Analysis of Patients with Alcohol Dependence Treated in Silesian Intensive Care Units.

Analysis of patients with alcohol dependence (AD) treated in intensive care units has never been performed in Poland. Data from 25,416 adult patients identified in a Silesian Registry of Intensive Care Units were analysed. Patients with AD were identified, and their data were compared with the remaining population. Preadmission and admission variables that independently influenced ICU death in these patients were identified. Among 25,416 analysed patients, 2285 subjects (9.0%) were indicated to have AD among their comorbidities. Patients with AD were significantly younger (mean age: 53.3 ± 11.9 vs. 62.2 ± 15.5 years, p < 0.001) but had a higher mean APACHE II score at admission and were more frequently admitted to the ICU due to trauma, poisonings, acute pancreatitis, and severe metabolic abnormalities. ICU death and unfavourable outcomes were more frequent in these patients (47.8% vs. 43.0%, p < 0.001 and 54.1% vs. 47.0%, p < 0.001, respectively). Multiorgan failure as the primary cause of ICU admission was among the most prominent independent risk factors for ICU death in these patients (OR: 3.30, p < 0.001). Despite the younger age, ICU treatment of patients with AD was associated with higher mortality and a higher percentage of unfavourable outcomes.

The importance of fluid balance in critically ill patients: a retrospective observational study

BACKGROUND: Fluid therapy in critically ill patients remains one of the most demanding and difficult aspects of care. This is particularly important in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) due to cardiovascular disorders. AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate whether a cumulative fluid balance (FB) affects mortality in critically ill patients hospitalized at the ICU. METHODS: Data were obtained from the medical records of the ICU at the Silesian Centre for Heart Diseases. All patients admitted to the ICU between 2012 and 2016 were evaluated. Patients who died or were discharged from the ICU within 48 hours from admission were excluded. Fluid balance and the type of fluids infused during the first 7 days were assessed. The primary outcome was ICU mortality. RESULTS: Overall, 495 patients were included in the study and 303 (61.2%) survived the ICU stay. Daily FB in the first 24, 48, and 72 hours after admission and the cumulative FB after 7 days were significantly lower in survivors. Fluid balance exceeding 1000 ml and the use of colloid solutions in the first 72 hours were independently associated with mortality, along with the diagnosis of stroke and shock on admission. CONCLUSIONS: A positive FB exceeding 1000 ml in the first 72 hours from admission to the ICU is independently associated with an increased risk of mortality in critically ill patients with cardiovascular disorders. The use of colloid solutions is associated with a higher positive FB.

Should we admit more patients not requiring invasive ventilation to reduce excess mortality in Polish intensive care units? Data from the Silesian ICU Registry.

INTRODUCTION: Mortality in Polish intensive care units (ICU) is excessively high. Only a few patients do not require intubation and invasive ventilation throughout the whole ICU treatment period. We aimed to define this population, as pre-emptive admissions of such patients may increase the population which benefits from ICU admission and reduce excessive mortality in Polish ICUs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data on 20 651 patients from the Silesian Registry of Intensive Care Units were analysed. Patients who did not require intubation and invasive ventilation (referred to as non-ventilated patients) were identified and compared to the remaining ICU population. Independent variables that influence being non-intubated in the ICU were identified. RESULTS: Among 20 368 analyzed adult patients, only 1233 (6.1%) were in the non-ventilated group. Non-ventilated patients were younger, with fewer comorbidities and a lower APACHE II score at admission (13.0 ±7.1 vs. 23.7 ±8.6 points, p < 0.001). Patients with cardiac arrest prior to admission were particularly rare in this group (2.6% vs. 26.8%, p < 0.001). The ICU mortality among non-ventilated patients was 6 to 7 times lower (7.0% vs. 46.7%, p < 0.001). Independent variables that influenced the ICU stay in non-ventilated patients were: obstetric complications as the primary cause of ICU admission, presence of a systemic autoimmune disease, invasive monitoring as the primary cause of ICU admission, ICU readmission and the presence of cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Non-ventilated patients have a high potential for a favourable outcome. Pre­emptive ICU admissions have a potential to reduce mortality in Polish ICUs.

