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Background Education in ECMO starts with basic theory and physiology. For this type of training, self-assessment e-learning modules may be beneficial. The aim of this study was to generate consensus on essential ECMO skills involving various professional groups involved in caring for ECMO patients. These skills can be used for educational purposes: development of an e-learning program and fine-tuning of ECMO-simulation programs. Methods Experts worldwide received an e-mail inviting them to participate in the modified Delphi questionnaire. A mixture of ECMO experts was contacted. The expert list was formed based on their scientific track record mainly in adult ECMO (research, publications, and invited presentations). This survey consisted of carefully designed questionnaires, organized into three categories, namely knowledge skills, technical skills, and attitudes. Each statement considered a skill and was rated on a 5-point Likert-scale and qualitative comments were made if needed. Based on the summarized information and feedback, the next round Delphi questionnaire was developed. A statement was considered as a key competency when at least 80% of the experts agreed or strongly agreed (rating 4/5 and 5/5) with the statement. Cronbach’s Alpha score tested internal consistency. Intraclass correlation coefficient was used as reliability index for interrater consistency and agreement. Results Consensus was achieved in two rounds. Response rate in the first round was 45.3% (48/106) and 60.4% (29/48) completed the second round. Experts had respectively for the first and second round: a mean age of 43.7 years (8.2) and 43.4 (8.8), a median level of experience of 11.0 years [7.0-15.0] and 12.0 years [8.3-14.8]. Consensus was achieved with 29 experts from Australia (2), Belgium (16), France (1), Germany (1), Italy (1), Russia (2), Spain (1), Sweden, (1), The Netherlands (4). The consensus achieved in the first round was 90.9% for the statements about knowledge, 54.5% about technical skills and 75.0% about attitudes. Consensus increased in the second round: 94.6% about knowledge skills, 90.9% about technical skills and 75.0% about attitudes. Conclusion An expert consensus was accomplished about the content of “adult essential ECMO skills”. This consensus was mainly created with participation of physicians, as the response rate for nurses and perfusion decreased in the second round.

Cardiac surgery associated acute kidney injury (CSA-AKI) is a contributor to adverse outcomes. Preventive measures reduce AKI incidence in high risk patients, identified by biomarkers [TIMP-2]*[IGFBP7] (Nephrocheck®). This study investigate clinical AKI risk assessment by healthcare professionals and the added value of the biomarker result. Adult patients were prospectively included. Healthcare professionals predicted CSA-AKI, with and without biomarker result knowledge. Predicted outcomes were AKI based on creatinine, AKI stage 3 on urine output, anuria and use of kidney replacement therapy (KRT). One-hundred patients were included. Consultant and ICU residents were best in AKI prediction, respectively AUROC 0.769 (95% CI, 0.672–0.850) and 0.702 (95% CI, 0.599–0.791). AUROC of NephroCheck® was 0.541 (95% CI, 0.438–0.642). AKI 3 occurred in only 4 patients; there was no anuria or use of KRT. ICU nurses and ICU residents had an AUROC for prediction of AKI 3 of respectively 0.867 (95% CI, 0.780–0.929) and 0.809 (95% CI, 0.716–0.883); for NephroCheck® this was 0.838 (95% CI, 0.750–0.904). Healthcare professionals performed poor or fair in predicting CSA-AKI and knowledge of Nephrocheck® result did not improved prediction. No conclusions could be made for prediction of severe AKI, due to limited number of events. •CSA-AKI occurred in 75% of patients and was predominantly on urine output criteria.•Prediction of AKI was best by ICU consultants and residents.•Knowledge of the NephroCheck® results did not improve these results.

