Jorge Ibrain Figueira Salluh

The confusion assessment method for the intensive care unit (CAM-ICU) and intensive care delirium screening checklist (ICDSC) for the diagnosis of delirium: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical studies.

IntroductionDelirium is a frequent form of acute brain dysfunction in critically ill patients, and several detection tools for it have been developed for use in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The objective of this study is to evaluate the current evidence on the accuracy of the Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU) and the Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (ICDSC) for the diagnosis of delirium in critically ill patients.MethodsA systematic review was conducted to identify articles on the evaluation of the CAM-ICU and the ICDSC in ICU patients. A MEDLINE, SciELO, CINAHL and EMBASE databases search was performed for articles published in the English language, involving adult populations and comparing these diagnostic tools with the gold standard, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) criteria. Results were summarized by meta-analysis. The QUADAS scale was used to assess the quality of the studies.ResultsNine studies evaluating the CAM-ICU (including 969 patients) and four evaluating the ICDSC (n = 361 patients) were included in the final analysis. The pooled sensitivity of the CAM-ICU was 80.0% (95% confidence interval (CI): 77.1 to 82.6%), and the pooled specificity was 95.9% (95% CI: 94.8 to 96.8%). The diagnostic odds ratio was 103.2 (95% CI: 39.6 to 268.8). The pooled area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.97. The pooled sensitivity of the ICDSC was 74% (95% CI: 65.3 to 81.5%), and the pooled specificity was 81.9% (95% CI: 76.7 to 86.4%). The diagnostic odds ratio was 21.5 (95% CI: 8.51 to 54.4). The AUC was 0.89.ConclusionsThe CAM-ICU is an excellent diagnostic tool in critically ill ICU patients, whereas the ICDSC has moderate sensitivity and good specificity. The available data suggest that both CAM-ICU and the ICDSC can be used as a screening tool for the diagnosis of delirium in critically ill patients.

The validity and reliability of the portuguese versions of three tools used to diagnose delirium in critically ill patients

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study are to compare the sensitivity and specificity of three diagnostic tools for delirium (the Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist, the Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Units and the Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Units Flowsheet) in a mixed population of critically ill patients, and to validate the Brazilian Portuguese Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Units. METHODS: The study was conducted in four intensive care units in Brazil. Patients were screened for delirium by a psychiatrist or neurologist using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Patients were subsequently screened by an intensivist using Portuguese translations of the three tools. RESULTS: One hundred and nineteen patients were evaluated and 38.6% were diagnosed with delirium by the reference rater. The Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Units had a sensitivity of 72.5% and a specificity of 96.2%; the Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Units Flowsheet had a sensitivity of 72.5% and a specificity of 96.2%; the Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist had a sensitivity of 96.0% and a specificity of 72.4%. There was strong agreement between the Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Units and the Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Units Flowsheet (kappa coefficient = 0.96). CONCLUSION: All three instruments are effective diagnostic tools in critically ill intensive care unit patients. In addition, the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Units is a valid and reliable instrument for the assessment of delirium among critically ill patients.

Impact of Statins in Outcomes of Septic Patients: A Systematic Review

Abstract Background: The pleiotropic effects of statins have prompted considerable research in fields other than cardiovascular disease. We reviewed the literature aiming to summarize and critically evaluate the current evidence about the potential use of statins in sepsis. Materials and Methods: We searched the Pubmed, SciELO, and Cochrane electronic databases from inception through November 1, 2013, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies that examined the association between statin use (upon hospital admission or previous users) and the risk or outcome of sepsis. Data on study characteristics, measurement of statin use, and outcomes (adjusted for potential confounders) were extracted. We structured our review according to the Principles of Reporting in Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis criteria. Quality assessment of cohort studies was performed using the Ottawa-Newcastle Scale. Results: Twenty-three cohort studies and 5 RCTs were eligible, comprising 42 549 statin users and 54 201 non–statin users, from 1995 to 2013. The populations included varied from patients admitted to general wards or intensive care units with bacterial infections, community-acquired pneumonia, ventilator-associated pneumonia, bacteremia, or sepsis, to outpatients with chronic kidney disease or established cardiovascular disease. Overall, 16 studies reported a benefit from statin use in morbidity or mortality outcomes (range of adjusted odds ratio, 0.06–0.62; α = 0.05). The remaining 12 studies found no protective effect associated with statin use upon hospital admission or previous users. Among the 5 RCTs, none demonstrated a reduction in mortality. Conclusion: There is insufficient evidence to support the use of statins in patients with sepsis, as the existing studies failed to prove a consistent mortality benefit. More clinical trials are warranted to provide more conclusive knowledge and ultimately change clinical practice.

