Jentzer, Jacob C.

ABSTRACT Background: The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention (SCAI) Shock Classification can define shock severity. We evaluated the vasoactive-inotropic score (VIS) combined with the SCAI Shock Classification for mortality risk stratification. Methods: This was a single-center retrospective cohort analysis including Mayo Clinic cardiac intensive care unit patients from 2007 to 2015. The peak VIS was calculated at 1 and 24 h after cardiac intensive care unit admission. In-hospital mortality was evaluated using multivariable logistic regression. Results: Of 9,916 included patients, vasoactive drugs were used in 875 (8.8%) within 1 h and 2,196 (22.1%) within 24 h. A total of 888 patients (9.0%) died during hospitalization. Patients who required vasoactive drugs within 1 h had higher in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03–1.65; P = 0.03) and in-hospital mortality rose with the VIS during the first 1 h (adjusted OR per 10 units, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.12–1.33; P < 0.001). The increase in VIS from 1 to 24 h was associated with higher in-hospital mortality (adjusted OR per 10 units, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.10–1.21; P < 0.001). These results were consistent in the 1,067 patients (10.9%) with cardiogenic shock. A gradient of in-hospital mortality was observed according to the VIS at 1 h and the increase in VIS from 1 to 24 h. Conclusions: Higher vasoactive drug requirements portend a higher risk of mortality, particularly a high VIS early after admission. The VIS provides incremental prognostic information beyond the SCAI Shock Classification, emphasizing the continuum of risk that exists across the spectrum of shock severity.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with significant short- and long-term morbidity and mortality. In critically ill patients with sepsis, AKI tends to be more severe, more likely to require kidney replacement therapy (KRT), with less chance of recovery. Consequently, critically ill patients with sepsis-associated AKI (SA-AKI) have extended intensive care unit (ICU) stays and higher mortality rates. This study evaluated the predictive value of clinical and transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) parameters for recovery from moderate-to-severe SA-AKI in critically ill patients. Methods: This single-center historical cohort study was conducted at a tertiary academic medical center. We analyzed the data of all adults (age ≥ 18 years) admitted to the ICU at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, from June 1, 2018, to December 31, 2020. We included all patients who developed sepsis within the initial 24 h of their ICU stay. Results: We identified 2,919 eligible septic patients with available TTE, among which 1,431 patients (49%) had moderate-to-severe SA-AKI. The mean age of the patients was 68 ± 15 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 1.3:1. The most common comorbidities were diabetes mellitus and chronic lung and kidney diseases. Clinical predictors associated with SA-AKI non-recovery were the presence of stage III AKI (HR 1.5, 95% CI 1.0-2.1, p = 0.03) and utilization of kidney replacement therapy (KRT) (HR 6.8, 95% CI 3.6-12.4, p = 0.01). On the other hand, higher TAPSE was the only TTE variable associated with SA-AKI recovery (HR 1.1; 95% CI 1.08-1.15; p = 0.01). Conclusion: Our data from a single-center provide new information on the clinical (AKI stage, utilization of KRT, BMI, and peak serum creatinine) and echocardiographic features (TAPSE) associated with improved recovery in SA-AKI. There is a definite knowledge gap in the current literature regarding optimizing recovery in moderate-to-severe SA-AKI. Larger, multi-center studies are required to confirm these findings.

