-
JAMA Network Open Sep 2023Adult trauma centers (ATCs) have been shown to decrease injury mortality and morbidity in major trauma, but a synthesis of evidence for pediatric trauma centers (PTCs)... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
IMPORTANCE
Adult trauma centers (ATCs) have been shown to decrease injury mortality and morbidity in major trauma, but a synthesis of evidence for pediatric trauma centers (PTCs) is lacking.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effectiveness of PTCs compared with ATCs, combined trauma centers (CTCs), or nondesignated hospitals in reducing mortality and morbidity among children admitted to hospitals following trauma.
DATA SOURCES
MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science through March 2023.
STUDY SELECTION
Studies comparing PTCs with ATCs, CTCs, or nondesignated hospitals for pediatric trauma populations (aged ≤19 years).
DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS
This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis and Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines. Pairs of reviewers independently extracted data and evaluated risk of bias using the Risk of Bias in Nonrandomized Studies of Interventions tool. A meta-analysis was conducted if more than 2 studies evaluated the same intervention-comparator-outcome and controlled minimally for age and injury severity. Subgroup analyses were planned for age, injury type and severity, trauma center designation level and verification body, country, and year of conduct. Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to assess certainty of evidence.
MAIN OUTCOME(S) AND MEASURE(S)
Primary outcomes were mortality, complications, functional status, discharge destination, and quality of life. Secondary outcomes were resource use and processes of care, including computed tomography (CT) and operative management of blunt solid organ injury (SOI).
RESULTS
A total of 56 studies with 286 051 participants were included overall, and 34 were included in the meta-analysis. When compared with ATCs, PTCs were associated with a 41% lower risk of mortality (OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.46-0.76), a 52% lower risk of CT use (OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.26-0.89) and a 64% lower risk of operative management for blunt SOI (OR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.23-0.57). The OR for complications was 0.80 (95% CI, 0.41-1.56). There was no association for mortality for older children (OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.47-1.06), and the association was closer to the null when PTCs were compared with CTCs (OR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.53-0.99). Results remained similar for other subgroup analyses. GRADE certainty of evidence was very low for all outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
In this systematic review and meta-analysis, results suggested that PTCs were associated with lower odds of mortality, CT use, and operative management for SOI than ATCs for children admitted to hospitals following trauma, but certainty of evidence was very low. Future studies should strive to address selection and confounding biases.
Topics: Adult; Child; Humans; Adolescent; Trauma Centers; Quality of Life; Hospitalization; Hospitals; Patient Discharge; Observational Studies as Topic
PubMed: 37721752
DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.34266 -
Resuscitation Plus Dec 2023The benefit of rapid transport from the scene to definitive in-hospital care versus extended on-scene resuscitation in out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) is uncertain. (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The benefit of rapid transport from the scene to definitive in-hospital care versus extended on-scene resuscitation in out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) is uncertain.
AIM
To assess the use of expedited transport from the scene of OHCA compared with more extended on-scene resuscitation of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in adults.
METHODS
A systematic search of the literature was conducted using MEDLINE, Embase, and SCOPUS. Randomised control trials (RCTs) and observational studies were included. Studies reporting transport timing for OHCA patients with outcome data on survival were identified and reviewed. Two investigators assessed studies identified by screening for relevance and assessed bias using the ROBINS-I tool. Studies with non-dichotomous timing data or an absence of comparator group(s) were excluded. Outcomes of interest included survival and favourable neurological outcome. Survival to discharge and favourable neurological outcome were meta-analysed using a random-effects model.
RESULTS
Nine studies (eight cohort studies, one RCT) met eligibility criteria and were considered suitable for meta-analysis On pooled analysis, expedited (or earlier) transfer was not predictive of survival to discharge (odds ratio [OR] 1.16, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.53 to 2.53, I = 99%, = 0. 65) or favorable neurological outcome (OR 1.06, 95% CI 0.48 to 2.37, I = 99%, = 0.85). The certainty of evidence across studies was assessed as very low with a moderate risk of bias. Region of publication was noted to be a major contributor to the significant heterogeneity observed amongst included studies.