Effectiveness and Safety of an Extended ICU Visitation Model for Delirium Prevention: A Before and After Study.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of an extended visitation model compared with a restricted visitation model on the occurrence of delirium among ICU patients. Design: Prospective single-center before and after study. Setting: Thirty-one–bed medical-surgical ICU. Patients: All patients greater than or equal to 18 years old with expected length of stay greater than or equal to 24 hours consecutively admitted to the ICU from May 2015 to November 2015. Interventions: Change of visitation policy from a restricted visitation model (4.5 hr/d) to an extended visitation model (12 hr/d). Measurements and Main Results: Two hundred eighty-six patients were enrolled (141 restricted visitation model, 145 extended visitation model). The primary outcome was the cumulative incidence of delirium, assessed bid using the confusion assessment method for the ICU. Predefined secondary outcomes included duration of delirium/coma; any ICU-acquired infection; ICU-acquired bloodstream infection, pneumonia, and urinary tract infection; all-cause ICU mortality; and length of ICU stay. The median duration of visits increased from 133 minutes (interquartile range, 97.7–162.0) in restricted visitation model to 245 minutes (interquartile range, 175.0–272.0) in extended visitation model (p < 0.001). Fourteen patients (9.6%) developed delirium in extended visitation model compared with 29 (20.5%) in restricted visitation model (adjusted relative risk, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.26–0.95). In comparison with restricted visitation model patients, extended visitation model patients had shorter length of delirium/coma (1.5 d [interquartile range, 1.0–3.0] vs 3.0 d [interquartile range, 2.5–5.0]; p = 0.03) and ICU stay (3.0 d [interquartile range, 2.0–4.0] vs 4.0 d [interquartile range, 2.0–6.0]; p = 0.04). The rate of ICU-acquired infections and all-cause ICU mortality did not differ significantly between the two study groups. Conclusions: In this medical-surgical ICU, an extended visitation model was associated with reduced occurrence of delirium and shorter length of delirium/coma and ICU stay.

Corticosteroids for severe influenza pneumonia: A critical appraisal

Influenza pneumonia is associated with high number of severe cases requiring hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions with high mortality. Systemic steroids are proposed as a valid therapeutic option even though its effects are still controversial. Heterogeneity of published data regarding study design, population demographics, severity of illness, dosing, type and timing of corticosteroids administered constitute an important limitation for drawing robust conclusions. However, it is reasonable to admit that, as it was not found any advantage of corticosteroid therapy in so diverse conditions, such beneficial effects do not exist at all. Its administration is likely to increase overall mortality and such trend is consistent regardless of the quality as well as the sample size of studies. Moreover it was shown that corticosteroids might be associated with higher incidence of hospital-acquired pneumonia and longer duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU stay. Finally, it is reasonable to conclude that corticosteroids failed to demonstrate any beneficial effects in the treatment of patients with severe influenza infection. Thus its current use in severe influenza pneumonia should be restricted to very selected cases and in the setting of clinical trials.