Young Adults Among Patients Admitted to Polish Intensive Care Units in the Silesian ICU Registry.

BACKGROUND Patients under 30 years of age constitute a unique population in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The aim of this study was to obtain information on young adults admitted to Polish ICUs and to identify independent predictors of favorable outcome in this population. MATERIAL AND METHODS Data from 20 651 adult patients from the Silesian Registry of Intensive Care Units conducted in the Silesian Region of Poland since October 2010 were analyzed. Patients aged 18-29 years were identified and their data were compared to the remaining population. Preadmission and admission variables that independently influence the favorable outcome (defined as survival of ICU stay and discharge in a condition other than vegetative state or minimally conscious state) were identified. RESULTS Among 20 609 analyzed adult patients, 850 (4.1%) were under the age of 30 years. Young adults had a lower mean APACHE II and SAPS III score at admission and were more frequently admitted to the ICU due to trauma, poisonings, acute neurological disorders, and obstetric complications. ICU mortality was over 2 times lower (20.1% vs. 45.3%, p<0.001). Independent variables affecting favorable outcome in this population were: admission to ICU from the operating theatre and multiple trauma as a primary cause of admission. CONCLUSIONS The greater chance of favorable outcome in adults under the age of 30 years admitted to the ICU is due to their unique characteristics. Favorable outcome in young adults is most likely among patients admitted to the ICU following multiple trauma or admitted from the operating theatre.

Outcome Prediction After Coronary Surgery and Redo Surgery for Bleeding (From the KROK Registry).

OBJECTIVES: To assess the reliability of EuroSCORE II in an entire population after isolated coronary artery surgery and separately among patients who underwent redo surgery due to bleeding, and to create a model predicting hospital death among patients who underwent redo surgery owing to bleeding. DESIGN: Retrospective study based on data from the Polish National Registry of Cardiac Surgical Procedures. SETTING: Multi-institutional study. PARTICIPANTS: The study comprised 41,353 patients who underwent isolated coronary artery surgery in Poland between January 2012 and December 2014. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: EuroSCORE II reliability was estimated using the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC), the observed-to-expected surgical mortality ratio (O/E), and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test. Parameters of the function correcting the original EuroSCORE II were determined using the least squares method. The original score was adjusted using a created formula. Among the 41,353 patients, 1,406 (3.4%) underwent reexploration. Even though EuroSCORE II was reliable in predicting hospital mortality in the entire population (AUC 0.76, O/E ratio 1.08), it greatly underestimated mortality for patients who required reexploration (AUC 0.74, O/E ratio 4.33). In this subpopulation, the worst performance of the EuroSCORE II was noted among patients with the lowest predicted mortality (0.50%-0.82%) Accurate calibration was obtained by adding a coefficient and creating a nomogram. CONCLUSIONS: EuroSCORE II was reliable in a Polish population undergoing isolated coronary surgery. After redo surgery for bleeding, the observed mortality was much higher than in the overall coronary population, but the rate was made more accurate by adding a coefficient to the initially calculated EuroSCORE II.

In-hospital and mid-term outcomes in patients reoperated on due to bleeding following coronary artery surgery (from the KROK Registry).

