Objective:To investigate the risk factors that were associated with the death of elderly patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) after elective abdominal surgery, and to find reliable and sensitive predictive indicators for early interventions and reducing the mortality.Methods:A retrospective case-control study was conducted. The clinical data of elderly (age≥65 years old) patients after elective abdominal surgery admitted to the ICU of the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University from January 1st 2016 to December 31st 2020 were collected, including the patient's gender, age, body mass index (BMI), medical history, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grades, surgical classification, intraoperative blood loss, duration of operation, interval time between end of operation and admission to the ICU, acute physiology and chronic health evaluationⅡ(APACHEⅡ) score and the worst laboratory examination results within 24 hours of ICU admission, the first blood gas analysis in ICU, the duration of invasive mechanical ventilation, and the length of ICU stay. Postoperative abdominal infection was evaluated by the pathogenic culture of peritoneal drainage fluid and clinical symptoms and signs. The patients were divided into death group and survival group based on clinical outcomes, and clinical data were compared between the two groups. Binary multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to screen the risk factors of death, and the receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) was plotted to analyze the predictive values of these risk factors.Results:A total of 226 elderly patients with elective abdominal surgery were admitted to the ICU of our hospital during the past 5 years, of whom, two patients who did not undergo laboratory examinations within 24 hours of admission to the ICU were excluded. Finally, 224 patients met the criteria, with 158 survivors and 66 deaths. Univariate analysis showed that: compared with survival group, APACHEⅡscore, blood lactate acid (Lac) and the proportion of postoperative abdominal infection were higher in death group [APACHEⅡ score: 27.5 (25.0, 31.3) vs. 23.0 (18.0, 27.0), Lac (mmol/L): 2.9 (1.8, 6.6) vs. 1.8 (1.1, 2.8), the proportion of postoperative abdominal infection: 65.2% (43/66) vs. 35.4% (56/158), all P < 0.01], prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and interval time between end of surgery and admission to ICU were longer [PT (s): 17.20 (14.50, 18.63) vs. 14.65 (13.90, 16.23), APTT (s): 45.15 (38.68, 55.15) vs. 39.45 (36.40, 45.70), interval time between end of surgery and admission to ICU (hours): 39.2 (0.7, 128.9) vs. 0.7 (0.3, 2.0), all P <0.01], postoperative hemoglobin (Hb), platelet count (PLT), prealbumin (PA), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and oxygenation index (PaO 2/FiO 2) were lower in death group [Hb (g/L): 95.79±23.64 vs. 105.58±19.82, PLT (×10 9/L): 138.5 (101.0, 177.5) vs. 160.5 (118.5, 232.3), PA (g/L): 80.88±43.63 vs. 116.54±50.80, MAP (mmHg, 1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa): 76.8±19.1 vs. 91.6±19.8, PaO 2/FiO 2 (mmHg): 180.0 (123.5, 242.5) vs. 223.5 (174.8, 310.0), all P < 0.05]. Binary multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that APACHEⅡscore [odds ratio ( OR) = 1.187, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) =1.008-1.294, P < 0.001], interval time between end of operation and admission to ICU ( OR = 1.005, 95% CI = 1.001-1.009, P = 0.016) and postoperative abdominal infection ( OR = 2.630, 95% CI = 1.148-6.024, P = 0.022) were independent risk factors for prognosis in these patients. MAP ( OR = 0.978, 95% CI = 0.957-0.999, P = 0.041) and PaO 2/FiO 2 ( OR = 0.994, 95% CI = 0.990-0.998, P = 0.003) were protective factors for the patients' prognosis. Lac, Hb, PLT, PA, PT and APTT had no predictive value for the prognosis of elderly patients admitted to ICU after elective abdominal surgery [ OR value and 95% CI were 1.075 (0.945-1.223), 1.011 (0.99-1.032), 1.000 (0.995-1.005), 0.998 (0.989-1.007), 1.051 (0.927-1.192) and 1.003 (0.991-1.016), respectively, all P > 0.05. ROC curve analysis showed that APACHEⅡscore, interval time between end of operation and admission to the ICU and the postoperative abdominal infection had certain predictive values for the prognosis of elderly patients, the area under ROC curve (AUC) were 0.755, 0.732 and 0.649 respectively, all P < 0.001; When the cut-off of APACHEⅡscore and interval time between end of operation and admission to the ICU were 24.5 scores and 2.15 hours, the sensitivity were 78.8% and 66.7%, respectively, and the specificity were 62.0% and 76.6%, respectively. The combined predictive value of the three variables was the highest, which AUC was 0.846, the joint prediction probability was 0.27, the sensitivity was 83.3%, and the specificity was 75.3%. Conclusion:APACHEⅡscore, interval time between end of surgery and admission to ICU, and postoperative abdominal infection may be independent risk factors for the death of elderly patients who were admitted to the ICU after elective abdominal surgery, there would be far greater predictive values when the three variables were combined.

