Evaluating telehealth for the education and monitoring of lymphoedema and shoulder dysfunction after breast cancer surgery.

PURPOSE: The primary aim of this study was to compare the attendance rates at a group lymphoedema education and same-day individual surveillance appointment between telehealth (TH) and in-person (IP) care for participants following breast cancer (BC) surgery. Secondary aims included evaluating participant satisfaction and costs between the two service models, while also determining the extent of technical issues and clinician satisfaction towards TH. METHODS: Participants following axillary lymph node dissection surgery attended a group lymphoedema education and same-day 1:1 monitoring session via their preferred mode (TH or IP). Attendance rates, satisfaction and costs were recorded for both cohorts, and technical disruption and clinician satisfaction for the TH cohort. RESULTS: Fifty-five individuals participated. All 28 participants who nominated the IP intervention attended, while 22/27 who nominated the TH intervention attended an appointment. Overall reported participant experience was positive with no significant differences between cohorts. All TH appointments were successfully completed. Clinicians reported high satisfaction for delivery of education (median = 4[IQR 4-5]) and individual assessment (median = 4[IQR 3-4]) via TH. Median attendance costs per participant were Australian $39.68 (Q1-Q3 $28.52-$68.64) for TH and Australian $154.26 (Q1-Q3 $81.89-$251.48) for the IP cohort. CONCLUSION: Telehealth-delivered lymphoedema education and assessment for individuals following BC surgery was associated with favourable satisfaction, cost savings and minimal technical issues despite lower attendance than IP care. This study contributes to the growing evidence for TH and its potential applicability to other populations where risk for cancer-related lymphoedema exists.

Temperature Profile and Adverse Outcomes After Discharge From the Intensive Care Unit.

BACKGROUND: A predictive model that uses the rhythmicity of core body temperature (CBT) could be an easily accessible clinical tool to ultimately improve outcomes among critically ill patients. OBJECTIVES: To assess the relation between the 24-hour CBT profile (CBT-24) before intensive care unit (ICU) discharge and clinical events in the step-down unit within 7 days of ICU discharge. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study in a tertiary ICU at a single center included adult patients requiring acute invasive ventilation for more than 48 hours and assessed major clinical adverse events (MCAEs) and rapid response system activations (RRSAs) within 7 days of ICU discharge (MCAE-7 and RRSA-7, respectively). RESULTS: The 291 enrolled patients had a median mechanical ventilation duration of 139 hours (IQR, 50-862 hours) and at admission had a median Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score of 22 (IQR, 7-42). At least 1 MCAE or RRSA occurred in 64% and 22% of patients, respectively. Independent predictors of an MCAE-7 were absence of CBT-24 rhythmicity (odds ratio, 1.78 [95% CI, 1.07-2.98]; P = .03), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score at ICU discharge (1.10 [1.00-1.21]; P = .05), male sex (1.72 [1.04-2.86]; P = .04), age (1.02 [1.00-1.04]; P = .02), and Charlson Comorbidity Index (0.87 [0.76-0.99]; P = .03). Age (1.03 [1.01-1.05]; P = .006), sepsis at ICU admission (2.02 [1.13-3.63]; P = .02), and Charlson Comorbidity Index (1.18 [1.02-1.36]; P = .02) were independent predictors of an RRSA-7. CONCLUSIONS: Use of CBT-24 rhythmicity can assist in stratifying a patient's risk of subsequent deterioration during general care within 7 days of ICU discharge.

Temperature rhythms and ICU sleep: the TRIS study.

BACKGROUND: Core body temperature (CBT) patterns associated with sleep have not been described in the critically ill. This study aimed to characterize night-time sleep and its relationship to CBT in ICU patients. METHODS: A prospective study was performed in a 27-bed tertiary adult intensive care unit of 20 mechanically ventilated patients in the weaning stage of their critical illness. The study assessed sleep by polysomnography (PSG) during the evening between 21:00-7:00 hours, nursing interventions using the Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System (TISS), illness severity using SOFA and APACHE II scores and CBT 24-hour pattern. RESULTS: Patients were awake for approximately half the study period (45.04%, IQR 13.81-77-17) with no REM (0%, IQR 0-0.04%) and median arousals of 19.5/hour (IQR 7.1-40.9). The 24-hour CBT had a rhythmic pattern in 13 (65%) patients with a highly variable phase of median peak time at 17:35 hours (IQR 12:40-19:39). No significant associations were found between CBT rhythmicity, sleep stages, sleep EEG frequency density, illness severity scores or TISS on the day of PSG. There was no relationship between time awake and CBT rhythmicity (P=0.48) or CBT peak time (P=0.82). The relationship between circadian rhythms and sleep patterns in the critically ill is complex. CONCLUSIONS: Patients recovering in ICU commonly have CBT loss of rhythmicity or a significant phase shift with loss of normal night-time patterns of sleep architecture. Appropriate care plans to promote sleep and circadian rhythm require further investigation of contributing factors such as environment, clinical care routines, illness type and severity.

