Ultrasound and Other Advanced Hemodynamic Monitoring Techniques in the Intensive Care Unit.

The ideal device for hemodynamic monitoring of critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) or the operating room has not yet been developed. This would need to be affordable, consistent, have a very low margin of error (<30%), be minimally or noninvasive, and allow the clinician to make a reasonable therapeutic decision that consistently led to better outcomes. Such a device does not yet exist. This article will describe the distinct options we, as critical care physicians, currently possess for this Herculean endeavor.

Optimizing Fluid Resuscitation and Preventing Fluid Overload in Patients with Septic Shock.

Intravenous fluid administration remains an important component in the care of patients with septic shock. A common error in the treatment of septic shock is the use of excessive fluid in an effort to overcome both hypovolemia and vasoplegia. While fluids are necessary to help correct the intravascular depletion, vasopressors should be concomitantly administered to address vasoplegia. Excessive fluid administration is associated with worse outcomes in septic shock, so great care should be taken when deciding how much fluid to give these vulnerable patients. Simple or strict "recipes" which mandate an exact amount of fluid to administer, even when weight based, are not associated with better outcomes and therefore should be avoided. Determining the correct amount of fluid requires the clinician to repeatedly assess and consider multiple variables, including the fluid deficit, organ dysfunction, tolerance of additional fluid, and overall trajectory of the shock state. Dynamic indices, often involving the interaction between the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, appear to be superior to traditional static indices such as central venous pressure for assessing fluid responsiveness. Point-of-care ultrasound offers the bedside clinician a multitude of applications which are useful in determining fluid administration in septic shock. In summary, prevention of fluid overload in septic shock patients is extremely important, and requires the careful attention of the entire critical care team.

Long-Term Assessment of the Effects of COVID-19 and Isolation Care on Survivor Disability and Anxiety.

We conducted an assessment of disability, anxiety, and other life impacts of COVID-19 and isolation care in a unique cohort of individuals. These included both community admissions to a university hospital as well as some of the earliest international aeromedical evacuees. Among an initial 16 COVID-19 survivors that were interviewed 6-12 months following their admission into isolation care, perception of their isolation care experience was related to their reporting of long-term consequences. However, anxiety and disability assessed with standard scores had no relationship with each other. Both capture of the isolation care experience and caution relying on single scoring systems for assessing long-term consequences in survivors are important considerations for on-going and future COVID-19 and other pandemic survivor research.

Advanced Preparation Makes Research in Emergencies and Isolation Care Possible: The Case of Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).

The optimal time to initiate research on emergencies is before they occur. However, timely initiation of high-quality research may launch during an emergency under the right conditions. These include an appropriate context, clarity in scientific aims, preexisting resources, strong operational and research structures that are facile, and good governance. Here, Nebraskan rapid research efforts early during the 2020 coronavirus disease pandemic, while participating in the first use of U.S. federal quarantine in 50 years, are described from these aspects, as the global experience with this severe emerging infection grew apace. The experience has lessons in purpose, structure, function, and performance of research in any emergency, when facing any threat.

Early Goal-Directed Therapy for Sepsis: A Novel Solution for Discordant Survival Outcomes in Clinical Trials.

