Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 354 in total

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  1. Tsan SEH, Ng KT, Lau J, Viknaswaran NL, Wang CY
    Braz J Anesthesiol, 2020 11 09;70(6):667-677.
    PMID: 33288219 DOI: 10.1016/j.bjan.2020.08.009
    OBJECTIVES: Positioning during endotracheal intubation (ETI) is critical to ensure its success. We aimed to determine if the ramping position improved laryngeal exposure and first attempt success at intubation when compared to the sniffing position.

    METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases were searched systematically from inception until January 2020. Our primary outcomes included laryngeal exposure as measured by Cormack-Lehane Grade 1 or 2 (CLG 1/2), CLG 3 or 4 (CLG 3/4), and first attempt success at intubation. Secondary outcomes were intubation time, use of airway adjuncts, ancillary maneuvers and complications during ETI.

    RESULTS: Seven studies met our inclusion criteria, of which 4 were RCTs and 3 were cohort studies. The meta-analysis was conducted by pooling the effect estimates for all 4 included RCTs (n=632). There were no differences found between ramping and sniffing positions for odds of CLG 1/2, CLG 3/4, first attempt success at intubation, intubation time, use of ancillary airway maneuvers and use of airway adjuncts, with evidence of high heterogeneity across studies. However, the ramping position in surgical patients is associated with increased likelihood of CLG 1/2 (OR=2.05, 95% CI 1.26 to 3.32, p=0.004) and lower likelihood of CLG 3/4 (OR=0.49, 95% CI 0.30 to 0.79, p=0.004), moderate quality of evidence.

    CONCLUSION: Our meta-analysis demonstrated that the ramping position may benefit surgical patients undergoing ETI by improving laryngeal exposure. Large-scale well-designed multicentre RCTs should be carried out to further elucidate the benefits of the ramping position in the surgical and intensive care unit patients.

    Matched MeSH terms: Intensive Care Units
  2. Phua J, Joynt GM, Nishimura M, Deng Y, Myatra SN, Chan YH, et al.
    Intensive Care Med, 2016 Jul;42(7):1118-27.
    PMID: 27071388 DOI: 10.1007/s00134-016-4347-y
    PURPOSE: To compare the attitudes of physicians towards withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining treatments in intensive care units (ICUs) in low-middle-income Asian countries and regions with those in high-income ones, and to explore differences in the role of families and surrogates, legal risks, and financial considerations between these countries and regions.

    METHODS: Questionnaire study conducted in May-December 2012 on 847 physicians from 255 ICUs in 10 low-middle-income countries and regions according to the World Bank's classification, and 618 physicians from 211 ICUs in six high-income countries and regions.

    RESULTS: After we accounted for personal, ICU, and hospital characteristics on multivariable analyses using generalised linear mixed models, physicians from low-middle-income countries and regions were less likely to limit cardiopulmonary resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, vasopressors and inotropes, tracheostomy and haemodialysis than those from high-income countries and regions. They were more likely to involve families in end-of-life care discussions and to perceive legal risks with limitation of life-sustaining treatments and do-not-resuscitate orders. Nonetheless, they were also more likely to accede to families' requests to withdraw life-sustaining treatments in a patient with an otherwise reasonable chance of survival on financial grounds in a case scenario (adjusted odds ratio 5.05, 95 % confidence interval 2.69-9.51, P 

