Litigating global crises: What role for international courts and tribunals in the management of climate change, mass migration and pandemics?

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Magnetska rezonanca mozga i magnetska angiografija u zbrinjavanju bolesnika s ishemijskim moždanim udarom u vertebrobazilarnoj cirkulaciji

Vertebrobasilar occlusion is a life-threatening event that requires prompt diagnostic evaluation and subsequent therapy. Advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods, including diffusion-weighted imaging and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), are highly sensitive for the detection of ischemic tissue injury, and for the detection and localization of intracranial arterial occlusion and stenosis. In the era of thrombolytic therapy, MRI and MRA provide useful information for therapeutic decision making in the early stage of stroke evaluation. This retrospective review included patients with posterior circulation symptomatology examined at our Department between July 2002 and January 2005, 8 female and 11 male, mean age 54.9 years. The aim was to present the possibilities of MRI and MRA in the management of patients with ischemic stroke in posterior circulation. In 19 patients with an ischemia in the vertebrobasilar circulation detected by MRI of the brain, MRA identified 8 cases of basilar artery occlusion, 4 cases of basilar artery stenosis, 3 cases of multiple atherosclerotic stenoses of the vertebral arteries with 2 cases of concurrent vertebral artery occlusion, 2 cases of vasculitis in the posterior circulation, 1 case of proximal posterior cerebral artery occlusion, and 1 case of posterior cerebral artery stenosis. In 8 patients with basilar artery occlusion, the site of occlusion was proximal in 3 cases, proximal and middle in 2 cases, middle and distal in 2 cases, and distal in 1 case. MRI is a powerful tool to detect ischemic changes in stroke immediately upon stroke onset, while MRA is highly sensitive for the detection of occlusive disease in large intracranial arteries as well as in posterior circulation. In the acute stroke setting, MRI and MRA are useful for: 1) early and reliable identification of ischemic stroke; 2) improved choice of treatment modality by helping exclude from thrombolysis patients at high risk of hemorrhage and by identifying those patients most likely to benefit from it; 3) pinpoint the vascular origin of ischemic stroke; 4) determination of neurologic consequences of stroke, including final infarct size, clinical outcome and hemorrhagic risk.Vertebrobazilarna okluzija je za život opasno stanje koje zahtijeva brzu dijagnostičku obradu i terapiju. Suvremene metode magnetske rezonance (MR) mozga, uključujući difuzijski mjerenu sliku i magnetsku angiografiju (MRA), imaju visoku osjetljivost u otkrivanju ishemijske lezije moždanog parenhima, te u otkrivanju i lokalizaciji okluzije i stenoze intrakranijskih arterija. U doba trombolitične terapije MR mozga i MRA daju korisne podatke bitne za donošenje odluke o izboru terapije u procjeni ranog stadija ishemijskog moždanog udara. Proveden je retrospektivni pregled bolesnika sa simptomatologijom stražnje cirkulacije koji su na našem Zavodu pregledani u razdoblju od srpnja 2002. do siječnja 2005. godine, 8 žena i 11 muškaraca srednje životne dobi od 54,9 godina. Cilj je bio pokazati mogućnosti MR mozga i MRA u zbrinjavanju bolesnika s ishemijskim moždanim udarom stražnje cirkulacije. U 19 bolesnika s ishemijskim moždanim udarom vertebrobazilarnog sliva, koji je dokazan pomoću MR mozga, MRA je otkrila 8 okluzija bazilarne arterije, 4 stenoze bazilarne arterije, 3 slučaja višestrukih aterosklerotskih stenoza vertebralnih arterija s 2 slučaja istodobne okluzije vertebralne arterije, 2 vaskulitisa u stražnjoj cirkulaciji, 1 okluziju proksimalnog dijela i 1 stenozu stražnje moždane arterije. Među 8 bolesnika s okluzijom bazilarne arterije mjesto okluzije bilo je proksimalni dio arterije u 3, proksimalni i srednji dio u 2, srednji i distalni dio u 2 slučaja i distalni dio bazilarne arterije u 1 slučaju. MR mozga je moćno sredstvo u otkrivanju ishemijskih promjena neposredno nakon nastupa moždanog udara, dok MRA ima visoku osjetljivost za otkrivanje okluzivne bolesti velikih intrakranijskih arterija. Kod zbrinjavanja akutnog moždanog udara MR mozga i MRA su korisne zbog: 1) brzog i sigurnog otkrivanja ishemije; 2) sigurnijeg izbora oblika terapije pomažući da se tromboliza ne primijeni kod bolesnika s visokim rizikom za razvoj krvarenja te da se otkriju bolesnici koji će imati najviše koristi od iste; 3) mogućnosti točnog određivanja vaskularnog podrijetla ishemijskog moždanog udara; 4) određivanja neuroloških posljedica moždanog udara uključujući konačnu veličinu ishemijske lezije, klinički ishod i rizik od krvarenja