OBJECTIVES: Early goal-directed therapy has shown discordant survival outcomes in sepsis studies. We aim to find the reasons for this discordance. DESIGN: Random-effects and Bayesian hierarchical analyses. SETTING: Studies that evaluated early goal-directed therapy. SUBJECTS: Patients with severe sepsis and/or septic shock. INTERVENTIONS: Early goal-directed therapy. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 19,998 patients were included in the main analysis: 31 observational (n = 15,656) and six randomized (n = 4,342) studies. The analysis from 37 studies showed that early goal-directed therapy was associated with a 23% reduction in the risk of death: relative risk = 0.77 (95% CI, 0.71-0.83); p value of less than 0.0001. Mortality reduction was seen with observational studies: relative risk = 0.73 (0.67-0.80); p value of less than 0.0001 but not with randomized studies: relative risk = 0.92 (0.78-1.07); p = 0.268. Meta-regression analysis showed lower risk of death in observational compared with randomized studies: relative risk = 0.81 (0.68-0.95); p = 0.01. Differences in age, country, hospital location, era, systolic pressure, mean arterial pressure, lactate, bundle compliance, amount of fluid administered, and hemodynamic goal achievements were not associated with survival differences between studies. Factors associated with mortality differences between early goal-directed therapy and control included Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (relative risk = 1.05 [1.02-1.09]; p = 0.003), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (relative risk = 1.09 [1.00-1.18]; p = 0.04), presence of shock (relative risk = 1.007 [1.002-1.013]; p = 0.006), time-to-first antibiotic (relative risk = 1.22 [1.09-1.36]; p = 0.0006), antibiotic administration within 6 hours (relative risk = 0.20 [0.09-0.45]; p = 0.0001), 4 hours (relative risk = 0.16 [0.06-0.39]; p = 0.0001), and 3 hours (relative risk = 0.09 [0.03-0.27]; p < 0.0001). The only factors that explained mortality differences between randomized and observational studies were time-to-first antibiotic (R = 87%), antibiotic administration within 6 hours (R = 94%), 4 hours (R = 99%), 3 hours (R = 99%), and appropriate antibiotic use (R = 96%). CONCLUSIONS: Survival discordance was not associated with differences in early goal-directed therapy bundle compliance or hemodynamic goal achievement. Our results suggest that it was associated with faster and more appropriate antibiotic co-intervention in the early goal-directed therapy arm compared with controls in the observational studies but not in the randomized trials. Early goal-directed therapy was associated with increased mortality in patients with high-disease severity.

Critical Care for Multiple Organ Failure Secondary to Ebola Virus Disease in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: This report describes three patients with Ebola virus disease who were treated in the United States and developed for severe critical illness and multiple organ failure secondary to Ebola virus infection. The patients received mechanical ventilation, renal replacement therapy, invasive monitoring, vasopressor support, and investigational therapies for Ebola virus disease. DATA SOURCES: Patient medical records from three tertiary care centers (Emory University Hospital, University of Nebraska Medical Center, and Texas Health Presbyterian Dallas Hospital). STUDY SELECTION: Not applicable. DATA EXTRACTION: Not applicable. DATA SYNTHESIS: Not applicable. CONCLUSION: In the severe form, patients with Ebola virus disease may require life-sustaining therapy, including mechanical ventilation and renal replacement therapy. In conjunction with other reported cases, this series suggests that respiratory and renal failure may occur in severe Ebola virus disease, especially in patients burdened with high viral loads. Ebola virus disease complicated by multiple organ failure can be survivable with the application of advanced life support measures. This collective, multicenter experience is presented with the hope that it may inform future treatment of patients with Ebola virus disease requiring critical care treatment.

Emergency Department Processes for the Evaluation and Management of Persons Under Investigation for Ebola Virus Disease.

INTRODUCTION: Due to the recent Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa, patients with epidemiologic risk for Ebola virus disease and symptoms consistent with Ebola virus disease are presenting to emergency departments (EDs) and clinics in the United States. These individuals, identified as a person under investigation for Ebola virus disease, are initially screened using a molecular assay for Ebola virus. If this initial test is negative and the person under investigation has been symptomatic for < 3 days, a repeat test is required after 3 days of symptoms to verify the negative result. In the time interval before the second test result is available, manifestations of the underlying disease process for the person under investigation, whether due to Ebola virus disease or some other etiology, may require further investigation to direct appropriate therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ED administrators, physicians, and nurses proposed processes to provide care that is consistent with other ED patients. Biocontainment unit administrators, industrial hygienists, laboratory directors, physicians, and other medical personnel examined the ED processes and offered biocontainment unit personal protective equipment and process strategies designed to ensure safety for providers and patients. CONCLUSION: ED processes for the safe and timely evaluation and management of the person under investigation for Ebola virus disease are presented with the ultimate goals of protecting providers and ensuring a consistent level of care while confirmatory testing is pending.

The Use of TKM-100802 and Convalescent Plasma in 2 Patients With Ebola Virus Disease in the United States.