    Matched MeSH terms: Intensive Care Units
  3. Phua J, Joynt GM, Nishimura M, Deng Y, Myatra SN, Chan YH, et al.
    JAMA Intern Med, 2015 Mar;175(3):363-71.
    PMID: 25581712 DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.7386
    Little data exist on end-of-life care practices in intensive care units (ICUs) in Asia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Intensive Care Units*
  4. Reza, M.Q., Johar, M.J., Ismail, M.S.
    Medicine & Health, 2013;8(2):89-93.
    MyJurnal
    Orbital cellulits is one of the life threatening event that should not be missed out and must be distinguished from preseptal cellulitis. It is an infective process involving ocular adnexal structures posterior to the orbital septum. High index of suspicion is the key to its diagnosis as even experienced physician can miss. Here, we present a case of a 15-year-old female who presented with progressive swelling over right forehead associated with high grade fever, headache and purulent discharge of the swelling. She was diagnosed with sepsis due to right forehead abscess and was treated with intravenous antibiotics followed with admission. However, she suddenly deteriorated in the ward which required intubation and thereby Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission. Investigations revealed fluid collection at right retrobulbar space suggestive of an abscess where emergency drainage was carried out. Unfortunately, her condition worsened and patient succumbed at day-10 of admission, despite all efforts.
    Matched MeSH terms: Intensive Care Units
  5. Gopal Katherason S, Naing L, Jaalam K, Imran Musa K, Nik Mohamad NA, Aiyar S, et al.
    J Infect Dev Ctries, 2009 Oct 22;3(9):704-10.
    PMID: 19858572
    BACKGROUND: The outcome indicator of nosocomial infection (NI) in the intensive care unit (ICU) is used to benchmark the quality of patient care in Malaysia. We conducted a three-year prospective study on the incidences of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), risk factors, and patterns of the microorganisms isolated in three ICUs.

    METHODOLOGY: A follow-up in prospective cohort surveillance was conducted on patients admitted to an adult medical-surgical ICU of a university hospital and two governmental hospitals in Malaysia from October 2003 to December 2006. VAP was detected using CDC criteria which included clinical manifestation and confirmed endotracheal secretion culture results.

    RESULTS: In total, 215 patients (2,306 patient-days) were enrolled into the study. The incidence of ICU-acquired device-related NI was 29.3 % (n = 63). The device-related VAP infection rate was 27.0 % (n = 58), with a mechanical ventilator utilization rate of 88.7%. The death rate due to all ICU-acquired NI including sepsis was 6.5%. The most common causative pathogen was Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 27). Multivariate analysis using Cox regression showed that the risk factors identified were aspiration pneumonia (HR = 4.09; 95% CI = 1.24, 13.51; P = 0.021), cancer (HR = 2.51; 95% CI = 1.27, 4.97; P = 0.008), leucocytosis (HR=3.43; 95% CI= 1.60, 7.37; P=0.002) and duration of mechanical ventilation (HR=1.04; 95% CI = 1.00, 1.08; P = 0.030). Age, gender and race were not identified as risk factors in the multivariable analysis performed.

    CONCLUSION: The incidence of VAP was comparable to that found in the National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance (NNIS) System report of June 1998. The incidence of VAP was considered high for the three hospitals studied.

    Matched MeSH terms: Intensive Care Units
  6. Tabah A, Elhadi M, Ballard E, Cortegiani A, Cecconi M, Unoki T, et al.
    J Crit Care, 2022 Oct;71:154050.
    PMID: 35525226 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrc.2022.154050
    BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, intensive care units (ICU) introduced restrictions to in-person family visiting to safeguard patients, healthcare personnel, and visitors.

    METHODS: We conducted a web-based survey (March-July 2021) investigating ICU visiting practices before the pandemic, at peak COVID-19 ICU admissions, and at the time of survey response. We sought data on visiting policies and communication modes including use of virtual visiting (videoconferencing).

    RESULTS: We obtained 667 valid responses representing ICUs in all continents. Before the pandemic, 20% (106/525) had unrestricted visiting hours; 6% (30/525) did not allow in-person visiting. At peak, 84% (558/667) did not allow in-person visiting for patients with COVID-19; 66% for patients without COVID-19. This proportion had decreased to 55% (369/667) at time of survey reporting. A government mandate to restrict hospital visiting was reported by 53% (354/646). Most ICUs (55%, 353/615) used regular telephone updates; 50% (306/667) used telephone for formal meetings and discussions regarding prognosis or end-of-life. Virtual visiting was available in 63% (418/667) at time of survey.