Objective To explore the impacts of clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS) on duration and defined daily doses (DDDs) of antibiotics in patients with bacterial severe pneumonia in intensive care unit (ICU). Methods Patients with severe pneumonia, whose antibiotic usage was prescribed with the guide of CPIS, and admitted to ICU severe respiratory and infectious disease ward of Guizhou Medical University Affiliated Hospital from May 2017 to October 2017 were enrolled as CPIS group. Patients with the first CPIS score > 5 were given antimicrobial therapy, and the score was dynamically evaluated every 2-3 days. If the CPIS score < 5, the score was evaluated again after 2 days. If the score was still < 5, the antimicrobial drugs were discontinued. Patients admitted to the same ward from November 2016 to April 2017 were regarded as controls, of whom the antibiotic usage was completely conducted by the clinical experience of the chief physician. The duration and DDDs of antibiotics were compared between patients in two groups. At the same time, the usage of ventilator and prognostic indicators (the length of ICU stay, ICU mortality) were recorded. Kaplan-Meier survival curve was drawn, and the cumulative survival rates of 28 days, 90 days and 12 months were analyzed and compared between the two groups. Results In our department, 177 and 182 patients were admitted to ICU from November 2016 to April 2017 and from May 2017 to October 2017, respectively, of whom 101 and 65 patients with severe pneumonia were collected respectively during the two stages. There was no significant difference in gender composition, age, underlying diseases, vital signs, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHEⅡ) score, or peripheral blood routine at admission between the two groups, indicating that the baseline data of the two groups were equally comparable. During the treatment process, there was no significant difference in the duration of mechanical ventilation [hours: 126.0 (69.0, 228.8) vs. 120.0 (72.0, 192.0)], the length of ICU stay [days: 7.0 (5.0, 11.0) vs. 8.0 (5.0, 14.0)], or ICU mortality [18.8% (19/101) vs. 26.2% (17/65)] between the control group and CPIS group (all P >0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that there was no significant difference in the cumulative survival rate of 28 days (log-rank test: χ2 = 0.540, P = 0.462), 90 days (log-rank test: χ2 = 0.332, P = 0.564) or 12 months (log-rank test: χ2 = 0.833, P = 0.362). Patients from CPIS guided group, however, had a shorter duration of antibiotics usage (days: 7.54±4.81 vs. 9.88±4.96, P < 0.01), and had a lower DDDs of antibiotics (17.58±13.09 vs. 22.73±18.31, P < 0.05) as compared with those in the control group. Conclusion CPIS-guided therapeutic regimen shortens antibiotic duration and decreases antibiotic DDDs in patients with severe pneumonia in ICU, indicating the values of CPIS in guiding antibiotics usage in these patients.

Noval coronavirus-infected pneumonia is an acute respiratory infectious diease caused by an noval coronavirus, and it is highly contagious. The first confirmed coronavirus-infected pneumonia in Guizhou was admitted to the department of Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University. After has been given isolation, anti-viral therapy, oxygen therapy, maintaining internal environment stability, organ functions protection and psychological comfort for 8 days, the patient successfully recovered from the disease. It is suggested that early recognition, early isolation, timely antiviral treatment, organ function protection and psychological intervention are effective methods for patient with noval coronavirus-infected pneumonia.