Background: Exposure to hyperoxia, a high arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2), may be associated with worse outcomes in patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenator (ECMO) support. We examined hyperoxia in the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Registry among patients receiving venoarterial ECMO for cardiogenic shock. Methods: We included Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Registry patients from 2010 to 2020 who received venoarterial ECMO for cardiogenic shock, excluding extracorporeal CPR. Patients were grouped based on PaO2 after 24 hours of ECMO: normoxia (PaO2 60–150 mmHg), mild hyperoxia (PaO2 151–300 mmHg), and severe hyperoxia (PaO2 >300 mmHg). In-hospital mortality was evaluated using multivariable logistic regression. Results: Among 9959 patients, 3005 (30.2%) patients had mild hyperoxia and 1972 (19.8%) had severe hyperoxia. In-hospital mortality increased across groups: normoxia, 47.8%; mild hyperoxia, 55.6% (adjusted odds ratio, 1.37 [95% CI, 1.23–1.53]; P <0.001); severe hyperoxia, 65.4% (adjusted odds ratio, 2.20 [95% CI, 1.92–2.52]; P <0.001). A higher PaO2 was incrementally associated with increased in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio, 1.14 per 50 mmHg higher [95% CI, 1.12–1.16]; P <0.001). Patients with a higher PaO2 had increased in-hospital mortality in each subgroup and when stratified by ventilator settings, airway pressures, acid-base status, and other clinical variables. In the random forest model, PaO2 was the second strongest predictor of in-hospital mortality, after older age. Conclusions: Exposure to hyperoxia during venoarterial ECMO support for cardiogenic shock is strongly associated with increased in-hospital mortality, independent from hemodynamic and ventilatory status. Until clinical trial data are available, we suggest targeting a normal PaO2 and avoiding hyperoxia in CS patients receiving venoarterial ECMO.

Background Sepsis is associated with an elevated risk of late cardiovascular events among hospital survivors. Methods and Results We included OptumLabs Data Warehouse patients from 2009 to 2019 who survived a medical/nonsurgical hospitalization lasting at least 2 nights. The association between sepsis during hospitalization, based on explicit and implicit discharge International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision ( ICD‐9 )/ Tenth Revision ( ICD‐10 ) diagnosis codes, with subsequent death and rehospitalization was analyzed using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and multivariable Cox proportional‐hazards models. The study population included 2 258 464 survivors of nonsurgical hospitalization (5 396 051 total patient‐years of follow‐up). A total of 808 673 (35.8%) patients had a sepsis hospitalization, including implicit sepsis only in 448 644, explicit sepsis only in 124 841, and both in 235 188. Patients with sepsis during hospitalization had an elevated risk of all‐cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.27 [95% CI, 1.25–1.28]; P <0.001), all‐cause rehospitalization (adjusted HR, 1.38 [95% CI, 1.37–1.39]; P <0.001), and cardiovascular hospitalization (adjusted HR, 1.43 [95% CI, 1.41–1.44]; P <0.001), especially heart failure hospitalization (adjusted HR, 1.51 [95% CI, 1.49–1.53]). Patients with implicit sepsis had higher risk than those with explicit sepsis. A sensitivity analysis using the first hospitalization yielded concordant results for cardiovascular hospitalization (adjusted HR, 1.78 [95% CI, 1.76–1.78]; P <0.001), as did a propensity‐weighted analysis (adjusted HR, 1.52 [95% CI, 1.50–1.54]; P <0.001). Conclusions Survivors of sepsis hospitalization are at elevated risk of early and late post‐discharge death as well as cardiovascular and non‐cardiovascular rehospitalization. This hazard spans the spectrum of cardiovascular events and may suggest that sepsis is an important cardiovascular risk factor.

Background Limited data exist regarding urine output (UO) as a prognostic marker in out-of-hospital-cardiac-arrest (OHCA) survivors undergoing targeted temperature management (TTM). Methods We included 247 comatose adult patients who underwent TTM after OHCA between 2007 and 2017, excluding patients with end-stage renal disease. Three groups were defined based on mean hourly UO during the first 24 h: Group 1 (<0.5 mL/kg/h, n = 73), Group 2 (0.5−1 mL/kg/h, n = 81) and Group 3 (>1 mL/kg/h, n = 93). Serum creatinine was used to classify acute kidney injury (AKI). The primary and secondary outcomes respectively were in-hospital mortality and favorable neurological outcome at hospital discharge (modified Rankin Scale [mRS]<3). Results In-hospital mortality decreased incrementally as UO increased (adjusted OR 0.9 per 0.1 mL/kg/h higher; p = 0.002). UO < 0.5 mL/kg/h was strongly associated with higher in-hospital mortality (adjusted OR 4.2 [1.6−10.8], p = 0.003) and less favorable neurological outcomes (adjusted OR 0.4 [0.2−0.8], p = 0.007). Even among patients without AKI, lower UO portended higher mortality (40% vs 15% vs 9% for UO groups 1, 2, and 3 respectively, p < 0.001). Conclusion Higher UO is incrementally associated with lower in-hospital mortality and better neurological outcomes. Oliguria may be a more sensitive early prognostic marker than creatinine-based AKI after OHCA.

