2010 Mar - Preadmission statin use and one-year mortality among patients in intensive care - A cohort study

Steffen Christensen, Reimar W Thomsen, Martin B Johansen, Lars Pedersen, Reinhold Jensen, Kim M Larsen, Anders Larsson, Else Tønnesen, Henrik Toft Sørensen ;Critical Care 2010, 14:R29
Introduction
Statins reduce risk of cardiovascular events and have beneficial pleiotropic effects; both may reduce mortality in critically ill patients. We examined whether statin use was associated with risk of death in general intensive care unit (ICU) patients.

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2010 Mar - Patient safety and acute care medicine: lessons for the future, insights from the past [Review]

Peter G Brindley; Critical Care 2010, 14:217
It is estimated that approximately 40,000-100,000 Americans die annually from medical errors. Thousands more suffer harm from medical errors. Still others are exposed to errors, but are lucky enough to suffer no obvious harm. In fact, medical errors are now the eighth leading cause of death in the USA; data are no less alarming from other nations...

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2010 Mar - Prediction of hospital outcome in septic shock: a prospective comparison of tissue Doppler and cardiac biomarkers

David J Sturgess, Thomas H Marwick, Chris Joyce, Carly Jenkins, Mark Jones, Paul Masci, David Stewart, Bala Venkatesh; Critical Care 2010, 14:R44
Introduction
Diastolic dysfunction as demonstrated by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), particularly E/e' (peak early diastolic transmitral / peak early diastolic mitral annular velocity) is common in critical illness. In septic shock, the prognostic value of TDI is undefined. This study sought to evaluate and compare the prognostic significance of TDI and cardiac biomarkers (B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP); N-terminal proBNP (NTproBNP); troponin T (TnT)) in septic shock. The contribution of fluid management and diastolic dysfunction to elevation of BNP was also evaluated.

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2010 Mar 16 - Effect of dexmedetomidine versus lorazepam on outcome in patients with sepsis: an a priori-designed analysis of the MENDS randomized controlled trial

Pratik P Pandharipande , Robert D Sanders , Timothy D Girard , Stuart McGrane , Jennifer L Thompson , Ayumi K Shintani , Daniel L Herr , Mervyn Maze , E Wesley Ely and The MENDS Investigators. Critical Care 2010, 14:R38doi:10.1186/cc8916. Published: 16 March 2010
Abstract (provisional)
Introduction
Benzodiazepines and alpha2 adrenoceptor agonists exert opposing effects on innate immunity and mortality in animal models of infection. We hypothesized that sedation with dexmedetomidine (an alpha2 adrenoceptor agonist), as compared with lorazepam (a benzodiazepine), would provide greater improvements in clinical outcomes among septic patients than among non-septic patients.

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2010 Mar - Triage decisions and outcomes for patients with Triage Priority 3 on the Society of Critical Care Medicine scale

Hoi-Ping Shum, King-Chung Chan, Chun-Wing Lau, Anne Kit-Hung Leung, Kin-Wai Chan and Wing-Wa Yan. Crit Care Resusc 2010; 12: 42–49. Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Hong Kong

Objective: To identify factors associated with the triage decision for patients classified as Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) Triage Priority 3, and their outcomes.

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2010 Mar - Choosing patient-tailored hemodynamic monitoring [Review]

Cornelis Slagt, Rose-Marieke BGE Breukers, AB Johan Groeneveld ;Critical Care 2010, 14:208
This article is one of ten reviews selected from the Yearbook of Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine 2010 (Springer Verlag) and co-published as a series in Critical Care.
Currently, the number and (worldwide) availability of techniques for hemodynamic monitoring in the critically ill patient is overwhelming ....

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2010 Mar - New and conventional strategies for lung recruitment in acute respiratory distress syndrome [Review]

Paolo Pelosi, Marcelo Gama de Abreu, Patricia RM Rocco; Critical Care 2010, 14:210
This article is one of ten reviews selected from the Yearbook of Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine 2010 (Springer Verlag) and co-published as a series in Critical Care.
Mechanical ventilation is a supportive and life saving therapy in patients with acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Despite advances in critical care, mortality remains high....

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2010 Mar - Infections of respiratory or abdominal origin in ICU patients: what are the differences

Elena Volakli, Claudia Spies, Argyris Michalopoulos, Johan Groeneveld, Yasser Sakr, Jean-Louis Vincent; Critical Care 2010, 14:R32 (15 March 2010)
Introduction
There are few data related to the effects of different sources of infection on outcome. We used the Sepsis Occurrence in Acutely ill Patients (SOAP) database to investigate differences in the impact of respiratory tract and abdominal sites of infection on organ failure and survival.

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2010 Jan - Cold saline infusion and ice packs alone are effective in inducing and maintaining therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest

Larsson IM, Wallin E, Rubertsson S. Resuscitation. 2010 ;81(1):15-9.
AIM OF THE STUDY: Hypothermia treatment with cold intravenous infusion and ice packs after cardiac arrest has been described and used in clinical practice. We hypothesised that with this method a target temperature of 32-34 degrees C could be achieved and maintained during treatment and that rewarming could be controlled.

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2010 Mar 11 - Commentary: Critical care in the developing world - a challenge for us all

Charles D Gomersall. Critical Care 2010, 14:131. Published: 11 March 2010
Abstract (provisional): The rapid economic growth in parts of the developing world is being accompanied by an expansion of critical care. Hurdles to expansion include lack of critical care training for healthcare workers. This is coupled with a need for a huge number of healthcare workers due to the high populations of countries such as China and India. Intensivists in the developed world can and should help.

