Richard J. Castriotta

Intensive care unit outcome in the very elderly

ObjectivesTo determine if age, previous functional status, or acute severity of illness affect the acute and long-term mortality rates and functional status of the very elderly (≥85 yrs) after an ICU admission. DesignCohort study (retrospective entry for the first year of the study and prospective entry thereafter with prospective follow-up throughout). SettingAn ICU in a community teaching hospital with follow-up at home or at a skilled nursing facility. PatientsAll (n = 105) patients ≥85 yrs admitted to the ICU over a 2-yr period. Main Outcome MeasuresICU, 30-day post-hospital discharge, and 1-yr mortality rates, activities of daily living scores, organ system failure score at the time of ICU admission. ResultsThe ICU, 30-day posthospital discharge, and the 1-yr mortality rates were 30%, 43%, and 64%, respectively. Mortality rates significantly increased between the ICU stay or 30 days posthospital discharge and 1-yr follow-up periods. Of those patients who lived up to 6 months after hospital discharge, 86% survived to 1 yr with little change in functional status from baseline. In the patients with ≥2 organ system failures, there were 88% 30-day posthospital discharge and 100% 1-yr mortality rates. Severity of illness, as measured by the number of organ system failures, was associated with increased ICU (odds ratio 3.38; 95% confidence interval, 1.51 to 7.60; p < .005) and 1 yr (odds ratio 5.76; 95% confidence interval, 2.49 to 13.29; p < .0001) mortality rates, while age within this group and preadmission functional status were not. ConclusionsWithin the very elderly population, acute severity of illness is the most significant predictor of mortality after an ICU admission. For most very elderly patients, surviving 1 yr after an ICU admission, there is little change in functional status.

Sleep disorders in patients with traumatic brain injury: a review.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a global problem and causes long-term disability in millions of individuals. This is a major problem for both military and civilian-related populations. The prevalence of sleep disorders in individuals with TBI is very high, yet mostly unrecognized. Approximately 46% of all chronic TBI patients have sleep disorders, which require nocturnal polysomnography and the Multiple Sleep Latency Test for diagnosis. These disorders include sleep apnoea (23% of all TBI patients), post-traumatic hypersomnia (11%), narcolepsy (6%) and periodic limb movements (7%). Over half of all TBI patients will have insomnia complaints, most often with less severe injury and after personal assault, and half of these may be related to a circadian rhythm disorder. Hypothalamic injury with decreased levels of wake-promoting neurotransmitters such as hypocretin (orexin) and histamine may be involved in the pathophysiology of excessive sleepiness associated with TBI. These sleep disorders result in additional neurocognitive deficits and functional impairment, which might be attributed to the original brain injury itself and thus be left without specific treatment.Most standard treatment regimens of sleep disorders appear to be effective in these patients, including continuous positive airway pressure for sleep apnoea, pramipexole for periodic limb movements and cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia. The role of wake-promoting agents and CNS stimulants for TBI-associated narcolepsy, post-traumatic hypersomnia and excessive daytime sleepiness requires further study with larger numbers of patients to determine effectiveness and benefit in this population.Future research with multiple collaborating centres should attempt to delineate the pathophysiology of TBI-associated sleep disorders, including CNS-derived hypersomnia and circadian rhythm disturbances, and determine definitive, effective treatment for associated sleep disorders.

Altered nigrostriatal and nigrocortical functional connectivity in rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder

STUDY OBJECTIVES Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is a condition closely associated with Parkinson disease (PD). RBD is a sleep disturbance that frequently manifests early in the development of PD, likely reflecting disruption in normal functioning of anatomical areas affected by neurodegenerative processes. Although specific neuropathological aspects shared by RBD and PD have yet to be fully documented, further characterization is critical to discovering reliable biomarkers that predict PD onset. In the current study, we tested the hypothesis of altered functional connections of the substantia nigra (SN) in patients in whom RBD was diagnosed. DESIGN Between-groups, single time point imaging. SETTING UTHSC-H 3 telsa MRI center. PARTICIPANTS Ten patients with RBD, 11 patients with PD, and 10 age-matched controls. INTERVENTIONS NA. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS We measured correlations of SN time series using resting state blood oxygen level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD-fMRI) in patients with idiopathic RBD who were at risk for developing PD, patients in whom PD was diagnosed, and age-matched controls. Using voxelwise analysis of variance, different correlations (P < 0.01, whole-brain corrected) between left SN and left putamen were found in patients with RBD compared with controls and patients with PD. SN correlations with right cuneus/precuneus and superior occipital gyrus were significantly different for patients with RBD compared with both controls and patients with PD. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that altered nigrostriatal and nigrocortical connectivity characterizes rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder before onset of obvious motor impairment. The functional changes are discussed in the context of degeneration in dopaminergic and cognition-related networks.

The effect of polysomnography on sleep position : Possible implications on the diagnosis of positional obstructive sleep apnea

This prospective study was designed to determine if physical constraint due to the polysomnography (PSG) apparatus affects PSG results by inducing subjects to sleep in the supine position. Twelve patients found to have positional obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) during standard PSG returned for two additional nights of study during which no PSG leads were attached. The time spent supine was 56% greater during the PSG night than the non-PSG nights, 195 +/- 88.6 min during the baseline PSG and 125 +/- 84.6 min during the non-PSG nights (p < 0.05). Therefore, PSG may overestimate the severity of OSA in some patients with positional OSA.

Workshop on Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis in Older Adults

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a heterogeneous disease with respect to clinical presentation and rates of progression, disproportionately affects older adults. The diagnosis of IPF is descriptive, based on clinical, radiologic, and histopathologic examination, and definitive diagnosis is hampered by poor interobserver agreement and lack of a consensus definition. There are no effective treatments. Cellular, molecular, genetic, and environmental risk factors have been identified for IPF, but the initiating event and the characteristics of preclinical stages are not known. IPF is predominantly a disease of older adults, and the processes underlying normal aging might significantly influence the development of IPF. Yet, the biology of aging and the principles of medical care for this population have been typically ignored in basic, translational, or clinical IPF research. In August 2009, the Association of Specialty Professors, in collaboration with the American College of Chest Physicians, the American Geriatrics Society, the National Institute on Aging, and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, held a workshop, summarized herein, to review what is known, to identify research gaps at the interface of aging and IPF, and to suggest priority areas for future research. Efforts to answer the questions identified will require the integration of geriatrics, gerontology, and pulmonary research, but these efforts have great potential to improve care for patients with IPF.

Reduced volume of the putamen in REM sleep behavior disorder patients.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to quantify volumes of specific subcortical gray matter nuclei implicated in Parkinsons disease (PD) as a preliminary step for identifying a non-invasive clinical biomarker for PD. We hypothesized that REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) patients, at risk for developing PD, will demonstrate a pattern of neuronal degeneration reflected in reduced striatal volumes on T1-weighted MRI. METHODS We compared measures of RBD patients confirmed by polysomnography (PSG) with groups of age/gender-matched Control subjects and early PD (EPD) patients (Hoehn & Yahr < 2). Clinical measurements included the Unified Parkinsons disease Rating Scales (UPDRS), timed gait and finger tapping tasks, the Parkinsons Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39), and a time-synchronized video recorded single-night PSG. Volumetric measurements were derived from high-resolution T1-weighted 3 T MRI images. RESULTS The matched Control and EPD groups were statistically similar to the RBD group in age, gender, handedness, and total brain volumes. The RBD group had smaller bilateral putamen volumes (both raw and normalized by brain tissue volume), in addition to some clinical impairment on the UPDRS and PDQ-39. CONCLUSIONS Reduced putamen volumes may be a structural marker for RBD and reflect a pattern of neurodegeneration that predicts the development of PD.

Hypoventilation after Spinal Cord Injury

There are ~12,000 new cases per year in the United States of spinal cord injury (SCI) with life expectancies from 11 to 14 years (ventilator dependent) to 44 years (non-ventilator dependent). Those with SCI (C2-C8) are at great risk for developing hypoventilation, especially during sleep, and this risk increases along with the risk of sleep disordered breathing as they age. Most will have significantly reduced vital capacity and ventilatory reserve because of interruption of neural pathways to the diaphragm, chest, and abdomen, resulting in a restrictive ventilatory impairment with intact diffusing capacity. Diagnosis entails measurement of pCO (2) with capnography both awake and during sleep, optimally along with polysomnography to evaluate for all forms of sleep disordered breathing. Treatment options include diaphragmatic pacing, full positive pressure ventilation through tracheostomy, and noninvasive positive pressure ventilation. Some may require mechanical ventilation only during sleep.

Body position and obstructive sleep apnea in 8–12-month-old infants

AIM To determine the association between body position and obstructive events during sleep as determined by polysomnography (PSG) in infants of ages 8-12 months with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). METHODS Consecutive nocturnal polysomnograms (NPSGs) of 50 children ages 8-12 months old referred to the sleep disorders center between 1 January 2003 and 1 June 2006 for possible sleep-disordered breathing were retrospectively reviewed. Data on total obstructive apnea index (AI), total obstructive apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), AI by body position, AHI by body position, rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM sleep AHI and REM and non-REM AI were recorded. RESULTS The mean age was 9.5+/-1.9S.D. months and 46% of the patients were females. There were no significant differences between the mean non-supine AHI (2.0+/-5.1) and supine AHI (2.5+/-5.4), p=0.63. When comparing specific body positions, there were also no significant differences between the mean supine AHI (2.5+/-5.4), prone AHI (2.9+/-7.3), left-lateral decubitus AHI (1.1+/-6.1), or the right-lateral decubitus AHI (2.5+/-7.6), p=0.71. Additionally, there were also no significant differences between the mean non-supine AI (0.7+/-2.9) and supine AI (1.4+/-3.0), p=0.23, and no differences between the supine AI (0.7+/-2.9), prone AI (1.0+/-2.9), left-lateral decubitus AI (0.3+/-2.9) or the right-lateral decubitus AI (1.1+/-3.0), p=0.44. Children spent an average of 50% of their total sleep time supine. OSA was significantly worse in REM sleep as compared to non-REM sleep (REM AHI 4.3+/-7.3 versus non-REM AHI 1.4+/-3.9, p=0.015; REM AI 5.1+/-4.9 versus non-REM AI 1.5+/-4.9, p<0.001). Mean time in REM sleep was 26% (range 5-42%). CONCLUSIONS There was no significant effect of body position on sleep-disordered breathing in 8-12 months old infants, although REM sleep represented a significant risk factor for OSA.

Adjustment of DlCO for varying COHb, and alveolar PO2 using a theoretical adjustment equation

The diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DL) is affected by changes in alveolar partial pressure of oxygen (PAO2), hemoglobin concentration (Hb), and carboxyhemoglobin concentration (COHb). A number of investigators have derived empiric adjustment equations to account for changes in these variables. We evaluated an adjustment of DL for changes in COHb and PAO2 using a single equation derived from Roughton and Forsters original definitions (J. Appl. Physiol., 1957). Unadjusted DL values declined significantly with rising COHb (-0.938%/percent COHb increase, P less than 0.0001) and rising PAO2 (-0.343%/mm Hg PAO2 increase, P less than 0.0001). Adjusted measured DL using the derived equation showed no significant change with changing COHb and PAO2 levels and provides an acceptable method for adjustment of DL for the effects of varying COHb and PAO2 levels from the standard conditions of COHb% = 0, and PAO2 = 110 mm Hg. Since a similar equation has previously been used to adjust for changes in DL due to anemia, we propose to use a single equation which is theoretically derived and empirically verified to adjust DL measurements for changes in COHb, PAO2 and hemoglobin.

Withdrawal of life sustaining treatment in children in the first year of life

Objective:Since the enactment of the Texas Advance Directives Act of 1999, the Memorial Hermann Hospital Medical Appropriateness Review Committee (MARC) MARC reviewed six cases of children in the first year of life, three from the Neonatal ICU and three from the Pediatric ICU. We aimed to describe the characteristics of these patients and the role of the MARC in this process.Study Design:A single reviewer retrospectively reviewed the cases for patient diagnoses, demographics, related ethical issues and the actions of the MARC.Result:Each of the six patients required life-sustaining therapy, and each patient had a Do Not Resuscitate order on the chart. The MARC determined that it would be appropriate to withdraw life-sustaining support in four of the cases and to continue support in two of the cases. Five of the patients died in the hospital before discharge: two after discontinuation of support, one during the 10-day waiting period, and two died on full support after the Committee determined that continued treatment was medically appropriate. One patient was transferred to another hospital during the 10-day waiting period.Conclusion:These cases document the application of the TADA/MARC process in infants, even in circumstances where care was withdrawn without concurrence of the family. We found the MARC process to demand a very high degree of certainty of diagnosis and prognosis to determine continuation of care to be inappropriate. We conclude that the MARC promoted communication and provided additional protections to patients, families, physicians and staff.