Background Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is used for critically ill patients when conventional treatments for cardiac or respiratory failure are unsuccessful. Objectives To describe patient and treatment characteristics and discharge outcome for ECMO patients, determine which characteristics are associated with good (survival) versus poor (death before hospital discharge) outcomes, and compare characteristics of patients with cardiac versus respiratory failure indicating ECMO. Methods Single-center, retrospective review of all adult patients treated with ECMO from 2005 through 2009. Results A total of 212 patients received ECMO for cardiac (n = 126) or respiratory (n = 86) failure. Mean age was 51 (SD, 14.5) years; support duration was 135 (SD, 149) hours. Survival to discharge was 33% overall; 50% for respiratory indication and 21% for cardiac indication patients. Patients with poor outcomes were older (53 vs 47 years, P = .007), more likely to require cardiovascular support before ECMO (99% vs 91%; P = .02), and had more transfusions (48 vs 24 units, P = .005) and complications (99% vs 87%; P < .001) than did patients with good outcomes. For cardiac patients, older age was associated with poor outcome (poor, 55 vs good, 48 years; P = .01). For respiratory patients, poor outcome was associated with more ventilator days before ECMO (poor, 6 vs good, 3; P = .01), higher peak inspiratory pressure (poor, 39 vs good, 35 cm H 2 O; P = .02), and lower pulmonary compliance (poor, 19 vs good, 25 mL/cm H 2 O; P = .008). Conclusions Patients with respiratory indications for ECMO experienced better survival than did cardiac patients. Increasing age was associated with poor outcome. Complications, regardless of ECMO indication, were common and associated with poor outcome.

Background Cardiac abnormalities attributed to adrenergic surge are common after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Prescribed medications that block adrenergic stimulation may suppress the onset of cardiopulmonary compromise in patients after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Objectives To compare the incidence of early cardiac complications between patients who reported prescribed use of β-blockers and/or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors before aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and patients who did not. Methods A retrospective review of 254 adult patients after acute aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage who were enrolled in an existing R01 study. Demographic data and history were obtained from patients’/proxies’ reports and charts. Cardiac enzyme levels, 12-lead electrocardiograms, and chest radiographs were obtained on admission. Holter monitoring and echocardiograms were completed as a part of the R01 study. Results Patients reporting prescribed use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or β-blockers before aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage had more ventricular and supraventricular ectopy on a Holter report than did patients who did not ( P < .05). When age, race, sex, and injury (Fisher grade) were controlled for, patients reporting use of β-blockers were 8 times more likely than others to have occasional to frequent ventricular ectopy ( P = .02). Conclusion No concrete evidence was found that exposure to adrenergic blockade before aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage provides protection from neurocardiac injury.

Background Patients in step-down units are at higher risk for developing cardiorespiratory instability than are patients in general care areas. A triage tool is needed to identify at-risk patients who therefore require increased surveillance. Objectives To determine demographic (age, race, sex) and clinical (Charlson Comorbidity Index at admission, admitting diagnosis, care area of origin, admission service) differences between patients in step-down units who did and did not experience cardiorespiratory instability. Methods In a prospective longitudinal pilot study, 326 surgical-trauma patients had continuous monitoring of heart rate, respirations, and oxygen saturation and intermittent noninvasive measurement of blood pressure. Cardiorespiratory instability was defined as heart rate less than 40/min or greater than 140/min, respirations less than 8/min or greater than 36/min, oxygen saturation less than 85%, or blood pressure less than 80 or greater than 200 mm Hg systolic or greater than 110 mm Hg diastolic. Patients’ status was classified as unstable if their values crossed these thresholds even once during their stay. Results Cardiorespiratory instability occurred in 34% of patients. The Charlson Comorbidity Index was the only variable associated with instability conditions. Compared with patients with no comorbid conditions (50%), more patients with at least 1 comorbid condition (66%) experienced instability ( P = .006). Each 1-unit increase in the Charlson Index increased the odds for cardiorespiratory instability by 1.17 ( P = .03). Conclusion Although the relationship between Charlson Comorbidity Index and cardiorespiratory instability was weak, adding it to current surveillance systems might improve detection of instability.

Background Inpatients may be at risk of cardiopulmonary instability during radiologic testing. Calling the medical emergency team is one rescue intervention that brings a team of critical care providers to the unstable patient. Little is known, however, about patients’ instability and activations of the medical emergency team in the radiology department (RD-MET). Objectives To describe the cause of activation of the RD-MET for hospitalized patients, temporal attributes of RD-MET involvement, characteristics of RD-MET patients, and characteristics associated with good and poor outcomes after RD-MET activation. Methods Retrospective pilot study of RD-MET calls for 64 inpatients in a tertiary care hospital during 2009. Results Reasons for RD-MET activation were 39% neurological, 38% cardiac, and 22% respiratory, and nearly half (42%) occurred during a computed tomography scan. Most RD-MET calls were made between 10 am and noon. RD-MET patients had a mean age of 61 (SD, 19) years; 52% were female, and 89% were white. Admitting diagnoses were most commonly neurological (20%), cardiovascular (16%), and abdominal (16%). The most common comorbid conditions were chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (23%) and diabetes (20%). Half of RD-MET inpatients were from a general care unit, and 56% required preexisting oxygen support. After RD-MET involvement, 61% of patients required a higher level of care; 3% died during the MET intervention, and 19% died later in hospitalization. Patients with preexisting comorbid conditions were more likely to have poor outcomes after the RD-MET intervention ( P = .001). Conclusions RD-MET patients with comorbid conditions, from a general care unit, and at risk for neurological deterioration arrive in the radiology department with potentially underestimated support needs. Greater support in specific time frames and locations may be warranted to improve outcomes.

