Factors affecting the attitudes and opinions of ICU physicians regarding end-of-life decisions for their patients and themselves: A survey study from Turkey

Introduction Turkey is constitutionally secular with a Muslim majority. There is no legal basis for limiting life-support at the end-of-life (EOL) in Turkey. We aimed to investigate the opinions and attitudes of intensive care unit (ICU) physicians regarding EOL decisions, for both their patients and themselves, and to evaluate if the physicians' demographic and professional variables predicted the attitudes of physicians toward EOL decisions. Methods An online survey was distributed to national critical care societies' members. Physicians' opinions were sought concerning legalization of EOL decisions for terminally ill patients or by patient-request regardless of prognosis. Participants physicians' views on who should make EOL decisions and when they should occur were determined. Participants were also asked if they would prefer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and/or intubation/mechanical ventilation (MV) personally if they had terminal cancer. Results A total of 613 physicians responded. Religious beliefs had no effect on the physicians' acceptance of do-not-resuscitate (DNR) / do-not-intubate (DNI) orders for terminally ill patients, but atheism, was found to be an independent predictor of approval of DNR/DNI in cases of patient request (p= 6 years in the ICU) was the independent predictor for the physicians' approval of DNI decisions on patient demand, the volume of terminal patients in ICUs (between 10-50% per year) where they worked was an independent predictor of physicians' approval of DNI for terminal patients. When asked to choose personal options in an EOL scenario (including full code, only DNR, only DNI, both DNR and DNI, and undecided), younger physicians (30-39 years) were more likely to prefer the only DNR option compared with physicians aged 40-49 years (p 50%) terminally ill patient ratio (p< 0.05). Conclusion Most ICU physicians did not want legalization of DNR and DNI orders, based solely on patient request. Even if EOL decision-making were legal in Turkey, this attitude may conflict with patient autonomy. The proportion of terminally ill patients in the ICU appears to affect physicians' attitudes to EOL decisions, both for their patients and by personal preference, an association which has not been previously reported

Epidemiology of sepsis in intensive care units in Turkey: a multicenter, point-prevalence study

Background: The prevalence and mortality of sepsis are largely unknown in Turkey, a country with high antibiotic resistance. A national, multicenter, point-prevalence study was conducted to determine the prevalence, causative microorganisms, and outcome of sepsis in intensive care units (ICUs) in Turkey. Methods: A total of 132 ICUs from 94 hospitals participated. All patients (aged > 18 years) present at the participating ICUs or admitted for any duration within a 24-h period (08:00 on January 27, 2016 to 08:00 on January 28, 2016) were included. The presence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), severe sepsis, and septic shock were assessed and documented based on the consensus criteria of the American College of Chest Physicians and Society of Critical Care Medicine (SEPSIS-I) in infected patients. Patients with septic shock were also assessed using the SEPSIS-III definitions. Data regarding demographics, illness severity, comorbidities, microbiology, therapies, length of stay, and outcomes (dead/alive during 30 days) were recorded. Results: Of the 1499 patients included in the analysis, 237 (15.8%) had infection without SIRS, 163 (10.8%) had infection with SIRS, 260 (17.3%) had severe sepsis without shock, and 203 (13.5%) had septic shock. The mortality rates were higher in patients with severe sepsis (55.7%) and septic shock (70.4%) than those with infection alone (24.8%) and infection + SIRS (31.2%) (p < 0.001). According to SEPSIS-III, 104 (6.9%) patients had septic shock (mortality rate, 75.9%). The respiratory system (71.6%) was the most common site of infection, and Acinetobacter spp. (33.7%) were the most common isolated pathogen. Approximately, 74.9%, 39.1%, and 26.5% of Acinetobacter, Klebsiella, and Pseudomonas spp. isolates, respectively, were carbapenem-resistant, which was not associated with a higher mortality risk. Age, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II score at ICU admission, sequential organ failure assessment score on study day, solid organ malignancy, presence of severe sepsis or shock, Candida spp. infection, renal replacement treatment, and a nurse-to-patient ratio of 1: 4 (compared with a nurse-to-patient ratio of 1:2) were independent predictors of mortality in infected patients. Conclusions: A high prevalence of sepsis and an unacceptably high mortality rate were observed in Turkish ICUs. Although the prevalence of carbapenem resistance was high in Turkish ICUs, it was not associated with a higher risk for mortality

