Critical Care - Research Publications

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    Intraoperative low tidal volume ventilation and the risk of ICD-10 coded delirium and the use for antipsychotic medications
    Karalapillai, D ; Weinberg, L ; Serpa Neto, A ; Peyton, PJ ; Ellard, L ; Hu, R ; Pearce, B ; Tan, C ; Story, D ; O'Donnell, M ; Hamilton, P ; Oughton, C ; Galtieri, J ; Appu, S ; Wilson, A ; Eastwood, G ; Bellomo, R ; Jones, DA (BMC, 2022-05-16)
    BACKGROUND: Low tidal volume (VT) ventilation and its associated increase in arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) may affect postoperative neurologic function. We aimed to test the hypothesis that intraoperative low VT ventilation affect the incidence of postoperative ICD-10 coded delirium and/or the need for antipsychotic medications. METHODS: This is a post-hoc analysis of a large randomized controlled trial evaluating low vs. conventional VT ventilation during major non-cardiothoracic, non-intracranial surgery. The primary outcome was the incidence of ICD-10 delirium and/or the use of antipsychotic medications during hospital stay, and the absolute difference with its 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated. RESULTS: We studied 1206 patients (median age of 64 [55-72] years, 59.0% males, median ARISCAT of 26 [19-37], and 47.6% of ASA 3). ICD-10 coded delirium and /or antipsychotic medication use was diagnosed in 11.2% with similar incidence between low and conventional VT ventilation (11.1% vs. 11.3%; absolute difference, -0.24 [95%CI, -3.82 to 3.32]; p = 0.894). There was no interaction between allocation group and type of surgery. CONCLUSION: In adult patients undergoing major surgery, low VT ventilation was not associated with increased risk of ICD-10 delirium and/or the use of antipsychotic medications during hospital stay. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ANZCTR Identifier: ACTRN12614000790640 .
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    Intra-operative ventilator mechanical power as a predictor of postoperative pulmonary complications in surgical patients A secondary analysis of a randomised clinical trial
    Karalapillai, D ; Weinberg, L ; Neto A, S ; Peyton, P ; Ellard, L ; Hu, R ; Pearce, B ; Tan, CO ; Story, D ; O'Donnell, M ; Hamilton, P ; Oughton, C ; Galtieri, J ; Wilson, A ; Eastwood, G ; Bellomo, R ; Jones, DA (LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS, 2022-01)
    BACKGROUND: Studies in critically ill patients suggest a relationship between mechanical power (an index of the energy delivered by the ventilator, which includes driving pressure, respiratory rate, tidal volume and inspiratory pressure) and complications. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the association between intra-operative mechanical power and postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs). DESIGN: Post hoc analysis of a large randomised clinical trial. SETTING: University-affiliated academic tertiary hospital in Melbourne, Australia, from February 2015 to February 2019. PATIENTS: Adult patients undergoing major noncardiothoracic, nonintracranial surgery. INTERVENTION: Dynamic mechanical power was calculated using the power equation adjusted by the respiratory system compliance (CRS). Multivariable models were used to assess the independent association between mechanical power and outcomes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was the incidence of PPCs within the first seven postoperative days. The secondary outcome was the incidence of acute respiratory failure. RESULTS: We studied 1156 patients (median age [IQR]: 64 [55 to 72] years, 59.5% men). Median mechanical power adjusted by CRS was 0.32 [0.22 to 0.51] (J min-1)/(ml cmH2O-1). A higher mechanical power was also independently associated with increased risk of PPCs [odds ratio (OR 1.34, 95% CI, 1.17 to 1.52); P < 0.001) and acute respiratory failure (OR 1.40, 95% CI, 1.21 to 1.61; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In patients receiving ventilation during major noncardiothoracic, nonintracranial surgery, exposure to a higher mechanical power was independently associated with an increased risk of PPCs and acute respiratory failure. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry no: 12614000790640.
