2010 Feb 9 - Over 8 years experience on severe acute poisoning requiring intensive care in Hong Kong, China.
In order to obtain up-to-date information on the pattern of severe acute poisoning and the characteristics and outcomes of these patients, 265 consecutive patients admitted to an intensive care unit in Hong Kong for acute poisoning from January 2000 to May 2008 were studied retrospectively.
2009 Aug - Sodium bicarbonate for the prevention of contrast induced-acute kidney injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Infusion of sodium bicarbonate has been suggested as a preventative strategy but reports are conflicting on its efficacy. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of hydration with sodium bicarbonate for the prevention of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI).
2010 Feb - Common medications that increase the risk for developing community-acquired pneumonia [Review]
Restrepo MI, Mortensen EM, Anzueto A.; Curr Opin Infect Dis. 2010 Jan 13. [Epub ahead of print]
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common problem with significant morbidity, mortality and costs. Recent reports link several medications and the development of CAP and associated poor outcomes. Our aim was to review the most relevant data regarding the possible association of the use of inhaled corticosteroids for patients with chronic obstructive lung disease and the risk of development of CAP. In addition, we review the data regarding the use of gastric-acid suppressants including histamine-2 receptor antagonists and proton pump inhibitors and the increased incidence of CAP.
2010 Feb - Management of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia. [Review]
Luna CM, Boyeras Navarro ID.; Curr Opin Infect Dis. 2010 Jan 13. [Epub ahead of print]
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Staphylococcus aureus, and particularly methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become an increasingly important etiology of pneumonia, both in healthcare and community settings. Associated with highest morbidity, mortality and costs in public health, it represents a major challenge for the management of this group of patients.
2010 Feb - Do guidelines change outcomes in ventilator-associated pneumonia? [Review]
Bassi GL, Ferrer M, Saucedo LM, Torres A.; Curr Opin Infect Dis. 2010 Feb 3. [Epub ahead of print]
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of the study is to summarize effects of implementation of current and past guidelines for management and treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) on outcome of intensive care patients, with particular focus on etiology of VAP, pathogens prediction, appropriate empiric antibiotic therapy and mortality.
2010 Jan - Diagnosis and management of complicated intra-abdominal infection in adults and children: guidelines by the Surgical Infection Society and the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
Evidence-based guidelines for managing patients with intra-abdominal infection were prepared by an Expert Panel of the Surgical Infection Society and the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
2010 Jan 16 - Extracorporeal lung support for patients who had severe respiratory failure secondary to influenza A (H1N1) 2009 infection in Canada
BACKGROUND: From March to July 2009, influenza A (H1N1) 2009 (H1N1-2009) virus emerged as a major cause of respiratory failure that required mechanical ventilation. A small proportion of patients who had this condition developed severe respiratory failure that was unresponsive to conventional therapeutic interventions. In this report, we describe characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of critically ill patients in Canada who had H1N1-2009 infection and were treated with extracorporeal lung support (ECLS).
2009 Sept - Diagnostic Accuracy of Noncontrast Computed Tomography for Appendicitis in Adults: A Systematic Review.
STUDY OBJECTIVE: We seek to determine the diagnostic test characteristics of noncontrast computed tomography (CT) for appendicitis in the adult emergency department (ED) population.
2009 Dec - American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines. 2009 Focused Updates
A new focused updates of ACC/AHA guidelines for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and percutaneous coronary intervention. One major change is the call for the development of community-based integrated systems of care to improve the quality of treatment for STEMI patients.
2010 Jan 14 - Surveillance and outbreak reports: Surveillance of Hospitalisations for 2009 Pandemic Influenza A(H1N1) in the Netherlands, 5 June – 31 December 2009
1.Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
2.Pallas health research and consultancy B.V., Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Eurosurveillance, Volume 15, Issue 2, 14 January 2010
We analysed and reported on a weekly basis clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients hospitalised in the Netherlands for the 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) using information from the national mandatory notification system.
2010 Jan 11 - Rapid Response Teams: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Although rapid response teams (RRTs) increasingly have been adopted by hospitals, their effectiveness in reducing hospital mortality remains uncertain. We conducted a meta-analysis to assess the effect of RRTs on reducing cardiopulmonary arrest and hospital mortality rates.