Abdominal perfusion pressure is superior from intra-abdominal pressure to detect deterioration of renal perfusion in critically Ill patients

BACKGROUND: Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) is a frequent cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) among critically ill patients who have risk factors. This study aimed to determine the relation between Abdominal Perfusion Pressure (APP) and AKI showed by the Doppler-based renal resistive index (RRI). METHODS: In this study, 38 patients older than 18 years old who received mechanical ventilation and had risk factors for the development of IAH were prospectively studied. All measurements and parameters were divided into two groups according to renal dysfunction (Group I: RRI 0.72). RESULTS: The mean IAPs were not significant between the groups, 11.5 +/- 6.9 mm Hg in Group I (n=35) and 13.5 +/- 5.8 in Group II (n=33), respectively. APPs were statistically higher in Group I (81.2 +/- 13.6) than Group II (66.4 +/- 9.5) (p0.72 was 0.802 (p<0.001), with the APP <= 72 mmHg having a sensitivity of the 76% (95% CI 58-89%) and a specificity of 71% (95% CI 54-85%). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that an APP with a threshold of <= 72 mmHg is associated with a significant increase in renal RRI, which may be predictive of worsening of renal perfusion

The effects of pneumoperitoneum and patient position on the perfusion index and pleth variability index during laparoscopic bariatric surgery

Objective: Limited data are available on the use of the perfusion index (PI) and the pleth variability index (PVI) during laparoscopic bariatric suigery. We investigated the effects of pneumoperitoneum and the reverse Trendelenburg position on these indices. Materials and Methods: PI, PVI, heart rate (HR), blood pressure, SpO(2) and ventilation parameters were recorded before anaesthesia induction (T0), 5 min after endotracheal intubation (T1), immediately before surgery, after the patient had been in the reverse Trendelenburg position for 5 min (T2), after inflating the abdomen with CO2 in reverse Trendelenburg (T3), after the abdomen had been deflated (T4) and 5 min after extubation (T5). Results: General anaesthesia induced an increase in the PI (P<.001), and a decrease in the PVI (P=.002). The PI and PVI values were not affected during T2 or T3. Pneumoperitoneum caused an increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and a decrease in HR. PVI and MAP decreased during 14, but the PI and IHR remained unchanged. PVI, HR and MAP increased during T5. Conclusion: Our data suggest that the reverse Trendelenburg position and pneumoperitoneum did not affect the PI or PVI values, whereas deflation decreased the PVI in morbidly obese patients under general anaesthesia

Sepsis-Induced Myocardial Depression and Takotsubo Syndrome

Sepsis induced temporary myocardial dysfunction characterized as impairment of myocardial contraction is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in intensive care units. Takotsubo syndrome (TS) is temporary ballooning and dysfunction of the apical part of left ventricle without significant stenosis of coronary arteries. Recently, it was suggested that impairment in regional catecholamine distribution caused by stress factors and excessive cardiac sympathetic activity mechanism play role in sepsis such as other causes of TS. Additionally, vasopressor agents (as noradrenaline) which are widely used in sepsis treatment may be triggering factor. Serial case reports of sepsis associated TS are reported, however pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment strategies of these two different syndromes is not obvious

Subcostal Transversus Abdominis Plane Block for Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy, Is It Worth the Time?

BackgroundObesity is a complex and multifactorial disease whose incidence has increased, making it a serious public health issue. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is one of the most common surgical procedures that is chosen for bariatric surgery. Decreasing postoperative pain in these patients which will increase patients' compliance and quality of life will lead to better surgical results. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of trocar site infiltration versus bilateral subcostal transversus abdominis plane block (TAP) in controlling postoperative pain in patients.MethodsForty-five consecutive patients who have undergone LSG in xxx General Surgery Department have been enrolled in the study. Patients were divided into two groups according to the surgeon's choice. The first group underwent TAP block, while the second group underwent trocar site infiltration. Patients' pain was recorded via visual analogue scale (VAS) in postoperative periods.ResultsTwenty-nine female (69%) and 13 (31%) male patients were included in the study. Median age was 41 (18-58) and median BMI was 48 (41.1-68). When the VAS values were compared, in the TAPB group, 6th hour resting and coughing pain was statistically significantly less. Other VAS values measured while resting, coughing, and post-mobilization did not show significant differences. There were no significant differences between the groups' tramadol use.ConclusionsAfter LSG, TAP block and trocar site infiltration yield similar pain control. Due to the faster application and fewer side effects, we concluded that trocar site infiltration should be the intervention of choice in controlling postoperative pain in LSG

