2012 Jul - Avoiding invasive mechanical ventilation by extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal in patients failing noninvasive ventilation

Kluge S, Braune SA, Engel M, Nierhaus A, Frings D, Ebelt H, Uhrig A, Metschke M, Wegscheider K, Suttorp N, Rousseau S.; Intensive Care Med. 2012 Jul 27. [Epub ahead of print]
Purpose: To evaluate whether extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal by means of a pumpless extracorporeal lung-assist (PECLA) device could be an effective and safe alternative to invasive mechanical ventilation in patients with chronic pulmonary disease and acute hypercapnic ventilatory failure not responding to noninvasive ventilation (NIV).

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2012 Jul - ICU admission characteristics and mortality rates among elderly and very elderly patients

Fuchs L, Chronaki CE, Park S, Novack V, Baumfeld Y, Scott D, McLennan S, Talmor D, Celi L.; Intensive Care Med. 2012 Jul 14. [Epub ahead of print]
PURPOSE: The effect of advanced age per se versus severity of chronic and acute diseases on the short- and long-term survival of older patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) remains unclear.

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2012 Jun - Persistent hypocoagulability in patients with septic shock predicts greater hospital mortality: impact of impaired thrombin generation

Massion PB, Peters P, Ledoux D, Zimermann V, Canivet JL, Massion PP, Damas P, Gothot A.; Intensive Care Med. 2012 Jun 27. [Epub ahead of print]
PURPOSE: Sepsis induces hypercoagulability, hypofibrinolysis, microthrombosis, and endothelial dysfunction leading to multiple organ failure. However, not all studies reported benefit from anticoagulation for patients with severe sepsis, and time courses of coagulation abnormalities in septic shock are poorly documented. Therefore, the aim of this prospective observational cohort study was to describe the coagulation profile of patients with septic shock and to determine whether alterations of the profile are associated with hospital mortality.

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2012 Jun - Candida spp. airway colonization could promote antibiotic-resistant bacteria selection in patients with suspected ventilator-associated pneumonia

Hamet M, Pavon A, Dalle F, Pechinot A, Prin S, Quenot JP, Charles PE.; Intensive Care Med. 2012 Jun 15. [Epub ahead of print]
OBJECTIVE: Candida spp. airway colonization could promote development of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a potentially multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, and worsen the outcome of VAP regardless of pathogen. We therefore address the question of the risk of MDR bacteria isolation within the airway of patients with suspected VAP, whether Candida spp. is present or not.

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2012 Apr - Azithromycin to prevent Pseudomonas aeruginosa ventilator-associated pneumonia by inhibition of quorum sensing: a randomized controlled trial

van Delden C, Köhler T, Brunner-Ferber F, François B, Carlet J, Pechère JC.; Intensive Care Med. 2012 Apr 20. [Epub ahead of print]
PURPOSE: Anti-virulence strategies have not been evaluated for the prevention of bacterial infections. Prolonged colonization of intubated patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates producing high-levels of the quorum sensing (QS)-regulated virulence factor rhamnolipids has been associated with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). In this pathogen, azithromycin reduces QS-regulated virulence. We aimed to assess whether azithromycin could prevent VAP in patients colonized by rhamnolipids producing isolates.

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2012 Jun - An ESICM systematic review and meta-analysis of procalcitonin-guided antibiotic therapy algorithms in adult critically ill patients

Matthaiou DK, Ntani G, Kontogiorgi M, Poulakou G, Armaganidis A, Dimopoulos G.; Intensive Care Med. 2012 Jun;38(6):940-9. Epub 2012 Apr 27.
PURPOSE: We sought to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of procalcitonin(PCT)-guided antibiotic therapy algorithms for critically ill adult patients.

