Sedation in neurological intensive care unit

Analgesia and sedation has been widely used in intensive care units where iatrogenic discomfort often complicates patient management. In neurological patients maximal comfort without diminishing patient responsiveness is desirable. In these patients successful management of sedation and analgesia incorporates a patient based approach that includes detection and management of predisposing and causative factors, including delirium, monitoring using sedation scales, proper medication selection, emphasis on analgesia based drugs and incorporation of protocols or algorithms. So, to optimize care clinician should be familiar with the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic variables that can affect the safety and efficacy of analgesics and sedatives

Interpretation of arterial blood gas

Disorders of acid-base balance can lead to severe complications in many disease states, and occasionally the abnormality may be so severe as to become a life-threatening risk factor. The process of analysis and monitoring of arterial blood gas (ABG) is an essential part of diagnosing and managing the oxygenation status and acid-base balance of the high-risk patients, as well as in the care of critically ill patients in the Intensive Care Unit. Since both areas manifest sudden and life-threatening changes in all the systems concerned, a thorough understanding of acid-base balance is mandatory for any physician, and the anesthesiologist is no exception. However, the understanding of ABGs and their interpretation can sometimes be very confusing and also an arduous task. Many methods do exist in literature to guide the interpretation of the ABGs. The discussion in this article does not include all those methods, such as analysis of base excess or Stewart\u2032s strong ion difference, but a logical and systematic approach is presented to enable us to make a much easier interpretation through them. The proper application of the concepts of acid-base balance will help the healthcare provider not only to follow the progress of a patient, but also to evaluate the effectiveness of care being provided

Interpretation of arterial blood gas

Disorders of acid–base balance can lead to severe complications in many disease states, and occasionally the abnormality may be so severe as to become a life-threatening risk factor. The process of analysis and monitoring of arterial blood gas (ABG) is an essential part of diagnosing and managing the oxygenation status and acid–base balance of the high-risk patients, as well as in the care of critically ill patients in the Intensive Care Unit. Since both areas manifest sudden and life-threatening changes in all the systems concerned, a thorough understanding of acid–base balance is mandatory for any physician, and the anesthesiologist is no exception. However, the understanding of ABGs and their interpretation can sometimes be very confusing and also an arduous task. Many methods do exist in literature to guide the interpretation of the ABGs. The discussion in this article does not include all those methods, such as analysis of base excess or Stewart’s strong ion difference, but a logical and systematic approach is presented to enable us to make a much easier interpretation through them. The proper application of the concepts of acid–base balance will help the healthcare provider not only to follow the progress of a patient, but also to evaluate the effectiveness of care being provided

4DPRR- Index for predicting mortality in COVID-19 ARDS

Background Mortality in ARDS was reduced significantly after the introduction of the low tidal volume ventilation strategy. It has been recently shown that lung-protective ventilation strategies should primarily target driving pressure rather than Vt and that ventilator induced lung injury is not just dependent on tidal volume but also other factors like respiratory rate and driving pressure. Ventilator induced lung injury is also thought to be dependent on the amount of energy transferred by the ventilator to the patient which in turn is dependent on tidal volume size (VT), plateau pressure (Pplat), respiratory rate (RR). Mechanical power can be calculated accurately through power equations which can increase their applicability in clinical practice. One simple composite equation (driving pressure multiplied by four plus respiratory rate [4DPRR]) has been recently suggested as a simple surrogate for the power equation. This equation also doesn’t include PEEP as it has been theorized that it is the only elastic dynamic component of driving energy which affects the outcome and not the elastic static component (i.e., PEEP) and the resistive power (related to flow and airway resistance). Objectives To assess the mechanical power as measured by 4DPRR in mechanically ventilated patients who have moderate to severe COVID-19 ARDS. Methods: We obtained data on ventilatory variables and mechanical power from the patients who were admitted with moderate to severe COVID ARDS in our hospital from March 2021 to June 2021. Results We included 34 patients (28% women; mean age, 57 ± 17 yrs.). The average ΔP was 21.44 ± 3.98 cmH2O, the RR was 23.8 ± 3.84 breaths/min, and the mean driving pressure was 21.4 cmH2O. 28% (n = 10) of patients expired. There was no significant association of 4DPRR (P 0.72), Pplat (P 0.79).and RR (P 0.21) with mortality as predicted by area under ROC curves. Conclusions Driving power and plateau pressure were associated with mortality during controlled mechanical ventilation in COVID ARDS, but a simpler model of mechanical power using only the driving pressure and respiratory rate was found to be a poor predictor of mortality

