2012 Jan - Relationship between thyroid function and ICU mortality: a prospective observation study
Introduction: Although the nonthyroidal illness syndrome (NTIS) is considered to be associated with adverse outcome in ICU patients, the performance of thyroid hormones to predict clinical outcome in ICU patients is unimpressive. The study was conducted to assess the prognostic value of the complete thyroid indicators (FT3, TT3, FT4, TT4, TSH and rT3) in unselected ICU patients.
2012 Jan - Clinical utility of biomarkers of endothelial activation in sepsis - a systematic review
Introduction: A strong biologic rationale exists for targeting markers of endothelial cell (EC) activation as clinically informative biomarkers to improve diagnosis, prognostic evaluation or risk-stratification of patients with sepsis.
2012 Jan - Failure to normalize lymphopenia following trauma is associated with increased mortality, independent of the leukocytosis pattern
Daithi S Heffernan, Sean F Monaghan, Rajan K Thakkar, Jason T Machan, William G Cioffi, Alfred Ayala Critical Care 2012, 16:R12 (20 January 2012)
Introduction: Following trauma and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), the typical response is an elevation of the total complete blood count (CBC) and a reduction of the lymphocyte count. This leukocytosis typically returns to normal within 48 hours. The persistence of a leukocytosis following trauma is associated with adverse outcomes. Although lymphocyte anergy and dysfunction following trauma is associated with increased risk for infection and sepsis, there is a paucity of data regarding the impact of a persistence of a low lymphocyte count in trauma patients.
2011 Nov 28 - Pandemic and post-pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) infection in critically ill patients
Background
There is a vast amount of information published regarding the impact of 2009 pandemic influenza A (pH1N1) virus infection. However, a comparison of risk factors and outcome during the 2010-11 post-pandemic period has not been described.
2011 Nov - Arterial cerebrovascular complications in 94 adults with acute bacterial meningitis
Klein M, Koedel U, Pfefferkorn T, Zeller G, Woehrl B, Pfister HW.; Crit Care. 2011 Nov 23;15(6):R281. [Epub ahead of print]
Introduction: Intracranial vascular complications are an important complication of acute bacterial meningitis. Ischemic stroke in meningitis is reported as a result of vasculitis, vasospasm, endocarditis or intraarterial thrombosis. The aim of the study was to identify the value of measuring cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFv) on transracranial doppler (TCD) in the identification of patients at risk for meningitis-associated stroke.
2011 Nov - Optimization of ventilator setting by flow and pressure waveforms analysis during noninvasive ventilation for acute exacerbations of COPD: a multicentric randomized controlled trial
Di Marco F, Centanni S, Bellone A, Messinesi G, Pesci A, Scala R, Perren A, Nava S.; Crit Care. 2011 Nov 24;15(6):R283. [Epub ahead of print]
Introduction: The analysis of flow and pressure waveforms generated by ventilators can be useful in the optimization of patient-ventilator interactions, notably in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. To date, however, a real clinical benefit of this approach has not been proven.
2011 Nov - Screening and control of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in 186 intensive care units: different situations and individual solutions
Kohlenberg A, Schwab F, Behnke M, Geffers C, Gastmeier P.; Crit Care. 2011 Nov 25;15(6):R285. [Epub ahead of print]
Introduction: Controversy exists about the benefit of screening for prevention of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in intensive care units (ICUs) and recent studies have shown conflicting results. The aim of this observational study was to describe and evaluate the association between MRSA incidence densities (IDs) and screening and control measures in ICUs participating in the German Nosocomial Infection Surveillance System.
2011 Nov - Disseminated intravascular coagulation or acute coagulopathy of trauma shock early after trauma? A prospective observational study
Johansson PI, Sorensen AM, Perner A, Welling KL, Wanscher M, Larsen CF, Ostrowski SR.; Crit Care. 2011 Nov 17;15(6):R272. [Epub ahead of print]
INTRODUCTION: It is debated whether the early trauma induced coagulopathy (TIC) in severely injured patients reflects disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) with a fibrinolytic phenotype, acute coagulopathy of trauma shock (ACoTS) or yet other entities. This study investigated the prevalence of overt DIC and ACoTS in trauma patients and characterized these conditions based on their biomarker profiles.
2010 Nov - The role of lactate clearance in the resuscitation bundle
Napoli AM, Seigel TA.; Crit Care. 2011 Oct 24;15(5):199. [Epub ahead of print]
ABSTRACT: The sepsis resuscitation bundle is the result of an effort on behalf of the Surviving Sepsis Campaign and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement to translate individual guideline recommendations into standardized, achievable goals for physicians caring for the critically ill patient....
2011 Oct - Continuous controlled-infusion of hypertonic saline solution in traumatic brain injured patients : a 9-years retrospective study
Roquilly A, Mahe PJ, Demeure Dit Latte D, Loutrel O, Champin P, Di Falco C, Courbe A, Buffenoir K, Hamel O, Lejus C, Sebille V, Asehnoune K.; Crit Care. 2011 Oct 28;15(5):R260. [Epub ahead of print]
INTRODUCTION: Description of a continuous hypertonic saline solution (HSS) infusion using a dose-adaptation of natremia in traumatic brain injured (TBI) patients with refractory intracranial hypertension (ICH).