Renal Resistive Index Measurement by Transesophageal Echocardiography: Comparison With Trans lumbar Ultrasonography and Relation to Acute Kidney Injury

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between transesophageal ultrasonography-derived renal resistive index values (RRITEE) and a standard translumbar renal ultrasound-derived RRI (RRITLUSG). The effectiveness of each method to predict acute kidney injury (AKI) after cardiac surgery also was compared. Design: A prospective observational study. Setting: A teaching university hospital. Participants: Sixty patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Interventions: First, RRI was measured with both methods after anesthesia induction. Second, another measurement was performed with TEE after cardiopulmonary bypass and immediately following the surgery with translumbar ultrasound. To test the correlation between the 2 methods and to plot a Bland-Altman graph, preoperative RRI values measured by both techniques were used. Receiver operating characteristic curves also were plotted to compare the diagnostic values of RRI measured intraoperatively by TEE after cardiopulmonary bypass and by RRITLUSG after surgery. Measurements and Main Results: There was a statistically significant correlation between the 2 RRI measurement approaches (r = 0.86, p < 0.0001). The Bland-Altman plot indicated good agreement between the methods. The area under the curve (AUC) of RRITEE in predicting AKI was 0.82 (95% confidence interval (Cl] = 0.64-0.9, p = 0.001), and the AUC of RRITLUSG after surgery was 0.85 (95% Cl = 0.7-0.98, p < 0.0001). In predicting AKI, an uncertainty zone for RRITEE values between 0.68 and 0.71 was computed by the gray-zone approach. Conclusions: RRITEE showed clinically acceptable agreement with RRITLUSG. Indeed, RRI measured intraoperatively with TEE was comparable to RRITLUSG in terms of detecting postoperative AKI. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Effects of Systemic Erythropoietin on Ischemic Wound Healing in Rats

Results of in vivo studies have shown erythropoietin (EPO) is associated with anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and cell protective effects on wound healing. These effects are dose-dependent. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the duration of EPO treatment affects the healing process in the ischemic wound. Forty-two (42) Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized, wounded with H-shaped flaps, and randomized to 2 groups; Group 1 received 400 u/kg/day EPO and Group 2 received a saline solution, both via intraperitoneal injection following the wounding. All substances were administered once daily at the same time for up to 10 days after surgery. At days 3, 5, and 10, 7 rats from each group were sacrificed. Skin samples were stained with hematoxylin/eosin, viewed under an optical microscope at 10X and 40X magnification, and analyzed by blinded investigators for re-epithelialization, neovascularization amount and maturation of granulation tissue, inflammatory cells, and ulcer healing using an evaluation scale where 0 = none; 1 = partial; 2 = complete, but immature/thin: and 4 = complete and mature. Blood hemoglobin and hematocrit levels also were measured. Data were analyzed using ANOVA one-way test (P < 0.05). Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels rose while subsequent doses of EPO were administered over time, accompanied by a transient surge in healing on day 5, when differences in healing scores were significant. Flap necrosis, ulceration, and abscess were noted on post-wounding day 10 near the pedicle. The study showed EPO therapy can improve wound healing early in the post-wounding period but can reduce wound healing after post-injury treatment day 5. Further research is necessary, particularly to establish how EPO influences the microcirculation and rheology

Analysis of Patient Satisfaction in Intensive Care Unit

lntroduce: One of the crucial elementsin medicalservicesis intensive care units (ICU). The high quality of the services in these units will have an impact on the quality and duratron of the patient's life. The most important method of measuring the quality of the service is to measure the satisfaction level of the patient