Perceptions and practices regarding delirium, sedation and analgesia in critically ill patients: a narrative review

A significant number of landmark studies have been published in the last decade that increase the current knowledge on sedation for critically ill patients. Therefore, many practices that were considered standard of care are now outdated. Oversedation has been shown to be hazardous, and light sedation and no-sedation protocols are associated with better patient outcomes. Delirium is increasingly recognized as a major form of acute brain dysfunction that is associated with higher mortality, longer duration of mechanical ventilation and longer lengths of stay in the intensive care unit and hospital. Despite all the available evidence, translating research into bedside care is a daunting task. International surveys have shown that practices such as sedation interruption and titration are performed only in the minority of cases. Implementing best practices is a major challenge that must also be addressed in the new guidelines. In this review, we summarize the findings of sedation and delirium research over the last years. We also discuss the gap between evidence and clinical practice and highlight ways to implement best practices at the bedside.

Severe acute tumor lysis syndrome in patients with germ-cell tumors.

Germ-cell tumors are a high-proliferative type of cancer that may evolve to significant bulky disease. Tumor lysis syndrome is rarely reported in this setting. The reports of three patients with germ-cell tumors who developed severe acute tumor lysis syndrome following the start of their anticancer therapy are presented. All patients developed renal dysfunction and multiorgan failure. Patients with extensive germ-cell tumors should be kept on close clinical and laboratory monitoring. Physicians should be aware of this uncommon but severe complication and consider early admission to the intensive care unit for the institution of measures to prevent acute renal failure.

Controle glicêmico em terapia intensiva 2009: sem sustos e sem surpresas

Na ultima decada o controle glicemico em pacientes criticos foi alvo de grande polemica. Apesar de ter sido amplamente implementado na pratica medica, os grandes estudos randomizados controlados obtiveram resultados bastante conflitantes, pois alem de controlar a hiperglicemia, foi identificada a necessidade de se evitar os riscos da hipoglicemia, evento potencialmente grave nessa populacao. Dessa forma, o presente artigo se propoe a rever e avaliar de forma critica os estudos publicados sobre controle glicemico em terapia intensiva, propondo um novo alvo glicemico (150 mg / dl) que seja capaz de minimizar os maleficios da hiperglicemia e ao mesmo tempo minimizar os riscos potenciais do uso de insulina de forma intensiva.

Understanding the PIRO concept: from theory to clinical practice - part 2

A sepsis staging system focused on predisposition, insult, host response and organ failure may provide a useful basis for risk stratification. Knowledge on interactions among predisposing factors, insult characteristics and host response might help us to improve our understanding on sepsis pathophysiology and allow more individual therapeutic approach. Recent clinical studies documented the clinical importance of PIRO approach for severity stratification in septic patients in intensive care unit, and also for specific conditions such as community acquired pneumonia and ventilator associated pneumonia , with a good performance for outcome prediction. In this review we describe how this new concept can be used in clinical practice and provide some insights on its usefulness to facilitate the stratification and potential for enrollment in clinical trials of sepsis therapies.

Entendendo o conceito PIRO: da teoria à prática clínica - Parte 1

A sepsis staging system focused on predisposition, insult, host response and organ failure may provide a useful basis for risk stratification. Knowledge on interactions among predisposing factors, insult characteristics and host response might help us to improve our understanding on sepsis pathophysiology and allow more individual therapeutic approach. Recent clinical studies documented the clinical importance of PIRO approach for severity stratification in septic patients in intensive care unit, and also for specific conditions such as community acquired pneumonia and ventilator associated pneumonia , with a good performance for outcome prediction. In this review we describe how this new concept can be used in clinical practice and provide some insights on its usefulness to facilitate the stratification and potential for enrollment in clinical trials of sepsis therapies.Despite recent advances in diagnosis and care of critically ill patients sepsis related mortality rate remains unacceptably high. Therefore, new methods of evaluation are necessary to provide an earlier and more accurate characterization of septic patients. Based on the (oncologic) TNM system, the PIRO concept was introduced as a new staging system for sepsis in order to assess risk and predict prognosis, with potential to assist in inclusion of patients in clinical studies and estimate the probability of response of patients to specific therapeutic interventions.