Background The use of veno–arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA‐ECMO) decannulation with different percutaneous closure devices has been increasing. At our center, ProGlide devices have been used since November 2018, and Manta devices became an alternative since March 2020. This study aimed to compare the success and complication rates and the clinical outcomes of ProGlide and Manta devices for VA‐ECMO decannulation after arteriotomy wound closure. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the results of bedside VA‐ECMO decannulation between November 2018 and June 2021. Patients with VA‐ECMO who could be bridged to recovery were recruited and divided into the ProGlide or Manta group based on the closure device used. Procedure time, amount of blood loss, amount of blood products transfused, and use of vasoactive medications during the procedure were documented. Clinical examination and Doppler ultrasound were performed to detect any complications. Results After the closure technique, ProGlide was used in 44 patients and Manta was used in 13. There was no significant difference in the success rate between the ProGlide and Manta groups (86.4% vs. 100%). Amount of blood loss was greater in the ProGlide group than in the Manta group (290 [100–400] ml vs. 50 [50–100] ml), and more patients in the ProGlide group required an increased dose of inotropes during the procedure (59.1% vs. 15.4%), but the transfusion requirement was similar between the two groups. Conclusions The success rate of hemostasis using arteriotomy wound closure during VA‐ECMO decannulation was similar between the two devices.

Background Patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure are at risk for life-threatening complications during endotracheal intubation. Preoxygenation might help reduce the risk of hypoxemia and intubation-related complications. This network meta-analysis summarizes the efficacy and safety of preoxygenation methods in adult patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. Methods We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library Central Register of Controlled Trials through April 2019 for randomized controlled trials (RCT) that studied the use of conventional oxygen therapy (COT), high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC), noninvasive ventilation (NIV), and HFNC and NIV as preoxygenation before intubation in patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. Citations’ screening, study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment were independently performed by two authors. The primary outcome was the lowest SpO2 during the intubation procedure. Results We included 7 RCTs (959 patients). Patients preoxygenated with NIV had significantly less desaturation than patients treated with COT (mean difference, MD 5.53, 95% CI 2.71, 8.34) and HFNC (MD 3.58, 95% CI 0.59, 6.57). Both NIV (odds ratio, OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.21, 0.87) and HFNC (OR 0.49, 95% CI 0.28, 0.88) resulted in a lower risk of intubation-related complications than COT. There were no significant mortality differences among the use of NIV, HFNC, COT, and HFNC and NIV during preoxygenation. Conclusions In adult patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, NIV is a safe and probably the most effective preoxygenation method.

Background Globally, mortality rates of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) have decreased over the last two decades. However, evaluations of the temporal trends in the characteristics and outcomes of ICU patients in Asia are limited. The objective of this study was to describe the characteristics and risk adjusted outcomes of all patients admitted to publicly funded ICUs in Hong Kong over a 11-year period. The secondary objective was to validate the predictive performance of Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) IV for ICU patients in Hong Kong. Methods This was an 11-year population-based retrospective study of all patients admitted to adult general (mixed medical-surgical) intensive care units in Hong Kong public hospitals. ICU patients were identified from a population electronic health record database. Prospectively collected APACHE IV data and clinical outcomes were analysed. Results From 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2019, there were a total of 133,858 adult ICU admissions in Hong Kong public hospitals. During this time, annual ICU admissions increased from 11,267 to 14,068, whilst hospital mortality decreased from 19.7 to 14.3%. The APACHE IV standard mortality ratio (SMR) decreased from 0.81 to 0.65 during the same period. Linear regression demonstrated that APACHE IV SMR changed by − 0.15 (95% CI − 0.18 to − 0.11) per year (Pearson’s R = − 0.951, p < 0.001). Observed median ICU length of stay was shorter than that predicted by APACHE IV (1.98 vs. 4.77, p < 0.001). C-statistic for APACHE IV to predict hospital mortality was 0.889 (95% CI 0.887 to 0.891) whilst calibration was limited (Hosmer–Lemeshow test p < 0.001). Conclusions Despite relatively modest per capita health expenditure, and a small number of ICU beds per population, Hong Kong consistently provides a high-quality and efficient ICU service. Number of adult ICU admissions has increased, whilst adjusted mortality has decreased over the last decade. Although APACHE IV had good discrimination for hospital mortality, it overestimated hospital mortality of critically ill patients in Hong Kong.

To assess the effect from individual component in combinations of steroid, ascorbic acid, and thiamine on outcomes in adults with sepsis and septic shock with component network meta-analysis (NMA). We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library Central Register of Controlled Trials from 1980 to March 2021 for randomized controlled trials (RCT) that studied the use of glucocorticoid, fludrocortisone, ascorbic acid, and thiamine in patients with sepsis and septic shock. Citations screening, study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment were independently performed by two authors. The primary outcome was short-term mortality. Secondary outcomes were longer-term mortality, time to resolution of shock and duration of mechanical ventilation. Thirty-three RCTs including 9898 patients presented on short-term mortality. In additive component NMA, patients on ascorbic acid alone (RR 0.74, 95% CI 0.57–0.97) or the combination of glucocorticoid and fludrocortisone (RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.80–0.99) had lower short-term mortality, but only the latter was associated with improved long-term mortality (RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.82–0.98). The use of glucocorticoid or the combination of glucocorticoid, ascorbic acid and thiamine hastened resolution of shock. Component NMA showed glucocorticoid (MD − 0.96, 95% CI − 1.61 to − 0.30) but not ascorbic acid or thiamine shortened the time to resolution of shock. Glucocorticoid shortened the duration of mechanical ventilation (MD − 1.48, 95% CI − 2.43 to − 0.52). In adults with sepsis and septic shock, the combination of glucocorticoid and fludrocortisone improved short-term and longer-term mortality. Glucocorticoid shortened the time to resolution of shock and duration of mechanical ventilation. There was no strong evidence supporting the routine use of thiamine and ascorbic acid, but they were associated with minimal adverse effects.