Vrijednost CT-a mozga u hitnoj službi: retrospektivna analiza

The objective of the study was evaluation and radiologic - clinical correlation of brain computed tomography (CT) scans performed at emergency service. The relation between the number of urgent and total CT scans performed during a 2-year period (January 1, 2001 - December 31, 2002) was analyzed. Emergency brain CT scans were especially investigated according to clinical indications, requests from particular clinical specialties, and need of anesthesiologist\u27s assistance. CT scans were correlated with clinical examinations and diagnoses as well as with literature data. During the study period, 15,933 CT scans were performed at our department, 3132 (19.66%) of them at emergency service (1757 male and 1375 female, mean age 56.97 years), and 2576 (82.25%) of the latter emergency brain CT scans (1398 male and 1178 female, mean age 57.80 years). Data analysis showed the following distribution of emergency brain CT scans according to hospital departments: neurology 1441 (55.94%), neurosurgery 632 (24.53%), internal medicine 186 (7.22%), surgery 138 (5.36%), other departments 150 (5.82%), and other institutions 29 (1.13%). Clinical diagnoses for emergency brain CT scanning were as follows: stroke 905 (35.13%), subarachnoid hemorrhage 128 (4.97%), head injury 617 (23.95%), consciousness disorders and convulsions 389 (15.10%), intracranial expansive lesions 234 (9.08%), headache and/or vertigo 141 (5.47%), cerebrovascular insufficiency 50 (1.94%), infectious disease 46 (1.79%), hydrocephalus 12 (0.47%), metabolic disorders 2 (0.08%), and lost or unavailable data at the time of the study 52 (2.02%). Anesthesiologist\u27s assistance during emergency brain CT scanning was needed in 234 (9.08%) cases. Correlation of CT findings with clinical diagnosis yielded the following results: 96 (3.73%) lost or unavailable data at the time of the study, 639 (25.77%) normal findings, and 1841 (74.23%) pathologic findings. Study results showed the number of emergency brain CT scans to be quite high with a tendency of continuous growth (cerebrovascular disorders, new therapeutic approaches, head injury). Difficulties encountered on brain CT scanning because of the patient\u27s state, and delicacy of the emergency interpretation of CT scans impose the need of higher availability of a neuroradiologist within the frame of the emergency state algorithm.Cilj ove studije bila je evaluacija i radiološko-klinička korelacija CT pretraga mozga u hitnoj službi. Tijekom dvogodišnjeg razdoblja (1. siječnja 2001. - 31. prosinca 2002.) analiziran je odnos hitnih i sveukupnih CT pretraga. Posebno su obrađeni hitni CT pregledi mozga prema kliničkim indikacijama, zastupljenosti pojedinih kliničkih struka i potrebi anesteziološke asistencije. CT nalazi su korelirani s kliničkim upitima i dijagnozama, te uspoređeni s literaturnim podacima. Tijekom 24 mjeseca na Kliničkom zavodu su izvedene 15.933 CT pretrage, od čega 3132 (19,66%) u hitnoj službi (1757 muškaraca i 1375 žena srednje dobi od 56,97 godina). Čak 2576 (82,25%) svih hitnih CT pretraga bile su hitne CT pretrage mozga (1398 muškaraca i 1178 žena srednje dobi od 57,80 godina). Raspoređenost hitnih CT pretraga mozga prema klinikama bila je slijedeća: neurologija 1441 (55,94%), neurokirurgija 632 (24,53%), interna medicina 186 (7,22%), kirurgija 138 (5,36%), ostale klinike 150 (5,82%) i vanjske ustanove 29 (1,13%). Kliničke indikacije za hitnu CT pretragu mozga bile su slijedeće: moždani udar 905 (35,13%), subarahnoidno krvarenje 128 (4,97%), trauma glave 617 (23,95%), poremećaj svijesti i konvulzije 389 (15,10%), intrakranijska ekspanzija 234 (9,08%), glavobolja i/ili vrtoglavica 141 (5,47%), cerebrovaskularna insuficijencija 50 (1,94%), infekcija 46 (1,79%), hidrocefalus 12 (0,47%), metabolične promjene 2 (0,08%) i nedostupni podaci u vrijeme studije 52 (2,02%). Anesteziološka asistencija pri hitnom CT pregledu mozga bila je potrebna u 234 (9,08%) slučaja. Korelacija CT nalaza s kliničkom dijagnozom (kliničkim upitom) pokazala je kako je 96 (3,73%) podataka bilo nedostupno u vrijeme studije, dok je od 2480 preostalih nalaza hitnih CT pregleda mozga bilo 639 (25,77%) normalnih i 1841 (74,23%) patoloških. Provedena je i usporedba s podacima iz literature. Zaključeno je kako je velik broj hitnih CT pretraga mozga s tendencijom stalnog porasta (cerebrovaskularne bolesti, novi terapijski pristupi, trauma glave). Otežano izvođenje pretrage zbog teškog stanja bolesnika i osjetljivost hitne interpretacije nalaza nameću potrebu veće dostupnosti neuroradiologa uz pridržavanje algoritma pretraga u hitnim stanjima

