Concomitant ceftriaxone and high-concentration intravenous calcium therapy in adult critical care patients: A matched cohort study

BACKGROUND: Based on case reports in infants, the safety of concomitant use of ceftriaxone and intravenous calcium in all ages has recently come under challenge. Systematic population-based data to guide clinicians with respect to this risk are, however, lacking. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether concomitant administration of ceftriaxone and intravenous calcium was associated with the occurrence of severe cardiorespiratory events or death in critically ill adults. METHODS: We performed a matched-cohort study from retrospective data of adults admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) in Calgary, Canada, who were provided continuous high-dose intravenous calcium. Those who received ceftriaxone while on continuous renal replacement therapy were considered exposed. Up to 3 unexposed patients were selected by matching on a number of prognostic factors from the remaining subjects not concurrently exposed to ceftriaxone and calcium. Univariate methods and multivariate conditional logistic regression were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: We identified 142 patients exposed to the implicated combination who could be matched to at least one unexposed patient. Hospital mortality was 66% in the exposed versus 63% in unexposed patients (p = 0.442). ICU length of stay, ICU mortality, hospital length of stay, and the frequency of acute oxygenation events were all similar by univariate analysis. Multivariate conditional logistic regression modeling failed to find a significant association between exposure and hospital mortality (adjusted OR 1.15, 95% CI 0.65 to 2.04) or other relevant outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: In this high-risk group, administration of high concentrations of calcium and concurrent ceftriaxone was not significantly associated with greater mortality or adverse outcomes compared to matched unexposed patients. Although this was an underpowered study and rare adverse effects from the interaction of these 2 compounds cannot be completely excluded, these data provide overall reassurance of the safety of this combination in the majority of critically ill adults.</p

A cohort study of nutrition practices in the intensive care unit following abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

Introduction: Enteral nutrition within 48 hours of intensive care unit (ICU) admission is recommended for the ICU population. Major vascular surgery patients have a higher incidence of pre- and postoperative malnutrition compared with the general surgical population. Our objectives were to determine if early feeding (within 48 hours of admission) is achievable and well tolerated, identify factors that predict early feeding, and determine if there is an association between early feeding and in-hospital mortality among abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair patients. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted among 145 postsurgical AAA repair patients admitted to the ICU within 48 hours of surgery. Kaplan-Meier methods and Cox proportional hazard multiple regression were used to analyze the data. Results: Only 35 (24%) patients received early feeding. Patients were more likely to be fed early if they were male (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 2.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.8-6.7; P =.13), had endovascular AAA repair (aHR = 2.9; 95% CI, 1.4-6.2; P =.006), had less blood loss (80% EN goal) during ICU admission. After controlling for other factors, 14-day mortality was not related to feeding time (aHR = 1.1; P =.88). Conclusion: Early feeding was achieved in a minority of patients following AAA repair, was related to type of surgery and duration of mechanical ventilation, and was tolerated as well as later introduced feedings. Randomized trials are needed to determine safety and benefits of early feeding in this patient group.</p

Padrões de dados, terminologias e sistemas de classificação para o cuidado em saúde e enfermagem

A informação é essencial para o cuidado de Enfermagem, pois subsidia o enfermeiro na tomada de decisão clínica para a resolução e diminuição dos problemas em saúde. Este estudo de revisão integrativa identificou nas publicações de periódicos nacionais e internacionais os principais padrões de dados, terminologias e sistemas de classificação utilizados no cuidado em saúde e Enfermagem. A pesquisa foi realizada nas bases de dados MEDLINE, CINAHL e SCIELO utilizando os descritores: Sistemas de Informação, Informática em Enfermagem, Informática Médica, Sistemas Computadorizados de Registros Médicos, Terminologia e Nomenclatura Sistematizada de Medicina. Foram selecionados 91 artigos sendo analisados em duas categorias empíricas: "padrões de dados para o cuidado em saúde e enfermagem" e "terminologias e sistemas de classificação em Enfermagem". A partir dos diversos padrões de dados, terminologias e sistemas existentes, considera-se importante que a Enfermagem se aproprie dos mesmos visando aprimorar e renovar a qualidade do cuidado