OBJECTIVES: Surgical re-exploration due to postoperative bleeding that follows coronary artery surgery is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to assess a relationship between re-exploration, major postoperative complications, in-hospital mortality and mid-term outcomes in patients following coronary surgery, on the basis of nationwide registry data. METHODS: We identified all consecutive patients enrolled in Polish National Registry of Cardiac Surgical Procedures (KROK Registry) who underwent isolated coronary surgery between January 2012 and December 2014. Preoperative data, major postoperative complications, hospital mortality and mid-term all-cause mortality were, respectively, analysed. Comparisons were performed in all patients, low-risk patients (EuroSCORE II < 2%, males, aged 60-70 years) and propensity-matched patients. The starting point for follow-up was the date of hospital discharge. RESULTS: Among 41 353 analysed patients, 1406 (3.4%) underwent re-exploration. Reoperated patients had more comorbidities, more frequent major postoperative complications, higher in-hospital mortality (13.2% vs 1.8%, P < 0.001) and higher mid-term mortality in survivors (P < 0.001). In the low-risk population, 3.0% of patients underwent re-exploration. Reoperated low-risk patients and propensity-matched patients also had more frequent major postoperative complications and higher in-hospital mortality, but mid-term mortality in survivors was similar. In a multivariable analysis, re-exploration was an independent predictor of death and all major postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical re-exploration due to postoperative bleeding following coronary artery surgery carries a high risk of perioperative mortality and is linked to major postoperative complications. Among patients who survive to hospital discharge, mid-term mortality is associated primarily with preoperative comorbidities.

Utility of serum concentration of protein S100 at admission to the medical intensive care unit in prediction of permanent neurological injury.

INTRODUCTION: Admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) may be preceded by dramatic events leading to permanent neurological injury. Plasma S100 protein levels are proved to be clinically useful in predicting neurological outcome following cardiac arrest. It is unclear, however, whether this may be extrapolated to a broader population of ICU patients. AIM: To assess the utility of plasma S100 protein in predicting death, permanent neurological damage, or unfavourable outcome at admission to the intensive care unit. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The concentration of plasma S100 protein was established in 102 patients on admission to the ICU, regardless of their neurological status and the reason for admission. The majority of patients were admitted with various cardiac diseases, excluding trauma patients. The patients were classified into three groups with the following binary outcomes: permanent neurological deficit or restoration of consciousness; unfavourable outcome (death or survival with permanent neurological deficit) or favourable outcome; and death or survival. RESULTS: Plasma S100 protein levels at admission facilitated the identification of patients who later developed a permanent neurological deficit or regained consciousness (p < 0.0001). All patients with plasma S100 protein over 0.532 µg/l at ICU admission either developed a permanent neurological deficit or had an unfavourable outcome (death or survival with permanent neurological deficit). However, sensitivity for this cut-off value was only 48% and 40%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma S100 protein levels over 0.532 µg/l are specific but not sensitive for both permanent neurological deficit and unfavourable outcome when assessed in a heterogeneous population at admission to the ICU.

Prevalence and clinical significance of elevated preoperative glycosylated hemoglobin in diabetic patients scheduled for coronary artery surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To establish what is the prevalence of elevated HbA1c among diabetic patients scheduled for coronary surgery and whether this may influence their postoperative outcome. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of our departmental cardiac surgical database over a 3-year period (2006-2008). Among the 2665 patients, who underwent coronary revascularization, 782 (29.3%) patients had diabetes mellitus, with 735 (94.0%) patients having their HbA1c assessed preoperatively up to 3 days before the start of the procedure. Patients with preoperative normal or elevated HbA1c (>7%) were compared regarding their hospital mortality, morbidity (defined as any postoperative complication such as stroke, renal failure, wound infection, perioperative myocardial infarction (MI), and others) as well as mean intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay. Patients for comparisons were matched to achieve similar preoperative status with a use of a Greedy matching procedure. Chi-square test was performed to compare variables of interest; p<0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Elevated HbA1c levels were present in 38.4% of diabetic patients - 57.1% of patients among insulin-dependent diabetics, 27.3% of patients on oral medication, and in 7.7% of patients whose diabetes was treated with diet only. In a direct comparison and after matching for preoperative variables, elevated HbA1c levels increased only the frequency of perioperative MI (p=0.01). Other complications, length of ICU and hospital stay as well as early mortality were similar in both the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated HbA1c levels are common among diabetic patients scheduled for coronary surgery, particularly in patients receiving insulin, and are associated with more frequent occurrence of perioperative MI.

Incidence and prediction of permanent neurological deficits after cardiac surgery - are the existing models of prediction truly global?