Vrijednost CT-a mozga u hitnoj službi: retrospektivna analiza

The objective of the study was evaluation and radiologic - clinical correlation of brain computed tomography (CT) scans performed at emergency service. The relation between the number of urgent and total CT scans performed during a 2-year period (January 1, 2001 - December 31, 2002) was analyzed. Emergency brain CT scans were especially investigated according to clinical indications, requests from particular clinical specialties, and need of anesthesiologist\u27s assistance. CT scans were correlated with clinical examinations and diagnoses as well as with literature data. During the study period, 15,933 CT scans were performed at our department, 3132 (19.66%) of them at emergency service (1757 male and 1375 female, mean age 56.97 years), and 2576 (82.25%) of the latter emergency brain CT scans (1398 male and 1178 female, mean age 57.80 years). Data analysis showed the following distribution of emergency brain CT scans according to hospital departments: neurology 1441 (55.94%), neurosurgery 632 (24.53%), internal medicine 186 (7.22%), surgery 138 (5.36%), other departments 150 (5.82%), and other institutions 29 (1.13%). Clinical diagnoses for emergency brain CT scanning were as follows: stroke 905 (35.13%), subarachnoid hemorrhage 128 (4.97%), head injury 617 (23.95%), consciousness disorders and convulsions 389 (15.10%), intracranial expansive lesions 234 (9.08%), headache and/or vertigo 141 (5.47%), cerebrovascular insufficiency 50 (1.94%), infectious disease 46 (1.79%), hydrocephalus 12 (0.47%), metabolic disorders 2 (0.08%), and lost or unavailable data at the time of the study 52 (2.02%). Anesthesiologist\u27s assistance during emergency brain CT scanning was needed in 234 (9.08%) cases. Correlation of CT findings with clinical diagnosis yielded the following results: 96 (3.73%) lost or unavailable data at the time of the study, 639 (25.77%) normal findings, and 1841 (74.23%) pathologic findings. Study results showed the number of emergency brain CT scans to be quite high with a tendency of continuous growth (cerebrovascular disorders, new therapeutic approaches, head injury). Difficulties encountered on brain CT scanning because of the patient\u27s state, and delicacy of the emergency interpretation of CT scans impose the need of higher availability of a neuroradiologist within the frame of the