Acute and Critical Care

Original Articles

Neurology
Effectiveness of intravenous thrombolysis in patients with large-vessel occlusion receiving endovascular treatment in Korea: Min Kim, Ji Sung Lee, Seong-Joon Lee, So Young Park, Jungyun Seo, Ji Man Hong, Hee-Kwon Park, Jae-Kwan Cha, Jeffrey L. Saver, Jin Soo Lee; Received November 7, 2024 Accepted February 19, 2025 Published online April 11, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.004248 [Epub ahead of print]

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Abstract PDF Supplementary Material: Background
The effectiveness of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV tPA) in patients with large-vessel occlusion (LVO) receiving endovascular treatment (EVT) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) has been questioned. We investigated IV tPA effectiveness in real-world AIS patients, including those with intracranial LVO receiving EVT.
Methods
We identified patients with AIS who presented to hospital with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale ≥4 within 8 hours of symptom onset from the institutional stroke registry. The association of IV tPA use with effectiveness and safety outcomes was analyzed in overall enrolled AIS patients; LVO patients; and patients treated with EVT. The effect of IV tPA was assessed using multiple logistic regression.
Results
Among the 654 patients meeting study entry criteria, 238 (36.4%) received IV tPA and 416 (63.6%) did not. Multiple logistic regression analysis and shift analysis revealed IV tPA was associated with improved outcomes in overall enrolled AIS population, LVO, and EVT-treated subgroups. Among EVT-treated patients, IV tPA was associated with higher likelihood of ambulatory or better outcome (modified Rankin Scale 0–3) with odds ratio of 1.95 (P=0.03).
Conclusions
In this real-world study, IV tPA use was associated with improved outcomes for patients with AIS, including among LVO patients treated and not treated with EVT, in the contemporary mechanical thrombectomy era.

Nursing
Characteristics and associated risk factors of exposure keratopathy among ventilated patients in intensive care units: Sajeda Al-Tamimi, Mohammad Y.N. Saleh, Al-Mutez Gharaibeh, Farah Al-A’mar, Rasmieh Al-Amer; Received September 19, 2024 Accepted January 27, 2025 Published online April 11, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.003648 [Epub ahead of print]

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Abstract PDF: Background
Exposure keratopathy is the most common ocular surface disorder in ventilated patients due to poor eyelid closure, decreased blink reflex, and the inability to produce tears. Healthcare providers in intensive care units (ICUs) play a significant role in preventing exposure keratopathy through appropriate eyelid taping and eye ointments.
Methods
This is a cross-sectional study to describe the characteristics and factors associated with exposure keratopathy in all mechanically ventilated patients admitted to an adult ICU between February and June 2023. Patients were examined for corneal changes using a corneal fluorescein staining test with a cobalt blue filter indirect ophthalmoscope.
Results
Of 156 ventilated patients included in this study, 42.3% had exposure keratopathy, 13.5% had lagophthalmos, and 26.9% of patients had chemosis. For patients with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 3, the odds ratio of exposure keratopathy was 21.47 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.82–163.05). The use of inotropes increased the odds ratio to 35.55 (95% CI, 3.41–369.90), whereas a hospital stay >7.23 days increased the odds ratio to 43.59 (95% CI, 15.66–1,316.32).
Conclusions
The frequency of exposure keratopathy is high and is underestimated in ventilated patients, with lower GCS and increased hospital length of stay as the main risk factors. Prioritizing eye care in ventilated patients with low GCS scores or prolonged ICU stays is essential to reduce exposure keratopathy.

Basic science and research
Anesthesiological management in endovascular mechanical thrombectomy: a propensity score-matched retrospective analysis in Italy: Antonio Romanelli, Aniello Iovino, Daniele Giuseppe Romano, Antonella Langone, Rosa Napoletano, Giulia Frauenfelder, Flora Minichino, Liliana D’Ambrosio, Miriam Caterino, Raffaele Tortora, Renato Gammaldi, Paolo Barone, Renato Saponiero; Received July 23, 2024 Accepted November 19, 2024 Published online April 11, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.003000 [Epub ahead of print]