CONCLUSIONS
There is inconclusive evidence to support or refute the use of expedited transport of refractory OHCA.
PubMed: 37822456
DOI: 10.1016/j.resplu.2023.100482 -
Dysphagia Oct 2023This systematic review examined (i) prevalence, severity, and impact of persistent post-extubation laryngeal injury beyond hospital discharge and (ii) differences in...
This systematic review examined (i) prevalence, severity, and impact of persistent post-extubation laryngeal injury beyond hospital discharge and (ii) differences in persistent laryngeal injury between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 populations. The review was completed following PRISMA-2020 guidelines. Four databases (PubMed, CINHAL complete, EMBASE, Web of Science) were searched (inception to March 2021). Screening, full text review and data extraction were completed by two reviewers. Primary outcomes were swallow, voice and cough and airway measures obtained after hospital discharge. Quality assessment was measured using Downs & Black Tool and Johanna Briggs Institute Checklist for Cohort Studies. Meta-analysis was not completed due to study heterogeneity. Six cohort studies were included. Total number of participants across the included studies was 436. ICU admission diagnoses included respiratory disease 46% (COVID-19 and non-COVID-19), sepsis 14%, non-sepsis-related organ dysfunction 9%, general medical 11%, general surgical 10%, trauma 2%, ENT 0.6% and other not specified by authors 7%. Outcomes were obtained between 2 and 60 months post hospital discharge. Assessment methods included endoscopic evaluation, clinician ratings and patient-reported outcomes. Persistent features of laryngeal injury identified were airway abnormalities (18.9-27%), dysphonia (13.2-60%) and dysphagia (23-33%). Persistent laryngeal injury was associated with ICU length of stay, respiratory diagnosis and tracheostomy. Study quality ranged from poor-good. This is the first systematic review to examine post-extubation laryngeal injury beyond hospital discharge. Significant gaps in the literature were identified. Given the impact on clinical and patient outcomes, large scale, well-designed research is needed to guide post-ICU service delivery.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Intubation, Intratracheal; Laryngeal Diseases; Cohort Studies; Dysphonia
PubMed: 36774422
DOI: 10.1007/s00455-023-10559-0 -
The Journal of Arthroplasty Feb 2024Pain is challenging after recovery from total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA) procedures, and patients often receive prescription opioids....
BACKGROUND
Pain is challenging after recovery from total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA) procedures, and patients often receive prescription opioids. However, opioid consumption by patients remains unclear, and unused opioids may lead to risks including misuse and diversion. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare prescription size versus patient-reported consumption of opioids after discharge following TKA and THA.
METHODS
PubMed and Embase were systematically searched for publications published between 2015 and 2022 on patient-reported consumption of opioids after TKA and THA. The primary outcome was opioid use in oxycodone 5-mg equivalents. Team members independently reviewed studies for screening, inclusion, data extraction, and risk of bias.
RESULTS
Among the 17 included studies (15 TKA and 11 THA), discharge opioid prescribing exceeded consumption for both TKA (88.4 versus 65.0 pills at 6 weeks) and THA (64.0 versus 29.8 pills at 12 weeks). For both TKA and THA, the range of opioids prescribed varied significantly, by 1.6-fold for TKA and 2.8-fold for THA. Most studies reported pain outcomes (89%) and the use of nonopioid medications (72%). Of the 4 studies offering prescribing recommendations, the amounts ranged from 50 to 104 pills for TKA and 30 to 45 pills for THA.
CONCLUSIONS
Opioid prescribing exceeds the amount consumed following TKA and THA. These findings serve as a call to action to tailor prescribing guidelines to how much patients actually consume while emphasizing the use of nonopioid medications to better optimize recovery from surgery.
