Kwadwo Kyeremanteng

The impact of adverse events in the intensive care unit on hospital mortality and length of stay

BackgroundAdverse events (AEs) are patient injuries caused by medical care. Previous studies have reported increased mortality rates and prolonged hospital length of stay in patients having an AE. However, these studies have not adequately accounted for potential biases which might influence these associations. We performed this study to measure the independent influence of intensive care unit (ICU) based AEs on in-hospital mortality and hospital length of stay.MethodsProspective cohort study in an academic tertiary-care ICU. Patients were monitored daily for adverse clinical occurrences. Data about adverse clinical occurrences were reviewed by a multidisciplinary team who rated whether they were AEs and whether they were preventable. We determined the association of AEs in the ICU with time to death and time to hospital discharge using multivariable survival analysis models.ResultsWe evaluated 207 critically ill patients (81% required mechanical ventilation, median Glasgow Coma Scale = 8, median predicted mortality = 31%). Observed mortality rate and hospital length of stay were 25% (95% CI 19%–31%) and 15 days (IQR 8–34 days), respectively. ICU-based AEs and preventable AEs occurred in 40 patients (19%, 95% CI 15%–25%) and 21 patients (10%, 95% CI 7%–15%), respectively. ICU-based AEs and preventable AEs were not significantly associated with time to in-hospital death (HR = 0.93, 95% CI 0.44–1.98 and HR = 0.72 95% CI 0.25–2.04, respectively). ICU-based AEs and preventable AEs were independently associated with time to hospital discharge ((HR = 0.50, 95% CI 0.31–0.81 and HR = 0.46 95% CI 0.23–0.91, respectively)). ICU-based AEs were associated with an average increase in hospital length of stay of 31 days.ConclusionThe impact of AEs on hospital length of stay was clinically relevant. Larger studies are needed to conclusively measure the association between preventable AEs and patient outcomes.

The Impact of Palliative Care Consultation in the ICU on Length of Stay: A Systematic Review and Cost Evaluation

Introduction: The intensive care unit (ICU) consumes 20% of hospital expenditures and 1% of gross domestic product. Many strategies have been attempted to reduce ICU costs. A systematic review was conducted to evaluate the effect of palliative care (PC) consultations in the ICU on length of stay (LOS) and costs. Methods: A literature search was performed using PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), prospective, and retrospective cohort studies looking at PC consultations in adult ICUs published between January 2000 and February 2016 were selected. Independent reviewers assessed the eligibility of studies, extracted data on ICU, hospital LOS, and mortality, and rated each study’s quality. The cost was derived from an existing model in the literature; the primary outcome was ICU LOS and the secondary outcomes were direct variable costs, mortality, and hospital LOS. Results: We reviewed 814 abstracts, but only 8 studies met inclusion criteria and were included. The patients with a PC consultation in the ICU, when compared to those who did not, showed a trend toward reduced LOS. This reduction was statistically significant in the higher quality studies. Mortality was similar in both groups. Palliative care consultations also lead to a reduction in costs in 5 of the 8 eligible trials. On average, ICU costs were USD7533 and USD6406 (control vs PC, P < .05) and hospital direct variable costs were USD9518 and USD8971 (P < .05) per admission. Due to interstudy heterogeneity, all outcomes were described narratively. Conclusion: This review demonstrates a trend that PC consultations reduce LOS and costs without impacting mortality. However, due to the small sample sizes and varying degrees of quality of evidence, many questions remain. A large multicenter RCT and formal economic evaluation would be needed for more definitive results.

Early Renal Replacement Therapy Versus Standard Care in the ICU: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Cost Analysis