emergency state algorithm.Cilj ove studije bila je evaluacija i radiološko-klinička korelacija CT pretraga mozga u hitnoj službi. Tijekom dvogodišnjeg razdoblja (1. siječnja 2001. - 31. prosinca 2002.) analiziran je odnos hitnih i sveukupnih CT pretraga. Posebno su obrađeni hitni CT pregledi mozga prema kliničkim indikacijama, zastupljenosti pojedinih kliničkih struka i potrebi anesteziološke asistencije. CT nalazi su korelirani s kliničkim upitima i dijagnozama, te uspoređeni s literaturnim podacima. Tijekom 24 mjeseca na Kliničkom zavodu su izvedene 15.933 CT pretrage, od čega 3132 (19,66%) u hitnoj službi (1757 muškaraca i 1375 žena srednje dobi od 56,97 godina). Čak 2576 (82,25%) svih hitnih CT pretraga bile su hitne CT pretrage mozga (1398 muškaraca i 1178 žena srednje dobi od 57,80 godina). Raspoređenost hitnih CT pretraga mozga prema klinikama bila je slijedeća: neurologija 1441 (55,94%), neurokirurgija 632 (24,53%), interna medicina 186 (7,22%), kirurgija 138 (5,36%), ostale klinike 150 (5,82%) i vanjske ustanove 29 (1,13%). Kliničke indikacije za hitnu CT pretragu mozga bile su slijedeće: moždani udar 905 (35,13%), subarahnoidno krvarenje 128 (4,97%), trauma glave 617 (23,95%), poremećaj svijesti i konvulzije 389 (15,10%), intrakranijska ekspanzija 234 (9,08%), glavobolja i/ili vrtoglavica 141 (5,47%), cerebrovaskularna insuficijencija 50 (1,94%), infekcija 46 (1,79%), hidrocefalus 12 (0,47%), metabolične promjene 2 (0,08%) i nedostupni podaci u vrijeme studije 52 (2,02%). Anesteziološka asistencija pri hitnom CT pregledu mozga bila je potrebna u 234 (9,08%) slučaja. Korelacija CT nalaza s kliničkom dijagnozom (kliničkim upitom) pokazala je kako je 96 (3,73%) podataka bilo nedostupno u vrijeme studije, dok je od 2480 preostalih nalaza hitnih CT pregleda mozga bilo 639 (25,77%) normalnih i 1841 (74,23%) patoloških. Provedena je i usporedba s podacima iz literature. Zaključeno je kako je velik broj hitnih CT pretraga mozga s tendencijom stalnog porasta (cerebrovaskularne bolesti, novi terapijski pristupi, trauma glave). Otežano izvođenje pretrage zbog teškog stanja bolesnika i osjetljivost hitne interpretacije nalaza nameću potrebu veće dostupnosti neuroradiologa uz pridržavanje algoritma pretraga u hitnim stanjima

Magnetska rezonanca mozga i magnetska angiografija u zbrinjavanju bolesnika s ishemijskim moždanim udarom u vertebrobazilarnoj cirkulaciji