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Abstract PDF: Background
Endovascular mechanical thrombectomy (EMT) can be performed with general anesthesia (GA) or using non-GA techniques. Several meta-analyses on the topic have reported discordant main outcomes. The aim of this retrospective single-center study was to analyze the relationship between clinical outcomes and anesthesiological management (GA vs. non-GA) in patients who underwent EMT for acute anterior ischemic stroke (AIS).
Methods
We performed a propensity score-matched (PSM) analysis of patients who underwent EMT for acute AIS from January 2018 to December 2021. For PSM, we chose covariates influencing clinical decisions about anesthesiological management. Comparisons between groups were performed with the chi-square test for categorical variables and Student t-test or the Mann-Whitney U-test for continuous variables as appropriate. The relationships between anesthesiological management and clinical outcomes were analyzed using logistic regression, and results are reported as odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. A two-sided P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results
From 194 observations (78 in the GA group, 116 in the non-GA group), after PSM, we obtained 70 data pairs. Both anesthesiological approaches resulted in similar rates of in-hospital mortality, 90-day functional independence, full recanalization, procedural complications, and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Performing EMT with GA was unrelated to the in-hospital and 90-day death rates, 90-day functional independence, full recanalization rate, procedural complications, and ICH (P>0.05).
Conclusions
Anesthesiological management did not influence clinical outcomes of EMT for acute AIS. Physiological stability during EMT may impact outcomes more significantly than anesthesiological management. Further studies on this topic are needed.

Letter to the Editor

Neurology
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome requiring intensive care unit admission in two patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection in Portugal: Marina Costa, Ana Raquel Covas, Fábio Neves Correia, Sara Bernardo, Pedro Silveira; Received December 4, 2024 Accepted January 28, 2025 Published online March 13, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.004632 [Epub ahead of print]

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Review Article

Nephrology
Dialysis decision in critically ill patients in intensive care unit: Harin Rhee; Acute Crit Care. 2025;40(1):1-9. Published online February 28, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.004896

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Abstract PDF: The 2012 Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes guidelines clearly define emergent indications for kidney replacement therapy; however, whether dialysis should be initiated in critically ill patients without these indications remains unclear. This review briefly summarizes the results of recent landmark trials and discusses their limitations originating from a criteria-based approach at a single time point. Moreover, a personalized approach based on each patient’s demand-capacity balance and its future benefits as a platform for kidney support therapy in critically ill patients are discussed.

Letter to the Editor

Anesthesiology
Concentration of local anesthetics is important in nerve blocks: Raghuraman M. Sethuraman; Acute Crit Care. 2025;40(1):150-151. Published online February 28, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.002544

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Original Articles

Pediatrics
Effects of rescue airway pressure release ventilation on mortality in severe pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome: a retrospective comparative analysis from India: Sudha Chandelia, Sunil Kishore, Maansi Gangwal, Devika Shanmugasundaram; Acute Crit Care. 2025;40(1):113-121. Published online February 28, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.002520

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Abstract PDF: Background
Pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS) has a mortality rate of up to 75%, which can be up to 90% in high-risk patients. Even with the use of advanced ventilation strategies, mortality remains unacceptably high at 40%. Airway pressure release ventilation (APRV) mode is a new strategy in PARDS. Our aim was to evaluate whether use of APRV mode in severe PARDS was associated with reduced hospital mortality compared to other modes of ventilation.
Methods
This was a retrospective comparative study using data from case files in a pediatric intensive care unit of a university-affiliated tertiary-care hospital. The study period (January 2014 to December 2019) covered three years before routine use of APRV mode to three years after its implementation. We compared severe PARDS patients in two groups: The APRV group (who received APRV as rescue therapy after failing protective ventilation); and The Non-APRV group, who received other modes of ventilation.
Results
A total of 24 patients in each group were analyzed. Overall in-hospital mortality in the APRV group was 79% versus 91% in the Non-APRV group. In-hospital mortality was significantly lower in the APRV group (univariate analysis: hazard ratio [HR], 0.27; 95% CI, 0.14–0.52; P=0.001 and multivariate analysis: HR, 0.03; 95% CI, 0.005–0.17; P=0.001). Survival times were significantly longer in the APRV group (median time to death: 7.5 days in APRV vs. 4.3 days in non-APRV; P=0.001).
Conclusions
Use of rescue APRV mode in severe PARDS may yield lower mortality rates and longer survival times.

