The utility of biomarkers in traumatic brain injury clinical management

The utility of biomarkers in traumatic brain injury clinical management

Currently, TBI management is guided by clinical histories and neuroimaging techniques. While these techniques may be advanced, they are more costly than serum analysis, involve exposure to ionizing radiations, and have certain... read more

Terlipressin vs. Norepinephrine As Infusion in Patients With Septic Shock

Terlipressin vs. Norepinephrine As Infusion in Patients With Septic Shock

In this multicentre, randomised, double‑blinded trial, we observed no difference in mortality between terlipressin and NE infusion in patients with septic shock. Patients in the terlipressin group had a higher number of... read more

What’s the Bleeding Problem with Trauma Laparotomies?!

Mortality for hypotensive trauma patients undergoing emergency laparotomy have not changed in 20 years. This blog explores the literature and the future! Wait! We're emergency physicians, why do we care about laparotomies?!... read more

Short People Have Higher Risk Of Dying In The ICU

Short People Have Higher Risk Of Dying In The ICU

Researchers of a new study have found a link between a patient's height and odds of survival in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital. The study, published in the journal Intensive Care Medicine on Dec. 23, show that... read more

Prospective Assessment of the Feasibility of a Trial of Low Tidal Volume Ventilation for Patients with Acute Respiratory Failure

Prospective Assessment of the Feasibility of a Trial of Low Tidal Volume Ventilation for Patients with Acute Respiratory Failure

Use of initial tidal volumes less than 8 ml/kg PBW is common at hospitals participating in the NHLBI PETAL Network. After considering the size and budgetary requirement for a cluster-randomized trial of LTVV vs. usual care... read more

Bedside Ultrasound Assessment of Lung Reaeration in Patients With Blunt Thoracic Injury Receiving High-Flow Nasal Cannula Oxygen Therapy

Bedside Ultrasound Assessment of Lung Reaeration in Patients With Blunt Thoracic Injury Receiving High-Flow Nasal Cannula Oxygen Therapy

High-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy may be considered as an initial respiratory therapy for trauma patients with blunt chest injury. High-flow nasal cannula therapy could improve lung aeration as noted by the transthoracic... read more

Epidemiology of Mechanically Ventilated Patients Treated in ICU and non-ICU Settings in Japan

Epidemiology of Mechanically Ventilated Patients Treated in ICU and non-ICU Settings in Japan

A large proportion of Japanese patients on mechanical ventilation (MV) were treated in non-ICU settings. Analysis of administrative data indicated preliminary that hospital mortality rates in these patients were higher in... read more

Association of Driving Pressure With Mortality Among Ventilated Patients With ARDS

Association of Driving Pressure With Mortality Among Ventilated Patients With ARDS

Our study confirmed an association between higher driving pressure and higher mortality in mechanically ventilated patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). These findings suggest a possible range of driving... read more

Nurse Staffing, Nursing Assistants and Hospital Mortality

Nurse Staffing, Nursing Assistants and Hospital Mortality

Lower RN staffing and higher levels of admissions per RN are associated with increased risk of death during an admission to hospital. These findings highlight the possible consequences of reduced nurse staffing and do not... read more

Do State Regulations on Nurse Staffing Make a Difference in ICU Outcomes?

Do State Regulations on Nurse Staffing Make a Difference in ICU Outcomes?

In the recent issue of Critical Care Medicine, Law and colleagues published an evaluation of the impact of changes in Massachusetts state regulations mandating that nurse staffing levels on critical care units be set at 1:1... read more

Mortality of civilian patients with suspected traumatic hemorrhage receiving pre-hospital transfusion of packed red blood cells compared to pre-hospital crystalloid

Mortality of civilian patients with suspected traumatic hemorrhage receiving pre-hospital transfusion of packed red blood cells compared to pre-hospital crystalloid

In a single centre UK HEMS study, in patients with suspected traumatic hemorrhage who received a PRBC transfusion there was an observed, but non-significant, reduction in mortality at 6 h and 28 days, also reflected in... read more

Mortality and Morbidity in Acutely Ill Adults Treated with Liberal vs. Conservative Oxygen Therapy

Mortality and Morbidity in Acutely Ill Adults Treated with Liberal vs. Conservative Oxygen Therapy

In acutely ill adults, high-quality evidence shows that liberal oxygen therapy increases mortality without improving other patient-important outcomes. Supplemental oxygen might become unfavourable above an SpO2 range of 94-96%.... read more

Antithrombotic Therapy for Venous Thromboembolic Disease

Antithrombotic Therapy for Venous Thromboembolic Disease

This JAMA Clinical Guidelines Synopsis summarizes the American College of Chest Physicians' 2016 recommendations on antithrombotic therapy for venous thromboembolism (VTE). The estimated annual incidence of VTE, defined... read more

Postoperative Renal Dysfunction After Noncardiac Surgery

Postoperative Renal Dysfunction After Noncardiac Surgery

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent postoperative complication with a substantial risk for both short and long-term adverse events, and its incidence is likely to rise because of increasing major surgical procedures.... read more