Vertebrobasilar occlusion is a life-threatening event that requires prompt diagnostic evaluation and subsequent therapy. Advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods, including diffusion-weighted imaging and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), are highly sensitive for the detection of ischemic tissue injury, and for the detection and localization of intracranial arterial occlusion and stenosis. In the era of thrombolytic therapy, MRI and MRA provide useful information for therapeutic decision making in the early stage of stroke evaluation. This retrospective review included patients with posterior circulation symptomatology examined at our Department between July 2002 and January 2005, 8 female and 11 male, mean age 54.9 years. The aim was to present the possibilities of MRI and MRA in the management of patients with ischemic stroke in posterior circulation. In 19 patients with an ischemia in the vertebrobasilar circulation detected by MRI of the brain, MRA identified 8 cases of basilar artery occlusion, 4 cases of basilar artery stenosis, 3 cases of multiple atherosclerotic stenoses of the vertebral arteries with 2 cases of concurrent vertebral artery occlusion, 2 cases of vasculitis in the posterior circulation, 1 case of proximal posterior cerebral artery occlusion, and 1 case of posterior cerebral artery stenosis. In 8 patients with basilar artery occlusion, the site of occlusion was proximal in 3 cases, proximal and middle in 2 cases, middle and distal in 2 cases, and distal in 1 case. MRI is a powerful tool to detect ischemic changes in stroke immediately upon stroke onset, while MRA is highly sensitive for the detection of occlusive disease in large intracranial arteries as well as in posterior circulation. In the acute stroke setting, MRI and MRA are useful for: 1) early and reliable identification of ischemic stroke; 2) improved choice of treatment modality by helping exclude from thrombolysis patients at high risk of hemorrhage and by identifying those patients most likely to benefit from it; 3) pinpoint the vascular origin of ischemic stroke; 4) determination of neurologic consequences of stroke, including final infarct size, clinical outcome and hemorrhagic risk.Vertebrobazilarna okluzija je za život opasno stanje koje zahtijeva brzu dijagnostičku obradu i terapiju. Suvremene metode magnetske rezonance (MR) mozga, uključujući difuzijski mjerenu sliku i magnetsku angiografiju (MRA), imaju visoku osjetljivost u otkrivanju ishemijske lezije moždanog parenhima, te u otkrivanju i lokalizaciji okluzije i stenoze intrakranijskih arterija. U doba trombolitične terapije MR mozga i MRA daju korisne podatke bitne za donošenje odluke o izboru terapije u procjeni ranog stadija ishemijskog moždanog udara. Proveden je retrospektivni pregled bolesnika sa simptomatologijom stražnje cirkulacije koji su na našem Zavodu pregledani u razdoblju od srpnja 2002. do siječnja 2005. godine, 8 žena i 11 muškaraca srednje životne dobi od 54,9 godina. Cilj je bio pokazati mogućnosti MR mozga i MRA u zbrinjavanju bolesnika s ishemijskim moždanim udarom stražnje cirkulacije. U 19 bolesnika s ishemijskim moždanim udarom vertebrobazilarnog sliva, koji je dokazan pomoću MR mozga, MRA je otkrila 8 okluzija bazilarne arterije, 4 stenoze bazilarne arterije, 3 slučaja višestrukih aterosklerotskih stenoza vertebralnih arterija s 2 slučaja istodobne okluzije vertebralne arterije, 2 vaskulitisa u stražnjoj cirkulaciji, 1 okluziju proksimalnog dijela i 1 stenozu stražnje moždane arterije. Među 8 bolesnika s okluzijom bazilarne arterije mjesto okluzije bilo je proksimalni dio arterije u 3, proksimalni i srednji dio u 2, srednji i distalni dio u 2 slučaja i distalni dio bazilarne arterije u 1 slučaju. MR mozga je moćno sredstvo u otkrivanju ishemijskih promjena neposredno nakon nastupa moždanog udara, dok MRA ima visoku osjetljivost za otkrivanje okluzivne bolesti velikih intrakranijskih arterija. Kod zbrinjavanja akutnog moždanog udara MR mozga i MRA su korisne zbog: 1) brzog i sigurnog otkrivanja ishemije; 2) sigurnijeg izbora oblika terapije pomažući da se tromboliza ne primijeni kod bolesnika s visokim rizikom za razvoj krvarenja te da se otkriju bolesnici koji će imati najviše koristi od iste; 3) mogućnosti točnog određivanja vaskularnog podrijetla ishemijskog moždanog udara; 4) određivanja neuroloških posljedica moždanog udara uključujući konačnu veličinu ishemijske lezije, klinički ishod i rizik od krvarenja