Background Lung protective mechanical ventilation (MV) is the corner stone of therapy for ARDS. However, its use may be limited by respiratory acidosis. This study explored feasibility of, effectiveness and safety of low flow extracorporeal CO 2 removal (ECCO 2 R). Methods This was a prospective pilot study, using the Abylcap® (Bellco) ECCO 2 R, with crossover off-on-off design (2-h blocks) under stable MV settings, and follow up till end of ECCO 2 R. Primary endpoint for effectiveness was a 20% reduction of PaCO 2 after the first 2-h. Adverse events (AE) were recorded prospectively. We included 10 ARDS patients on MV, with PaO 2 /FiO 2  < 150 mmHg, tidal volume ≤ 8 mL/kg with positive end-expiratory pressure ≥ 5 cmH 2 O, FiO 2 titrated to SaO 2 88–95%, plateau pressure ≥ 28 cmH 2 O, and respiratory acidosis (pH <7.25). Results After 2-h of ECCO 2 R, 6 patients had a ≥ 20% decrease in PaCO 2 (60%); PaCO 2 decreased 28.4% (from 58.4 to 48.7 mmHg, p  = 0.005), and pH increased (1.59%, p = 0.005). ECCO 2 R was hemodynamically well tolerated. During the whole period of ECCO 2 R, 6 patients had an AE (60%); bleeding occurred in 5 patients (50%) and circuit thrombosis in 3 patients (30%), these were judged not to be life threatening. Conclusions In ARDS patients, low flow ECCO 2 R significantly reduced PaCO 2 after 2 h, Follow up during the entire ECCO 2 R period revealed a high incidence of bleeding and circuit thrombosis. Trial registration https://clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT01911533 , registered 23 July 2013.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common after pediatric cardiac surgery (CS). Several urine biomarkers have been validated to detect AKI earlier. The objective of this study was to evaluate urine CHI3L1, NGAL, TIMP-2, IGFBP7, and NephroCheck® as predictors for AKI ≥ 1 in pediatric CS after 48 h and AKI ≥ 2 after 12 h. Pediatric patients (age < 18 year; body weight ≥ 2 kg) requiring CS were prospectively included. Urine CHI3L1, NGAL, TIMP-2, IGFBP7, and NephroCheck® were measured during surgery and intensive care unit (ICU) stay and corrected for urine dilution. One hundred and one pediatric patients were included. AKI ≥ 1 within 48 h after ICU admission occurred in 62.4% and AKI ≥ 2 within 12 h in 30.7%. All damage biomarkers predicted AKI ≥ 1 within 48 h after ICU admission, when corrected for urine dilution: CHI3L1 (AUC-ROC: 0.642 (95% CI, 0.535–0.741)), NGAL (0.765 (0.664–0.848)), TIMP-2 (0.778 (0.662–0.868)), IGFBP7 (0.796 (0.682–0.883)), NephroCheck® (0.734 (0.614–0.832)). Similarly, AKI ≥ 2 within 12 h was predicted by all damage biomarkers when corrected for urine dilution: uCHI3L1 (AUC-ROC: 0.686 (95% CI, 0.580–0.780)), NGAL (0.714 (0.609–0.804)), TIMP-2 (0.830 (0.722–0.909)), IGFBP7 (0.834 (0.725–0.912)), NephroCheck® (0.774 (0.658–0.865)). After pediatric cardiac surgery, the damage biomarkers urine CHI3L1, NGAL, TIMP-2, IGFBP7, and NephroCheck® reliably predict AKI after correction for urine dilution.

Background We report a recurrent outbreak of postoperative infections with extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)–producing E. cloacae complex in cardiac surgery patients, describe the outbreak investigation and highlight the infection control measures. Methods Cases were defined as cardiac surgery patients in Ghent University Hospital who were not known preoperatively to carry ESBL-producing E. cloacae complex and who postoperatively had a positive culture for this multiresistant organism between May 2017 and January 2018. An epidemiological investigation, including a case-control study, and environmental investigation were conducted to identify the source of the outbreak. Clonal relatedness of ESBL-producing E. cloacae complex isolates collected from case patients was assessed using whole-genome sequencing–based studies. Results Three separate outbreak episodes occurred over the course of 9 months. A total of 8, 4 and 6 patients met the case definition, respectively. All but one patients developed a clinical infection with ESBL-producing E. cloacae complex, most typically postoperative pneumonia. Overall mortality was 22% (4/18). Environmental cultures were negative, but epidemiological investigation pointed to transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) as the outbreak source. Of note, four TEE probes showed a similar pattern of damage, which very likely impeded adequate disinfection. The first and second outbreak episode were caused by the same clone, whereas a different strain was responsible for the third episode. Conclusions Health professionals caring for cardiac surgery patients and infection control specialists should be aware of TEE as possible infection source. Caution must be exercised to prevent and detect damage of TEE probes.

