Hiccup or hiccough is known by the medical term "singultus," which is a derivative of the Latin word "singult, " meaning "a gasp" or "a sob" [1]. Hiccups are characterized by involuntary, intermittent, repetitive, myoclonic, and spasmodic contractions of the diaphragm and the inspiratory intercostal muscles, leading to an abrupt and early closure of the glottis, terminating inspiration and generating the characteristic "hic" sound [2,3]. Both healthy adults and children commonly experience hiccup spells. In the fetus, hiccups play a physiological role by training the respiratory muscles for their breathing function, and as a reflex preventing amniotic fluid aspiration [4,5]. Transient episodes usually do not

Study design Descriptive retrospective. Objectives To evaluate the burden of respiratory morbidity in terms of ventilator dependence (VD) days and length of stay in neurotrauma ICU (NICU) and hospital, and to determine mortality in patients with traumatic cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI) in a low middle-income country (LMIC). Setting Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Center (JPNATC), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India. Methods A total of 135 patients admitted with CSCI in the NICU between January 2017 to December 2018 were screened. Information regarding age, gender, American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale (AIS), level of injury, duration of VD, length of NICU, hospital stay, and outcome in terms of mortality or discharge from the hospital were obtained from the medical records. Results A total of 106 CSCI patients were analyzed. The mean (SD) age of patients was 40 (±16) years and male: female ratio was 5:1. The duration of VD, duration of NICU, and hospital stay was a median of 8 days (IQR 1127), 6 days (IQR 1118), and 15 days (IQR 3127) respectively. Mortality was 19% (20/106). The mortality was significantly associated with poorer AIS score, VD, and duration of ICU and hospital stay. All patients were discharged to home only after they became ventilator-free. Conclusions The ventilator burden, hospital stay, and mortality are high in patients with CSCI in LMICs. Poor AIS scores, prolonged VD, ICU and hospital stay are associated with mortality. There is a need for comprehensive CSCI rehabilitation programs in LMICs to improve outcome.

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Background: Our objective was to identify central line (CL)-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) rates and risk factors (RF) in Asia. Methods: From 03/27/2004 to 02/11/2022, we conducted a multinational multicenter prospective cohort study in 281 ICUs of 95 hospitals in 44 cities in 9 Asian countries (China, India, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam). For estimation of CLABSI rate we used CL-days as denominator and number of CLABSI as numerator. To estimate CLABSI RF for we analyzed the data using multiple logistic regression, and outcomes are shown as adjusted odds ratios (aOR). Results: A total of 150,142 patients, hospitalized 853,604 days, acquired 1514 CLABSIs. Pooled CLABSI rate per 1000 CL-days was 5.08; per type of catheter were: femoral: 6.23; temporary hemodialysis: 4.08; jugular: 4.01; arterial: 3.14; PICC: 2.47; subclavian: 2.02. The highest rates were femoral, temporary for hemodialysis, and jugular, and the lowest PICC and subclavian. We analyzed following variables: Gender, age, length of stay (LOS) before CLABSI acquisition, CL-days before CLABSI acquisition, CL-device utilization ratio, CL-type, tracheostomy use, hospitalization type, ICU type, facility ownership and World Bank classifications by income level. Following were independently associated with CLABSI: LOS before CLABSI acquisition, rising risk 4% daily (aOR = 1.04; 95% CI = 1.03–1.04; p < 0.0001); number of CL-days before CLABSI acquisition, rising risk 5% per CL-day (aOR = 1.05; 95% CI 1.05–1.06; p < 0.0001); medical hospitalization (aOR = 1.21; 95% CI 1.04–1.39; p = 0.01); tracheostomy use (aOR = 2.02;95% CI 1.43–2.86; p < 0.0001); publicly-owned facility (aOR = 3.63; 95% CI 2.54–5.18; p < 0.0001); lower-middle-income country (aOR = 1.87; 95% CI 1.41–2.47; p < 0.0001). ICU with highest risk was pediatric (aOR = 2.86; 95% CI 1.71–4.82; p < 0.0001), followed by medical-surgical (aOR = 2.46; 95% CI 1.62–3.75; p < 0.0001). CL with the highest risk were internal-jugular (aOR = 3.32; 95% CI 2.84–3.88; p < 0.0001), and femoral (aOR = 3.13; 95% CI 2.48–3.95; p < 0.0001), and subclavian (aOR = 1.78; 95% CI 1.47–2.15; p < 0.0001) showed the lowest risk. Conclusions: The following CLABSI RFs are unlikely to change: country income level, facility-ownership, hospitalization type, and ICU type. Based on these findings it is suggested to focus on reducing LOS, CL-days, and tracheostomy; using subclavian or PICC instead of internal-jugular or femoral; and implementing evidence-based CLABSI prevention recommendations.

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