Pediatrics
Acute severe hepatitis in children following extrahepatic infection in South Korea: etiology, clinical course, and outcomes: Sanghoon Lee, Young Ok Kim, Seo-Hee Kim; Acute Crit Care. 2025;40(1):122-127. Published online February 28, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.000600

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Abstract PDF: Background
Acute hepatitis can occur in association with systemic diseases outside the liver. Acute severe hepatitis with markedly elevated transaminase levels following extrahepatic infection has been reported in children. However, research on this condition remains limited. This study aimed to investigate its etiology, clinical course, and outcomes.
Methods
We retrospectively reviewed data from 2013 to 2020 for children under 12 years old with elevated liver enzymes following systemic infection. Acute severe hepatitis was defined as serum transaminase levels exceeding 1,000 IU/L in the absence of underlying liver disease. We analyzed hepatitis-associated pathogens, liver enzyme trends, and factors influencing recovery.
Results
A total of 39 patients were included in this study. The most common age group was 7–12 months (54.8%), and 53.8% were male. Respiratory infections were the most common (61.5%), followed by gastrointestinal infections (23.1%), meningitis (10.3%), and urinary tract infections (5.1%). The median peak alanine transaminase (ALT) level was 1,515.8±424.2 IU/L, with a median time to peak ALT of 4.2±2.3 days from symptom onset. ALT levels normalized within 21 days in 71.8% of patients and within 28 days in 94.9%. Younger age was associated with delayed ALT normalization, whereas hepatoprotective agent use was associated with faster normalization.
Conclusions
Acute severe hepatitis can develop following respiratory and other systemic infections. Younger children were more susceptible and had a more prolonged disease course.

Editorial

Rapid response system
Transforming rapid response team through artificial intelligence: Kwangha Lee; Acute Crit Care. 2025;40(1):136-137. Published online February 28, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.000425

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Original Articles

Neurosurgery
Cost-effectiveness of intracranial pressure monitoring in severe traumatic brain injury in Southern Thailand: Jidapa Jitchanvichai, Thara Tunthanathip; Acute Crit Care. 2025;40(1):69-78. Published online February 21, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.004080

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Abstract PDF Supplementary Material: Background
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of fatalities and disabilities in the public health domain, particularly in Thailand. Guidelines for TBI patients advise intracranial pressure monitoring (ICPm) for intensive care. However, information about the cost-effectiveness (CE) of ICPm in cases of severe TBI is lacking. This study assessed the CE of ICPm in severe TBI.
Methods
This was a retrospective cohort economic evaluation study from the perspective of the healthcare system. Direct costs were sourced from electronic medical records, and quality-adjusted life years (QALY) for each individual were computed using multiple linear regression with standardization. Incremental costs, incremental QALY, and the incremental CE ratio (ICER) were estimated, and the bootstrap method with 1,000 iterations was used in uncertainty analysis.
Results
The analysis included 821 individuals, with 4.1% undergoing intraparenchymal ICPm. The average cost of hospitalization was United States dollar ($)8,697.13 (±6,271.26) in both groups. The incremental cost and incremental QALY of the ICPm group compared with the non-ICPm group were $3,322.88 and –0.070, with the base-case ICER of $–47,504.08 per additional QALY. Results demonstrated that 0.007% of bootstrapped ICERs were below the willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold of Thailand.
Conclusions
ICPm for severe TBI was not cost-effective compared with the WTP threshold of Thailand. Resource allocation for TBI prognosis requires further development of cost-effective treatment guidelines.

Neurosurgery
A low preoperative platelet-to-white blood cell ratio is associated with acute kidney injury following cerebral aneurysm treatment in South Korea: Seung-Woon Lim, Woo-Young Jo, Hee-Pyoung Park; Acute Crit Care. 2025;40(1):59-68. Published online February 21, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.003120

