Measurement of cricoid pressure force during simulated Sellick’s manoeuvre

BACKGROUND: Cricoid pressure is a standard anaesthetic procedure used to reduce the risk of aspiration of gastric contents during the induction of general anaesthesia. However, for several years its validity has been questioned. There still remains the question of whether we perform it correctly. The aim of the study was an evaluation of the theoretical knowledge of Sellick’s manoeuvre, as well an assessment of practical skill related with it when simulated on a model of the upper airway. METHODS: The study was performed on a cohort of anaesthetists and anaesthetic nurses working in various hospitals in the Warsaw area. Measurements were taken on an upper airway model placed on an electronic kitchen scale. Participants were asked to perform Sellick’s manoeuvre in the way they do it in their clinical practice. The test was done twice. Both the position and pressures applied on the model were documented. Knowledge concerning current recommendations of cricoid force was noted. RESULTS: 206 subjects participated in the study. Only 49% (n = 101) properly identified cricoid cartilage during their application of Sellick’s manoeuvre. Application of the correct pressure on the model of the airway was noted in 16.5% (n = 34) during the first attempt and in 20.4% (n = 42) during the second attempt. The median force applied during simulated Sellick’s manoeuvre was 36 N (IQR: 26–55) in the first attempt, and 38 (IQR 25–55) in the second attempt. CONCLUSIONS: Sellick’s manoeuvre was performed incorrectly in many cases. Half of the participants of our study applied the pressure in the wrong place while the majority of them used an inappropriate amount of force. Thus, the application of cricoid pressure in patients should be preceded with simulation training. BACKGROUND: Cricoid pressure is a standard anaesthetic procedure used to reduce the risk of aspiration of gastric contents during the induction of general anaesthesia. However, for several years its validity has been questioned. There still remains the question of whether we perform it correctly. The aim of the study was an evaluation of the theoretical knowledge of Sellick’s manoeuvre, as well an assessment of practical skill related with it when simulated on a model of the upper airway. METHODS: The study was performed on a cohort of anaesthetists and anaesthetic nurses working in various hospitals in the Warsaw area. Measurements were taken on an upper airway model placed on an electronic kitchen scale. Participants were asked to perform Sellick’s manoeuvre in the way they do it in their clinical practice. The test was done twice. Both the position and pressures applied on the model were documented. Knowledge concerning current recommendations of cricoid force was noted. RESULTS: 206 subjects participated in the study. Only 49% (n = 101) properly identified cricoid cartilage during their application of Sellick’s manoeuvre. Application of the correct pressure on the model of the airway was noted in 16.5% (n = 34) during the first attempt and in 20.4% (n = 42) during the second attempt. The median force applied during simulated Sellick’s manoeuvre was 36 N (IQR: 26–55) in the first attempt, and 38 (IQR 25–55) in the second attempt. CONCLUSIONS: Sellick’s manoeuvre was performed incorrectly in many cases. Half of the participants of our study applied the pressure in the wrong place while the majority of them used an inappropriate amount of force. Thus, the application of cricoid pressure in patients should be preceded with simulation training

Wyzwania w realizacji zaleceń żywienia klinicznego u chorych krytycznych z COVID-19

Około 30% pacjentów leczonych na oddziale intensywnej terapii z powodu COVID-19 prezentuje objawy ostrej niewydolności oddechowej (ARDS) i wymaga przede wszystkim wspomagania układu oddechowowego i krążenia. Aby zapewnić kompleksową opiekę nad pacjentami z COVID-19, w planie terapeutycznym należy uwzględnić interwencję żywieniową poprzedzoną oceną stanu odżywienia

Presentation, management, and outcomes of older compared to younger adults with hospital-acquired bloodstream infections in the intensive care unit: a multicenter cohort study