Early Sequential Microcirculation Assessment In Shocked Patients as a Predictor of Outcome: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: A dysfunctional microcirculation is universal in shock and is often dissociated from global hemodynamic parameters. Persistent microcirculatory derangements reflect ongoing tissue hypoperfusion and organ injury. The initial microcirculatory dysfunction and subsequent resolution could potentially guide therapy and predict outcomes. We evaluated the microcirculation early in a heterogenous shocked population. Microcirculatory resolution was correlated with measures of tissue perfusion and global hemodynamics. The relationship between the microcirculation over 24 h and outcome were evaluated. DESIGN: We prospectively recruited patients with all forms of shock, based on global hemodynamics and evidence of organ hypoperfusion. SETTING: A 30-bed adult intensive care unit (ICU). PATIENTS: Eighty-two shocked patients. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Following the diagnosis of shock, patients underwent a sublingual microcirculation examination using Sidestream Dark Field Imaging. The median age of patients was 66 years old (interquartile range [IQR] 54-71), with an Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II of 27 (IQR 20-32). Microcirculatory parameters included Percentage Perfused Vessels (PPV), De Backer Score, and a heterogeneity index in patients with septic shock, according to the second consensus guidelines Additional parameters collected: temperature, heart rate and arterial pressure, cumulative fluid balance, and vasopressor use. Arterial blood samples were taken at the time of microcirculatory assessments, providing HCO3, lactate concentrations, PaO2, and PaCO2 measurements. A statistically significant improvement in PPV and the heterogeneity index was demonstrated. This improvement was mirrored by biomarkers of perfusion; however, the global hemodynamic parameter changes were not significantly different over the 24-h period. The early microcirculatory improvement was not predictive of an improvement in acute kidney injury, length of stay, ICU, or hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Early sequential evaluation of the microcirculation in shocked patients, demonstrated statistically significant improvement in the PPV and microvascular heterogeneity with standard care. These improvements were mirrored by biomarkers of organ perfusion; however, the changes in global hemodynamics were not as pronounced in this early phase. Early improvement in the microcirculation did not predict clinical outcome.

Circadian Hygiene in the ICU Environment (CHIE) study.

Objective: To investigate the environment and care in the intensive care unit (ICU) and its relationship to patient circadian temperature disruption. Design: 30-day, prospective period prevalence study. Setting: 27-bed tertiary ICU. Participants: Patients expected to remain in the ICU for at least 24 hours. Main outcome measures: Temperature, relative humidity, light and sound intensity in the ICU; nursing interventions (using the Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System-28); and core body temperature of ICU patients. Results: Of 28 patients surveyed, 20 (71%) were mechanically ventilated. Median (interquartile range [IQR]) light intensity peaked at 07:00 at 165 (12-1218) lux with a trough at 23:00 of 15 (12-51) lux and was consistently < 100 lux between 21:00 and 06:00. Peak median (IQR) sound intensity was at 07:00 (62.55 [57.87-68.03] dB) while 58.84 (54.81-64.71) dB at 02:00. Ambient temperature and humidity varied with median (IQR) peaks of 23.11°C (22.74-23.31°C) at 16:00 and 44.07% (32.76-51.08%) at 11:00 and median troughs of 22.37°C (21.79-22.88°C) at 05:00 and 39.95% (31.53-47.95%) at 14:00, respectively. Disturbances to sleep during the night occurred due to care activities including linen changes (15 patients, 54%) and bathing (13, 46%). On the day before and the day of the study, 13 patients (47%) and 10 patients (36%), respectively, had a circadian rhythm on core body temperature without an association with illness severity, nursing intervention or environmental measures. Conclusions: The ICU has low light intensity with relative humidity and ambient temperature not aligned to normal human circadian timing. Noise levels are commonly equivalent to conversational speech while patient care procedures interrupt overnight sleep. The contribution of these factors to disrupted CBT rhythmicity is unclear.

Longevity of pulmonary rehabilitation benefit for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-health care utilisation in the subsequent 2 years.

