKGROUND: The present study was a part of the multi-centered study of model of Anesthesia related adverse events in Thailand by incident report. (The Thai Anesthesia Incident Monitoring Study or Thai AIMS). The objective of the present study was to identify and analyze anesthesia incident in geriatric patients in order to find out the frequency distribution, clinical courses, management of incidents and investigation of model appropriate for possible corrective strategies. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This study was a prospective descriptive multicentered study conducted between January 1, 2007 and June 30, 2007. Incident reports from 51 hospital across Thailand were sent to data management unit on anonymous and voluntary basis. The authors extracted relevant data from the incident reports on geriatric patients (age 65 or more). The cases were reviewed by 3 anesthesiologists. Any disagreement was discussed and judged to achieve a consensus. Descriptive statistics was used. RESULTS: Among 407 incident reports and 559 incidents, there were more male (52.8%) than female (46.7%) patients with ASA PS 2, 3, 4 and 5 = 38.6%, 42.8%, 14.5% and 4.2% respectively. Surgical specialties that posed high risk of incidents were general, orthopedic, neurological, urologic and otorhiolaryngological surgery. Common places where incidents occurred were operating room (57.1%), ward (30.9%) and recovery room (12.0%). Common occurred incidents were arrhythmia needing treatment (30.0%), death within 24 hr (24.6%), desaturation (21.9%), cardiac arrest (16.2%) and reintubation (16.0%). The causes of the incidents were mostly attributed from patients underlying diseases and conditions. Most common outcomes were major physiologic changes with 26.5% fatal outcome at 7 days. The most common contributing factor was human factor (inappropriate decision and inexperience). Vigilance and having more experience could be the minimizing factors. CONCLUSION: Incidents in geriatric patients were similar to all age group patients with a higher incidents in death within 24 hr. The outcome were more serious resulting in 26.5% fatal outcome at 7 days. Quality assurance activity, clinical practice guidelines and improved supervision were suggested corrective strategies.

The Thai Anesthesia Incident Monitoring Study (Thai AIMS) of anesthetic equipment failure/malfunction: an analysis of 1996 incident reports.

BACKGROUND: The present study is a part of the multi-centered study of model of anesthesia relating adverse events in Thailand by incident report (The Thai Anesthesia Incident Monitoring Study or Thai AIMS). The objective was to identify the frequency distribution, contributing factors, and factors minimizing incident of equipment failure/malfunction. MATERIAL AND METHOD: As a prospective descriptive research design, anesthesia providers reported the data as soon as the incidents of equipment failure/malfunction occurred. Standardized forms of incident report were then mailed to the center at Chulalongkorn University and three anesthesiologists reviewed the data. RESULTS: Ninety-two cases of equipment failure/malfunction were reported from 51 hospitals across Thailand Between January and June 2007, 92 incidents of equipment failure/malfunction were reported out of 1996 anesthesia-related incidents (4.6%). Failed/malfunctioned equipment included anesthetic circuit (17.4%), anesthesia machine (15.2%), capnography (15.2%), laryngoscope (15.2%), ventilator (12%), pulse oximeter (8.7%), vaporizer (4.3%), endotracheal tube (3.3%), sodalime (3.3%), and electrocardiogram (2.2%). All 16 anesthetic circuit incidents (100%) were detected by clinical signs whereas five incidents (31.3%) were detected firstly by monitors. All 14 laryngoscope malfunction (100%) were detected solely by clinical signs. Only one out of eight (12.5%) of pulse oximeter incidents was detected by clinical signs before the pulse oximeter itself. Three out of four (75%) incidents of vaporizer were detected by clinical signs before monitors. The majority of equipment malfunction was considered as related to anesthetic (69.6%) and system factors (69.6%) and 71.7% of incidents were preventable. Seventy-four incidents (80.4%) were caused by human error and, specifically, rule-based error in three fourths. CONCLUSION: Contributing factors were ineffective equipment, haste, lack of experience, ineffective monitors, and inadequate equipment. Factors minimizing incidents were equipment maintenance, pre-use equipment checking, vigilance, prior experience, and compliance to guidelines. Suggested strategies were quality assurance activity, training, and improvement of supervision.