PubMed: 38336301
DOI: 10.1016/j.arth.2024.01.063 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Mar 2024Admission avoidance hospital at home provides active treatment by healthcare professionals in the patient's home for a condition that would otherwise require acute... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Admission avoidance hospital at home provides active treatment by healthcare professionals in the patient's home for a condition that would otherwise require acute hospital inpatient care, and always for a limited time period. This is the fourth update of this review.
OBJECTIVES
To determine the effectiveness and cost of managing patients with admission avoidance hospital at home compared with inpatient hospital care.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, Embase, and CINAHL on 24 February 2022, and checked the reference lists of eligible articles. We sought ongoing and unpublished studies by searching ClinicalTrials.gov and WHO ICTRP, and by contacting providers and researchers involved in the field.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomised controlled trials recruiting participants aged 18 years and over. Studies comparing admission avoidance hospital at home with acute hospital inpatient care.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
We followed the standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane and the Effective Practice and Organisation of Care (EPOC) Group. We performed meta-analysis for trials that compared similar interventions, reported comparable outcomes with sufficient data, and used individual patient data when available. We used the GRADE approach to assess the certainty of the body of evidence for the most important outcomes.
MAIN RESULTS
We included 20 randomised controlled trials with a total of 3100 participants; four trials recruited participants with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; two trials recruited participants recovering from a stroke; seven trials recruited participants with an acute medical condition who were mainly older; and the remaining trials recruited participants with a mix of conditions. We assessed the majority of the included studies as at low risk of selection, detection, and attrition bias, and unclear for selective reporting and performance bias. For an older population, admission avoidance hospital at home probably makes little or no difference on mortality at six months' follow-up (risk ratio (RR) 0.88, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.68 to 1.13; P = 0.30; I = 0%; 5 trials, 1502 participants; moderate-certainty evidence); little or no difference on the likelihood of being readmitted to hospital after discharge from hospital at home or inpatient care within 3 to 12 months' follow-up (RR 1.14, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.34; P = 0.11; I = 41%; 8 trials, 1757 participants; moderate-certainty evidence); and probably reduces the likelihood of living in residential care at six months' follow-up (RR 0.53, 95% CI 0.41 to 0.69; P < 0.001; I = 67%; 4 trials, 1271 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). Hospital at home probably results in little to no difference in patient's self-reported health status (2006 patients; moderate-certainty evidence). Satisfaction with health care received may be improved with admission avoidance hospital at home (1812 participants; low-certainty evidence); few studies reported the effect on caregivers. Hospital at home reduced the initial average hospital length of stay (2036 participants; low-certainty evidence), which ranged from 4.1 to 18.5 days in the hospital group and 1.2 to 5.1 days in the hospital at home group. Hospital at home length of stay ranged from an average of 3 to 20.7 days (hospital at home group only). Admission avoidance hospital at home probably reduces costs to the health service compared with hospital admission (2148 participants; moderate-certainty evidence), though by a range of different amounts and using different methods to cost resource use, and there is some evidence that it decreases overall societal costs to six months' follow-up.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
Admission avoidance hospital at home, with the option of transfer to hospital, may provide an effective alternative to inpatient care for a select group of older people who have been referred for hospital admission. The intervention probably makes little or no difference to patient health outcomes; may improve satisfaction; probably reduces the likelihood of relocating to residential care; and probably decreases costs.
Topics: Humans; Health Facilities; Hospitalization; Hospitals; Inpatients; Patient Discharge; Home Care Services
PubMed: 38438116
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007491.pub3 -
PloS One 2023Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) is commonly initiated for adults experiencing cardiac arrest within the cardiac catheterization lab or the intensive... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
How effective is extracorporeal life support for patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest initiated at the emergency department? A systematic review and meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) is commonly initiated for adults experiencing cardiac arrest within the cardiac catheterization lab or the intensive care unit. However, the potential benefit of ECPR for these patients in the emergency department (ED) remains undocumented. This study aims to assess the benefit of ECPR initiated in the ED for patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).