2009 Dec- Clinical practice guideline for the prevention of venous thromboembolism (deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism) in patients admitted to Australian hospitals
This Guideline provides evidence-based recommendations for the prevention of venous thromboembolism (blood clots), in adult surgical and medical patients and pregnant women.
2009 Dec - Artificial and bioartificial liver devices: present and future [Review]
Carpentier B, Gautier A, Legallais C.; Gut. 2009 Dec;58(12):1690-702.
Liver failure is associated with high morbidity and mortality without transplantation. There are two types of device for temporary support: artificial and bioartificial livers. Artificial livers essentially use non-living components to remove the toxins accumulated during liver failure. Bioartificial livers have bioreactors containing hepatocytes to provide both biotransformation and synthetic liver functions.
2009 Nov - Systematic review and meta-analysis of enteral nutrition formulations in acute pancreatitis.
Petrov MS, Loveday BP, Pylypchuk RD, McIlroy K, Phillips AR, Windsor JA.; Br J Surg. 2009 Nov;96(11):1243-52.
BACKGROUND: Although the benefits of enteral nutrition in acute pancreatitis are well established, the optimal composition of enteral feeding is largely unknown. The aim of the study was to compare the tolerance and safety of enteral nutrition formulations in patients with acute pancreatitis.
2009 Oct - Do corticosteroids reduce the risk of fat embolism syndrome in patients with long-bone fractures? A meta-analysis.
Bederman SS, Bhandari M, McKee MD, Schemitsch EH.; Can J Surg. 2009 Oct;52(5):386-93.
BACKGROUND: Fat embolism syndrome (FES) is a potentially lethal condition most commonly seen in polytrauma patients with multiple long-bone fractures. Treatment has centred around supportive care and early fracture fixation. Several small clinical trials have suggested corticosteroids benefit patients with FES, but this treatment remains controversial. Our objective was to determine the effect of corticosteroids in preventing FES in patients with long-bone fractures.
2009 Oct - Role of clopidogrel loading dose in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary angioplasty: results from the HORIZONS-AMI (harmonizing outcomes with revascularization and stents in acute myocardial infarction) t
OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to determine whether a 600-mg loading dose of clopidogrel compared with 300 mg results in improved clinical outcomes in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
2009 Nov - Vitamin C requirements in parenteral nutrition. [Review]
Berger MM.; Gastroenterology. 2009 Nov;137(5 Suppl):S70-8
Some biochemical functions of vitamin C make it an essential component of parenteral nutrition (PN) and an important therapeutic supplement in other acute conditions. Ascorbic acid is a strong aqueous antioxidant and is a cofactor for several enzymes. The average body pool of vitamin C is 1.5 g, of which 3%-4% (40-60 mg) is used daily. Steady state is maintained with 60 mg/d in nonsmokers and 140 mg/d in smokers. Shocked surgical, trauma, and septic patients have a drastic reduction of circulating plasma ascorbate concentrations.
2009 Oct - Statins for the prevention and treatment of infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND: Emerging epidemiological evidence suggests that statin use may reduce the risk of infections and infection-related complications. Our objective was to examine the association between statin use and the risk of infections and related outcomes.
2009 Nov - Cardiovascular complications of the Guillain-Barré syndrome [Review]
The Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is the most common cause of acute flaccid paralysis in young adults and the elderly and an important cause of admission to intensive care units. Manifestations of the GBS vary from monoparesis to life-threatening paralysis of the respiratory muscles. The latter is often punctuated by the presence of cardiac involvement. This ranges from variations in blood pressure to involvement of the myocardium and potentially fatal arrhythmias.
2009 Aug - Drug-induced Brugada syndrome [Review]
Brugada syndrome is an inherited cardiac arrhythmia condition characterized by (i) coved ST-elevation and J point elevation of at least 2 mm in at least two of the right precordial ECG leads (V1-V3) and (ii) ventricular arrhythmias, syncope, and sudden death. Patients with Brugada syndrome or suspected mutation carriers can have normal ECG recordings at other times. In these cases, a diagnostic challenge with a sodium channel blocker such as ajmaline, flecainide, or pilsicainide may induce the full-blown type 1 ECG pattern and support the diagnosis. However, recently, many other pharmacological agents not related to class I anti-arrhythmic agents have been reported to induce Brugada ECG patterns including tricyclic antidepressants, fluoxetine, lithium, trifluoperazine, antihistamines, and cocaine.