In this randomized, controlled trial involving critically ill patients not receiving early parenteral nutrition, tight glucose control did not affect the length of time that ICU care was needed or mortality.

PurposeWe assessed feasibility and safety of extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal (ECCO2R) to facilitate ultra-protective ventilation (VT 4 mL/kg and PPLAT ≤ 25 cmH2O) in patients with moderate acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).MethodsProspective multicenter international phase 2 study. Primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving ultra-protective ventilation with PaCO2 not increasing more than 20% from baseline, and arterial pH > 7.30. Severe adverse events (SAE) and ECCO2R-related adverse events (ECCO2R-AE) were reported to an independent data and safety monitoring board. We used lower CO2 extraction and higher CO2 extraction devices (membrane lung cross-sectional area 0.59 vs. 1.30 m2; flow 300–500 mL/min vs. 800–1000 mL/min, respectively).ResultsNinety-five patients were enrolled. The proportion of patients who achieved ultra-protective settings by 8 h and 24 h was 78% (74 out of 95 patients; 95% confidence interval 68–89%) and 82% (78 out of 95 patients; 95% confidence interval 76–88%), respectively. ECCO2R was maintained for 5 [3–8] days. Six SAEs were reported; two of them were attributed to ECCO2R (brain hemorrhage and pneumothorax). ECCO2R-AEs were reported in 39% of the patients. A total of 69 patients (73%) were alive at day 28. Fifty-nine patients (62%) were alive at hospital discharge.ConclusionsUse of ECCO2R to facilitate ultra-protective ventilation was feasible. A randomized clinical trial is required to assess the overall benefits and harms.Clinicaltrials.govNCT02282657

BackgroundAugmented renal clearance (ARC), an increase in kidney function with enhanced elimination of circulating solute, has been increasingly recognized in critically ill adults. In a pediatric intensive care setting, data are scarce. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of ARC in critically ill children. Secondary objectives included a risk factor analysis for the development of ARC and a comparison of two methods for assessment of renal function.MethodsIn 105 critically ill children between 1 month and 15 years of age, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was measured by means of a daily 24-h creatinine clearance (24 h ClCr) and compared to an estimated GFR using the revised Schwartz formula. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for ARC.ResultsOverall, 67% of patients expressed ARC and the proportion of ARC patients decreased during consecutive days. ARC patients had a median ClCr of 142.2 ml/min/1.73m2 (IQR 47.1). Male gender and antibiotic treatment were independently associated with the occurrence of ARC. The revised Schwartz formula seems less appropriate for ARC detection.ConclusionsA large proportion of critically ill children develop ARC during their stay at the intensive care unit. Clinicians should be cautious when using Schwartz formula to detect ARC. Our findings require confirmation from large study cohorts and investigation of the relationship with clinical outcome.

Delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU) is often treated with haloperidol or atypical antipsychotics. Antipsychotic treatment can lead to severe adverse effects and excess mortality. After initiation in the ICU, patients are at risk of having their antipsychotics continued unnecessarily at ICU and hospital discharge. This study aims to determine the incidence of, and risk factors for antipsychotic continuation at hospital discharge after ICU delirium. This retrospective observational study was performed in a tertiary care center. Adult patients who received antipsychotics for ICU delirium during 2016 were included. Data was extracted from patient records. After univariate testing, a multivariate binary logistic regression model was used to identify independent risk factors for antipsychotic continuation. A total of 196 patients were included, of which 104 (53.1%) and 41 (20.9%) had their antipsychotics continued at ICU and hospital discharge respectively. Medical ICU admission (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] 2.97 [1.37–6.41]) and quetiapine treatment (5.81 [1.63–20.83]) were independently associated with antipsychotic continuation at hospital discharge. Approximately one in five patients were discharged from the hospital with continued antipsychotics. Hospital policies should implement strategies for systematic antipsychotic tapering and better follow-up of antipsychotics at transitions of care. •20.9% of antipsychotics initiated for ICU delirium are continued at hospital discharge.•Antipsychotics are more often continued in medical ICU patients.•Atypical antipsychotics are more often continued than haloperidol.•39% of continued antipsychotics are not discussed in the hospital discharge letter.