The Gut Microbiome and Its Role in Cardiovascular Diseases
The trimethylamine/TMAO pathway likely represents only one of many microbe-dependent pathways that will ultimately be linked to cardiovascular disease pathogenesis, and proven to be an important diagnostic and therapeutic... read more
An Educational Intervention Optimizes the Use of Arterial Blood Gas Determinations Across ICUs
The large scale implementation of guidelines for ABG use reduced the number of inappropriately ordered ABG determinations over seven different multidisciplinary ICUs, without negatively impacting patient care. We saw a reduction... read more
Meta-Analysis of Therapeutic Hypothermia for Traumatic Brain Injury in Adult and Pediatric Patients
Therapeutic hypothermia is a likely beneficial treatment following TBI in adults, improving both neurologic outcomes and decreasing mortality rates. Our work suggests that the optimal management strategy to improve both morbidity... read more
Delirium in Critically Ill Children: An International Point Prevalence Study
In this multi-institutional, multinational point prevalence study of 994 subjects, delirium screening by the bedside nurse was feasible in children of all ages. PD was a common complication of critical illness, with a prevalence... read more
Never Stop Caring
I read with interest the piece by Wilson et al regarding their examination of end-of-life care patterns in hospitalized patients on their vascular surgery practice in Oregon. I applaud the authors for examining their practices... read more
Barriers to Regaining Control within a Constructivist Grounded Theory of Family Resilience in ICU
This paper discusses families' experiences of their interactions when a relative is admitted unexpectedly to an Australian ICU. A grounded theory methodology was adopted for the study. Data was collected between 2009−2013,... read more
Medical Device Interoperability 4.0: Disruptive Innovation for the ICU
Medical Device Interoperability in the ICU did not undergo any significant innovation in the past 30 years. This is the reason why data integration of medical device data into Electronic Medical Records (EMR/EHR) and Population... read more
Comparing Use of Low-Value Health Care Services Among U.S. Advanced Practice Clinicians and Physicians
Many physicians believe that advanced practice clinicians (APCs) provide care of relatively lower value. APCs and physicians provided an equivalent amount of low-value health services, dispelling physicians' perceptions... read more
Role of Combination Antimicrobial Therapy for Vancomycin‐Resistant Enterococcus faecium Infections
Enterococcus species are the second most common cause of nosocomial infections in the United States and are particularly concerning in critically ill patients with preexisting comorbid conditions. Rising resistance to antimicrobials... read more
The History of Patient Safety Awareness Week: March 12-18
The NPSF launched the first Patient Safety Awareness Week in 2002. This annual and globally recognized event typically occurs during the month of March. This year's Patient Safety Awareness Week will take place from... read more
New Guideline Will Allow First-Year Doctors to Work 24-Hour Shifts
First-year doctors in training will now be permitted to work shifts lasting as long as 24 hours, eight hours longer than the current limit, according to a professional organization that sets work rules for graduates from... read more
Opening pressures and atelectrauma in ARDS
Data show that the prerequisites of the open lung strategy are not satisfied using PEEP up to 15 cmH2O and plateau pressure up to 30 cmH2O. For an effective open lung strategy, higher pressures are required. Therefore,... read more
Care that Matters: Quality Measurement and Health Care
Barry Saver and colleagues caution against the use of process and performance metrics as health care quality measures in the United States. There is limited evidence that many "quality" measures - including those... read more
Association of Ratio-Based Massive Transfusion With Survival Among Patients Without Trauma
Association Between Ratio of Fresh Frozen Plasma to Red Blood Cells During Massive Transfusion and Survival Among Patients Without Traumatic Injury. This study reports on the use and benefits of ratio-based blood product... read more
The biggest killer you may not know
It kills more than bowel, breast and prostate cancer combined. A report in 2015 said four in 10 patients being admitted to accident and emergency units were not being reviewed quickly enough and uncovered delays in giving... read more
National ICU Quality Indicators Revisited
The use of QI at a national level is a suitable method to focus on quality in healthcare. Independently of public access to the results, a local or national ICU network will have a lot to gain from engaging in the process... read more
Efficacy and safety of ticagrelor versus aspirin in acute stroke or transient ischaemic attack of atherosclerotic origin
Efficacy and safety of ticagrelor versus aspirin in acute stroke or transient ischaemic attack of atherosclerotic origin: a subgroup analysis of SOCRATES, a randomised, double-blind, controlled trial. In this prespecified... read more