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2010 Mar - Oxygenation equilibration time after alteration of inspired oxygen in critically ill patients

Fildissis G, Katostaras T, Moles A, Katsaros A, Myrianthefs P, Brokalaki H, Tsoumakas K, Baltopoulos G.; Heart Lung. 2010 Mar 4;39(2):147-152.
To determine the time required for arterial oxygen partial pressure (Pao(2)) equilibration after a change in fractional inspired oxygen (Fio(2)) in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, a prospective study in a 7-bed university ICU was performed. Forty adult patients were examined using sequential arterial blood gas measurements after a .3 alteration in Fio(2).

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2010 Feb - Critical care medicine in mainland China

Bin Du, Xiuming Xi, Dechang Chen, Jinmin Peng, China Critical Care Clinical Trial Group (CCCCTG); Critical Care 2010, 14:206 (25 February 2010)

Figure. The Great Wall of China
Critical care medicine began in mainland China in the early 1980s. After almost 30 years of effort, it has been recognized as a specialty very recently. However, limited data suggest that critical care resources, especially ICU beds, are inadequate compared with those of developed countries. National critical care societies work together to set up good practice standards, and to improve academic levels with scientific meetings, education programs, and training courses. Critical care research in mainland China is beginning to evolve, with great potential for improvement.

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201 Jan - Fresh frozen plasma in massive bleedings - more questions than answers. [Review]

Nascimento B, Callum J, Rubenfeld G, Neto JB, Lin Y, Rizoli S.; Crit Care. 2010 Jan 28;14(1):202.
Fresh frozen plasma (FFP) is indicated for the management of massive bleedings. Recent audits suggest physician knowledge of FFP is inadequate and half of the FFP transfused in critical care is inappropriate. Trauma is among the largest consumers of FFP. Current trauma resuscitation guidelines recommend FFP to correct coagulopathy only after diagnosed by laboratory tests, often when overt dilutional coagulopathy already exists.

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2010 Feb 12 - Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging for predicting the clinical outcome of comatose survivors after cardiac arrest: a cohort study

Seung Pill Choi , Kyu Nam Park , Hae Kwan Park , Jee Young Kim , Chun Song Youn , Kook Jin Ahn and Hyeon Woo Yim. Critical Care 2010, 14:R17doi:10.1186/cc8874. Published: 12 February 2010
Introduction
This study aimed to examine whether the patterns of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) abnormalities and quantitative regional apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values can predict the clinical outcome of comatose patients following cardiac arrest.

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2010 Feb 11 - Commentary: Extracorporeal gas exchange in acute lung injury: step by step towards expanded indications?

Rolf Dembinski, Ralf Kuhlen. Critical Care 2010, 14:116 (11 February 2010)

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is widely accepted as a rescue therapy in patients with acute life-threatening hypoxemia in the course of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, possible side eff ects and complications are considered to limit benefi cial outcome eff ects.

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2010 Feb - Bundled care for septic shock: an analysis of clinical trials

Barochia AV, Cui X, Vitberg D, Suffredini AF, O'Grady NP, Banks SM, Minneci P, Kern SJ, Danner RL, Natanson C, Eichacker PQ. Crit Care Med. 2010 Feb;38(2):668-78.
CONTEXT: Sepsis bundles have been developed to improve patient outcomes by combining component therapies. Valid bundles require effective components with additive benefits. Proponents encourage evaluation of bundles, both as a whole and based on the performance of each component.

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2010 Feb - Continuous lateral rotation therapy to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia

Staudinger T, Bojic A, Holzinger U, Meyer B, Rohwer M, Mallner F, Schellongowski P, Robak O, Laczika K, Frass M, Locker GJ.Crit Care Med. 2010 Feb;38(2):486-90. Comment in: Crit Care Med. 2010 Feb;38(2):706-7.

The RotoRest Therapy System
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of prophylactic continuous lateral rotation therapy on the prevalence of ventilator-associated pneumonia, duration of mechanical ventilation, length of stay, and mortality in critically ill medical patients. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, clinical study.

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2010 Jan - Protective effect of resin adsorption on septic plasma-induced tubular injury

Vera M Barbosa, Elizabeth A Miles, Conceição Calhau, Estevão Lafuente, Philip C Calder; Critical Care 2010, 14:R5 (19 January 2010)
Introduction
A pro-apoptotic effect of circulating mediators on renal tubular epithelial cells has been involved in the pathogenesis of sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (AKI). Adsorption techniques have been showed to efficiently remove inflammatory cytokines from plasma. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the hydrophobic resin Amberchrom CG161M to adsorb from septic plasma soluble mediators involved in tubular injury.

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2010 Jan - Ventilation with lower tidal volumes as compared to conventional tidal volumes for patients without acute lung injury - a preventive randomized controlled trial

Rogier M Determann, Annick Royakkers, Esther K Wolthuis, Alexander P Vlaar, Goda Choi, Frederique Paulus, Jorrit-Jan Hofstra, Mart J de Graaff, Johanna C Korevaar, Marcus J Schultz; Critical Care 2010, 14:R1
Introduction: Recent cohort studies have identified use of large tidal volumes as a major risk factor for development of lung injury in mechanically ventilated patients without acute lung injury (ALI). We compared the effect of conventional versus lower tidal volumes on pulmonary inflammation and development of lung injury in critically ill patients without ALI at onset of mechanical ventilation.

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2010 Jan - Acute kidney injury in critically ill patients with cancer

Benoit DD, Hoste EA.; Crit Care Clin. 2010 Jan;26(1):151-79
Critically ill cancer patients have a higher incidence of acute kidney injury treated with renal replacement therapy than critically ill patients without cancer. Acute kidney injury may occur as a direct or indirect consequence of the cancer itself, its treatment, or associated complications.

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