OBJECTIVE: To compare and analyze the effect of unplanned versus planned admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) on the prognosis of high-risk patients after surgery, so as to provide a clinical evidence for clinical medical staff to evaluate whether the postoperative patients should be transferred to ICU or not after surgery. METHODS: The clinical data of patients who were transferred to ICU after surgery admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University from January to December in 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, including gender, age, body mass index, past history (whether combined with hypertension, diabetes, pulmonary disease, cardiac disease, renal failure, liver failure, hematologic disorders, tumor, etc.), acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II), elective surgery, pre-operative hospital consultation, length of surgery, worst value of laboratory parameters within 24 hours of ICU admission, need for invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), duration of IMV, length of ICU stay, total length of hospital stay, ICU mortality, in-hospital mortality, and survival status at 30th day postoperative. The unplanned patients were further divided into the immediate transfer group and delayed transfer group according to the timing of their ICU entrance after surgery, and the prognosis was compared between the two groups. Cox regression analysis was used to find the independent risk factors of 30-day mortality in patients transferred to ICU after surgery. RESULTS: Finally, 377 patients were included in the post-operative admission to the ICU, including 232 in the planned transfer group and 145 in the unplanned transfer group (42 immediate transfers and 103 delayed transfers). Compared to the planned transfer group, patients in the unplanned transfer group had higher peripheral blood white blood cell count (WBC) at the time of transfer to the ICU [×10⁹/L: 10.86 (7.09, 16.68) vs. 10.11 (6.56, 13.27)], longer total length of hospital stay [days: 23.00 (14.00, 34.00) vs. 19.00 (12.00, 29.00)], and 30-day post-operative mortality was higher [29.66% (43/145) vs. 17.24% (40/232)], but haemoglobin (Hb), arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO₂), oxygenation index (PaO₂/FiO₂), and IMV requirement rate were lower [Hb (g/L): 95.00 (78.00, 113.50) vs. 98.00 (85.00, 123.00), PaCO₂ (mmHg, 1 mmHg ≈ 0.133 kPa): 36.00 (29.00, 41.50) vs. 39.00 (33.00, 43.00), PaO₂/FiO₂ (mmHg): 197.00 (137.50, 283.50) vs. 238.00 (178.00, 350.25), IMV requirement rate: 82.76% (120/145) vs. 93.97% (218/232)], all differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed that the 30-day cumulative survival rate after surgery was significantly lower in the unplanned transfer group than in the planned transfer group (Log-Rank test: χ² = 7.659, P = 0.006). Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that unplanned transfer, APACHE II score, whether deeded IMV at transfer, total length of hospital stay, WBC, blood K⁺, and blood lactic acid (Lac) were associated with 30-day mortality after operation (all P < 0.05). Multifactorial Cox analysis showed that unplanned transfer [hazard ratio (HR) = 2.45, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was 1.54-3.89, P < 0.001], APACHE II score (HR = 1.03, 95%CI was 1.00-1.07, P = 0.031), the total length of hospital stay (HR = 0.86, 95%CI was 0.83-0.89, P < 0.001), the need for IMV on admission (HR = 4.31, 95%CI was 1.27-14.63, P = 0.019), highest Lac value within 24 hours of transfer to the ICU (HR = 1.17, 95%CI was 1.10-1.24, P < 0.001), and tumor history (HR = 3.12, 95%CI was 1.36-7.13, P = 0.007) were independent risk factors for patient death at 30 days post-operative, and the risk of death was 2.45 times higher in patients unplanned transferred than in those planned transferred. Subgroup analysis showed that patients in the delayed transfer group had significantly longer IMV times than those in the immediate transfer group [hours: 43.00 (11.00, 121.00) vs. 17.50 (2.75, 73.00), P < 0.05]. CONCLUSIONS The 30-day mortality, WBC and total length of hospital stay were higher in patients who were transferred to ICU after surgery, and PaO₂/FiO₂ was lower. Unplanned transfer, oncology history, use of IMV, APACHE II score, total length of hospital stay, and Lac were independent risk factors for patient death at 30 days postoperatively, and patients with delayed transfer to ICU had longer IMV time.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Respiration, Artificial ; Hospitalization ; Prognosis ; Intensive Care Units