2010 Nov - No agreement of mixed venous and central venous saturation in sepsis, independent of sepsis origin
van Beest PA, van Ingen J, Boerma EC, Holman ND, Groen H, Koopmans M, Spronk PE, Kuiper MA.; Crit Care. 2010 Nov 29;14(6):R219.
INTRODUCTION: Controversy remains regarding the relationship between central venous saturation (ScvO2) and mixed venous saturation (SvO2) and their use and interchangeability in patients with sepsis or septic shock. We tested the hypothesis that ScvO2 does not reliably predict SvO2 in sepsis. Additionally we looked at the influence of the source (splanchnic or non-splanchnic) of sepsis on this relationship.
2010 Nov - Outcomes of acute renal failure patients having received renal replacement therapy in the intensive care unit
Helen Hiu-Lam Wu, Kenny King-Chung Chan, Arthur Chun-Wing Lau, Wing-Wa Yan. Crit Care & Shock (2010) 13:81-90
Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate both the outcomes and prognostic factors of ARF patients requiring RRT in our Intensive Care Unit.Design: It was a retrospective observational study. Setting: Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, a 20-bed medico-surgical ICU.
2010 Nov - Nitroglycerin can facilitate weaning of difficult-to-wean COPD patients: a prospective interventional non-randomized study
Routsi C, Stanopoulos I, Zakynthinos E, Politis P, Papas V, Zervakis D, Zakynthinos S.; Crit Care. 2010 Nov 15;14(6):R204.
INTRODUCTION: Both experimental and clinical data give convincing evidence to acute cardiac dysfunction as the origin or a cofactor of weaning failure in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Therefore, treatment targeting the cardiovascular system might help the heart to tolerate more effectively the critical period of weaning. This study aims to assess the hemodynamic, respiratory and clinical effects of nitroglycerin infusion in difficult-to-wean patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
2010 Nov - Acidemia does not affect outcomes of patients with acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema treated with continuous positive airway pressure
Aliberti S, Piffer F, Brambilla AM, Bignamini AA, Rosti VD, Maraffi T, Monzani V, Cosentini R.;Crit Care. 2010 Nov 1;14(6):R196.
INTRODUCTION: A lack of data exists in the literature in evaluating acidemia on admission as a favourable or negative prognostic factor in patients with acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema (ACPE) treated with non-invasive continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of acidemia on admission on the outcomes of patients with ACPE treated with CPAP.
2010 Nov - Effect of oral beta-blocker on short and long-term mortality in patients with acute respiratory failure: results from the BASEL-II-ICU Study
Noveanu M, Breidthardt T, Reichlin T, Gayat E, Potocki M, Pargger H, Heise A, Meissner J, Twerenbold R, Muravitskaya N, Mebazaa A, Mueller C.; Crit Care. 2010 Nov 3;14(6):R198.
INTRODUCTION: Acute respiratory failure (ARF) is responsible for about one third of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and associated with adverse outcome. Predictors of short and long-term outcome in unselected ICU-patients with ARF are ill-defined. The purpose of this analysis was to determine predictors of in-hospital and one-year mortality and assess effects of oral beta-blocker in unselected ICU patients with ARF included in the BASEL-II-ICU study.
2010 Oct 29 - Effect of histamine-2-receptor antagonists versus sucralfate on stress ulcer prophylaxis in mechanically ventilated patients: a meta-analysis of ten randomized controlled trials
Abstract (provisional)
Introduction
To investigate the effect of histamine-2-receptor antagonists (H2RA) versus sucralfate on stress ulcer prophylaxis in mechanically ventilated patients in the intensive care unit (ICU).
2010 Oct 15 - Resuscitation fluid use in critically ill adults: an international cross sectional study in 391 intensive care units
Simon Finfer , Bette Liu , Colman Taylor , Rinaldo Bellomo , Laurent Billot , Deborah Cook , Bin Du , Colin McArthur , John Myburgh and the SAFE TRIPS Investigators. Critical Care 2010, 14:R185doi:10.1186/cc9293. Published: 15 October 2010
IntroductionRecent evidence suggests that choice of fluid used for resuscitation may influence mortality in critically ill patients.
2010 Sep - Pulmonary vascular and right ventricular dysfunction in adult critical care: current and emerging options for management: a systematic literature review
Introduction: Pulmonary vascular dysfunction, pulmonary hypertension (PH) and resulting right ventricular (RV) failure occur in many critical illnesses and may be associated with a worse prognosis. PH and RV failure may be difficult to manage: principles include maintenance of appropriate RV preload, augmentation of RV function, and reduction of RV afterload by lowering pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). We therefore planned to provide a detailed update on the management of PH and RV failure in adult critical care.