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Abstract PDF Supplementary Material: Background
Inflammation is involved in the pathophysiology of postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI). We investigated whether preoperative platelet-to-white blood cell ratio (PWR), a novel serum biomarker of systemic inflammation, was associated with postoperative AKI following cerebral aneurysm treatment. We also compared the discrimination power of preoperative PWR with those of other preoperative systemic inflammatory indices in predicting postoperative AKI.
Methods
Perioperative data including preoperative systemic inflammatory indices and cerebral aneurysm-related variables were retrospectively analyzed in 4,429 cerebral aneurysm patients undergoing surgical clipping or endovascular coiling. Based on the cutoff value of preoperative PWR, patients were divided into the high PWR (≥39.04, n=1,924) and low PWR (<39.04, n=2,505) groups. After propensity score matching (PSM), 1,168 patients in each group were included in the data analysis. AKI was defined according to the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes guidelines.
Results
Postoperative AKI occurred more frequently in the low PWR group than in the high PWR group before PSM (45 [1.8%] vs. 7 [0.4%], P<0.001) and after (17 [1.5%] vs. 5 [0.4%], P=0.016). A low preoperative PWR was predictive of postoperative AKI before PSM (odds ratio [95% CI], 3.93 [1.74–8.87]; P<0.001) and after (3.44 [1.26–9.34], P=0.016). Preoperative PWR showed the highest area under the curve for postoperative AKI (0.713 [0.644–0.782], P<0.001), followed by preoperative platelet-to-neutrophil ratio (0.694 [0.619–0.769], P<0.001), neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio (0.671 [0.592–0.750], P<0.001), white blood cell-to-hemoglobin ratio (0.665 [0.579–0.750], P<0.001), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (0.648 [0.569–0.728], P<0.001), and systemic inflammatory index (0.615 [0.532–0.698], P=0.004).
Conclusions
A low preoperative PWR was associated with postoperative AKI following cerebral aneurysm treatment.

Epidemiology
Simulating the effects of reducing transfer latency from the intensive care unit on intensive care unit bed utilization in a Korean Tertiary Hospital: Jaeyoung Choi, Song-Hee Kim, Ryoung-Eun Ko, Gee Young Suh, Jeong Hoon Yang, Chi-Min Park, Joongbum Cho, Chi Ryang Chung; Acute Crit Care. 2025;40(1):18-28. Published online February 21, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.002976

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Abstract PDF Supplementary Material: Background
Latency in transferring patients from intensive care units (ICUs) to general wards impedes the optimal allocation of ICU resources, underscoring the urgency of initiatives to reduce it. This study evaluates the extent of ICU transfer latency and assesses the potential benefits of minimizing it.
Methods
Transfer latency was measured as the time between the first transfer request and the actual ICU discharge at a single-center tertiary hospital in 2021. Computer-based simulations and cost analyses were performed to examine how reducing transfer latency could affect average hourly ICU bed occupancy, the proportion of time ICU occupancy exceeds 80%, and hospital costs. The first analysis evaluated all ICU admissions, and the second analysis targeted a subset of ICU admissions with longer transfer latency, those requiring infectious precautions.
Results
A total of 7,623 ICU admissions were analyzed, and the median transfer latency was 5.7 hours. Eliminating transfer latency for all ICU admissions would have resulted in a 32.8% point decrease in the proportion of time ICU occupancy exceeded 80%, and a potential annual savings of $6.18 million. Eliminating transfer latency for patients under infectious precautions would have decreased the time ICU occupancy exceeded 80% by 13.5% points, and reduced annual costs by a potential $1.26 million.
Conclusions
Transfer latency from ICUs to general wards might contribute to high ICU occupancy. Efforts to minimize latency for all admissions, or even for a subset of admissions with particularly long transfer latency, could enable more efficient use of ICU resources.

Nursing
Nurses’ knowledge, attitude, and perceived barriers toward protective lung strategies of pediatrics mechanically ventilated patients in a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan: Tasnim Zainib, Salma Rattani, Nimira Asif, Hussain Maqbool Ahmed Maqbool; Acute Crit Care. 2025;40(1):128-135. Published online February 19, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.004761