The Thai Anesthesia Incident Monitoring study (Thai AIMS): an analysis of 21 awareness events.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the characteristics, outcomes, and the circumstances associated with intraoperative recall of awareness. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Relevant data of intra-operative recall of awareness were extracted from the Thai Anesthesia Incident Monitoring study (Thai AIMS) database of 1996 incident reports and 2537 incidents which were conducted among 51 hospitals throughout Thailand from January to June, 2007. Details regarding patients, surgical, anesthetic and systematic factors were recorded in a structured data record form. The completed record forms were reviewed independently by three anesthesiologists. The descriptive statistic was analyzed by using SPSS software version 11.5 and demonstrated in number and percent. RESULTS: Twenty-one incidents (21/1996 = 1.05%) of intra-operative recall of awareness were reported. Awareness was predominantly found in females (76.2%) and with ASA physical status I (47.6%). Most of the patients recalled events during the maintenance period and reported sound (71.4%), pain (52.4%), feeling operated (38.1%), paralysis (33.3%), recognizing intubated (4.8%) and panic (4.8%). Anxiety (33.3%), temporary emotional stress (19%), and post traumatic stress (4.8%) were found during immediate outcome assessment but scarcely sustained on the hospital discharged date. The factors associated with the incidents were anesthetic related in the majority especially ineffective monitoring (100%), pre-medication abandonment (100%) and light anesthesia (71.5%). CONCLUSION: Intra-operative recall of awareness in the Thai AIMS was 1.05% of all incident reports. Most of the events were considered as anesthesia related. The suggested corrective strategies were quality assurance activity, effective monitoring and equipment maintenance.

The Thai anesthesia incident monitoring study of perioperative allergic reactions: an analysis of 1996 incidents reports.

OBJECTIVES: Analyze the clinical course, management, outcome, and contributing factors of perioperative allergic reactions in the Thai Anesthesia Incident Monitoring Study (Thai AIMS). MATERIAL AND METHOD: A prospective descriptive multicenter study was conducted in 51 hospitals across Thailand Voluntary, anonymous reports of any adverse or undesirable events during the first 24 hours of anesthesia were sent to the Thai AIMS data management unit. Possible perioperative allergic reactions were extracted and examined independently by three peer reviewers. RESULTS: Forty-three reports of possible perioperative allergic reactions from the 2,537 incidents reported to the Thai AIMS (1.6%) were reviewed. There was a female predominance (1.9:1). The most common features were cutaneous manifestations (93%), arterial hypotension (20.1%), and bronchospasm (11.6%) respectively. The severity grades were 69.8% in grade I, 4.7% in grade II, and 25.6% in grade III. The three most suspected causative agents were neuromuscular blocking agents (39.5%, 30.2%-succinylcholine), antibiotics (27.9%), and opioids (18.6%) respectively. All but one responded well to treatment with complete recovery. One patient suffered acute myocardial infarction and had to stay at the hospital for longer than one week. None had further allergic reaction. CONCLUSION: Perioperative allergic reactions accounted for 1.6% of anesthetic adverse events. The most common features were cutaneous manifestations. A quarter of these were life-threatening but responded well to treatment. The most common suspected causative agent was succinylcholine.

Multicentered study of model of anesthesia related adverse events in Thailand by incident report (The Thai Anesthesia Incidents Monitoring Study): results.

OBJECTIVE: The Thai Anesthesia Incidents Monitoring Study (Thai AIMS) was aimed to identify and analyze anesthesia incidents in order to find out the frequency distribution, clinical courses, management of incidents, and investigation of model appropriate for possible corrective strategies. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Fifty-one hospitals (comprising of university, military, regional, general, and district hospitals across Thailand) participated in the present study. Each hospital was invited to report, on an anonymous and voluntary basis, any unintended anesthesia incident during six months (January to June 2007). A standardized incident report form was developed in order to fill in what, where, when, how, and why it happened in both the close-end and open-end questionnaire. Each incident report was reviewed by three reviewers. Any disagreement was discussed and judged to achieve a consensus. RESULTS: Among 1996 incident reports and 2537 incidents, there were more male (55%) than female (45%) patients with ASA PS 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 = 22%, 36%, 24%, 11%, and 7%, respectively. Surgical specialties that posed high risk of incidents were neurosurgical, otorhino-laryngological, urological, and cardiac surgery. Common places where incidents occurred were operating room (61%), ward (10%), and recovery room (9%). Common occurred incidents were arrhythmia needing treatment (25%), desaturation (24%), death within 24 hr (20%), cardiac arrest (14%), reintubation (10%), difficult intubation (8%), esophageal intubation (5%), equipment failure (5%), and drug error (4%) etc. Monitors that first detected incidents were EKG (46%), Pulse oximeter (34%), noninvasive blood pressure (12%), capnometry (4%), and mean arterial pressure (1%). CONCLUSION: Common factors related to incidents were inexperience, lack of vigilance, inadequate preanesthetic evaluation, inappropriate decision, emergency condition, haste, inadequate supervision, and ineffective communication. Suggested corrective strategies were quality assurance activity, clinical practice guideline, improvement of supervision, additional training, improvement of communication, and an increase in personnel.