    CONCLUSIONS: Highly restrictive visiting policies were introduced at the initial pandemic peaks, were subsequently liberalized, but without returning to pre-pandemic practices. Telephone became the primary communication mode in most ICUs, supplemented with virtual visits.

    Matched MeSH terms: Intensive Care Units
  7. Azrina Md Ralib, Mohd Basri Mat Nor
    MyJurnal
    Urine output provides a rapid estimate for kidney function, and its use has been incorporated in the diagnosis of acute kidney injury. However, not many studies had validated its use compared to the plasma creatinine. It has been showed that the ideal urine output threshold for prediction of death or the need for dialysis was 0.3 ml/kg/h. We aim to assess this threshold in our local ICU population.
    Matched MeSH terms: Intensive Care Units
  8. Alfizah H, Nordiah AJ, Rozaidi WS
    Singapore Med J, 2004 May;45(5):214-8.
    PMID: 15143356
    Serratia marcescens is a well-known cause of nosocomial infections and outbreaks, particularly in immunocompromised patients with severe underlying disease. An outbreak due to S. marcescens infection was detected from 13 to 22 February 2001 at the intensive care unit (ICU) of our institution. We used pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) typing to analyse the outbreak strains involved.
    Matched MeSH terms: Intensive Care Units
  9. Boo NY, Nor Azlina AA, Rohana J
    Singapore Med J, 2008 Mar;49(3):204-8.
    PMID: 18363001
    This study was designed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of a semi-quantitative procalcitonin (PCT) test kit for the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis.
    Matched MeSH terms: Intensive Care Units, Neonatal
  10. Nordin N. N., Lau, C. L., Wan Mat W. R., Yow, H. Y.
    MyJurnal
    Introduction: The incidence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has increased worldwide including Malaysia, which may be attributed partly to inappropriate prescribing of antimicrobials. Antimicrobial prescribing form has been introduced to mandate appropriate antimicrobial prescription including documented indication as a key standard of antimicrobial stewardship practice. Hence, this current study aimed to determine the usage and completeness of the designated antimicrobial prescribing form that had been implemented in the General Intensive Care Unit (GICU), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC). Methods: This prospective observational study was carried out in GICU UKMMC from 30 August 2018 to 30 November 2018 by convenience sampling. The information that was recorded in the antimicrobial prescribing form was collected by using the designated data collection form. A total of 68 patients were included and 205 antimicrobial prescribing forms were evaluated. Results: There were 100% usage of antimicrobial prescribing forms found in this study. However, only 81 ± 8 % of these forms were completely filled. Indication for the antimicrobial prescription was not filled in 47% of the forms. Almost two thirds of the antimicrobial prescriptions were empirically indicated and one percent de-escalation of antimicrobial therapy was filled in the forms. These prescriptions comprised of 91.7% antibiotics, 7.8% antifungals and 0.5% antivirals. The suspected site of infections were primarily from the lungs (27%), gastrointestinal (16%), blood (16%) and central nervous system (14%). Piperacillin/Tazobactam was the most frequent antibiotic prescribed (21%), followed by third and fourth generation cephalosporins (20%). Conclusion: This study provided an overview of the uptake of the antimicrobial prescribing form implementation and highlighted the requirement for supplementary efforts to maximize the compliance of this form.
    Matched MeSH terms: Intensive Care Units
  11. Mat Bah MN, Syed Mohamed SA, Abdullah N, Alias EY
    Pediatr Crit Care Med, 2020 11;21(11):e959-e966.
    PMID: 32590834 DOI: 10.1097/PCC.0000000000002406
    OBJECTIVES: To study the rate of unplanned PICU readmission, determine the risk factors and its impact on mortality.

    DESIGN: A single-center retrospective cross-sectional study.

    SETTING: Tertiary referral PICU in Johor, Malaysia.

    PATIENTS: All children admitted to the PICU over 8 years were included. Patients readmitted into PICU after the first PICU discharge during the hospitalization period were categorized into "early" (within 48 hr) and "late" (after 48 hr), and factors linked to the readmissions were identified. The mortality rate was determined and compared between no, early, and late readmission.

