2010 Mar - Procalcitonin and C-reactive protein in severe 2009 H1N1 influenza infection.
PURPOSE: To examine whether, in an adult intensive care unit (ICU), procalcitonin or C-reactive protein (CRP) levels discriminated between 2009 H1N1 influenza infection and community-acquired pneumonia of bacterial origin.
2010 Feb - The Surviving Sepsis Campaign: results of an international guideline-based performance improvement program targeting severe sepsis.
Levy MM, Dellinger RP, Townsend SR, Linde-Zwirble WT, Marshall JC, Bion J, Schorr C, Artigas A, Ramsay G, Beale R, Parker MM, Gerlach H, Reinhart K, Silva E, Harvey M, Regan S, Angus DC.; Intensive Care Med. 2010 Feb;36(2):222-31. Epub 2010 Jan 13.
OBJECTIVE: The Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC or "the Campaign") developed guidelines for management of severe sepsis and septic shock. A performance improvement initiative targeted changing clinical behavior (process improvement) via bundles based on key SSC guideline recommendations on process improvement and patient outcomes.
2010 Feb - Incidence and prognosis of dysnatremias present on ICU admission.
Funk GC, Lindner G, Druml W, Metnitz B, Schwarz C, Bauer P, Metnitz PG.; Intensive Care Med. 2010 Feb;36(2):304-11.
PURPOSE: Dysnatremias are common in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Whether the presence of disorders of sodium balance on ICU admission is independently associated with excess mortality is unknown. We hypothesized that dysnatremias at the time of ICU admission are independent risk factors for increased mortality in critically ill patients.
2010 Jan - The effects of vasopressin on acute kidney injury in septic shock.
Gordon AC, Russell JA, Walley KR, Singer J, Ayers D, Storms MM, Holmes CL, Hébert PC, Cooper DJ, Mehta S, Granton JT, Cook DJ, Presneill JJ.; Intensive Care Med. 2010, 36(1), 83-91
OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of vasopressin versus norepinephrine infusion on the outcome of kidney injury in septic shock.
2010 - Jan: Severe cutaneous adverse reactions: emergency approach to non-burn epidermolytic syndromes
Struck MF, Hilbert P, Mockenhaupt M, Reichelt B, Steen M.; Intensive Care Med. 2010, 36(1), 22-32
INTRODUCTION: Although severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs), such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis, are rare, they are associated with considerable morbidity and mortality.
2009 Dec - Combination antibiotic therapy with macrolides improves survival in intubated patients with community-acquired pneumonia.
Martin-Loeches I, Lisboa T, Rodriguez A, Putensen C, Annane D, Garnacho-Montero J, Restrepo MI, Rello J.; Intensive Care Med. 2009 Dec 2.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect on survival of macrolides or fluoroquinolones in intubated patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with severe community-acquired pneumonia (severe CAP).
2009 Nov - An intervention to decrease complications related to endotracheal intubation in the intensive care unit: a prospective, multiple-center study.
Jaber S, Jung B, Corne P, Sebbane M, Muller L, Chanques G, Verzilli D, Jonquet O, Eledjam JJ, Lefrant JY.; Intensive Care Med. 2009 Nov 17.
OBJECTIVE: To determined whether the implementation of an intubation management protocol leads to the reduction of intubation-related complications in the intensive care unit (ICU).
2009 Nov - Prevention of acute kidney injury and protection of renal function in the intensive care unit : Expert opinion of the working group for nephrology, ESICM.
Joannidis M, Druml W, Forni LG, Groeneveld AB, Honore P, Oudemans-van Straaten HM, Ronco C, Schetz MR, Woittiez AJ.; Intensive Care Med. 2009 Nov 17.
BACKGROUND: Acute renal failure on the intensive care unit is associated with significant mortality and morbidity.
OBJECTIVES: To determine recommendations for the prevention of acute kidney injury (AKI), focusing on the role of potential preventative maneuvers including volume expansion, diuretics, use of inotropes, vasopressors/vasodilators, hormonal interventions, nutrition, and extracorporeal techniques.
2009 Oct - Moderate hypothermia with intracranial pressure monitoring as a therapeutic paradigm for the management of acute liver failure: a systematic review.
Dmello D, Cruz-Flores S, Matuschak GM.; Intensive Care Med. 2009 Oct 22.
OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the literature and present data on the safety and efficacy of induced moderate hypothermia combined with ICP monitoring in critically ill patients with acute liver failure.
2009 Oct - Ultrasound-guided arterial catheterization: a narrative review
Shiloh AL, Eisen LA.; Intensive Care Med. 2009 Oct 31.
Arterial catheterization is the second most common invasive procedure performed in the intensive care unit. Despite the ubiquity of the procedure, complications including failure to place the catheter occur. While many clinicians are familiar with the use of ultrasound (US) guidance to decrease complication rates of central venous catheter insertion, fewer are familiar with the use of ultrasound to guide arterial catheterization.
2009 Sep - Reducing in-hospital cardiac arrests and hospital mortality by introducing a medical emergency team.
PURPOSE: To prospectively evaluate the implementation of a rapid response team in the form of a medical emergency team (MET) with regard to cardiac arrests and hospital mortality.
METHODS: Prospective before-and-after trial of implementation of a MET at the Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. All adult patients, apart from cardiothoracic, admitted to the hospital were regarded as participants in the study. A control period of 5 years and 203,892 patients preceded the 2-year intervention period of 73,825 patients.
2009 Jun - What is normal intra-abdominal pressure and how is it affected by positioning, body mass and positive end-expiratory pressure?
METHODS: A review of different databases was made (Pubmed, MEDLINE (January 1966-June 2007) and EMBASE.com (January 1966-June 2007)) using the search terms of "IAP", "intra-abdominal hypertension" (IAH), "abdominal compartment syndrome" (ACS), "body positioning", "prone positioning", "PEEP" and "acute respiratory distress syndrome" (ARDS). Prior to 1966, we selected older articles by looking at the reference lists displayed in the more recent papers.
2009 Oct - Interventions to decrease tube, line, and drain removals in intensive care units: the FRATER study.
Calvino Günther S, Schwebel C, Vésin A, Remy J, Dessertaine G, Timsit JF.; Intensive Care Med. 2009 Oct;35(10):1772-6. Epub 2009 Jun 26.
Photo courtesy of Dr Arthur CW Lau
PURPOSES: To evaluate the incidence of unintended tube, line, and drain removals (UTRs) in our ICU, to identify system factors associated with UTRs, and to evaluate interventions designed to decrease UTR occurrence.