Background: Algorithmic application of the 2019 Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention (SCAI) shock stages effectively stratifies mortality risk for patients with cardiogenic shock. However, clinician assessment of SCAI staging may differ. Moreover, the implications of the 2022 SCAI criteria update remain incompletely defined. Methods: The Critical Care Cardiology Trials Network is a multicenter registry of cardiac intensive care units (CICUs). Between 2019 and 2021, participating centers (n=32) contributed at least a 2-month snapshot of consecutive medical CICU admissions. In-hospital mortality was assessed across 3 separate staging methods: clinician assessment, Critical Care Cardiology Trials Network algorithmic application of the 2019 SCAI criteria, and a revision of the Critical Care Cardiology Trials Network application using the 2022 SCAI criteria. Results: Of 9612 admissions, 1340 (13.9%) presented with cardiogenic shock with in-hospital mortality of 35.2%. Both clinician and algorithm-based staging using the 2019 SCAI criteria identified a stepwise gradient of mortality risk (stage C–E: 19.0% to 83.7% and 14.6% to 52.2%, respectively; P trend <0.001 for each). Clinician assignment of SCAI stages identified higher risk patients compared with algorithm-based assignment (stage D: 49.9% versus 29.3%; stage E: 83.7% versus 52.2%). Algorithmic application of the 2022 SCAI criteria, with incorporation of the vasoactive-inotropic score, more closely approximated clinician staging (mortality for stage C-E: 21.9% to 70.5%; P trend <0.001). Conclusions: Both clinician and algorithm-based application of the 2019 SCAI stages identify a stepwise gradient of mortality risk, although clinician-staging may better allocate higher risk patients into advanced SCAI stages. Updated algorithmic staging using the 2022 SCAI criteria and vasoactive-inotropic score further refines risk stratification.

Abstract Aims Shock severity predicts mortality in patients with cardiogenic shock (CS). We evaluated the association between pre-cannulation Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention (SCAI) shock classification and mortality among patients receiving venoarterial (VA) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support for CS. Methods and results We included Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) Registry patients from 2010 to 2020 who received VA ECMO for CS. SCAI shock stage was assigned based on hemodynamic support requirements prior to ECMO initiation. In-hospital mortality was analyzed using multivariable logistic regression. We included 12 106 unique VA ECMO patient runs with a median age of 57.9 (interquartile range: 46.8, 66.1) years and 31.8% were females; 3472 (28.7%) were post-cardiotomy. The distribution of SCAI shock stages at ECMO initiation was: B, 821 (6.8%); C, 7518 (62.1%); D, 2973 (24.6%); and E, 794 (6.6%). During the index hospitalization, 6681 (55.2%) patients died. In-hospital mortality increased incrementally with SCAI shock stage (adjusted OR: 1.24 per SCAI shock stage, 95% CI: 1.17–1.32, P &lt; 0.001): B, 47.5%; C, 52.8%; D, 60.8%; E, 65.1%. A higher SCAI shock stage was associated with increased in-hospital mortality in key subgroups, although the SCAI shock classification was only predictive of mortality in non-surgical (medical) CS and not in post-cardiotomy CS. Conclusion The severity of shock prior to cannulation is a strong predictor of in-hospital mortality in patients receiving VA ECMO for CS. Using the pre-cannulation SCAI shock classification as a risk stratification tool can help clinicians refine prognostication for ECMO recipients and guide future investigations to improve outcomes.