2011 Oct - Comparison of supraglottic airway versus endotracheal intubation for the pre-hospital treatment of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest
Introduction: Both supraglottic airway devices (SGA) and endotracheal intubation (ETI) have been used by emergency life-saving technicians (ELST) in Japan to treat out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs). Despite traditional emphasis on airway management during cardiac arrest, its impact on survival from OHCA and time dependent effectiveness remains unclear.
2011 Oct - Severe metabolic or mixed acidemia on intensive care unit admission: incidence, prognosis and impact of buffer therapy: a prospective, multiple-center study
Introduction: A study to describe the incidence and the outcome of severe metabolic or mixed acidemia in critically ill patients and to describe the use of sodium bicarbonate therapy to treat it.
2011 Oct - Oxygen saturation/fraction of inspired oxygen ratio is a simple predictor of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation failure in critically ill patients
Spada C, Gandhi R, Patel SR, Nuccio P, Weinhouse GL, Lee PS.; J Crit Care. 2011 Oct;26(5):510-6.
PURPOSE: Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) can improve outcomes of critically ill patients. Early and simple predictors of NPPV outcome could improve clinical management of patients with respiratory failure.
2011 Oct - Clinical profile, intensive care unit course, and outcome of patients admitted in intensive care unit with dengue
Juneja D, Nasa P, Singh O, Javeri Y, Uniyal B, Dang R.; J Crit Care. 2011 Oct;26(5):449-52.
PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to assess the clinical profile and course of dengue patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and to identify factors related to poor outcome.
2011 Oct - A multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii outbreak in intensive care unit: Antimicrobial and organizational strategies
Consales G, Gramigni E, Zamidei L, Bettocchi D, De Gaudio AR.; J Crit Care. 2011 Oct;26(5):453-9.
PURPOSE: Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MRAB) is an emerging cause of intensive care unit (ICU) outbreaks. Patients are the main reservoirs, inducing cross transmission. We describe an MRAB outbreak that occurred in the Prato Hospital ICU in June to August 2009.
2011 Sep - Short-term effects of combining upright and prone position in patients with ARDS: a prospective randomized study
Robak O, Schellongowski P, Bojic A, Laczika K, Locker GJ, Staudinger T.; Crit Care. 2011 Sep 29;15(5):R230. [Epub ahead of print]
INTRODUCTION: Prone position is known to improve oxygenation in patients with Acute Lung Injury (ALI) and the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). Supine upright (semi-recumbent) position also exerts beneficial effects on gas exchange in this group of patients. To evaluate the effect of combining upright and prone position on oxygenation and respiratory mechanics in patients suffering from ALI or ARDS in a prospective randomized cross-over study.
2011 Sep - Major sources of critical incidents in intensive care
Welters ID, Gibson J, Mogk M, Wenstone R.; Crit Care. 2011 Sep 29;15(5):R232. [Epub ahead of print]
INTRODUCTION: In recent years, critical incident (CI) reporting has increasingly been regarded as part of ongoing quality management. CI databanks also aim to improve health and safety issues for patients as well as staff. The aim of this study was to identify frequent causes of adverse events in critical care with the potential to harm patients, staff or visitors by analysing data from a voluntary and optionally anonymous critical incident reporting system.
2011 Oct - The ventilator care bundle and its impact on ventilator-associated pneumonia: a review of the evidence
Lawrence P, Fulbrook P.; Nurs Crit Care. 2011 Sep-Oct;16(5):222-34
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this review was to critically analyse recent research that has investigated ventilator care bundle (VCB) use, with the objective of analysing its impact on ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) outcomes.
2011 Sep - Antibiotics in critically ill patients - a systematic review of the pharmacokinetics of beta-Lactams
Goncalves-Pereira J, Povoa P.; Crit Care. 2011 Sep 13;15(5):R206. [Epub ahead of print]
INTRODUCTION: Several reports showed a marked heterogeneity of antibiotic pharmacokinetics (PK) in patients admitted to Intensive Care Units (ICU) that may potentially impact on outcomes. Therefore, the pharmacodynamic parameter of efficacy of beta-lactam antibiotics, that is, the time that its concentration is over bacteria minimal inhibitory concentration (T>MIC), cannot be safely extrapolated from healthy population PK data.
2011 Sep - Improved ICU design reduces acquisition of antibiotic resistant bacteria: a quasi-experimental observational study
Levin PD, Golovanevski M, Moses AE, Sprung CL, Benenson S.; Crit Care. 2011 Sep 14;15(5):R211. [Epub ahead of print]
Introduction: The role of intensive care unit (ICU) design and particularly single patient rooms in decreasing bacterial transmission between ICU patients has been debated. A recent change in our ICU allowed further investigation.