Background Patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage experience myocardial injury at the time of rupture, but its effect on functional recovery and disability is unclear. Objective To describe the prevalence of myocardial injury, as indicated by high serum levels of cardiac troponin I (≥0.3 ng/mL), within the first 5 days after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and the effect of the injury on 3-month functional recovery and disability. Methods In a prospective longitudinal study, 239 patients with Hunt/Hess grade 3 or greater and/or Fisher grade 2 or greater at admission had serum level of troponin I measured on days 0 to 5. Patients were interviewed at 3 months to evaluate functional recovery (Glasgow Outcome Scale) and functional disability (Modified Rankin Scale). Statistics included χ 2 analysis, t tests, and binary logistic regression. Results Troponin values were elevated in 33.5% of the patients, and few patients in either group had a history of coronary artery disease (7.4% with troponin levels ≤ 0.3 ng/mL vs 2.7% with levels <0.3 ng/mL, P = .12). Higher troponin levels were significantly related to age and Hunt/Hess and Fisher grades, but not race, and were significantly associated with poorer functional recovery ( P < .001) and more functional disability ( P < .001). Even after controls for age, race, and more severe Hunt/Hess grades, higher levels remained a significant predictor of poorer functional recovery ( P = .04) and disability ( P = .01). Conclusion Elevated levels of cardiac troponin I after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage are common in patients with no cardiac history, are associated with severity of the hemorrhage, and are independently predictive of poorer functional recovery and increased disability.

Background Effective communication skills for clinical practice are essential for all advanced practice nurses. However, competence in these skills is not necessarily intuitive. Advanced communication skills should be taught in a way that is similar to the way other psychomotor skills in advanced nursing practice programs are taught. Objectives To develop a patient communication simulation laboratory for the acute care nurse practitioner program at a major university and to evaluate students’ perceived confidence and communication effectiveness before and immediately as well as 4 months after completion of the laboratory. Methods The communication simulation laboratory was developed in collaboration with faculty from the schools of nursing and medicine. Students participated in a didactic session and then completed a 2-hour communication simulation in the laboratory. Content and simulation concentrated on breaking “bad news,” empathetic communication, motivational interviewing, and the “angry” patient. Students’ self-reported confidence and perceived skill in communication were measured via a Likert scale before, immediately after, and 4 months after completion of the laboratory simulation. Students also evaluated the experience by responding to open-ended questions. Results Compared with baseline findings (before the lecture and simulation), students’ confidence in initiating difficult conversations increased significantly both immediately ( P <.001) and 4 months after ( P =.001) the laboratory simulation. Students’ self-ratings of overall ability to communicate were also significantly greater immediately ( P <.001) and 4 months ( P =.001) after the simulation. Overall, students rated the laboratory simulation experience highly beneficial. Conclusions The content and methods used for the simulation improved students’ confidence and perceived skill in communication in potentially difficult acute care situations.

• Background Studies suggest that patients who undergo off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG) have fewer short-term complications and use fewer inpatient resources than do patients who undergo standard coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with extracorporeal circulation. However, dissimilarity between groups in risk factors for complications has hindered interpretation of results. • Objectives To compare the prevalence of selected complications (atrial fibrillation, stroke, reoperation, and bleeding) and inpatient resource utilization (length of stay, discharge disposition, total charges) between subjects undergoing primary isolated CABG or OPCABG who were matched with respect to key risk factors. • Methods Retrospective, causal-comparative survey conducted in 1 center for 18 months. Patients who underwent primary isolated CABG or OPCABG were matched for sex, age (within 2 years), left ventricular ejection fraction (within 0.05), and graft-patient ratio (exact match) and compared for prevalence of new-onset atrial fibrillation, stroke, reoperation within 24 hours, and bleeding. Statistical analysis included Wilcoxon and t tests for paired comparisons. • Results The sample (107 matched pairs) was 63% male, with a mean age of 66 (SD 9.5) years, a mean left ventricular ejection fraction of 0.51 (SD 0.13), and a mean graft-patient ratio of 3.41 (SD 0.74). The 2 groups did not differ significantly in New York Heart Association class (P = .43), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation III score (P = .22), postoperative β-blocker use (P = .73), or comorbid conditions. None of the complications examined differed significantly between pairs. • Conclusion Patients with comparable risk profiles have similar prevalences of selected complications after CABG and OPCABG.

• Background Studies of resource utilization by patients with new-onset atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting have addressed only length of stay and bed charges. • Objective To compare resource utilization between patients with new-onset atrial fibrillation and patients without atrial fibrillation after isolated coronary artery bypass grafting. • Methods Retrospective review of clinical and administrative electronic databases for 720 subjects who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass in 25 months at one medical center. The prevalence of atrial fibrillation was determined, and resource utilization in various hospital cost centers was compared between subjects with and without atrial fibrillation. • Results The prevalence of new-onset atrial fibrillation was 33.1%. Compared with subjects without atrial fibrillation, subjects with atrial fibrillation had a longer stay (5.8 ± 2.4 vs 4.4 ± 1.2 days, P< .001), more days receiving mechanical ventilation (P=.002) and oxygen therapy (P< .001), and higher rates of readmission to the intensive care unit (4.6% vs 0.2%, P< .001). Subjects with atrial fibrillation also had more laboratory tests (P< .001) and more days receiving cardiac drugs, heparin, diuretics, and electrolytes. Subjects with atrial fibrillation had higher total postoperative charges ($57261 ± $17 101 vs $50 905 ± $10 062, P = .001), a mean difference of $6356. The mean differences were greatest for bed charges ($1642), laboratory charges ($1215), pharmacy ($989), and respiratory care ($582). • Conclusions The economic impact of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting has been underestimated.