Stories Category: Intensive Care
Withholding Pantoprazole for Stress Ulcer Prophylaxis in Critically Ill Patients
A decreased frequency of upper gastrointestinal bleeding and a possible association of proton pump inhibitor use with Clostridium difficile and ventilator-associated pneumonia have raised concerns recently. The Reevaluating... read more
A Novel Computerized Test for Detecting and Monitoring Visual Attentional Deficits and Delirium in the ICU
Delirium in the ICU is associated with poor outcomes but is under-detected. Here we evaluated performance of a novel, graded test for objectively detecting inattention in delirium, implemented on a custom-built computerized... read more
Sepsis and Therapeutic Interventions
The global burden of sepsis is substantial. Therefore, in a retrospective before-after clinical study, Marik et al compared the outcome and clinical course of consecutive septic patients treated with intravenous vitamin C,... read more
Cluster-Randomized, Crossover Trial of Head Positioning in Acute Stroke
The role of supine positioning after acute stroke in improving cerebral blood flow and the countervailing risk of aspiration pneumonia have led to variation in head positioning in clinical practice. Disability outcomes after... read more
Why a stay in the ICU can leave patients worse off
Almost 6 million patients land in an intensive care unit every year, and for many, it marks a turning point in their lives. A substantial number of patients leave the ICU with newly acquired problems, from dementia to nerve... read more
Simulation of a Novel Schedule for Intensivist Staffing to Improve Continuity of Patient Care and Reduce Physician Burnout
Despite widespread adoption of in-house call for ICU attendings, there is a paucity of research on optimal scheduling of intensivists to provide continuous on-site coverage. Overnight call duties have traditionally been added... read more
Prevention of AKI and protection of renal function in ICU
Acute kidney injury (AKI) in the intensive care unit is associated with significant mortality and morbidity. The results of recent randomised controlled trials have allowed the formulation of new recommendations and/or increase... read more
Airway glucose homeostasis: a new target in the prevention and treatment of pulmonary infection
In health, the glucose concentration of airway surface liquid (ASL) is 0.4mM, around 12 times lower than blood glucose concentration. Airway glucose homeostasis is a set of processes that actively maintain low ASL glucose... read more
Angiotensin II may improve vasopressors’ efficacy
Adding angiotensin II to available vasopressor therapies correlated with significantly improved arterial pressure in patients with catecholamine-resistant vasodilatory shock and less adverse effects, according to a study... read more
COPD can increase risk of developing sepsis
People with COPD have a higher than average risk of developing lung infections, such as pneumonia, which then puts them at higher risk for developing sepsis. Sepsis and septic shock can result from an infection anywhere in... read more
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for poisoning in adult patients: outcomes and predictors of mortality
Data on outcomes from severe poisoning in adults receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is currently confined to single-center experiences or specific etiologies. While ECMO cannot facilitate toxin removal,... read more
Sepsis E-alert System with Response Team Improves Outcomes
According to a new study, the use of a multifaceted intervention including an electronic sepsis alert (e-alert) system with sepsis response team was associated with improvement in care processes of sepsis and septic shock... read more
Association of Attitudes Regarding Overuse of Inpatient Laboratory Testing With Health Care Provider Type
Routine hospital laboratory testing is common, and unnecessary tests can harm patients. Multiple professional societies have recommended against routine laboratory testing in hospitalized patients. Advanced practice health... read more
Defibrillator-carrying drones could save lives, research suggests
Drones are already employed for anything from military to recreational use, from oil exploration to film-making, but they could also help save the lives of people who have suffered a cardiac arrest, research suggests. A... read more
A randomized trial of supplemental parenteral nutrition in underweight and overweight critically ill patients
Nutrition guidelines recommendations differ on the use of parenteral nutrition (PN), and existingclinical trial data are inconclusive. Our recent observational data show that amounts of energy/protein receivedearly in the... read more
Humidification During Mechanical Ventilation: A Systematic Review
Mechanical ventilation (MV) suppresses the mechanisms that heat and moisturise inhaled air; hence, humidification is mandatory during MV. However, a systematic review published in the journal Critical Care finds no clear... read more
Transthoracic echocardiography: an accurate and precise method for estimating cardiac output in the critically ill patient
Cardiac output (CO) monitoring is a valuable tool for the diagnosis and management of critically ill patients. In the critical care setting, few studies have evaluated the level of agreement between CO estimated by transthoracic... read more
