Background
Cardiac surgery patients with a prolonged stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) are at high risk for acquired malnutrition. Medical nutrition therapy practices for cardiac surgery patients are unknown. The objective of this study is to describe the current nutrition practices in critically ill cardiac surgery patients worldwide.
Methods
We conducted a prospective observational study in 13 international ICUs involving mechanically ventilated cardiac surgery patients with an ICU stay of at least 72 h. Collected data included the energy and protein prescription, type of and time to the initiation of nutrition, and actual quantity of energy and protein delivered (maximum: 12 days).
Results
Among 237 enrolled patients, enteral nutrition (EN) was started, on average, 45 h after ICU admission (range, 0–277 h; site average, 53 [range, 10–79 h]). EN was prescribed for 187 (79%) patients and combined EN and parenteral nutrition in 33 (14%). Overall, patients received 44.2% (0.0%–117.2%) of the prescribed energy and 39.7% (0.0%–122.8%) of the prescribed protein. At a site level, the average nutrition adequacy was 47.5% (30.5%–78.6%) for energy and 43.6% (21.7%–76.6%) for protein received from all nutrition sources.
Conclusion
Critically ill cardiac surgery patients with prolonged ICU stay experience significant delays in starting EN and receive low levels of energy and protein. There exists tremendous variability in site performance, whereas achieving optimal nutrition performance is doable.
Purpose of reviewPreoperative evaluation of older and more morbid patients in thoracic surgery is getting more advanced. In this context, early risk stratification has a crucial role for adequate informed decision-making, and thus for generating favourable effects of clinical outcome.
Recent findingsRecent findings confirm that many risk factors impair mortality and morbidity beyond classical medical findings like results of lung function tests and values of the revised cardiac risk index. Especially results from holistic views on patients' functional status like frailty assessments are linked with long-term survival after lung resection.
SummaryA comprehensive risk stratification by anaesthesiologists generates valuable guidance for the best strategy of clinical treatment. This includes preoperative, peri-operative and postoperative interventions, provided by interdisciplinary healthcare providers, resulting in an Early Risk Stratification and Strategy ('ERSAS') pathway.
Background
Since January 2022, a primary nursing system called process-responsible nursing (PP) has substituted the standard room care system in an intensive care unit (ICU) at our institution. The process of the development and implementation of PP is already being evaluated in a separate study as an actual analysis prior to implementation, as well as after 6 and 12 months.
Aim
This pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) aims to test the feasibility of an RCT. For this purpose, the duration of delirium, among other things, will be compared in the project ICU with the results of standard care in another ICU at the university hospital. As secondary aims, the incidence of delirium, anxiety, the satisfaction of relatives, and the effects of PP on nurses will be assessed.
Methods
It is planned to recruit about 400–500 patients over a period of one year. They will be allocated to PP or standard care. Delirium will be assessed using the Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Units by specifically trained nurses three times a day. Anxiety in patients, the satisfaction of relatives, and the effects of PP on nurses will be evaluated using the numeric rating scale, a standardized questionnaire, and a focus group interview, respectively.
Expected results
The primary hypothesis is that compared to usual care PP reduces the duration of delirium by at least 8 h. Additional hypotheses are that PP reduces anxiety in patients and increases the satisfaction of relatives.
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