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Abstract PDF Supplementary Material: Background
Protective lung strategies (PLS) are guidelines about recent clinical advances that deliver an air volume compatible with the patient’s lung capacity and are used to treat acute respiratory distress syndrome. These mechanical ventilation guidelines are not implemented within intensive care units (ICUs) despite strong evidence-based recommendations and a dedicated professional staff. Nurses’ familiarity with clinical guidelines can bridge the gap between actual and recommended practice. However, several barriers undermine this process. The objectives of this study were to identify those barriers and explore the knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of ICU nurses regarding the implementation of PLS.
Methods
This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study. The participants were nurses working in the six ICUs of a pediatric tertiary care hospital in Lahore, Pakistan. Using purposive sampling with random selection, the total sample size was 137 nurses. A summative rating scale was used to identify barriers to the implementation of PLS.
Results
Overall, the nurses’ barrier score was high, with a mean of 66.77±5.36. Across all the barriers subscales, attitude was a much more significant barrier (35.74±3.57) to PLS than behavior (6.53±1.96), perceived knowledge (17.42±2.54), and organizational barriers (7.08±1.39). Knowledge-related barriers were also significantly high.
Conclusion
This study identified important barriers to PLS implementation by nurses, including attitudes and knowledge deficits. Understanding those barriers and planning interventions to address them could help to increase adherence to low tidal volume ventilation and improve patient outcomes. Nurses’ involvement in mechanical ventilation management could help to safely deliver air volumes compatible with recommendations.

Trauma
Effect of atorvastatin as a renal protective agent in patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome using the renal arterial resistive index: Mina Maher Raouf, Eslam Antar Shadad, Nagy Sayed Ali; Acute Crit Care. 2025;40(1):95-104. Published online February 18, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.003912

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Abstract PDF: Background
Current meta-analyses have yielded inconclusive results regarding the effectiveness of statins in preventing early renal injury in the context of poly-trauma. Notably, renal artery Doppler-derived resistance indices have shown a strong correlation with early detection of renal impairment, underscoring their importance in clinical assessment.
Methods
The study involved 106 adults aged 18 years and older of both sexes, who presented to Minia University Hospital, Egypt, with poly-trauma with a two-point or greater increase in the sequential organ failure assessment score within the first 72 hours of hospital admission and who met two or more of the diagnostic criteria of systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Participants were randomly assigned to either the atorvastatin group, which received oral atorvastatin at a dosage of 20 mg every 12 hours for 1 week alongside conventional therapy (antimicrobial agents and balanced crystalloids), or the control group, which received conventional therapy along with a placebo tablet every 12 hours for 1 week.
Results
The atorvastatin group yielded a significantly lower incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI; P<0.001). Additionally, there was significant reduction in renal resistance and pulsatility indices in the atorvastatin group. Furthermore, the atorvastatin group exhibited a shorter intensive care unit (ICU) stay (P=0.004). The renal index had a sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 68% for AKI prediction when the cutoff value was 0.61. Pulsatility index had a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 53% when the cutoff value was 1.28.
Conclusions
Atorvastatin was impactful in mitigating the incidence of AKI, improving renal resistive vascular indices, and abbreviating ICU stays in the poly-traumatized population.

Trauma
Predictive value of initial lactate levels for mortality and morbidity in critically ill pediatric trauma patients: a retrospective study from a Turkish pediatric intensive care unit: Abdulrahman Özel, Esra Nur İlbeği, Servet Yüce; Acute Crit Care. 2025;40(1):87-94. Published online February 18, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.003528

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Abstract PDF: Background
This study investigated the relationship between initial lactate levels and both mortality and morbidity in critically ill pediatric trauma patients requiring intensive care.
Methods
This retrospective study at tertiary center’s pediatric intensive care unit from January 2020 to June 2024 aimed to characterize trauma patients and assess admission lactate levels' prognostic value.
Results
A total of 190 critically ill pediatric trauma patients were included in the study. The mortality rate was 7.9%, with most deaths occurring within the first 48 hours of admission. Initial lactate levels ≥6.9 mmol/L demonstrated moderate predictive power (area under the curve [AUC], 0.878) for mortality. Pediatric Risk of Mortality III (PRISM III) score showed good predictive ability (AUC, 0.922), while Pediatric Trauma Scores exhibited variable predictive performance (AUC, 0.863). Higher initial lactate levels were significantly associated with severe brain injury, the need for intubation, and an increased incidence of thoracic or abdominal injuries.
Conclusions
Initial lactate levels and PRISM III score are effective predictors of mortality in critically ill pediatric trauma patients. Lactate levels ≥5 mmol/L upon admission should prompt close monitoring and consideration of aggressive management strategies.

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