2010 Sep - Linezolid versus vancomycin or teicoplanin for nosocomial pneumonia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Kalil AC, Murthy MH, Hermsen ED, Neto FK, Sun J, Rupp ME.; Crit Care Med. 2010 Sep;38(9):1802-1808.
Introduction: Compared with glycopeptides, linezolid achieves higher lung epithelial lining fluid concentrations, which may correlate with improved efficacy in the treatment of nosocomial pneumonia. However, clinical superiority has not been demonstrated.
2010 Sep - Early combination antibiotic therapy yields improved survival compared with monotherapy in septic shock: A propensity-matched analysis
Kumar A, Zarychanski R, Light B, Parrillo J, Maki D, Simon D, Laporta D, Lapinsky S, Ellis P, Mirzanejad Y, Martinka G, Keenan S, Wood G, Arabi Y, Feinstein D, Kumar A, Dodek P, Kravetsky L, Doucette S; Cooperative Antimicrobial Therapy of Septic Shock (CATSS) Database Research Group.; Crit Care Med. 2010 Sep;38(9):1773-1785.
Background: Septic shock represents the major cause of infection-associated mortality in the intensive care unit. The possibility that combination antibiotic therapy of bacterial septic shock improves outcome is controversial. Current guidelines do not recommend combination therapy except for the express purpose of broadening coverage when resistant pathogens are a concern.
2010 Aug - A survival benefit of combination antibiotic therapy for serious infections associated with sepsis and septic shock is contingent only on the risk of death: A meta-analytic/meta-regression study
Kumar, Anand; Safdar, Nasia; Kethireddy, Shravan; Chateau, Dan; Critical Care Medicine. 38(8):1651-1664, August 2010.
Objective: To assess whether a potential benefit with combination antibiotic therapy is restricted to the most critically ill subset of patients, particularly those with septic shock.
2010 Aug - Therapeutic strategies for severe acute lung injury
Diaz, Janet V.; Brower, Roy; Calfee, Carolyn S.; Matthay, Michael A.; Critical Care Medicine. 38(8):1644-1650, August 2010.
Objective: In the management of patients with severe acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome, clinicians are sometimes challenged to maintain acceptable gas exchange while avoiding harmful mechanical ventilation practices. In some of these patients, physicians may consider the use of “rescue therapies” to sustain life. Our goal is to provide a practical, evidence-based review to assist critical care physicians' care for patients with severe acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome.
2010 May - Long-term mortality and quality of life in sepsis: a systematic review [Review]
Winters BD, Eberlein M, Leung J, Needham DM, Pronovost PJ, Sevransky JE.; Crit Care Med. 2010 May;38(5):1276-83.
Background: Long-term outcomes from sepsis are poorly understood, and sepsis in patients may have different long-term effects on mortality and quality of life. Long-term outcome studies of other critical illnesses such as acute lung injury have demonstrated incremental health effects that persist after hospital discharge. Whether patients with sepsis have similar long-term mortality and quality-of-life effects is unclear.
2010 Jun- A systematic review to inform institutional decisions about the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation during the H1N1 influenza pandemic
Objectives: To systematically evaluate the effect of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation on survival in adults with acute respiratory failure and to help inform institutional decisions about implementing an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation program or transferring patients to experienced extracorporeal membrane oxygenation centers during the H1N1 influenza pandemic.
2010 May - Nurse staffing and patient outcomes in critical care: A concise review [Review]
Penoyer DA.; Crit Care Med. 2010 May 13. [Epub ahead of print]
BACKGROUND:: Studies over the past several decades have shown an association between nurse staffing and patient outcomes. Most of those studies were generated from general acute care units. Critically ill patients demand increased nurse staffing resources and nurses who have specialized knowledge and skills. Appropriate nurse staffing in critical care units may improve the quality of care of critically ill patients.