2010 Sep - Prognostic value of continuous EEG monitoring during therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest
Introduction: Continuous EEG (cEEG) is increasingly used to monitor brain function in neuro-ICU patients. However its value in patients with coma after cardiac arrest (CA), particularly in the setting of therapeutic hypothermia (TH), is only beginning to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to examine whether cEEG performed during TH may predict outcome.
2010 Sep 7 - Sequential introduction of single room isolation and hand hygiene campaign in the control of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in intensive care unit
Background
After renovation of the adult intensive care unit (ICU) with installation of ten single rooms, an enhanced infection control program was conducted to control the spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in our hospital.
2010 Sep 14 - International recommendations for glucose control in adult non diabetic critically ill patients
Abstract (provisional)
Introduction
The purpose of this research is to provide recommendations for the management of glycemic control in critically ill patients.
2010 Sep 14 - Host adaptive immunity deficiency in severe pandemic influenza
Abstract (provisional)
Introduction
Pandemic A/H1N1/2009 influenza causes severe lower respiratory complications in rare cases. The association between host immune responses and clinical outcome in severe cases is unknown.
2010 Sept - Do simple ventilation and gas exchange measurements predict early successful weaning from respiratory support in unselected general intensive care patients?
Monaco F, Drummond GB, Ramsay P, Servillo G, Walsh TS.; Br J Anaesth. 2010 Sep;105(3):326-33.
BACKGROUND: The value of respiratory variables as weaning predictors in the intensive care unit (ICU) is controversial. We evaluated the ability of tidal volume (Vt(exp)), respiratory rate (f), minute volume (MV(exp)), rapid shallow breathing index (f/Vt), inspired-expired oxygen concentration difference [(I-E)O(2)], and end-tidal carbon dioxide concentration (Pe'(co(2))) at the end of a weaning trial to predict early weaning outcomes.
2010 Aug - Treatment of hypophosphatemia in the intensive care unit: a review
Introduction: There is currently no evidence-based guideline for the approach to hypophosphatemia in critically ill patients.
2010 Aug - A systematic review of randomized controlled trials exploring the effect of immunomodulative interventions on infection, organ failure, and mortality in trauma patients
Introduction: Following trauma, patients may suffer an overwhelming pro-inflammatory response and immune paralysis resulting in infection and multiple organ failure (MOF). Various potentially immunomodulative interventions have been tested. The objective of this study is to systematically review the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigate the effect of potentially immunomodulative interventions in comparison to a placebo or standard therapy on infection, MOF, and mortality in trauma patients.
2010 Jul - A prospective observational study of the relationship of critical illness associated hyperglycaemia in medical ICU patients and subsequent development of type 2 diabetes
Introduction: Critical illness is commonly complicated by hyperglycaemia caused by mediators of stress and inflammation. Severity of disease is the main risk factor for development of hyperglycaemia, but not all severely ill develop hyperglycemia and some do even in mild disease. We hypothesised that acute disease only exposes a latent disturbance of glucose metabolism which puts those patients at higher risk for developing diabetes.
2010 Jun - Early fluid resuscitation with hyperoncotic hydroxyethyl starch 200/0.5 (10%) in severe burn injury
Introduction: Despite large experience in the management of severe burn injury, there are still controversies regarding the best type of fluid resuscitation, especially during the first 24 hours after the trauma. Therefore, our study addressed the question whether hyperoncotic hydroxyethyl starch (HES) 200/0.5 (10%) administered in combination with crystalloids within the first 24 hours after injury is as effective as 'crystalloids only' in severe burn injury patients.
2010 Jun - A multi-center, randomized, double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of intravenous ibuprofen for the treatment of fever in critically ill and non-critically ill adults
Introduction: Hospitalized patients are often unable to ingest or tolerate oral antipyretics and recently an aqueous formulation of intravenous (IV) ibuprofen was approved by the US-FDA for the reduction of fever in adults.
2010 Feb - Positive end-expiratory pressure.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In the last 2 years, several reports have dealt with recruitment/positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) selection. Most of them confirm previous results and few add new information.
2010 Jun 22 - Echocardiography: a help in the weaning process
Introduction
To evaluate the ability of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) to detect the effects of spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) on central hemodynamics and to identify indices predictive of cardiac-related weaning failure.