Background: The primary aim was to determine the healthcare utilisation benefits including respiratory-related hospital admissions, hospital admission days and emergency department presentations in the 0-12 and 12-24 months postpulmonary rehabilitation compared with the 12 months preprogramme. Methods: An observational, data-linkage design of 11 standardised pulmonary rehabilitation programmes were used. All programmes were 8 weeks in duration with two supervised exercise sessions per week and were required to use the national pulmonary rehabilitation recommendations with regard to programme organisation, exercise training guidelines and multidisciplinary education. For each participant with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), healthcare utilisation data were collected for the 12 months preprogramme and 24 months postprogramme. Results: 426 participants (231 males, FEV149.3 (19.6) % predicted) were studied. The number of respiratory admissions/participant/year decreased from 0.7 (1.1) in the 12 months preprogramme to 0.5 (1.9) in the 12 months postprogramme, p=0.083; but increased in the 12-24 months postprogramme to 1.0 (2.3), p<0.001. The hospital days/participant/year improved from 4.0 (7.8) days in the 12 months preprogramme to 2.5 (8.5) days in the 12 months postprogramme, p<0.001; but increased in the 12-24 months postprogramme to 6.1 (16.6) days, p=0.004. The emergency department presentations/participant/year improved from 1.15 (1.75) in the 12 months preprogramme to 0.9 (1.8) in the 12 months postprogramme, p=0.003; but increased in the 12-24 months postprogramme to 2.0 (3.3), p<0.001. Conclusion: Pulmonary rehabilitation significantly improves hospital days and emergency department presentations in the first 12 months postprogramme. Healthcare utilisation benefits in the second 12 months are less clear.

When is it safe to exercise mechanically ventilated patients in the intensive care unit? An evaluation of consensus recommendations in a cardiothoracic setting.

RATIONALE: Consensus recommendations have been developed to guide exercise rehabilitation of mechanically ventilated patients in the intensive care unit. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the safety of exercise rehabilitation of mechanically ventilated patients and evaluate the consensus recommendations. METHODS: This was a prospective, single-centre, cohort study conducted in a specialist cardiothoracic intensive care unit of a tertiary, university affiliated hospital in Australia. RESULTS: 91 mechanically ventilated participants; 54 (59.3%) male; mean age of 56.52 (16.3) years; were studied with 809 occasions of service recorded. Ten (0.0182%) minor adverse events were recorded, with only one adverse event occurring when a patient was receiving moderate level of vasoactive support. CONCLUSIONS: The consensus recommendations are a useful tool in guiding safe exercise rehabilitation of mechanically ventilated patients. Our findings suggest that there is further scope to safely commence exercise rehabilitation in patients receiving vasoactive support.

Is inhaled prophylactic heparin useful for prevention and Management of Pneumonia in ventilated ICU patients?: The IPHIVAP investigators of the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Clinical Trials Group.

PURPOSE: To determine whether prophylactic inhaled heparin is effective for the prevention and treatment of pneumonia patients receiving mechanical ventilation (MV) in the intensive care unit. METHODS: A phase 2, double blind randomized controlled trial stratified for study center and patient type (non-operative, post-operative) was conducted in three university-affiliated intensive care units. Patients aged ≥18years and requiring invasive MV for more than 48hours were randomized to usual care, nebulization of unfractionated sodium heparin (5000 units in 2mL) or placebo nebulization with 0.9% sodium chloride (2mL) four times daily with the main outcome measures of the development of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP), ventilator associated complication (VAC) and sequential organ failure assessment scores in patients with pneumonia on admission or who developed VAP. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12612000038897. RESULTS: Two hundred and fourteen patients were enrolled (72 usual care, 71 inhaled sodium heparin, 71 inhaled sodium chloride). There were no differences between treatment groups in terms of the development of VAP, using either Klompas criteria (6-7%, P=1.00) or clinical diagnosis (24-26%, P=0.85). There was no difference in the clinical consistency (P=0.70), number (P=0.28) or the total volume of secretions per day (P=.54). The presence of blood in secretions was significantly less in the usual care group (P=0.005). CONCLUSION: Nebulized heparin cannot be recommended for prophylaxis against VAP or to hasten recovery from pneumonia in patients receiving MV.

A simple clinical measure of quadriceps muscle strength identifies responders to pulmonary rehabilitation.