2010 May - Impact of selective decontamination of the digestive tract on multiple organ dysfunction syndrome: Systematic review of randomized controlled trials
2010 May - High-dose renal replacement therapy for acute kidney injury: Systematic review and meta-analysis
2010 May - Prophylactic intravenous magnesium sulfate for treatment of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: A randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical study
Westermaier, Thomas; Stetter, Christian; Vince, Giles H.; Pham, Mirko; Tejon, Jose Perez; Eriskat, Jörg; Kunze, Ekkehard; Matthies, Cordula; Ernestus, Ralf-Ingo; Solymosi, Laszlo; Roosen, Klaus; Critical Care Medicine. 38(5):1284-1290, May 2010.
Objective: To examine whether the maintenance of elevated magnesium serum concentrations by intravenous administration of magnesium sulfate can reduce the occurrence of cerebral ischemic events after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.
2010 Feb - Nutrition therapy in the critical care setting: what is "best achievable" practice? An international multicenter observational study
Cahill NE, Dhaliwal R, Day AG, Jiang X, Heyland DK.; Crit Care Med. 2010 Feb;38(2):395-401.
OBJECTIVE: To describe current nutrition practices in intensive care units and determine "best achievable" practice relative to evidence-based Critical Care Nutrition Clinical Practice Guidelines.
2010 Apr - Infectious risk associated with arterial catheters compared with central venous catheters
2010 Mar - Intensive care unit-acquired weakness [Review]
Griffiths RD, Hall JB.; Crit Care Med. 2010 Mar;38(3):779-87.
OBJECTIVE: Severe weakness is being recognized as a complication that impacts significantly on the pace and degree of recovery and return to former functional status of patients who survive the organ failures that mandate life-support therapies such as mechanical ventilation. Despite the apparent importance of this problem, much remains to be understood about its incidence, causes, prevention, and treatment.
2010 Mar - Low serum cortisol predicts early death after acute myocardial infarction
Reynolds, Rebecca M.; Walker, Brian R.; Haw, Sally; Newby, David E.; Mackay, Daniel F.; Cobbe, Stuart M.; Pell, Alastair C. H.; Fischbacher, Colin; Pringle, Stuart; Murdoch, David; Dunn, Frank; Oldroyd, Keith; MacIntyre, Paul; O'Rourke, Brian; Pell, Jill P. ;Critical Care Medicine. 38(3):973-975, March 2010.
Objective: To determine whether low serum cortisol concentrations are associated with adverse prognosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Low serum cortisol concentrations have been associated with adverse prognosis in critical illness of diverse etiology.
2010 Mar - Impact of the administration of probiotics on the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Siempos, Ilias I.; Ntaidou, Theodora K.; Falagas, Matthew E.; Critical Care Medicine. 38(3):954-962, March 2010.
Background: Previous reviews showed no benefit for the administration of probiotics in critically ill patients, but they did not focus on ventilator-associated pneumonia.
Design: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing probiotics and control in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation and reporting on incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia.
2010 Mar - Management of acute intracranial and intraventricular hemorrhage [review]
Nyquist, Paul ;Critical Care Medicine. 38(3):946-953, March 2010.
Objective: Acute intracranial hemorrhage and intraventricular hemorrhage are devastating disorders. The goal of this review is to familiarize clinicians with recent information pertaining to the acute care of intracranial hemorrhage and intraventricular hemorrhage.
2010 Mar - Continuous administration of pyridostigmine improves immobilization-induced neuromuscular weakness
Frick, Christiane G.; Helming, Marc; Martyn, J. A. Jeevendra; Blobner, Manfred; Fink, Heidrun ;Critical Care Medicine. 38(3):922-927, March 2010.
Objective: To investigate the effects of continuous pyridostigmine infusion on immobilization-induced muscle weakness. Critical illness often results in immobilization of limb and respiratory muscles, leading to muscle atrophy and up-regulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Pyridostigmine reversibly blocks acetylcholinesterase and has the potential to improve neuromuscular transmission and decrease acetylcholine receptor number.
2010 Mar - Nasal bridling decreases feeding tube dislodgment and may increase caloric intake in the surgical intensive care unit: A randomized, controlled trial
Figure. The nasal bridle used in the study for securing the nasogastric tube to prevent pull-outs, and hence avoid loss of nutrition (Source: The AMT Nasal Bridle, further information is available here.)
Objective: To determine whether nasal bridling is a low-morbidity practice that decreases feeding tube dislodgment and results in improved caloric intake.