METHODS
We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies comparing ECPR initiated in the ED versus conventional CPR. Relevant articles were identified by searching several databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane collaborations up to July 31, 2022. Pooled estimates were calculated using the inverse variance heterogeneity method, while heterogeneity was evaluated using Q and I2 statistics. The risk of bias in included studies was evaluated using validated bias assessment tools. The primary outcome was a favorable neurological outcome at hospital discharge, and the secondary outcome was survival to hospital discharge or 30-day survival. Sensitivity analyses were performed to explore the benefits of ED-initiated ECPR in studies utilizing propensity score (PPS) analysis. Publication bias was assessed using Doi plots and the Luis Furuya-Kanamori (LFK) index.
RESULTS
The meta-analysis included a total of eight studies comprising 51,173 patients. ED-initiated ECPR may not be associated with a significant increase in favorable neurological outcomes (odds ratio [OR] 1.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.30-6.70, I2 = 96%). However, this intervention may be linked to improved survival to hospital discharge (OR 3.34, 95% CI 2.23-5.01, I2 = 17%). Notably, when analyzing only PPS data, ED-initiated ECPR demonstrated efficacy for both favorable neurological outcomes (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.26-2.83, I2 = 21%) and survival to hospital discharge (OR 3.37, 95% CI 1.52-7.49, I2 = 57%). Publication bias was detected for primary (LFK index 2.50) and secondary (LFK index 2.14) outcomes.
CONCLUSION
The results of this study indicate that ED-initiated ECPR may not offer significant benefits in terms of favorable neurological outcomes for OHCA patients. However, it may be associated with increased survival to hospital discharge. Future studies should prioritize randomized trials with larger sample sizes and strive for homogeneity in patient populations to obtain more robust evidence in this area.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation; Emergency Service, Hospital; Patient Discharge; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 37934739
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289054 -
Critical Care Medicine Mar 2024Although delirium is well described in patients with sepsis, there are limited data on other neurologic complications. We aimed to systematically review the prevalence,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVES
Although delirium is well described in patients with sepsis, there are limited data on other neurologic complications. We aimed to systematically review the prevalence, neuromonitoring tools, and neurocognitive outcomes in sepsis patients with neurologic complications.
DATA SOURCES
MEDLINE and six other databases (Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane CENTRAL, and ClinicalTrials.gov ) were searched through January 2023.
STUDY SELECTION
Studies of adult patients with sepsis reported neurologic complications, use of neuromonitoring tools, neuropathology, and cognitive outcomes.
DATA EXTRACTION
Two independent reviewers extracted the data. Random-effect meta-analyses were used to pool data.
DATA SYNTHESIS
Seventy-four studies ( n = 146,855) were included. Neurologic complications were reported in 38 studies ( n = 142,193) including septic encephalopathy (36%, 95% CI, 27-46%; I 2 = 99%), ischemic stroke (5%, 95% CI, 2.1-11.5; I 2 = 99%), intracranial hemorrhage (2%, 95% CI, 1.0-4.4%; I 2 = 96%), seizures (1%, 95% CI, 0.2-7%; I 2 = 96%), posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (9%), and hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (7%). In the meta-regression analysis, pulmonary infection, sepsis induced by a gram-positive organism, higher sequential organ failure assessment score, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II score at admission, and longer ICU length of stay were associated with higher risk of developing septic encephalopathy. Three studies ( n = 159) reported postmortem neuropathological findings, acute brain injury was noted in 47% of patients. Twenty-six studies ( n = 1,358) reported the use of neuromonitoring tools, electroencephalogram was the most used tool for seizure detection. Transcranial Doppler and near infrared spectroscopy were used for monitoring cerebral hemodynamic changes to detect early ischemia. Six studies reported cognitive outcomes ( n = 415) up to 12 months postdischarge and cognitive impairment (≥ one domain) was reported in 30%.