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2012 May - Ordering CT pulmonary angiography to exclude pulmonary embolism: defense versus evidence in the emergency room

Rohacek M, Buatsi J, Szucs-Farkas Z, Kleim B, Zimmermann H, Exadaktylos A, Stoupis C.; Intensive Care Med. 2012 May 15. [Epub ahead of print]
PURPOSE: To identify reasons for ordering computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA), to identify the frequency of reasons for CTPA reflecting defensive behavior and evidence-based behavior, and to identify the impact of defensive medicine and of training about diagnosing pulmonary embolism (PE) on positive results of CTPA.

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2012 May - International evidence-based recommendations on ultrasound-guided vascular access

Lamperti M, Bodenham AR, Pittiruti M, Blaivas M, Augoustides JG, Elbarbary M, Pirotte T, Karakitsos D, Ledonne J, Doniger S, Scoppettuolo G, Feller-Kopman D, Schummer W, Biffi R, Desruennes E, Melniker LA, Verghese ST.; Intensive Care Med. 2012 May 22. [Epub ahead of print]
PURPOSE: To provide clinicians with an evidence-based overview of all topics related to ultrasound vascular access.

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2012 May - Does patient volume affect clinical outcomes in adult intensive care units?

Kanhere MH, Kanhere HA, Cameron A, Maddern GJ.; Intensive Care Med. 2012 May;38(5):741-51. Epub 2012 Apr 5.
PURPOSE: This systematic review assessed if outcomes in adult intensive care units (ICUs) are related to hospital and ICU patient volume.

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2012 Apr - Elevation of creatine kinase is associated with worse outcomes in 2009 pH1N1 influenza A infection

Borgatta B, Pérez M, Vidaur L, Lorente L, Socías L, Pozo JC, Garnacho-Montero J, Rello J.; Intensive Care Med. 2012 Apr 18. [Epub ahead of print]
BACKGROUND: Current medical knowledge lacks specific information regarding creatine kinase (CK) elevation in influenza A pH1N1 (2009) infection.

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2012 Mar - Non-invasive ventilation in community-acquired pneumonia and severe acute respiratory failure

Carrillo A, Gonzalez-Diaz G, Ferrer M, Martinez-Quintana ME, Lopez-Martinez A, Llamas N, Alcazar M, Torres A. Intensive Care Med. 2012 Mar;38(3):458-66.
PURPOSE: The use of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in severe acute respiratory failure (ARF) due to community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is controversial, and the risk factors for NIV failure in these patients are not well known. We assessed the characteristics and predictors of outcome of patients with CAP and severe ARF treated with NIV.

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2012 Mar - Early peak temperature and mortality in critically ill patients with or without infection

Young PJ, Saxena M, Beasley R, Bellomo R, Bailey M, Pilcher D, Finfer S, Harrison D, Myburgh J, Rowan K. Intensive Care Med. 2012 Mar Volume 38, Number 3, 437-444
PURPOSE: To determine whether fever is associated with an increased or decreased risk of death in patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) with infection.

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2012 Mar - Gastrointestinal function in intensive care patients: terminology, definitions and management. Recommendations of the ESICM Working Group on Abdominal Problems

Reintam Blaser A, Malbrain ML, Starkopf J, Fruhwald S, Jakob SM, De Waele J, Braun JP, Poeze M, Spies C. Intensive Care Med. 2012 Mar;38(3):384-94.
PURPOSE: Acute gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction and failure have been increasingly recognized in critically ill patients. The variety of definitions proposed in the past has led to confusion and difficulty in comparing one study to another. An international working group convened to standardize the definitions for acute GI failure and GI symptoms and to review the therapeutic options.

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2012 Mar -Consensus statement of the ESICM task force on colloid volume therapy in critically ill patients

Reinhart K, Perner A, Sprung CL, Jaeschke R, Schortgen F, Johan Groeneveld AB, Beale R, Hartog CS.; Intensive Care Med. 2012 Mar;38(3):368-83.
PURPOSE: Colloids are administered to more patients than crystalloids, although recent evidence suggests that colloids may possibly be harmful in some patients. The European Society of Intensive Care Medicine therefore assembled a task force to compile consensus recommendations based on the current best evidence for the safety and efficacy of the currently most frequently used colloids-hydroxyethyl starches (HES), gelatins and human albumin.