    INTERVENTIONS: None.

    MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: There were 2,834 patients in the study with 70 early and 113 late readmissions. Therefore, the rate of early and late PICU readmission was 2.5% (95% CI, 1.9-3.0%) and 3.9% (95% CI, 3.2-4.7%), respectively. The median length of stay of the second PICU admission for early and late readmissions was 2.7 days (interquartile range, 1.1-7.0 d) and 3.2 days (interquartile range, 1.2-7.5 d), respectively. The majority of early and late readmissions had a similar diagnosis with their first PICU admission. Multivariable multinomial logistic regression revealed a Pediatric Index Mortality 2 score of greater than or equal to 15, chronic cardiovascular condition, and oxygen supplement upon discharge as independent risk factors for early PICU readmission. Meanwhile, an infant of less than 1 year old, having cardiovascular, other congenital and genetic chronic conditions and being discharged between 8 AM and 5 PM was an independent risk factor for late readmission. There was no significant difference in the mortality rate of early (12.9%), late (13.3%), and no readmission (10.7%).

    CONCLUSIONS: Despite the lack of resources and expertise in lower- and middle-income countries, the rate and factors for PICU readmission are similar to those in high-income countries. However, PICU readmission has no statistically significant association with mortality.

    Matched MeSH terms: Intensive Care Units, Pediatric*
  12. Lee JL, Redzuan AM, Shah NM
    Int J Clin Pharm, 2013 Dec;35(6):1025-9.
    PMID: 24022725
    BACKGROUND: Unlicensed and off-label use of medicines in paediatrics is widespread. However, the incidence of this practice in Malaysia has not been reported.

    OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent of unlicensed and off-label use of medicines in hospitalised children in the intensive care units of a tertiary care teaching hospital.

    METHODS: A prospective, observational exploratory study was conducted on medicines prescribed to children admitted to the 3 intensive care units of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC).

    RESULTS: A total of 194 patients were admitted to UKMMC, 168 of them received one or more drugs. Of 1,295 prescriptions, 353 (27.3 %) were unlicensed and 442 (34.1 %) were for off-label use. Forty-four percent of patients received at least one medicine for unlicensed use and 82.1 % received at least one medicine off-label. Preterm infants, children aged 28 days to 23 months, patients with hospital stays of more than 2 weeks, and those prescribed increasing numbers of medicines were more likely to receive medicines for unlicensed use. Term neonates and patients prescribed increasing numbers of medicines had increased risk of receiving medicines for off-label use.

    CONCLUSION: Prescribing of medicines in an unlicensed or off-label fashion to the children in the intensive care units of UKMMC was common. Further detailed studies are necessary to ensure the delivery of safe and effective medicines to children.

    Matched MeSH terms: Intensive Care Units/statistics & numerical data*; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal/statistics & numerical data; Intensive Care Units, Pediatric/statistics & numerical data
  13. Mohd Ariff NA, Mazlan MZ, Mat Hassan ME, Seevaunnamtum PA, Wan Muhd Shukeri WF, Nik Mohamad NA, et al.
    Respir Med Case Rep, 2018;23:93-95.
    PMID: 29387523 DOI: 10.1016/j.rmcr.2018.01.001
    Introduction: Bronchoscopy is a commonly used procedure in the context of aspiration in the Intensive Care Unit setting. Despite its ability to remove mucus plug and undigested gastric contents, aspiration of gastric content into the trachea is one of the most feared complications among anesthesiologist.

    Discussion: The scenario is made worst if the aspiration causes acute hypoxemic respiratory failure immediately post intubation. However, in the event of desaturation, the quick decision to proceed with bronchoscopy is a challenging task to the anesthesiologist without knowing the causes.

    Case presentation: We present a case of a 12-year-old boy who had a difficult-to-ventilate scenario post transferring and immediately connected to ventilator in operation theatre (OT) from portable ventilator from the emergency department. She was successfully managed by bronchoscopy.