Objective: Renal replacement therapy (RRT) is the treatment of choice for severe acute kidney injury, but there are no firm guidelines as to the time of initiation of RRT in the critically ill. The primary objective of this study is to determine 1-month mortality rates of early versus late dialysis in critical care. As secondary end points, we provide a cost analysis of early versus late RRT initiation, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS), hospital LOS, and number of patients on dialysis at day 60 postrandomization. Data Sources: We identified all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) through EMLINE and MEDBASE that examined adult patients admitted to critical care who were randomized to receiving early dialysis versus standard of care. Study Selection: Inclusion criteria: (1) RCTs conducted after the year 2000, (2) the population evaluated had to be adults admitted to ICU, (3) the intervention had to be early RRT versus standard care, and (4) outcomes had to measure patient mortality. Data Extraction: Two independent investigators reviewed search results and identified appropriate studies. Information was extracted using standardized case report forms. Data Synthesis: Overall, 7 RCTs were included with a total of 1400 patients. Early RRT showed no survival benefit when compared to standard treatment (odds ratio [OR], 0.90 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.70-1.15, P = .39). There was no significant difference in length of hospital stay in patients with early RRT (−1.55 days [95% CI −4.75 to 1.65, P = .34]), in length of ICU stay (−0.79 days [95% CI −2.09 to 0.52], P = .24), or proportion of patients on dialysis at day 60 (OR 0.93 [95% CI 0.62 to 1.43], P = .79). Per patient, there is likely a small increase in costs (<US

Effectiveness of an extended period of flashing lights and strategic signage to increase the salience of alcohol-gel dispensers for improving hand hygiene compliance

1000) owing to increased total dialysis. Conclusion: Across all measured domains, there is no clear benefit to early RRT. Moreover, this intervention may result in increased costs and exposes patients to an invasive therapy with potential harm.

Outcomes and Costs of Patients Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit Due to Accidental or Intentional Poisoning

BACKGROUND Multiple factors affect compliance with hand hygiene, including conspicuity of alcohol-gel dispensers. Previous studies have shown that flashing lights increase hand hygiene compliance; however, the durability of this effect has not been studied. METHODS We affixed flashing lights to hand sanitizer dispensers for a total of 6 weeks. Regression analysis was used to compare compliance rates between the beginning and end of the intervention. Our secondary objective was to determine whether compliance rates in cold weather could be improved by adding a sign separated in time and space from the dispensers. RESULTS Flashing lights improved hand hygiene compliance from 11.8% to 20.7%, and this effect was unchanged over the 6-week study period. Fully charged lights resulted in a greater compliance increase. A preemptive sign did not have a significant effect on hand hygiene rates nor did absolute temperatures. CONCLUSIONS Flashing lights are a simple, inexpensive way of improving hand hygiene. Brighter lights appear to have a greater effect; however, this must be balanced with annoyance in specific settings. Temperature did not have a significant effect; however, this may be because the relationship does not fit a linear model. Other interventions, such as signs, may need to be tailored specifically to individual hospital environments.

Early vs. late tracheostomy in intensive care settings: Impact on ICU and hospital costs

Introduction: Acute poisoning represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality, and many of these patients are admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). However, little is known regarding ICU costs of acute poisoning. Methods: This was a retrospective matched database analysis of patients admitted to the ICU with acute poisoning from 2011 to 2014. It was performed in 2 ICUs within a single tertiary care hospital system. All patient information, outcomes, and costs were stored in the hospital data warehouse. Control patients were defined as randomly selected age-, sex-, severity index-, and comorbidity index-matched nonpoisoned ICU patients (1:4 matching ratio). Results: A total of 8452 critically ill patients were admitted during the study period, of whom 277 had a diagnosis of acute poisoning. The mean age was 44.5 years, and the most common xenobiotics implicated were sedative hypnotics (20.2%), antidepressants (15.2%), and opioids (10.5%). Of these, 73.6% of poisonings were deemed intentional. In-hospital mortality of poisoned patients was 5.1%, compared to 11.1% for control patients (P < .01). The median ICU length of stay (LOS) for poisoned patients was 3.0 days, compared with 4.0 days for control patients (P < .01). The mean total cost for poisoned patients was CAD

Impact of nighttime Rapid Response Team activation on outcomes of hospitalized patients with acute deterioration

18 958. Control patients had a significantly higher mean total cost of CAD

Sepsis-3 Septic Shock Criteria and Associated Mortality Among Infected Hospitalized Patients Assessed by a Rapid Response Team

60 628 (P < .01). The xenobiotics associated with the highest costs were acetaminophen (CAD

Cost Analysis of Noninvasive Helmet Ventilation Compared with Use of Noninvasive Face Mask in ARDS

18 585), toxic alcohols (CAD

Neuroscience Intermediate-Level Care Units Staffed by Intensivists: Clinical Outcomes and Cost Analysis

16 771), and opioids (CAD