Purpose: Older adults admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) usually have fair baseline functional capacity, yet their age and frailty may compromise their management. We compared the characteristics and management of older (≥ 75 years) versus younger adults hospitalized in ICU with hospital-acquired bloodstream infection (HA-BSI). Methods: Nested cohort study within the EUROBACT-2 database, a multinational prospective cohort study including adults (≥ 18 years) hospitalized in the ICU during 2019-2021. We compared older versus younger adults in terms of infection characteristics (clinical signs and symptoms, source, and microbiological data), management (imaging, source control, antimicrobial therapy), and outcomes (28-day mortality and hospital discharge). Results: Among 2111 individuals hospitalized in 219 ICUs with HA-BSI, 563 (27%) were ≥ 75 years old. Compared to younger patients, these individuals had higher comorbidity score and lower functional capacity; presented more often with a pulmonary, urinary, or unknown HA-BSI source; and had lower heart rate, blood pressure and temperature at presentation. Pathogens and resistance rates were similar in both groups. Differences in management included mainly lower rates of effective source control achievement among aged individuals. Older adults also had significantly higher day-28 mortality (50% versus 34%, p < 0.001), and lower rates of discharge from hospital (12% versus 20%, p < 0.001) by this time. Conclusions: Older adults with HA-BSI hospitalized in ICU have different baseline characteristics and source of infection compared to younger patients. Management of older adults differs mainly by lower probability to achieve source control. This should be targeted to improve outcomes among older ICU patients

The role of centre and country factors on process and outcome indicators in critically ill patients with hospital-acquired bloodstream infections

Purpose: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the associations between centre/country-based factors and two important process and outcome indicators in patients with hospital-acquired bloodstream infections (HABSI). Methods: We used data on HABSI from the prospective EUROBACT-2 study to evaluate the associations between centre/country factors on a process or an outcome indicator: adequacy of antimicrobial therapy within the first 24 h or 28-day mortality, respectively. Mixed logistical models with clustering by centre identified factors associated with both indicators. Results: Two thousand two hundred nine patients from two hundred one intensive care units (ICUs) were included in forty-seven countries. Overall, 51% (n = 1128) of patients received an adequate antimicrobial therapy and the 28-day mortality was 38% (n = 839). The availability of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) for aminoglycosides everyday [odds ratio (OR) 1.48, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03-2.14] or within a few hours (OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.34-2.38), surveillance cultures for multidrug-resistant organism carriage performed weekly (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.09-1.93), and increasing Human Development Index (HDI) values were associated with adequate antimicrobial therapy. The presence of intermediate care beds (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.47-0.84), TDM for aminoglycoside available everyday (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.44-1.00) or within a few hours (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.37-0.70), 24/7 consultation of clinical pharmacists (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.47-0.95), percentage of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) between 10% and 25% in the ICU (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.00-2.80), and decreasing HDI values were associated with 28-day mortality. Conclusion: Centre/country factors should be targeted for future interventions to improve management strategies and outcome of HABSI in ICU patients

Epidemiology and outcomes of hospital-acquired bloodstream infections in intensive care unit patients: the EUROBACT-2 international cohort study

Purpose In the critically ill, hospital-acquired bloodstream infections (HA-BSI) are associated with significant mortality. Granular data are required for optimizing management, and developing guidelines and clinical trials. Methods We carried out a prospective international cohort study of adult patients (≥ 18 years of age) with HA-BSI treated in intensive care units (ICUs) between June 2019 and February 2021. Results 2600 patients from 333 ICUs in 52 countries were included. 78% HA-BSI were ICU-acquired. Median Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score was 8 [IQR 5; 11] at HA-BSI diagnosis. Most frequent sources of infection included pneumonia (26.7%) and intravascular catheters (26.4%). Most frequent pathogens were Gram-negative bacteria (59.0%), predominantly Klebsiella spp. (27.9%), Acinetobacter spp. (20.3%), Escherichia coli (15.8%), and Pseudomonas spp. (14.3%). Carbapenem resistance was present in 37.8%, 84.6%, 7.4%, and 33.2%, respectively. Difficult-to-treat resistance (DTR) was present in 23.5% and pan-drug resistance in 1.5%. Antimicrobial therapy was deemed adequate within 24 h for 51.5%. Antimicrobial resistance was associated with longer delays to adequate antimicrobial therapy. Source control was needed in 52.5% but not achieved in 18.2%. Mortality was 37.1%, and only 16.1% had been discharged alive from hospital by day-28. Conclusions HA-BSI was frequently caused by Gram-negative, carbapenem-resistant and DTR pathogens. Antimicrobial resistance led to delays in adequate antimicrobial therapy. Mortality was high, and at day-28 only a minority of the patients were discharged alive from the hospital. Prevention of antimicrobial resistance and focusing on adequate antimicrobial therapy and source control are important to optimize patient management and outcomes