Evaluation of early administration of simvastatin in the prevention and treatment of delirium in critically ill patients undergoing mechanical ventilation

Evaluation of early administration of simvastatin in the prevention and treatment of delirium in critically ill patients undergoing mechanical ventilation

Delirium in critically ill patients is associated with poor clinical outcomes. Neuroinflammation might be an important mechanism in the pathogenesis of delirium, and since simvastatin has anti-inflammatory properties it might... read more

Developing the Role of the Critical Care Pharmacist

Developing the Role of the Critical Care Pharmacist

The evolution of the critical care pharmacist — from lone practitioner to integral multidisciplinary team member. Pharmacists keen on a career in critical care need to understand that this is a complicated area and that... read more

Survivor’s Story Highlights Need for new ICU Support Group

Survivor’s Story Highlights Need for new ICU Support Group

A major heart attack at age 40 sent him to the ICU. Jason Levi aims to help others with life after the ICU. The medical term is post-intensive care syndrome (PICS). The nurses are Jenelle Baer and Janet Nelson. They're both... read more

Development of Dementia in Patients with Femoral Neck Fracture Who Experience Postoperative Delirium

Development of Dementia in Patients with Femoral Neck Fracture Who Experience Postoperative Delirium

It remains unclear to what extent postoperative delirium (POD) affects the incidence of dementia in hip fracture patients, and the methods used to detect delirium and dementia require validation. The aim of this study was... read more

Potentially Modifiable Risk Factors for Long-Term Cognitive Impairment After Critical Illness

Potentially Modifiable Risk Factors for Long-Term Cognitive Impairment After Critical Illness

Long-term cognitive impairment is common in survivors of critical illness. Little is known about the etiology of this serious complication. We sought to summarize current scientific knowledge about potentially modifiable... read more

Optimizing Quality and Efficiency of Critical Care Delivery

Optimizing Quality and Efficiency of Critical Care Delivery

Providing "health" care is expensive, and providing "sick" care is even more expensive. Here we will outline a newly packaged, high-yield opportunity for your institution regarding optimization of your critical care service... read more

What Can Psychologists Do in Intensive Care?

As awareness has grown of the great distress intensive care patients may suffer, units have begun recruiting psychologists to their teams. Intensive care unit psychologists aim to assess and reduce distress for patients,... read more

Dying at Home – Our Grandfather’s Great Escape

Dying at Home – Our Grandfather’s Great Escape

Our 94-year-old grandfather's last journey was not a glorious affair, an inelegant denouement to a life marked by global travel and migration. Still, to us, as we pushed his wheelchair out of the hospital lobby, it felt like... read more

Is Simvastatin the Miracle Drug We Think It Is?

Is Simvastatin the Miracle Drug We Think It Is?

Evaluation of early administration of simvastatin in the prevention and treatment of delirium in critically ill patients undergoing mechanical ventilation. This well designed and conducted trial demonstrates that there is... read more

The Role of Hospital Pharmacist in the Screening, Prevention and Treatment of Delirium

The Role of Hospital Pharmacist in the Screening, Prevention and Treatment of Delirium

An interdisciplinary approach is fundamental for effective prevention and treatment of delirium. Pharmacists could play a role in identifying and resolving medication-related delirium. However, little is known about their... read more

Delirium and Benzodiazepines Associated With Prolonged ICU Stay in Critically Ill Children

Delirium and Benzodiazepines Associated With Prolonged ICU Stay in Critically Ill Children

Delirium is associated with a lower likelihood of ICU discharge in preschool-aged children. Benzodiazepine exposure is associated with the development and longer duration of delirium, and lower likelihood of ICU discharge.... read more

Multicenter Assessment of Sedation and Delirium Practices in the ICU in Poland

Multicenter Assessment of Sedation and Delirium Practices in the ICU in Poland

A majority of Polish ICUs do not adhere to international guidelines regarding sedation and delirium practices. There continues to be inadequate use of sedation and delirium monitoring tools. High usage of benzodiazepines... read more

Long-Term Cognitive Impairment after Critical Illness

Long-Term Cognitive Impairment after Critical Illness

Patients in medical and surgical ICUs are at high risk for long-term cognitive impairment. A longer duration of delirium in the hospital was associated with worse global cognition and executive function scores at 3 and 12... read more

Responding to Ten Common Delirium Misconceptions With Best Evidence

Responding to Ten Common Delirium Misconceptions With Best Evidence

Delirium (acute confusion) is a serious, common health condition, and it predicts poor outcomes, including greater rates of mortality, institutionalization, prolonged hospitalization, and cognitive impairment. Expedient diagnosis... read more

Enhancing Delirium Case Definitions in Electronic Health Records

Enhancing Delirium Case Definitions in Electronic Health Records

Delirium is an acute confusional state, associated with morbidity and mortality in diverse medically ill populations. Delirium may be better captured by composite outcomes, including both administrative claims data and elements... read more

Delirium in Hospitalized Older Adults

Delirium in Hospitalized Older Adults

Delirium, an acute confusional state, is common among hospitalized elders and is associated with poor outcomes. All patients with delirium should be evaluated for reversible causes. Behavioral disturbances should be managed... read more

Barriers to Delirium Assessment in the ICU

Barriers to Delirium Assessment in the ICU

Many barriers exist to prevent effective assessment and management of delirium, but several of these are due to a lack of understanding or unfamiliarity with the condition and the assessment tools as well as lack of medical... read more