    Conclusion: Special attention should be given to the difficult-to-ventilate scenario post intubation of traumatic brain injury patient prior to operation. Prompt diagnosis and bronchoscope-assisted removal of foreign body was found to be a successful to reduce morbidity and mortality.

    Matched MeSH terms: Intensive Care Units
  14. Ibrahim NR, Kheng TH, Nasir A, Ramli N, Foo JLK, Syed Alwi SH, et al.
    Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed., 2017 May;102(3):F225-F229.
    PMID: 27671836 DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2015-310246
    OBJECTIVE: To determine whether feeding with 2-hourly or 3-hourly feeding interval reduces the time to achieve full enteral feeding and to compare their outcome in very low birthweight preterm infants.

    DESIGN: Parallel-group randomised controlled trial with a 1:1 allocation ratio.

    SETTING: Two regional tertiary neonatal intensive care units.

    PATIENTS: 150 preterm infants less than 35 weeks gestation with birth weight between 1.0 and 1.5 kg were recruited.

    INTERVENTIONS: Infants were enrolled to either 2-hourly or 3-hourly interval feeding after randomisation. Blinding was not possible due to the nature of the intervention.

    MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was time to achieve full enteral feeding (≥100 mL/kg/day). Secondary outcomes include time to regain birth weight, episode of feeding intolerance, peak serum bilirubin levels, duration of phototherapy, episode of necrotising enterocolitis, nosocomial sepsis and gastro-oesophageal reflux.

    RESULTS: 72 infants were available for primary outcome analysis in each group as three were excluded due to death-three deaths in each group. The mean time to full enteral feeding was 11.3 days in the 3-hourly group and 10.2 days in the 2-hourly group (mean difference 1.1 days; 95% CI -0.4 to 2.5; p=0.14). The mean time to regain birth weight was shorter in 3-hourly group (12.9 vs 14.8 days, p=0.04). Other subgroup analyses did not reveal additional significant results. No difference in adverse events was found between the groups.

    CONCLUSION: 3-hourly feeding was comparable with 2-hourly feeding to achieve full enteral feeding without any evidence of increased adverse events.

    TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN12611000676910, pre-result.

    Matched MeSH terms: Intensive Care Units, Neonatal
  15. Lee JK
    J Paediatr Child Health, 2008 Jan;44(1-2):62-6.
    PMID: 17640280
    An outbreak of Burkholderia cepacia septicaemia occurred in our neonatal unit over a 9-week period in 2001, affecting 23 babies and two died. A second outbreak lasting 8 days occurred a year later, affecting five babies.
    Matched MeSH terms: Intensive Care Units, Neonatal
  16. Lee ZY, Stoppe C, Hartl W, Elke G, Heyland DK, Lew CCH
    Clin Nutr, 2024 Jan;43(1):18-19.
    PMID: 37992634 DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2023.11.019
    Matched MeSH terms: Intensive Care Units
  17. Balan S, Hassali MAA, Mak VSL
    World J Pediatr, 2018 12;14(6):528-540.
    PMID: 30218415 DOI: 10.1007/s12519-018-0186-y
    BACKGROUND: In the past two decades, many legislative and regulatory initiatives were taken globally to improve drug use in children. However, children are still found to be prescribed with off-label drugs. This study was conducted to provide an overview of the worldwide trend in off-label prescribing in children from the year 1996 to 2016.

    DATA SOURCES: The articles published in PubMed, MEDLINE and Google Scholar were searched using text words: off-label, unlicensed, paediatric and children. Additional articles were identified by reviewing the bibliography of the retrieved articles. Full-text articles published in English which reported on the prevalence of off-label prescribing in children between January 1996 and December 2016 were included.

    RESULTS: A total of 101 studies met the inclusion criteria. Off-label prescribing definition included four main categories: age, indication, dose and route of administration. The three most common reference sources used in the studies were summary of product characteristics, national formularies and package inserts. Overall, the off-label prescribing rates in children ranged from 1.2 to 99.7%. The most common category of off-label prescribing in children was dose and age.

