Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors in patients with respiratory failure and metabolic alkalosis

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors in patients with respiratory failure and metabolic alkalosis

In patients with respiratory failure and metabolic alkalosis, carbonic anhydrase inhibitor therapy may have favorable effects on blood gas parameters. In mechanically ventilated patients, carbonic anhydrase inhibitor therapy... read more

The Impact of Frailty on ICU Outcomes

The Impact of Frailty on ICU Outcomes

Functional status and chronic health status are important baseline characteristics of critically ill patients. The assessment of frailty on admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) may provide objective, prognostic information... read more

Does Lactate Clearance Prognosticates Outcomes in ECMO Therapy

Does Lactate Clearance Prognosticates Outcomes in ECMO Therapy

Changes in lactate levels after ECMO implantation is an important tool to assess effective circulatory support and it is found superior to single lactate measurements as a prognostic sign of mortality in our study. Based... read more

Ron Daniels Responds to Study on Sepsis Mortality Rates

Ron Daniels Responds to Study on Sepsis Mortality Rates

New research presented at this year’s ESICM LIVES conference (the annual meeting of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine) shows that in rich countries overall, mortality from sepsis has fallen by around a quarter... read more

Proton-Pump Inhibitor Prophylaxis in the ICU

Proton-Pump Inhibitor Prophylaxis in the ICU

Critical illness can disrupt local and systemic mechanisms that protect against upper gastrointestinal bleeding, a condition that may be associated with increased mortality, particularly among patients receiving extracorporeal... read more

Chasing Mortality Endpoints is a Fool’s Errand

Chasing Mortality Endpoints is a Fool’s Errand

"There is no mortality benefit for that." How many times have you heard that? The implication is usually the same: that intervention is a waste of time. A smart, evidence-based clinician wouldn't bother with it. But, what... read more

Decontamination of Oral or Digestive Tract for Patients in the ICU

Decontamination of Oral or Digestive Tract for Patients in the ICU

The study by Wittekamp and colleagues in this issue of JAMA evaluating strategies for decontamination of mechanically ventilated patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) fills an important gap in the evidence regarding these... read more

Fluid overload, de-resuscitation, and outcomes in critically ill or injured patients

Fluid overload, de-resuscitation, and outcomes in critically ill or injured patients

Sepsis is associated with generalised endothelial injury and capillary leak and has traditionally been treated with large volume fluid resuscitation. Some patients with sepsis will accumulate bodily fluids. The aim of this... read more

Effect of Dexmedetomidine on Mortality and Ventilation in Sepsis Patients

Effect of Dexmedetomidine on Mortality and Ventilation in Sepsis Patients

Dexmedetomidine provides sedation for patients undergoing ventilation; however, its effects on mortality and ventilator-free days have not been well studied among patients with sepsis. This randomized clinical trial compares... read more

Effect of Targeted Polymyxin B Haemoperfusion on 28-Day Mortality in Patients With Septic Shock and Elevated Endotoxin Level

Effect of Targeted Polymyxin B Haemoperfusion on 28-Day Mortality in Patients With Septic Shock and Elevated Endotoxin Level

In adult patients with septic shock and high circulating endotoxin activity, does the use of polymyxin B hemoperfusion therapy significantly decrease 28-day mortality? Among patients with septic shock and high endotoxin activity,... read more

Should Pediatric Intensive Care Be Centralized? Trent vs. Victoria

Should Pediatric Intensive Care Be Centralized? Trent vs. Victoria

The mortality rate is lower among children admitted to specialist pediatric intensive care units (ICUs) than among those admitted to mixed adult and pediatric units in non-tertiary hospitals. In the UK, however, few children... read more

Adjunct and Rescue Therapies for Refractory Hypoxemia

Adjunct and Rescue Therapies for Refractory Hypoxemia

Prone position, inhaled nitric oxide, high frequency oscillation, extra corporeal life support. The mortality of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), defined with a PaO2/FiO2 ratio of 100 mmHg... read more

Hydrocortisone plus Fludrocortisone for Adults with Septic Shock

Hydrocortisone plus Fludrocortisone for Adults with Septic Shock

The use of steroids in critically ill patients continues to be controversial. Whilst there are signals for improved cardiovascular parameters, this did not translate to clear mortality benefits. The most recent of these trials... read more

Update on Perioperative Acute Kidney Injury

Update on Perioperative Acute Kidney Injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) in the perioperative period is a common complication and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. A standard definition and staging system for AKI has been developed, incorporating a... read more