CONCLUSIONS
In-hospital neurologic complications are common in patients with sepsis. However, the mechanism and timing of those sepsis-associated complications are poorly understood and there are limited data on standardized neuromonitoring in this population.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Aftercare; Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome; Patient Discharge; Sepsis; Hospitals
PubMed: 37921513
DOI: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000006096 -
The American Journal of Hospice &... Feb 2024Hospice is intended to promote the comfort and quality of life of dying patients and their families. When patients are discharged from hospice prior to death (ie,...
Hospice is intended to promote the comfort and quality of life of dying patients and their families. When patients are discharged from hospice prior to death (ie, experience a "live discharge"), care continuity is disrupted. This systematic review summarizes the growing body of evidence on live discharge among hospice patients with Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias (ADRD), a clinical subpopulation that disproportionately experiences this often burdensome care transition. Researchers conducted a systematic review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Reviewers searched AgeLine, APA PsycINFO (Ovid), CINAHL Plus with Full Text, ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (Core Collection). Reviewers extracted data and synthesized findings from 9 records, which reported findings from 10 individual studies. The reviewed studies, which were generally of high quality, consistently identified diagnosis of ADRD as a risk factor for live discharge from hospice. The relationship between race and live hospice discharge was less clear and likely dependent upon the type of discharge under investigation and other (eg, systemic-level) factors. Research on patient and family experiences underscored the extent to which live hospice discharge can be distressing, confusing, and associated with numerous losses. Research specific to live discharge among ADRD patients and their families is limited. Synthesis across included studies points to the importance for future research to differentiate between types of live discharge-revocation vsversus decertification-as these are vastly different experiences in choice and circumstances.
Topics: Humans; Patient Discharge; Hospices; Alzheimer Disease; Quality of Life; Hospice Care
PubMed: 36977504
DOI: 10.1177/10499091231168401 -
The American Journal of Emergency... Aug 2023VA-ECMO can greatly reduce mortality in critically ill patients, and hypothermia attenuates the deleterious effects of ischemia-reperfusion injury. We aimed to study the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
VA-ECMO can greatly reduce mortality in critically ill patients, and hypothermia attenuates the deleterious effects of ischemia-reperfusion injury. We aimed to study the effects of hypothermia on mortality and neurological outcomes in VA-ECMO patients.
METHODS
A systematic search of the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases was performed from the earliest available date to 31 December 2022. The primary outcome was discharge or 28-day mortality and favorable neurological outcomes in VA-ECMO patients, and the secondary outcome was bleeding risk in VA-ECMO patients. The results are presented as odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Based on the heterogeneity assessed by the I statistic, meta-analyses were performed using random or fixed-effects models. GRADE methodology was used to rate the certainty in the findings.
RESULTS
A total of 27 articles (3782 patients) were included. Hypothermia (33-35 °C) lasting at least 24 h can significantly reduce discharge or 28-day mortality (OR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.33-0.63; I = 41%) and significantly improve favorable neurological outcomes (OR, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.66-2.61; I = 3%) in VA-ECMO patients. Additionally, there was no risk associated with bleeding (OR, 1.15; 95% CI, 0.86-1.53; I = 12%). In our subgroup analysis according to in-hospital or out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, hypothermia reduced short-term mortality in both VA-ECMO-assisted in-hospital (OR, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.11-0.86; I = 0.0%) and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.25-0.69; I = 52.3%). Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients assisted by VA-ECMO for favorable neurological outcomes were consistent with the conclusions of this paper (OR, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.63-2.72; I = 0.5%).
CONCLUSIONS
Our results show that mild hypothermia (33-35 °C) lasting at least 24 h can greatly reduce short-term mortality and significantly improve favorable short-term neurologic outcomes in VA-ECMO-assisted patients without bleeding-related risks. As the grade assessment indicated that the certainty of the evidence was relatively low, hypothermia as a strategy for VA-ECMO-assisted patient care may need to be treated with caution.
Topics: Humans; Adult; Hypothermia; Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation; Hospital Mortality; Critical Illness
PubMed: 37327682
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2023.05.027