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2012 Mar - Dobutamine for patients with severe heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Tacon CL, McCaffrey J, Delaney A.; Intensive Care Med. 2012 Mar;38(3):359-67.
PURPOSE: Dobutamine is recommended for patients with severe heart failure; however uncertainty exists as to its effect on mortality. This study aims to critically review the literature to evaluate whether dobutamine, compared with placebo or standard care, is associated with lower mortality and a range of secondary outcomes, in patients with severe heart failure.

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2012 Feb - Nebulized 0.5, 2.5 and 5 ml L: -epinephrine for post-extubation stridor in children: a prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial

da Silva PS, Fonseca MC, Iglesias SB, Junior EL, de Aguiar VE, de Carvalho WB.; Intensive Care Med. 2012 Feb;38(2):286-93. Epub 2011 Nov 26.
PURPOSE: Nebulized L: -epinephrine has been recommended for the treatment of viral croup. However, the few studies assessing its effect on post-extubation stridor (PES) have shown conflicting results. We compared the efficacy and safety of nebulized L: -epinephrine at three different doses for the treatment of PES.

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2012 Feb - Noninvasive work of breathing improves prediction of post-extubation outcome

Banner MJ, Euliano NR, Martin AD, Al-Rawas N, Layon AJ, Gabrielli A.; Intensive Care Med. 2012 Feb;38(2):248-55. Epub 2011 Nov 24.
PURPOSE: We hypothesized that non-invasively determined work of breathing per minute (WOB(N)/min) (esophageal balloon not required) may be useful for predicting extubation outcome, i.e., appropriate work of breathing values may be associated with extubation success, while inappropriately increased values may be associated with failure.

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2012 Feb - Contemporary extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for adult respiratory failure: life support in the new era [Review]

Maclaren G, Combes A, Bartlett RH.; Intensive Care Med. 2012 Feb;38(2):210-20. Epub 2011 Dec 7.
BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been used in clinical medicine for 40 years but remains controversial therapy, particularly in adult patients with severe respiratory failure. Over the last few years, there have been considerable advances in extracorporeal technology and clinical practice, ushering in a new era of ECMO. Many institutions adopted ECMO as rescue therapy during the recent H1N1 influenza pandemic, reigniting the controversy.

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2012 Jan - Acquired von Willebrand syndrome in patients with extracorporeal life support (ECLS)

Heilmann C, Geisen U, Beyersdorf F, Nakamura L, Benk C, Trummer G, Berchtold-Herz M, Schlensak C, Zieger B.; Intensive Care Med. 2012 Jan;38(1):62-8. Epub 2011 Oct 1.
PURPOSE: Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) is used for patients with refractory heart failure with or without respiratory failure. This temporary support is provided by blood pumps which are connected to large vessels. Bleeding episodes are a typical complication in patients with ECLS. Recently, several studies illustrated that acquired von Willebrand syndrome (AVWS) can contribute to bleeding tendencies in patients with long-term ventricular assist devices (VAD). AVWS is characterized by loss of the high molecular weight (HMW) multimers of von Willebrand factor (VWF) as a result of high shear stress and leads to impaired binding of VWF to platelets and to subendothelial matrix. Since ECLS and VAD share several features, we investigated patients with ECLS for AVWS.

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2012 Jan - Acute kidney injury reduces the hepatic metabolism of midazolam in critically ill patients

Kirwan CJ, Macphee IA, Lee T, Holt DW, Philips BJ.; Intensive Care Med. 2012 Jan;38(1):76-84. Epub 2011 Oct 18.
INTRODUCTION: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common and serious complication increasing morbidity and mortality from all causes of hospital admission. We have previously shown that AKI decreases midazolam metabolism, a substrate of the cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) enzymes and our primary aim was to determine if this effect is dependent on the severity of AKI. We also present preliminary data on the functional impact of different genotypes of CYP3A.

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