Preoperative staging of renal cell carcinoma using magnetic resonance imaging: comparison with pathological staging

We have retrospectively assessed the accuracy of our MRI protocol on 1.0-T MRI system for preoperative staging of renal cell carcinoma using the 2002 TNM staging system and pathological staging as the gold standard. Medical records of 48 patients (mean age, 56.28 years) with 57 renal tumors were reviewed: 52 malignant renal tumors were found; most of the patients were staged T1N0M0. In our study, κ test revealed excellent agreement between all three classes of the TNM staging system

A randomised controlled trial of non-invasive ventilation compared with extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal for acute hypercapnic exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BACKGROUND: Patients presenting with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure due to exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) are typically managed with non-invasive ventilation (NIV). The impact of low-flow extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal (ECCO(2)R) on outcome in these patients has not been explored in randomised trials. METHODS: Open-label randomised trial comparing NIV (NIV arm) with ECCO(2)R (ECCO(2)R arm) in patients with AECOPD at high risk of NIV failure (pH < 7.30 after ≥ 1 h of NIV). The primary endpoint was time to cessation of NIV. Secondary outcomes included device tolerance and complications, changes in arterial blood gases, hospital survival. RESULTS: Eighteen patients (median age 67.5, IQR (61.5–71) years; median GOLD stage 3 were enrolled (nine in each arm). Time to NIV discontinuation was shorter with ECCO(2)R (7:00 (6:18–8:30) vs 24:30 (18:15–49:45) h, p = 0.004). Arterial pH was higher with ECCO(2)R at 4 h post-randomisation (7.35 (7.31–7.37) vs 7.25 (7.21–7.26), p < 0.001). Partial pressure of arterial CO(2) (PaCO(2)) was significantly lower with ECCO(2)R at 4 h (6.8 (6.2–7.15) vs 8.3 (7.74–9.3) kPa; p = 0.024). Dyspnoea and comfort both rapidly improved with commencement of ECCO(2)R. There were no severe or life-threatening complications in the study population. There were no episodes of major bleeding or red blood cell transfusion in either group. ICU and hospital length of stay were longer with ECCO(2)R, and there was no difference in 90-day mortality or functional outcomes at follow-up. INTERPRETATION: There is evidence of benefit associated with ECCO(2)R with time to improvement in respiratory acidosis, in respiratory physiology and an immediate improvement in patient comfort and dyspnoea with commencement of ECCO(2)R. In addition, there was minimal clinically significant adverse events associated with ECCO(2)R use in patients with AECOPD at risk of failing or not tolerating NIV. However, the ICU and hospital lengths of stay were longer in the ECCO(2)R for similar outcomes. Trial registration The trial is prospectively registered on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02086084. Registered on 13th March 2014, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02086084?cond=ecco2r&draw=2&rank=8 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13613-022-01006-8

"Delirium Day": A nationwide point prevalence study of delirium in older hospitalized patients using an easy standardized diagnostic tool