The aim was to determine if baseline measures can predict response to pulmonary rehabilitation in terms of six-minute walk distance (6MWD) or quality of life. Participants with COPD who attended pulmonary rehabilitation between 2010 and 2012 were recruited. Baseline measures evaluated included physical activity, quadriceps strength, comorbidities, inflammatory markers, and self-efficacy. Participants were classified as a responder with improvement in 6MWD (criteria of ≥25 m or ≥2SD) and Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire (CRQ; ≥0.5 points/question). Eighty-five participants with a mean (SD) age of 67(9) years and a mean forced expiratory volume in one second of 55(22)% were studied. Forty-nine and 19 participants were responders when using the 6MWD criteria of ≥25 m and ≥61.9 m, respectively, with forty-four participants improving in CRQ. In a regression model, responders in 6MWD (≥25 m criteria) had lower baseline quadriceps strength (P = 0.028) and higher baseline self-efficacy scores (P = 0.045). Independent predictors of 6MWD response (≥61.9 m criteria) were participants with metabolic disease (P = 0.007) and lower baseline quadriceps strength (P = 0.016). Lower baseline CRQ was the only independent predictor of CRQ response. A participant with relatively lower baseline quadriceps strength was the strongest independent predictor of 6MWD response. Metabolic disease may predict 6MWD response, but predictors of CRQ response remain unclear.

Metabolic disease and participant age are independent predictors of response to pulmonary rehabilitation.

PURPOSE: The study aims were (1) to determine whether baseline measures-including the Body Mass Index, Airflow Obstruction, Dyspnea, and Exercise Capacity (BODE) index; Age, Dyspnea, and Airflow Obstruction (ADO) index; physical activity; comorbidities (cardiac, metabolic, or musculoskeletal disease); and the number of hospitalizations over the previous 12 months-can predict responders in 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) following pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) and (2) to determine whether different methods in defining improvement in 6MWD affected identifying responders to PR. METHODS: All participants with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who attended PR at our institution between 2004 and 2009 were evaluated. A participant was classified as a responder with improvement in 6MWD (≥25 m or ≥2 SD of this dataset coefficient of repeatability). RESULTS: A total of 203 participants (mean age, 68.2 ± 8.7 years; mean predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second, 52.5 ± 22.4%) were analyzed. One hundred twenty participants (59.1%) had a comorbidity categorized as cardiac, metabolic, or musculoskeletal disease. The binary logistic regression models showed that younger participants (P ≤ .015) and, when using the coefficient of repeatability method (≥60.9 m), participants with metabolic disease (P = .040) were the only independent predictors of response. No other measure, including participant BODE or ADO index scores, contributed to either model. CONCLUSION: Identifying responders in exercise capacity following PR remains difficult, with only age and participants with metabolic disease identified as independent predictors.

Performance-based criteria are used in participant selection for pulmonary rehabilitation programs.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the participant entry criteria used by Australian-based pulmonary rehabilitation programs and the factors that influence selection. METHODS: This cross-sectional observational study invited all program coordinators listed on the Australian Lung Foundation's pulmonary rehabilitation database in November 2009. RESULTS: The response rate was 40.5% (79/195), with 58% of respondents reporting a waiting list. Forty respondents reported prioritising referrals due to: disease severity (75%), requirement for medical procedure (70%), upon medical request (60%) or participant's likelihood to benefit (55%). Fifty-eight respondents reported using entry criteria to select participants, which was mainly for safety reasons and performance-based expectations. All 58 respondents used at least one exclusion criterion in selecting their participants, compared with only 25 programs using inclusion criteria. Increased demand on individual programs was related to prioritising referrals (P<0.001) and was reported by 12 programs as a reason for using participant entry criteria. CONCLUSIONS: Program coordinators commonly prioritise referrals and use participant entry criteria to manage clinical demand with performance-based expectations an important consideration. The inclusion criteria that identify participants more likely to benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation are less commonly used in the performance-based selections. What is known about the topic? Pulmonary rehabilitation is an essential component of chronic lung disease management due to the high-quality evidence demonstrating that these programs can improve participants' exercise capacity, dyspnea and quality of life. However, access to pulmonary rehabilitation is severely limited in Australia with <1% of individuals with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease able to participate in these programs each year. Prior to the present study it was unknown how Australian pulmonary rehabilitation coordinators manage this demand on their programs. What does this paper add? Program coordinators commonly prioritise referrals and use participant entry criteria to select participants, with performance-based expectations an important consideration. Although higher demand and waiting list pressure appear to influence these performance-based considerations, programs do not report using the existing evidence identifying responders to pulmonary rehabilitation in selecting participants for program inclusion. This finding is a reflection of the inadequate evidence identifying which individuals are more likely to benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation. What are the implications for practitioners? With the current healthcare resources in Australia, pulmonary rehabilitation programs cannot meet the burden of all people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Therefore the selection of participants considered most likely to benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation programs will continue to occur. Better criteria are needed to improve participant selection to ensure timely access to individuals that are most likely to benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation.