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Real-time glucose monitoring does not clearly help control the blood glucose level.<ref name="pmid20007948">{{cite journal| author=Holzinger U, Warszawska J, Kitzberger R, Wewalka M, Miehsler W, Herkner H et al.| title=Real-Time Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Critically Ill Patients: A prospective randomized trial. | journal=Diabetes Care | year= 2010 | volume= 33 | issue= 3 | pages= 467-72 | pmid=20007948
| url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&tool=clinical.uthscsa.edu/cite&email=badgett@uthscdsa.edu&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks&id=20007948 | doi=10.2337/dc09-1352 | pmc=PMC2827490 }} <!--Formatted by http://sumsearch.uthscsa.edu/cite/--></ref>


==Treatments provided in the intensive care unit==
==Treatments provided in the intensive care unit==

Revision as of 07:30, 6 March 2010

This article is developing and not approved.
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Critical care medicine is the "health care provided to a critically ill patient during a medical emergency or crisis".[1]

Monitoring the critically ill patient

Pulmonary artery catheterization

Among patients with acute lung injury, the use of pulmonary artery catheterization (Swan-Ganz catheterization) did not improve outcomes over monitoring with central venous catheterization.[2]

Respiration and oxygenation

PaO2/FiO2 ratio (PF ratio)

An example in a healthy person:

A higher ratio indicates better gas exchange:

  • Normal is 500
  • ARDS is < 200

Comparative studies suggest this measure correlates better with pulmonary shunts than does the A-a gradient.[3][4][5]

Oxygenation index

or

A lower oxygenation index indicates better gas exchange. The oxygenation index, which includes the mean airway pressure[6][7], may better correlate with intrapulmonary shunting than the PF ratio[4]

Alveolar-arterial oxygen (A-a) gradient (alveolar-arterial oxygen difference - AVO2D)
  • Normal is < 10 mm Hg

The A-a gradient is harder to calculate, but accounts for changes in respiration as measured by the partial pressure of carbon dioxide. However, this calculation relies on the respiratory quotient being constant in the prediction of alveolar CO2 When compared to the PF ratio, the A-a gradient is found to correlate less well with pulmonary shunting.[3][4][5]

Among outpatients with possible pulmonary embolism, the A-a gradient may be a better test.[8]

An online calculator for the A-a gradient is at http://www.mdcalc.com/aagrad.

Tissue perfusion

Central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2)

In patients with septic shock, maintaining the central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2) > 70% is a health care quality assurance measure for the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.[9] This is measured from the superior vena cava. This is hard to predict by physical examination.[10]

Mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO2)

In patients with septic shock, maintaining the mixed venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2) > 65% is a health care quality assurance measure for the Institute for Healthcare Improvement that is an alternative to the central venous oxygen saturation.[11] This is measured from a pulmonary artery catheter. This is hard to predict by physical examination.[10]

The mixed venous pressure may be lower than the central venous pressure due to mixing with blood from the splanchnic circulation or carotid sinuses that has lower oxygen content.[12]

Tissue oxygen saturation (StO2)

Tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) at the thenar imminence may be an alternative, non-invasive measurement.[13][14]

Lactate clearance

Maintaining lactate clearance about 10% may be an easier alternative than invasive measurements of oxygenation according to a randomized controlled trial by EMShockNet.[15]


Real time glucose monitoring

Real-time glucose monitoring does not clearly help control the blood glucose level.[16]

Treatments provided in the intensive care unit

Goal-directed resuscitation

Protocols for the resuscitation of septic shock are are:[15][17]

  1. "Isotonic crystalloid was administered in boluses to achieve a central venous pressure of 8 mm Hg or higher"
  2. "Mean arterial pressure goal of 65 mm Hg or higher, if not achieved with fluid administration, was targeted by initiating and titrating vasopressors (dopamine or norepinephrine)"[15] or goal of 65 mm Hg to 90 mm Hg[17]
  3. If ScvO2 < 70% or lactate clearance < 10%

Circulatory support

For more information, see: Vasoconstrictor agent and Cardiotonic agent.


Goal-directed resuscitation has been developed and so far studies for the resuscitation of septic shock:[15][17]

  1. "Isotonic crystalloid was administered in boluses to achieve a central venous pressure of 8 mm Hg or higher"
  2. "Mean arterial pressure goal of 65 mm Hg or higher, if not achieved with fluid administration, was targeted by initiating and titrating vasopressors (dopamine or norepinephrine)"[15] or goal of 65 mm Hg to 90 mm Hg[17]
  3. If ScvO2 < 70% or lactate clearance < 10%

Respiratory support

For more information, see: Artificial respiration.


Complications

Abdominal compartment syndrome

Abdominal compartment syndrome is associated with increased mortalty.[18]

Medical error

For more information, see: Medical error.

Examining errors in administration of parenteral medications, a study found:[19]

  • 74 errors per 100 patient-days
  • Independent risk factors were:
    • Patient complexity as measured by
      • number of organ failures
      • number of parenteral administrations
    • Work load as measured by
      • Larger intensive care unit
      • Increased ratio of patient turnover to the size of the unit
      • Number of patients per nurse
      • Occupancy rate of the unit

Preventing complications in the critically ill patient

Delirium

Antipsychotic agents to reduce the number of days mechanically ventilated patients were alive without delirium[20]
Drug Number of days
Haloperidol 14.0
Ziprasidone 15.0
Placebo 12.5
P = 0.66

Antipsychotic agents, in a small study, found that an average of 15 mgs per day of haloperidol and 113 mg per day of ziprasidone increased akathisia (see table for benefits which did not have statistical significance).[20]

Glucose control

Two clinical practice guidelines are available for patients with ; however, both of these guidelines were developed without broad representation of stakeholders.[21] This may lead to overly aggressive clinical recommendations. In addition, these guidelines were published before the two recent negative trials.

The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) recommends the following target blood glucose levels:[22]

  • "Critically ill patients, between 80 to 110 mg/dL (grade A recommendation)"

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) states[23]

  • "Critically ill patients: blood glucose levels should be kept as close to 110 mg/dl (6.1 mmol/l) as possible and generally <140 mg/dl (7.8 mmol/l). (A) These patients require an intravenous insulin protocol that has demonstrated efficacy and safety in achieving the desired glucose range without increasing risk for severe hypoglycemia. (E)"

Evidence

Randomized controlled trials of tight glucose control in the critical care and perioperative care settings have produced mixed results. See Table.

Selected randomized controlled trials of glucose control in critical care[24][25][26][27] [28][29]
Trial Patients Intervention Comparison Outcomes Results Authors' conclusions
Intensive control Control group
COIITSS Study[24]
2010
509 adults with septic shock Insulin targeting serum glucose of 80 to 110 mg/dl 2004 Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines[30] In-hospital mortality 45.9% * 42.9% "intensive insulin therapy did not improve in-hospital mortality "
NICE-SUGAR[25]
2009
6104 patients in medical and surgical ICU Insulin drip targeting serum glucose of 81 to 108 mg/dl Insulin drip targeting serum glucose of 144 - 180 mg/dl Mortality at 90 days 27.5% * 24.9% "intensive glucose control increased mortality among adults in the ICU"
Arabi et al[26]
2008
523 patients in medical and surgical ICU Insulin drip targeting serum glucose of 80 to 110 mg/dl Insulin drip targeting serum glucose of 180 to 200 mg/dl Mortality in the intensive care unit 13.5% 17.1 "Intensive insulin therapy was not associated with improved survival...and was associated with increased occurrence of hypoglycemia"
SepNet[27]
2008
537 patients with severe sepsis Insulin drip if needed to target serum glucose of 80 to 110 mg/dl Insulin drip if needed to target serum glucose of < 200 mg/dl Mortality in the intensive care unit 24.7% 26% "intensive insulin therapy placed critically ill patients with sepsis at increased risk for serious adverse events"
Van den Berghe[28]
2006
1200 patients in medical ICU Insulin drip targeting serum glucose of 80 to 110 mg/dl Insulin drip targeting serum glucose of 180 to 200 mg/dl Hospital mortality 37.3% 40% "Intensive insulin therapy significantly reduced morbidity but not mortality"
Van den Berghe[29]
2001
1548 patients in surgical ICU Insulin drip targeting serum glucose of 80 to 110 mg/dl Insulin drip targeting serum glucose of 180 to 200 mg/dl Mortality in the intensive care unit 4.6% * 8% "Intensive insulin therapy...reduces morbidity and mortality"
Notes:
* Significantly different from the control group.

Two of the trials in the Table suggested benefit (see green cells):

  • Van den Berghe 2006[28]. Although this trial concluded "intensive insulin therapy significantly reduced morbidity but not mortality among all patients in the medical ICU. Although the risk of subsequent death and disease was reduced in patients treated for three or more days" the trial stated "these patients could not be identified before therapy."[28]
  • Van den Berghe 2002[29]. This trial has been criticized for the following reasons:[31]
  1. "The trial was stopped early for an unexpectedly large treatment effect, which can overestimate the efficacy of treatment or result in a false-positive finding;"
  2. "The relative reduction in mortality for a decrease of 50 mg/dL in morning glucose levels seems biologically implausible and exceeds that for any other intervention in critically ill patients;"
  3. "The mortality rate in the control group was much higher than that noted in tertiary care medical centers in the United States. On admission to the ICU, all patients received 200 to 300 g/d of intravenous dextrose followed by enteral or parenteral nutrition, an unusual practice considering the deleterious effects of parenteral nutrition; at least in part, the difference in outcomes between the 2 arms in this study might have reflected the harm of maintaining the control group as hyperglycemic rather than the benefit of strict glucose control in the intervention group."

Tight control may protect renal function.[32]

Regarding intraoperative control of glucose, a randomized controlled trial concluded "the increased incidence of death and stroke in the intensive treatment group raises concern about routine implementation of this intervention."[33]

Preventing anemia

Blood transfusion

Clinical practice guidelines

Clinical practice guidelines by the Eastern Association for Surgery of Trauma and the American College of Critical Care Medicine include blood transfusions recommendations for for:[34]

  1. "patients with evidence of hemorrhagic shock"
  2. "patients with evidence of acute hemorrhage and hemodynamic instability or inadequate" oxygenation
  3. "A “restrictive” strategy of RBC transfusion (transfuse when Hb < 7 g/dL) is as effective as a 'liberal' transfusion strategy (transfusion when Hb < 10 g/dL) in critically ill patients with hemodynamically stable anemia, except possibly in patients with acute myocardial ischemia."
  4. "The use of only Hb level as a 'trigger' for transfusion should be avoided"
  5. "In the absence of acute hemorrhage, RBC transfusion should be given as single units"
  6. "Consider transfusion if Hb is <7 g/dL in critically ill patients requiring mechanical ventilation"
  7. "Consider transfusion if Hb is <7 g/dL in resuscitated critically ill trauma patients"
  8. "Consider transfusion if Hb is <7 g/dL in critically ill patients with stable cardiac disease"
  9. "RBC transfusion should not be considered as an absolute method to improve tissue oxygen consumption in critically ill patients."
  10. "RBC transfusion may be beneficial in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) who are anemic (Hb < 8 g/dL) on hospital admission"
  11. "The transfusion needs for each septic patient must be assessed individually because optimal transfusion triggers in sepsis patients are not known and there is no clear evidence that blood transfusion increases tissue oxygenation"
  12. "All efforts should be initiated to avoid RBC transfusion in patients at risk for ALI and ARDS after completion of resuscitation."
Trials

There may not be a meaningful difference in outcomes between transfusing blood to maintain a hemoglobin > 7.0 g/dl versus a hemoglobin > 10.0 g/dl.[35]

Erythropoietin

A randomized controlled trial reported "epoetin alfa does not reduce the incidence of red-cell transfusion among critically ill patients, but it may reduce mortality in patients with trauma. Treatment with epoetin alfa is associated with an increase in the incidence of thrombotic events."[36]

Selective gastrointestinal decontamination

Systematic reviews conclude that selective decontamination of the digestive tract may reduce morbidity in critically ill patients[37][38][39] although some randomized controlled trials have[40][41][42] and others have not found benefit[43].

Preventing gastrointestinal tract ulceration

Preventing deep venous thrombosis

For more information, see: Deep venous thrombosis.


Preventing healthcare-associated pneumonia

Preventing posttraumatic stress disorder

Light sedation (patient awake and cooperative) may be more effective than deep sedation (patient asleep, awakening upon physical stimulation).[44]

Medical error in the intensive care

For more information, see: medical error.

Regarding overlooked diagnosis among patients receiving artificial respiration in the intensive care, an autopsy study concluded "abdominal pathologic conditions--abscesses, bowel perforations, or infarction--were as frequent as pulmonary emboli as a cause of class I errors. While patients with abdominal pathologic conditions generally complained of abdominal pain, results of examination of the abdomen were considered unremarkable in most patients, and the symptom was not pursued." [45]

Predicting outcomes of adult patients

Although there is much research into prognosing patients in intensive care, patients are not very confident in thei accuracy of prognoses.[46]

Apache II score

For more information, see: APACHE II.