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    Factors influencing early and long-term survival following hip fracture among nonagenarians
    Weinberg, L ; Yang, BO ; Cosic, L ; Klink, S ; Le, P ; Li, JK ; Koshy, AN ; Jones, D ; Bellomo, R ; Tan, CO ; Lee, D-K (BMC, 2021-10-30)
    BACKGROUND: The outcomes of nonagenarian patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery are not well understood. We investigated the 30-day mortality after surgical treatment of unilateral hip fracture. The relationship between postoperative complications and mortality was evaluated. METHODS: We performed a single-centre retrospective cohort study of nonagenarian patients undergoing hip fracture surgery over a 6-year period. Postoperative complications were graded according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. Correlation analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship between mortality and pre-specified mortality risk predictors. Survival analyses were assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression modelling. RESULTS: The study included 537 patients. The 30-day mortality rate was 7.4%. The mortality rate over a median follow-up period of 30 months was 18.2%. Postoperative complications were observed in 459 (85.5%) patients. Both the number and severity of complications were related to mortality (p < 0.001). Compared to patients who survived, deceased patients were more frail (p = 0.034), were at higher ASA risk (p = 0.010) and were more likely to have preoperative congestive heart failure (p < 0.001). The adjusted hazard ratio for mortality according to the number of complications was 1.3 (95% CI 1.1, 1.5; p = 0.003). Up to 21 days from admission, any increase in complication severity was associated significantly greater mortality [adjusted hazard ratio: 3.0 (95% CI 2.4, 3.6; p < 0.001)]. CONCLUSION: In a nonagenarian cohort of patients undergoing hip fracture surgery, 30-day mortality was 7.4%, but 30-month mortality rates approached one in five patients. Postoperative complications were independently associated with a higher mortality, particularly when occurring early.
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    Plasma-Lyte 148: A clinical review.
    Weinberg, L ; Collins, N ; Van Mourik, K ; Tan, C ; Bellomo, R (Baishideng Publishing Group Inc., 2016-11-04)
    AIM: To outline the physiochemical properties and specific clinical uses of Plasma-Lyte 148 as choice of solution for fluid intervention in critical illness, surgery and perioperative medicine. METHODS: We performed an electronic literature search from Medline and PubMed (via Ovid), anesthesia and pharmacology textbooks, and online sources including studies that compared Plasma-Lyte 148 to other crystalloid solutions. The following keywords were used: "surgery", "anaesthesia", "anesthesia", "anesthesiology", "anaesthesiology", "fluids", "fluid therapy", "crystalloid", "saline", "plasma-Lyte", "plasmalyte", "hartmann's", "ringers" "acetate", "gluconate", "malate", "lactate". All relevant articles were accessed in full. We summarized the data and reported the data in tables and text. RESULTS: We retrieved 104 articles relevant to the choice of Plasma-Lyte 148 for fluid intervention in critical illness, surgery and perioperative medicine. We analyzed the data and reported the results in tables and text. CONCLUSION: Plasma-Lyte 148 is an isotonic, buffered intravenous crystalloid solution with a physiochemical composition that closely reflects human plasma. Emerging data supports the use of buffered crystalloid solutions in preference to saline in improving physicochemical outcomes. Further large randomized controlled trials assessing the comparative effectiveness of Plasma-Lyte 148 and other crystalloid solutions in measuring clinically important outcomes such as morbidity and mortality are needed.
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    Randomised controlled trial to investigate the relationship between mild hypercapnia and cerebral oxygen saturation in patients undergoing major surgery
    Wong, C ; Churilov, L ; Cowie, D ; Tan, CO ; Hu, R ; Tremewen, D ; Pearce, B ; Pillai, P ; Karalapillai, D ; Bellomo, R ; Weinberg, L (BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP, 2020-02)
    OBJECTIVES: The effects of hypercapnia on regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2) during surgery are unclear. We conducted a randomised controlled trial to investigate the relationship between mild hypercapnia and rSO2. We hypothesised that, compared with targeted normocapnia (TN), targeted mild hypercapnia (TMH) during major surgery would increase rSO2. DESIGN: A prospective, randomised, controlled trial in adult participants undergoing elective major surgery. SETTING: A single tertiary centre in Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: 40 participants were randomised to either a TMH or TN group (20 to each). INTERVENTIONS: TMH (partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood, PaCO2, 45-55 mm Hg) or TN (PaCO2 35-40 mm Hg) was delivered via controlled ventilation throughout surgery. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary endpoint was the absolute difference between the two groups in percentage change in rSO2 from baseline to completion of surgery. Secondary endpoints included intraoperative pH, bicarbonate concentration, base excess, serum potassium concentration, incidence of postoperative delirium and length of stay (LOS) in hospital. RESULTS: The absolute difference between the two groups in percentage change in rSO2 from the baseline to the completion of surgery was 19.0% higher in both hemispheres with TMH (p<0.001). On both sides, the percentage change in rSO2 was greater in the TMH group than the TN group throughout the duration of surgery. The difference between the groups became more noticeable over time. Furthermore, postoperative delirium was higher in the TN group (risk difference 0.3, 95% CI 0.1 to 0.5, p=0.02). LOS was similar between groups (5 days vs 5 days; p=0.99). CONCLUSION: TMH was associated with a stable increase in rSO2 from the baseline, while TN was associated with a decrease in rSO2 in both hemispheres in patients undergoing major surgery. This resulted in a clear separation of percentage change in rSO2 from the baseline between TMH and TN over time. Our findings provide the rationale for larger studies on TMH during surgery. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: The Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12616000320459).