OBJECTIVE: Permanent neurological deficit (PND) is a relatively rare but serious complication of cardiac surgery, associated with a high mortality and a poor prognosis for an acceptable quality of life. A few predictive models of PND have been developed; however, it is not certain whether they may be extrapolated to any cardiac surgical population. We aimed to assess the epidemiology and identify predictors of PND on the basis of a single, prospective hospital database from Eastern Europe. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 6016 consecutive adult patients (coronary revascularisation with or without cardiopulmonary bypass - 3,613 patients; isolated single-, double- or triple-valve repair or replacement - 1,221 patients; CABG+valve repair or replacement - 563 patients; aortic aneurysm surgery - 228 patients; and other procedures - 391 patients). PND was defined as a new focal or global disorder of cerebral function lasting longer than 24h and still present at the time of hospital discharge or the patient's death. Thirty independent preoperative, intra-operative and postoperative variables that might influence PND were selected and analysed. RESULTS: In total, PND was identified in 2.5% of patients (coronary surgery - 1.7%, isolated valve surgery - 2.9%, combined procedures - 5.3%, aortic aneurysm surgery - 7.5% and others - 2.2%). The overall mortality among patients with PND was very high in comparison to the remaining patients (40.4% vs 2.2%, p<0.001). In a multivariate analysis, PND was associated with five variables: cardiopulmonary bypass time >2h (odds ratio (OR) 3.35), emergency surgery (OR 3.34), early rethoracotomy (OR 3.17), age >65 years (OR 1.70) and unstable course of cardiac disease (OR 1.60). CONCLUSION: PND after cardiac operation is associated with a high mortality and poor prognosis. The incidence of PND varies depending on the procedure. Predictive models of neurological injury post-cardiac surgery should be more centre-specific.

Comparison of remifentanil or fentanyl administration during isoflurane anesthesia for coronary artery bypass surgery.

BACKGROUND: The combination of inhalational agents with moderate doses of fentanyl is popular in cardiac anesthesia. Remifentanil is a new opioid metabolized by non-specific esterases. The aim of our study was to assess whether remifentanil may be superior to fentanyl during isoflurane anesthesia for coronary artery surgery. MATERIAL/METHODS: Forty patients aged 40-70 years with stable coronary artery disease were randomly allocated to two groups: remifentanil was used in 20 patients (group I) and fentanyl was used in 20 patients (group II). Induction of anesthesia was performed with remifentanil infusion (0.5 microg/kg/min) or a bolus dose of fentanyl (5 microg/kg) followed by a bolus of etomidate and pancuronium. Maintenance of anesthesia was provided by isoflurane and infusion of the study opioid, with the rate adjusted according to systolic blood pressure values. Hemodynamic parameters were registered before and after the induction of anesthesia, skin incision, sternotomy, aortic cannulation, termination of cardiopulmonary bypass, chest closure, and skin closure. RESULTS: Heart rate and mean arterial pressure values were significantly lower in the remifentanil group, while systemic vascular resistance was higher in the fentanyl group in the measurements taken before the initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass. No differences were found between groups in the values of mean pulmonary pressure, pulmonary artery wedge pressure and transpulmonary pressure gradient, central venous pressure, and cardiac index. CONCLUSIONS: Remifentanil is safe during inhalation anesthesia for coronary artery surgery and it appears to be more effective than fentanyl in blunting hemodynamic response before the initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass surgery.

[Remifentanil--ultra-short acting opioid and its possible applications in anesthesiology]. / Remifentanyl--ultrakrótko dzialaj4cy nowy srodek opioidowy-mozliwosci zastosowania w anestezjologii.

Remifentanil is a new, ultra-short acting opioid, which may be applied in several branches of anaesthesia. Data concerning pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics as well as review of references regarding practical use, combining this drug with other anaesthetics agents and side effects are given. Particular attention is paid to the usefulness of remifentanil to provide good control of haemodynamics and stress response during surgical procedures. Remifentanil also seems to be very effective in the intensive care setting and for pain control during various medical procedures.