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The primary objective was to evaluate the performance of the Cockcroft-Gault (CG) equation with different body weights (BWs) compared to a measured creatinine clearance (mCrCl) in an intensive care unit (ICU) population with and without augmented renal clearance (ARC).Multicenter, retrospective cohort.Two ICUs in the United States and four ICUs from a previous international observational analysis.Adult ICU patients admitted from January 1, 2010 to July 30, 2020 with at least one mCrCl collected within the initial 10 days of hospitalization were eligible for inclusion.The primary outcome was the performance of the CG equation in ARC (mCrCl≥130 ml/min/1.73 mThe CG-adjusted BW had the best performance in the non-ARC patients, while CG performed poorly with any BW in ARC patients. Although the CG equation remains the standard equation for estimating CrCl in the ICU setting, a new, validated equation is needed for patients with ARC.

To determine the association between comorbidity-polypharmacy score (CPS) and clinical outcomes in a large sample of older trauma patients, focusing on outcome prognostication.The CPS combines number of preinjury medications and comorbidities to more objectively quantify the severity of comorbid conditions.An urban tertiary care level 1 trauma center in the Midwest.Trauma patients aged 45 and older.Participants were stratified into four groups according to CPS ranges. Survival analyses were performed using Kaplan-Meier/Mantel-Cox testing. Factors influencing mortality, complications, and survivor discharge destination were evaluated using analysis of covariance and multivariate logistic regression.Records for 469 individuals (mean age 62.1, mean injury severity score 9.3) were reviewed. Higher CPS is associated with greater mortality, complications, longer hospital and intensive care unit stay, and need for discharge to a facility. Higher CPS is associated with lower 90-day survival (Mantel-Cox, P.001). Mortality was independently associated with older age (odds ratio (OR) = 1.06 per year), higher injury severity score (OR = 1.19 per point), and higher CPS (OR = 1.11 per point) in multivariate analysis (all P.01). Complications and need for discharge to a facility were independently associated with older age and higher injury severity score and CPS.CPS can be readily determined in the era of medication reconciliation. Trauma patients with CPS of 15 or greater are at greater risk of poor clinical outcomes. CPS constitutes a useful adjunct to currently available injury severity scoring tools as a predictor of morbidity, mortality, hospital resource utilization, and postdischarge disposition in older trauma patients.

Study Objective. To compare the frequency of bleeding complications from enoxaparin in patients with normal renal function versus patients with renal insufficiency. Design. Retrospective chart review. Setting. University-based tertiary care center. Patients. One hundred six patients who received two or more doses of enoxaparin. Measurements and Main Results. Total bleeding complications occurred in 22% of patients with normal renal function and 51% with renal insufficiency (p

Contrast medium-induced nephrotoxicity (CMN) is a common form of iatrogenic acute renal failure. Typically, patients experience changes in serum creatinine or creatinine clearance between 1 and 5 days after exposure to a contrast medium, but they rarely require dialysis. The mechanism for CMN is not understood, but renal insufficiency, dehydration, and congestive heart failure are risk factors. The frequency of CMN with high-osmolality versus low-osmolality media is controversial. Prophylaxis can reduce CMN. Of many different strategies, hydration with normal saline before and after exposure offers the best protection with the fewest adverse effects.

In 2000, the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) and the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) published a position paper that defined critical care pharmacy services as fundamental, desirable, and optimal. A task force was developed that included individuals who are members of the ACCP Critical Care Practice and Research Network, the SCCM clinical pharmacy and pharmacology section, and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists to develop an opinion paper with three primary objectives: to provide recommendations for the level of preparation and training of pharmacists to practice in critical care, to develop recommendations for the credentialing of pharmacists providing critical care services, and to develop mechanisms for documenting and justifying intensive care unit (ICU) pharmacy services. Each objective was addressed to accommodate the levels of services defined as fundamental, desirable, or optimal, and are targeted at all pharmacists providing or wanting to provide pharmacy services to critically ill patients. The training and preparing of the pharmacist caring for critically ill patients is discussed in the context of the knowledge and skills required to provide pharmacy services in the ICU. Credentialing of the critical care pharmacist and the documentation of services take into account the various scopes of practice, and recommendations are based on current and idealistic mechanisms. A detailed outline is provided for the process of services justification. This paper provides a foundation that is focused on delivering direct and proactive patient care services, particularly at the desirable and optimal levels, with the ultimate goal of enhancing the level of pharmacy services provided to the care of critically ill patients. This commentary should be of interest to numerous stakeholders including pharmacists, other pharmacy department staff, other ICU health care professionals, hospital and academic administrators, accrediting agencies, government officials, and payers. The task force encourages the profession of pharmacy in general to incorporate key recommendations provided in this document with respect to specialized training, credentialing, and service justification.

Dexmedetomidine is an alpha(2)-agonist indicated for sedation in critically ill patients and procedural sedation in nonintubated patients. It is a distinctive sedative because it does not cause respiratory depression, but it may cause hypotension and bradycardia. We describe a 74-year-old man who was receiving dexmedetomidine for agitation and experienced progressive bradycardia. The patient experienced a postoperative myocardial infarction 3 days after repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. A dexmedetomidine infusion was started at 0.11 microg/kg/hour, without a loading dose, for agitation; the patient's heart rate was 123 beats/minute and blood pressure was 147/70 mm Hg, both within normal limits. Over the next 6 hours, the dexmedetomidine infusion rate was increased to a maximum of 0.7 microg/kg/hour; the patient's heart rate progressively decreased to 21 beats/minute, followed by pulseless electrical activity. After 2 minutes of chest compressions and an intravenous bolus of atropine 0.4 mg, the patient regained a pulse. Dexmedetomidine was discontinued, and the patient's heart rate and blood pressure returned to within normal limits. The patient was discharged home 7 days later without any cardiac or neurologic sequelae. Clinicians need to be educated about the potential for dexmedetomidine to cause bradycardia progressing to pulseless electrical activity, and patients need to be closely monitored. Patients who receive dexmedetomidine and develop a greater than 30% decrease in heart rate may be at high risk for severe bradycardia leading to pulseless electrical activity. We urge caution when using dexmedetomidine, especially in patients with significant cardiac disease.