Carisoprodol withdrawal syndrome resembling neuroleptic malignant syndrome: Diagnostic dilemma

Soma (Carisoprodol) is N-isopropyl-2 methyl-2-propyl-1,3-propanediol dicarbamate; a commonly prescribed, centrally acting skeletal muscle relaxant. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a potentially life-threatening adverse effect of antipsychotic agents. Although diagnostic criteria for NMS have been established, it should be recognized that atypical presentations occur and more flexible diagnostic criteria than currently mandated, may be warranted. We wish to report a postoperative case of bilateral knee replacement who presented with carisoprodol (Soma) withdrawal resembling NMS that was a diagnostic dilemma. Subsequently, it was successfully treated with oral baclofen in absence of sodium dantrolene

Impulse-control disorders and restless leg syndrome in Parkinson's Disease: Association or coexistence

Background: Both Impulse-control disorders and related behaviours (ICD-RB) and restless leg syndrome (RLS) are relatively common in patients with Parkinson's disease, but little is known are they related or independent complications of dopaminergic therapy. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between ICD-RBs and RLS and also, to determine the associated significant psycho-behavioural profile of RLS patients in presence of ICD-RBs. Methods: PD who visited neurology OPD were screened for the presence of addictive behaviors, alcohol and substance abuse, ICDs including Impulse control disorders not elsewhere classified with the help of a QUIP questionnaire. RLS was evaluated by diagnostic criteria set by the International RLS study group. To evaluate the association of RLS and ICDs, cohort was divided into groups of patients who had both ICD and RLS, ICD with no RLS, RLS with no ICD and no ICD or RLS. Results: Among 122 PD patients who visited OPD, 95 eligible were included in the study. Out of these 95 patients, 51 (53.6%) had at least one ICD-RB and 18 (18.9%) had RLS. ICD-RB in decreasing order of frequency were compulsive medication (47.4%), compulsive eating (29.4%), compulsive buying (17.6%), gambling (11.7%), hypersexuality (3.9%), and others (29.8%). Among 18 patients with RLS, 12 (66.7%) were associated with at least one ICD-RB. The compulsive behaviours significantly associated with PD-RLS group were gambling (27.8%), followed by compulsive eating (44.2%). While comparing disease characteristics, PD-ICD/RLS patients had statistically significant disease duration (p 0.007) and higher LEDD (p 0.004). Other demographic and socioeconomic features did not reveal any differences between the groups. Conclusion: 11% of PwPD can have co-occurrence of RLS and ICD-RBs. Circadian fluctuation in levels of dopamine release on the background of hyper-dopaminergic state produces waves of crest and trough, which may be possible for this behavioral profile. Long-term dopaminergic treatment or degenerative process itself may be the cause leading to emergence of both RLS and ICD-RBs in PD patients

Parkinson's disease in intensive care unit: An observational study of frequencies, causes, and outcomes

Objective: To analyze the frequency, causes, and outcomes of admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) among Parkinson's disease (PD) population so that preventive measures can be developed. Methods: We prospectively observed patients with diagnosis of PD admitted to ICU from January 2014 to December 2016. Based on etiology for hospital admission, they were divided into two groups – related to PD (further divided into direct or indirect) or not associated with PD at all. Etiology for hospitalization was determined from history and investigational data. The primary outcome was death or discharge from the hospital. Factors contributing to ICU admission were analyzed by comparing these patients with a cohort of 50 PD patients admitted to the neurology ward during the same study period. All values were expressed as mean (standard deviation) and percentages using SPSS version 16.0. Results: Fifty-three (36%) out of a total of 146 patients required ICU admission. Most common causes leading to admission in decreasing order of frequency were fever (34%), delirium (16%), falls (12%), encephalopathy (8%), gastrointestinal emergencies (6%); while direct disease-related severe dyskinesias were seen only in two patients (4%). 13.7% needed mechanical ventilation and mean duration of ventilation was 5.94 days with mortality rate of 20%. Significant factors predicting ICU admission, and thus, poor outcomes were age >65 years, history of previous admission within the last 12 months, delirium, and hypoalbuminemia. There was no significant association between the incidence of ICU admission and duration of disease or severity of the disease. Conclusions: Poor outcome in PD patients is due to systemic causes, hence multidisciplinary teamwork may improve outcome in these patients