    CONCLUSIONS: This review highlighted that off-label prescribing in children was found to be highly prevalent throughout the past two decades, persistently in the neonatal intensive care units. This suggests that besides legislative and regulatory initiatives, behavioural, knowledge aspects and efforts to integrate evidence into practice related to off-label prescribing also need to be evaluated and consolidated as part of the concerted efforts to narrow the gaps in prescribing for children.

    Matched MeSH terms: Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; Intensive Care Units, Pediatric
  18. Rohana J, Boo NY, Yong SC, Ong LC
    Med J Malaysia, 2005 Aug;60(3):338-44.
    PMID: 16379189 MyJurnal
    A quality assurance study was carried out prospectively in two phases at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. The objectives of the study were to determine the turn-around-time (TAT) of radiographs requested for infants undergoing intensive care treatment in the NICU and the effects of a standard operating procedure introduced based on initial findings of first phase of the study on subsequent TAT. The TAT was defined as the time taken for the radiograph to be ready for viewing after the attending doctor had requested for it to be done on an infant. During phase one of the study, none of the requested radiographs was ready to be viewed by the doctors within the standard TAT of 45 minutes. The problems identified were ward staffs delay in sending request forms to the radiology department, radiographers' delay in shooting and processing the films, and delay by NICU porter in collecting the processed films. Based on these findings, a standard operating procedure (SOP) was drawn up jointly by the staff of NICU and Department of Radiology. During phase two of the study conducted at one month after implementation of the SOP, there was a reduction of TAT by 50%. However, only 3 (4.3%) of the radiographs achieved the standard TAT. The main problems identified during phase two were delay in sending request forms and in collecting processed radiographs by the porter system. The dismal TAT of radiographs in NICU was related primarily to human behaviour. Besides continuous staff education, replacement of the porter system with electronic system may improve the TAT.
    Keywords: Turn-around time, radiographs, neonatal intensive care unit, standard operating procedure, Kuala Lumpur
    Matched MeSH terms: Intensive Care Units, Neonatal/organization & administration*
  19. Chong SL, Dang H, Ming M, Mahmood M, Zheng CQS, Gan CS, et al.
    Pediatr Crit Care Med, 2021 Apr 01;22(4):401-411.
    PMID: 33027240 DOI: 10.1097/PCC.0000000000002575
    OBJECTIVES: Traumatic brain injury remains an important cause of death and disability. We aim to report the epidemiology and management of moderate to severe traumatic brain injury in Asian PICUs and identify risk factors for mortality and poor functional outcomes.

    DESIGN: A retrospective study of the Pediatric Acute and Critical Care Medicine Asian Network moderate to severe traumatic brain injury dataset collected between 2014 and 2017.

    SETTING: Patients were from the participating PICUs of Pediatric Acute and Critical Care Medicine Asian Network.

    PATIENTS: We included children less than 16 years old with a Glasgow Coma Scale less than or equal to 13.

    INTERVENTIONS: None.

    MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We obtained data on patient demographics, injury circumstances, and PICU management. We performed a multivariate logistic regression predicting for mortality and poor functional outcomes. We analyzed 380 children with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury. Most injuries were a result of road traffic injuries (174 [45.8%]) and falls (160 [42.1%]). There were important differences in temperature control, use of antiepileptic drugs, and hyperosmolar agents between the sites. Fifty-six children died (14.7%), and 104 of 324 survivors (32.1%) had poor functional outcomes. Poor functional outcomes were associated with non-high-income sites (adjusted odds ratio, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.11-3.29), Glasgow Coma Scale less than 8 (adjusted odds ratio, 4.24; 95% CI, 2.44-7.63), involvement in a road traffic collision (adjusted odds ratio, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.04-3.26), and presence of child abuse (adjusted odds ratio, 2.75; 95% CI, 1.01-7.46).

    CONCLUSIONS: Poor functional outcomes are prevalent after pediatric traumatic brain injury in Asia. There is an urgent need for further research in these high-risk groups.

    Matched MeSH terms: Intensive Care Units, Pediatric
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