2012 Jun - Cardiac receiving centers: beyond hypothermia
Kern KB.; Curr Opin Crit Care. 2012 Jun;18(3):246-50.
Purpose of review: The role of cardiac arrest centers, more recently termed Cardiac Receiving Centers, in improving outcomes after successful resuscitation is becoming more and more convincing. But which of all the treatments provided by Cardiac Receiving Centers are most beneficial is less certain. This review examines the role of early coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention in this regard.
2012 Jun - Lactate as a hemodynamic marker in the critically ill
Fuller BM, Dellinger RP.; Curr Opin Crit Care. 2012 Jun;18(3):267-72.
Purpose of review: An early quantitative resuscitation strategy improves outcome in critically ill patients. The hemodynamic endpoints of such a strategy have been a topic of debate in the literature. This review focuses on the use of lactate as a marker for risk stratification, lactate clearance as a hemodynamic endpoint, and its use compared to mixed venous oxygenation as a resuscitation goal.
2012 Jun - Monitoring peripheral perfusion in critically ill patients at the bedside
van Genderen ME, van Bommel J, Lima A.; Curr Opin Crit Care. 2012 Jun;18(3):273-9.
Purpose of review: The goal of circulatory monitoring is the use of an accurate, continuous and noninvasive method that can easily assess tissue perfusion under clinical conditions. As peripheral tissues are sensitive to alterations in perfusion, the noninvasive monitoring of peripheral circulation could be used as an early marker of systemic haemodynamic derangement. We, therefore, aim to discuss the currently available methods that can be used at the bedside as well as the role of peripheral perfusion monitoring in critically ill patients.
2012 May - Emergency management of severe sepsis and septic shock
Puskarich MA.; Curr Opin Crit Care. 2012 May 22. [Epub ahead of print]
Purpose of review: Numerous implementation studies have demonstrated the benefit of bundled care in the initial treatment of patients with severe sepsis and septic shock, but the relative value of each component of these bundles remains uncertain. Recent studies have attempted to further define the optimal supportive and adjunctive treatments for these patients.
2011 Dec - Remote care by telemedicine in the ICU: many models of care can be effective [Review]
Boots RJ, Singh S, Terblanche M, Widdicombe N, Lipman J.; Curr Opin Crit Care. 2011 Dec;17(6):634-40.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Telemedicine, by the use of audiovisual technologies, is increasingly being used to assist in patient care by ICUs unable to be staffed by consultant intensivists. This review discusses the recent evaluation of these services and their potential role in managing intensive care patients.
2011 Dec - Hypertensive emergencies: an update [Review]
Marik PE, Rivera R.; Curr Opin Crit Care. 2011 Dec;17(6):569-80.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Systemic hypertension (HTN) is a common medical condition affecting over 1 billion people worldwide. One to two percent of patients with HTN develop acute elevations of blood pressure (hypertensive crises) that require medical treatment. However, only patients with true hypertensive emergencies require the immediate and controlled reduction of blood pressure with an intravenous antihypertensive agent.
2011 Dec - Acute kidney injury: definition, epidemiology, and outcome [Review]
Srisawat N, Kellum JA.; Curr Opin Crit Care. 2011 Dec;17(6):548-55.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common clinical syndrome whose definition has standardized as a result of consensus by leading experts around the world. As a result of these definitions, reported AKI incidences can now be compared across different populations and settings. Evidence from population-based studies suggests that AKI is nearly as common as myocardial infarction, at least in the western world. This review aims to highlight the recent advances in AKI epidemiology as well as to suggest future directions for prevention and management.
2011 Dec - Timing, dose and mode of dialysis in acute kidney injury [Review]
Ricci Z, Ronco C.; Curr Opin Crit Care. 2011 Dec;17(6):556-61.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In the past 3 years substantial progress has been made in the field of renal replacement therapy (RRT) for critically ill patients.
2011 Dec - Acute kidney injury: how can we facilitate recovery? [Review]
Glassford NJ, Bellomo R.; Curr Opin Crit Care. 2011 Dec;17(6):562-8.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Successful renal recovery is a key goal of patient management during acute kidney injury in critically ill patients. However, limited information exists to guide clinicians as to what interventions might either decrease or increase the likelihood of renal recovery and especially renal recovery to dialysis independence. The purpose of this review is to analyse recent data and help clinicians with relevant therapeutic choices.
2011 Oct - Probiotics for prevention of nosocomial infections: efficacy and adverse effects [Review]
Oudhuis GJ, Bergmans DC, Verbon A.; Curr Opin Crit Care. 2011 Oct;17(5):487-92.
Purpose of review: In this era of increasing antimicrobial resistance, use of probiotics in infection prevention has brought new perspective. However, in 2008 the, until then considered, safe use of probiotics became an important topic after publication of a trial showing excess mortality in patients on probiotic prophylaxis. In this article, we review the concept of infection prevention by probiotics and the present knowledge of the efficacy of probiotics in prevention of infections among patients with abdominal diseases and in intensive care. Safety issues of probiotics will be discussed extensively.
2011 Oct - Current insights in sepsis: from pathogenesis to new treatment targets [Review]
Wiersinga WJ.; Curr Opin Crit Care. 2011 Oct;17(5):480-6.
Purpose of review: Sepsis continues to be a leading cause of ICU death. This review summarizes current knowledge on sepsis pathogenesis and new therapeutical strategies.