BACKGROUND: The current West Africa Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak has resulted in multiple individuals being medically evacuated to other countries for clinical management. METHODS: We report two patients who were transported from West Africa to the United States for treatment of EVD. Both patients received aggressive supportive care measures, as well as an investigational therapeutic (TKM-100802) and convalescent plasma. RESULTS: While one patient experienced critical illness with multi-organ failure requiring mechanical ventilation and renal replacement therapy, both patients recovered without serious long-term sequelae to date. CONCLUSIONS: It is unclear what role the experimental drug and convalescent plasma had in the recovery of these patients. Prospective clinical trials are needed to delineate the role of investigational therapies in the care of patients with EVD.

Lessons learned: critical care management of patients with Ebola in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: This report will describe the preparations for and the provision of care of two patients with Ebola virus disease in the biocontainment unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. DATA SOURCES: Patient medical records. STUDY SELECTION: Not applicable. DATA EXTRACTION: Not applicable. DATA SYNTHESIS: Not applicable. CONCLUSIONS: Safe and effective care of patients with Ebola virus disease requires significant communication and planning. Adherence to a predetermined isolation protocol is essential, including proper donning and doffing of personal protective equipment. Location of the patient care area and the logistics of laboratory testing, diagnostic imaging, and the removal of waste must be considered. Patients with Ebola virus disease are often dehydrated and need adequate vascular access for fluid resuscitation, nutrition, and phlebotomy for laboratory sampling. Advanced planning for acute life-threatening events and code status must be considered. Intensivist scheduling should account for the significant amount of time required for the care of patients with Ebola virus disease. With appropriate precautions and resources, designated hospitals in the United States can safely provide care for patients with Ebola virus disease.

Delay of transfer from the intensive care unit: a prospective observational study of incidence, causes, and financial impact.

INTRODUCTION: A paucity of literature exists regarding delays in transfer out of the intensive care unit. We sought to analyze the incidence, causes, and costs of delayed transfer from a surgical intensive care unit (SICU). METHODS: An IRB-approved prospective observational study was conducted from January 24, 2010, to July 31, 2010, of all 731 patients transferred from a 20-bed SICU at a large tertiary-care academic medical center. Data were collected on patients who were medically ready for transfer to the floor who remained in the SICU for at least 1 extra day. Reasons for delay were examined, and extra costs associated were estimated. RESULTS: Transfer to the floor was delayed in 22% (n = 160) of the 731 patients transferred from the SICU. Delays ranged from 1 to 6 days (mean, 1.5 days; median, 2 days). The extra costs associated with delays were estimated to be $581,790 during the study period, or $21,547 per week. The most common reasons for delay in transfer were lack of available surgical-floor bed (71% (114 of 160)), lack of room appropriate for infectious contact precautions (18% (28 of 160)), change of primary service (Surgery to Medicine) (7% (11 of 160)), and lack of available patient attendant ("sitter" for mildly delirious patients) (3% (five of 160)). A positive association was found between the daily hospital census and the daily number of SICU beds occupied by patients delayed in transfer (Spearman rho = 0.27; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Delay in transfer from the SICU is common and costly. The most common reason for delay is insufficient availability of surgical-floor beds. Delay in transfer is associated with high hospital census. Further study of this problem is necessary.

Epidural blood patch for postdural puncture positional vertigo.

STUDY DESIGN: Case report. OBJECTIVE: To report an unusual case of refractory positional vertigo without headache that developed after the placement of an epidural catheter for postoperative pain and that was treated with an epidural blood patch. SUMMARY OF THE BACKGROUND DATA: Although it is common practice to use epidural blood patch (EBP) to treat positional headache from postdural puncture (PDP), the literature is limited to one letter to the editor describing PDP positional vertigo treated with EBP. METHODS: Description of a clinical case. RESULTS: Here we present a case where the patient presented with the complaint of vertigo without headache and had a characteristic onset with upright position and marked relief when lying down. The patient received an EBP with complete resolution of her symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: This case illustrates patient can present with an isolated symptom such as dizziness without headache after PDP. The patient received an EBP with complete resolution of her symptom of postdural dizziness.