Abstract Aims Cardiac point-of-care ultrasound (CV-POCUS) has become a fundamental part for the assessment of patients admitted to cardiac intensive care units (CICU). We sought to refine the practice of CV-POCUS by identifying 2D and Doppler-derived measurements from bedside transthoracic echocardiograms (TTEs) performed in the CICU that are associated with mortality. Methods and results We retrospectively included Mayo Clinic CICU patients admitted from 2007 to 2018 and assessed the TTEs performed within 1 day of CICU admission, including Doppler and 2D measurements of left and right ventricular function. Logistic regression and classification and regression tree (CART) analysis were used to determine the association between TTE variables with in-hospital mortality. A total of 6957 patients were included with a mean age of 68.0 ± 14.9 years (37.0% females). A total of 609 (8.8%) patients died in the hospital. Inpatient deaths group had worse biventricular systolic function [left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 48.2 ± 16.0% vs. 38.7 ± 18.2%, P &lt; 0.0001], higher filling pressures, and lower forward flow. The strongest TTE predictors of hospital mortality were left ventricular outflow tract velocity–time integral [LVOT VTI, adjusted OR 0.912 per 1 cm higher, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.883–0.942, P &lt; 0.0001] followed by medial mitral E/e′ ratio (adjusted OR 1.024 per 1 unit higher, 95% CI 1.010–1.039, P = 0.0011). Classification and regression tree analysis identified LVOT VTI &lt;16 cm as the most important TTE predictor of mortality. Conclusions Doppler-derived haemodynamic TTE parameters have a strong association with mortality in the CICU, particularly LVOT VTI &lt;16 cm or mitral E/e′ ratio &gt;15. The incorporation of these simplified Doppler-derived haemodynamics into admission CV-POCUS facilitates early risk stratification and strengthens the clinical yield of the ultrasound exam.

Abstract Objective Investigate the association of echocardiographic parameters with hemodynamic instability after initiating continuous kidney replacement therapy (CKRT) in a cohort of intensive care unit (ICU) patients requiring CKRT. Methods Historical cohort study of consecutive adults admitted to the ICU at a tertiary care hospital from December 2006 through November 2015 who underwent CKRT and had an echocardiogram done within seven days before CKRT initiation. The primary outcome was hypotension within one hour of CKRT initiation. Results We included 980 patients, 804 (82%) with acute kidney injury (AKI) and 176 (18%) with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Median patient age was 63 (± 14) years, and median Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score on the day of CKRT initiation was 12 (IQR 10–14). Multivariable analysis showed that Left (OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.04–3.86), and Right (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.04–2.25) moderate and severe ventricular enlargement, Vasoactive-Inotropic Score (VIS) one hour before CKRT initiation (OR 1.18 per 10 units increase, 95% CI 1.09–1.28) and high bicarbonate fluid replacement (OR 2.52, 95% CI 1.01–6.2) were associated with hypotension after CKRT initiation. Conclusion Right and left ventricular enlargement are risk factors associated with hypotension after CKRT initiation.

Background Cardiac arrest (CA) is associated with worse outcomes in patients with cardiogenic shock (CS). To better understand the contribution of CA on CS, we evaluated transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) parameters in CS patients with and without CA. Methods We retrospectively identified CS patients with a TTE performed near cardiac intensive care unit admission between 2007 to 2018. We compared TTE measurements of left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) function in patients with and without CA. The primary outcome was all-cause in-hospital mortality, as determined using multivariable logistic regression. Results We included 1085 patients, 35% of whom had CA. Median age was 70 years and 37% were females. CA patients had higher severity of illness, more invasive mechanical ventilation and greater vasopressor/inotrope use. In-hospital mortality was 31% and was higher in CA patients (45% vs. 23%, p <0.001). Although LV ejection fraction (LVEF) was similar (35% vs. 37%, p = 0.05), CA patients had lower cardiac index, mitral valve E wave peak velocity, E/A ratio and E/e' ratio. TTE variables that were associated with hospital mortality varied, among patients with CA, these included measures of RV pressure and function and among patients without CA, these included parameters reflecting LV systolic function. Conclusions Doppler assessments of RV systolic dysfunction were the strongest TTE predictors of hospital mortality in CS patients with CA, unlike CS patients without CA in whom LV systolic function was more important. This emphasizes the importance of RV assessment for mortality risk stratification after CA.