Tag: ICU
Hypovitaminosis C and vitamin C deficiency in critically ill patients despite recommended enteral and parenteral intakes
Critically ill patients have low vitamin C concentrations despite receiving standard ICU nutrition. Septic shock patients have significantly depleted vitamin C levels compared with non-septic patients, likely resulting from... read more
Implementation of a Goal-Directed Mechanical Ventilation Order Set Improves Compliance
Implementation of a Goal-Directed Mechanical Ventilation Order Set Driven by Respiratory Therapists Improves Compliance With Best Practices for Mechanical Ventilation. Data regarding best practices for ventilator management... read more
High Morning Cortisol Tied to Long-term Anxiety in Family Members of ICU Patients
A new study published in the journal Critical Care Medicine finds that a biomarker may help identify which family members will be most emotionally impacted by their loved one's ICU stay. In particular, family members who... read more
Alarm Reductions Don’t Improve ICU Response Times
It will take more than a reduction in alarms to address the issue of alarm fatigue in the ICU; a change in the ICU staff culture is needed, suggests new research. A program run at Dr. Kunadu's hospital showed that cutting... read more
New Guidance for Medication Safety in the ICU
Critically ill patients are a population at high risk for more frequent and more severe medication-related events. Critically ill patients receive twice the number of medications that non-critically ill, hospitalized patients... read more
Reduction in Central Line–Associated Bloodstream Infections Correlated With the Introduction of a Novel Silver-Plated Dressing for Central Venous Catheters
Use of SDs is associated with a significant decrease in CLABSI rates in adult ICU patients compared to CHGIS dressings, with an estimated cost savings of US$4070 to US$39 600 per 1000 catheter days. A total of 3189 patient... read more
Effects of the I-PASS Nursing Handoff Bundle on Communication Quality and Workflow
Implementation of the I-PASS Nursing Handoff Bundle was associated with widespread improvements in the verbal handoff process without a negative impact on nursing workflow. Implementation of I-PASS for nurses may therefore... read more
Mountain Ultra-Marathon Finishers Exhibit Marked Immune Alterations Similar to Those of Severe Trauma Patients
Runners competing in mountain ultra-marathons (MUMs) are known to display features of marked inflammation due to muscle micro-trauma, oxidative stress, gastrointestinal dysfunction, or endotoxin translocation. Furthermore,... read more
Treating Acid–Base Abnormalities in the ICU
Acidemia has both harmful and beneficial biological effects. Sodium bicarbonate is generally ineffective in raising pH when ventilation is limited, as in patients with ARDS. Even when alkalinizing agents can correct the pH,... read more
Clinical Examination, Critical Care Ultrasonography and Outcomes in the Critically Ill
In the Simple Intensive Care Studies-I (SICS-I), we aim to unravel the value of clinical and haemodynamic variables obtained by physical examination and critical care ultrasound (CCUS) that currently guide daily practice... read more
Improving Handovers By Learning From Ferrari Team
We were able to improve our vulnerable processes by translating good practice found in two industries – aviation and motor racing – into healthcare. We were able to do this by taking into account the subtle complexities... read more
A supplemental intravenous amino acid infusion sustains a positive protein balance for 24 hours in critically ill patients
Providing supplemental amino acids to ICU patients during a 3-h period results in improved whole-body net protein balance, without an increase in amino acid oxidation. The primary objective was to investigate if a 24-h intravenous... read more
Key Steps Can Help Patients Recover From A Stay In The ICU
Chances of recovering after an ICU stay rise when families keep patients oriented, stay on top of care plans and encourage seniors to get moving. As many as 1.4 million seniors survive a stay in the ICU every year. And most... read more
Diagnostic Importance of Pulmonary Interleukin-1β and Interleukin-8 in VAP
BALF IL-1β and IL-8 are amongst the strongest markers yet identified for accurately demarcating VAP within the larger population of patients with suspected VAP. These findings have potential implications for reduction in... read more
Music and Medicine: Something Important
Every week or 2 when I don’t have a daytime shift, I set up my iPad and play piano for an hour or so. Nothing depressing or too complicated—feel-good music from the 1930s to the latest by John Legend or Coldplay. The... read more
Intensive Care Syndrome: Promoting Independence and Return to Employment (InS:PIRE)
Many patients suffer significant physical, social and psychological problems in the months and years following critical care discharge. At present, there is minimal evidence of any effective interventions to support this... read more
A tailored multicomponent program to reduce discomfort in critically ill patients
Critically ill patients are exposed to stressful conditions and experience several discomforts. The primary objective was to assess whether a tailored multicomponent program is effective for reducing self‑perceived discomfort.... read more
There are no wrong questions to ask in the ICU
A common confusion is differentiating between critical care and emergency medicine. Essentially, in emergency medicine, doctors and nurses stabilize patients and then transfer them to the appropriate area of the hospital,... read more
I help bring music to patients in intensive care
After my own experience in ICU, I became convinced of the therapeutic benefits of live music to those who are critically ill. Soothing acoustic music drifted through the clinical, high-tech ward. As the professional musician... read more
What’s the Effective Antibiotic Dosing in Critically Ill Patients?
Mortality due to severe infections in the intensive care unit (ICU) remains high despite recent therapeutic advancements. It is believed that ICU pathogens are relatively different from those in the general wards as they... read more
Use of Wearable Devices for Post-discharge Monitoring of ICU patients
Wearable devices generate signals detecting activity, sleep, and heart rate, all of which could enable detailed and near-continuous characterization of recovery following critical illness. We found that wearable devices could... read more
Critical Illness, Disability, and the Road Home
Ability to participate in the community is an important outcome for all patients after a major illness, it signposts reaching the end of the road home. A patient's ability to return to the priority tasks of daily living impacts... read more