The APACHE II is available at http://www.sfar.org/scores2/apache22.html.

SAPS II

Coma

The FOUR (Full Outline of UnResponsiveness) score may be better than the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) in prognosticating patients in coma.[48] The FOUR Score tests:

  • eye response
  • motor response
  • brainstem reflexes
  • respiration pattern

References

  1. Anonymous. Critical care. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
  2. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) Clinical Trials Network. Wheeler AP, Bernard GR, Thompson BT, Schoenfeld D, Wiedemann HP et al. (2006). "Pulmonary-artery versus central venous catheter to guide treatment of acute lung injury.". N Engl J Med 354 (21): 2213-24. DOI:10.1056/NEJMoa061895. PMID 16714768. Research Blogging. Review in: ACP J Club. 2006 Nov-Dec;145(3):70
  3. 3.0 3.1 Covelli HD, Nessan VJ, Tuttle WK (1983). "Oxygen derived variables in acute respiratory failure". Crit. Care Med. 11 (8): 646–9. PMID 6409506[e]
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 El-Khatib MF, Jamaleddine GW (2004). "A new oxygenation index for reflecting intrapulmonary shunting in patients undergoing open-heart surgery". Chest 125 (2): 592–6. PMID 14769743[e] Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "pmid14769743" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "pmid14769743" defined multiple times with different content
  5. 5.0 5.1 Cane RD, Shapiro BA, Templin R, Walther K (1988). "Unreliability of oxygen tension-based indices in reflecting intrapulmonary shunting in critically ill patients". Crit. Care Med. 16 (12): 1243–5. PMID 3191742[e]
  6. Marini JJ, Ravenscraft SA (1992). "Mean airway pressure: physiologic determinants and clinical importance--Part 1: Physiologic determinants and measurements.". Crit Care Med 20 (10): 1461-72. PMID 1395670.
  7. Marini JJ, Ravenscraft SA (1992). "Mean airway pressure: physiologic determinants and clinical importance--Part 2: Clinical implications.". Crit Care Med 20 (11): 1604-16. PMID 1424706.
  8. McFarlane MJ, Imperiale TF (1994). "Use of the alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism". Am. J. Med. 96 (1): 57–62. PMID 8304364[e]
  9. Maintain Adequate Central Venous Oxygen Saturation Institute for Healthcare Improvement
  10. 10.0 10.1 Grissom CK, Morris AH, Lanken PN, Ancukiewicz M, Orme JF, Schoenfeld DA et al. (2009). "Association of physical examination with pulmonary artery catheter parameters in acute lung injury.". Crit Care Med 37 (10): 2720-6. PMID 19885995.
  11. Maintain Adequate Central Venous Oxygen Saturation Institute for Healthcare Improvement
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  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 Jones AE, Shapiro NI, Trzeciak S, Arnold RC, Claremont HA, Kline JA et al. (2010). "Lactate clearance vs central venous oxygen saturation as goals of early sepsis therapy: a randomized clinical trial.". JAMA 303 (8): 739-46. DOI:10.1001/jama.2010.158. PMID 20179283. Research Blogging. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "pmid20179283" defined multiple times with different content
  16. Holzinger U, Warszawska J, Kitzberger R, Wewalka M, Miehsler W, Herkner H et al. (2010). "Real-Time Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Critically Ill Patients: A prospective randomized trial.". Diabetes Care 33 (3): 467-72. DOI:10.2337/dc09-1352. PMID 20007948. PMC PMC2827490. Research Blogging.
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 Rivers E, Nguyen B, Havstad S, Ressler J, Muzzin A, Knoblich B et al. (2001). "Early goal-directed therapy in the treatment of severe sepsis and septic shock.". N Engl J Med 345 (19): 1368-77. PMID 11794169. Review in: ACP J Club. 2002 May-Jun;136(3):90 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "pmid11794169" defined multiple times with different content
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  48. Iyer VN, Mandrekar JN, Danielson RD, Zubkov AY, Elmer JL, Wijdicks EF (2009). "Validity of the FOUR score coma scale in the medical intensive care unit.". Mayo Clin Proc 84 (8): 694-701. DOI:10.4065/84.8.694. PMID 19648386. PMC PMC2719522. Research Blogging.