Background: To date, delirium prevalence in adult acute hospital populations has been estimated generally from pooled findings of single-center studies and/or among specific patient populations. Furthermore, the number of participants in these studies has not exceeded a few hundred. To overcome these limitations, we have determined, in a multicenter study, the prevalence of delirium over a single day among a large population of patients admitted to acute and rehabilitation hospital wards in Italy. Methods: This is a point prevalence study (called "Delirium Day") including 1867 older patients (aged 65 years or more) across 108 acute and 12 rehabilitation wards in Italian hospitals. Delirium was assessed on the same day in all patients using the 4AT, a validated and briefly administered tool which does not require training. We also collected data regarding motoric subtypes of delirium, functional and nutritional status, dementia, comorbidity, medications, feeding tubes, peripheral venous and urinary catheters, and physical restraints. Results: The mean sample age was 82.0 ± 7.5 years (58 % female). Overall, 429 patients (22.9 %) had delirium. Hypoactive was the commonest subtype (132/344 patients, 38.5 %), followed by mixed, hyperactive, and nonmotoric delirium. The prevalence was highest in Neurology (28.5 %) and Geriatrics (24.7 %), lowest in Rehabilitation (14.0 %), and intermediate in Orthopedic (20.6 %) and Internal Medicine wards (21.4 %). In a multivariable logistic regression, age (odds ratio [OR] 1.03, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.05), Activities of Daily Living dependence (OR 1.19, 95 % CI 1.12-1.27), dementia (OR 3.25, 95 % CI 2.41-4.38), malnutrition (OR 2.01, 95 % CI 1.29-3.14), and use of antipsychotics (OR 2.03, 95 % CI 1.45-2.82), feeding tubes (OR 2.51, 95 % CI 1.11-5.66), peripheral venous catheters (OR 1.41, 95 % CI 1.06-1.87), urinary catheters (OR 1.73, 95 % CI 1.30-2.29), and physical restraints (OR 1.84, 95 % CI 1.40-2.40) were associated with delirium. Admission to Neurology wards was also associated with delirium (OR 2.00, 95 % CI 1.29-3.14), while admission to other settings was not. Conclusions: Delirium occurred in more than one out of five patients in acute and rehabilitation hospital wards. Prevalence was highest in Neurology and lowest in Rehabilitation divisions. The "Delirium Day" project might become a useful method to assess delirium across hospital settings and a benchmarking platform for future surveys

A Bayesian reanalysis of the Standard versus Accelerated Initiation of Renal-Replacement Therapy in Acute Kidney Injury (STARRT-AKI) trial

Background Timing of initiation of kidney-replacement therapy (KRT) in critically ill patients remains controversial. The Standard versus Accelerated Initiation of Renal-Replacement Therapy in Acute Kidney Injury (STARRT-AKI) trial compared two strategies of KRT initiation (accelerated versus standard) in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury and found neutral results for 90-day all-cause mortality. Probabilistic exploration of the trial endpoints may enable greater understanding of the trial findings. We aimed to perform a reanalysis using a Bayesian framework. Methods We performed a secondary analysis of all 2927 patients randomized in multi-national STARRT-AKI trial, performed at 168 centers in 15 countries. The primary endpoint, 90-day all-cause mortality, was evaluated using hierarchical Bayesian logistic regression. A spectrum of priors includes optimistic, neutral, and pessimistic priors, along with priors informed from earlier clinical trials. Secondary endpoints (KRT-free days and hospital-free days) were assessed using zero–one inflated beta regression. Results The posterior probability of benefit comparing an accelerated versus a standard KRT initiation strategy for the primary endpoint suggested no important difference, regardless of the prior used (absolute difference of 0.13% [95% credible interval [CrI] − 3.30%; 3.40%], − 0.39% [95% CrI − 3.46%; 3.00%], and 0.64% [95% CrI − 2.53%; 3.88%] for neutral, optimistic, and pessimistic priors, respectively). There was a very low probability that the effect size was equal or larger than a consensus-defined minimal clinically important difference. Patients allocated to the accelerated strategy had a lower number of KRT-free days (median absolute difference of − 3.55 days [95% CrI − 6.38; − 0.48]), with a probability that the accelerated strategy was associated with more KRT-free days of 0.008. Hospital-free days were similar between strategies, with the accelerated strategy having a median absolute difference of 0.48 more hospital-free days (95% CrI − 1.87; 2.72) compared with the standard strategy and the probability that the accelerated strategy had more hospital-free days was 0.66. Conclusions In a Bayesian reanalysis of the STARRT-AKI trial, we found very low probability that an accelerated strategy has clinically important benefits compared with the standard strategy. Patients receiving the accelerated strategy probably have fewer days alive and KRT-free. These findings do not support the adoption of an accelerated strategy of KRT initiation