Impact of a Multifaceted Prevention Program on VAP Including Selective Oropharyngeal Decontamination

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) remains a serious complication of mechanical ventilation (MV), and has an incidence between 2 and 16 episodes per 1000 ventilator-days, an attributable mortality of 5–13%, excess ICU... read more

Impact of a Multifaceted Prevention Program on VAP Including Selective Oropharyngeal Decontamination

Management of Peripheral Venoarterial ECMO in Cardiogenic Shock

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a powerful mechanical circulatory support modality capable of rapidly restoring systemic perfusion yet lacking in defined approaches to management. Adopting a management approach... read more

Management of Peripheral Venoarterial ECMO in Cardiogenic Shock

Sedation, Sleep Promotion, and Delirium Screening Practices in the Care of Mechanically Ventilated Children

The results highlight the heterogeneity in sedation practices among intensivists who care for critically ill children as well as a paucity of sleep promotion and delirium screening in PICUs worldwide. The survey was completed... read more

Sedation, Sleep Promotion, and Delirium Screening Practices in the Care of Mechanically Ventilated Children

Interventions for Preventing Critical Illness Polyneuropathy and Critical Illness Myopathy

There is moderate quality evidence from two large trials that intensive insulin therapy reduces CIP/CIM, and high quality evidence that it reduces duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU stay and 180-day mortality, at the... read more

Interventions for Preventing Critical Illness Polyneuropathy and Critical Illness Myopathy

Added Benefit of Noninvasive Ventilation to High-Flow Nasal Oxygen to Prevent Reintubation in Higher-Risk Patients

Liberating patients from ongoing invasive mechanical ventilation is typically a 3-step process. First, clinicians must recognize that patients may no longer require mechanical ventilation, when the reasons for intubation... read more

Added Benefit of Noninvasive Ventilation to High-Flow Nasal Oxygen to Prevent Reintubation in Higher-Risk Patients

Early Enteral Nutrition Associated with Improved Clinical Outcomes in Critically Ill Children

In critically ill children with hyperglycemia requiring inotropic support and/or mechanical ventilation, early enteral nutrition was independently associated with better clinical outcomes. Of 608 eligible subjects, 331... read more

Early Enteral Nutrition Associated with Improved Clinical Outcomes in Critically Ill Children

Brainstem Responses Can Predict Death and Delirium in ICU Sedated Patients

Assessment of brainstem responses is feasible in sedated critically ill patients and loss of selected responses is predictive of mortality and altered mental status. 72 patients were included in the initial group and 72... read more

Brainstem Responses Can Predict Death and Delirium in ICU Sedated Patients

Driving Pressure Is Associated with Outcome during Assisted Ventilation in ARDS

In patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), plateau pressure, driving pressure, and respiratory system compliance can be measured during assisted ventilation, and both higher driving pressure and lower compliance... read more

Driving Pressure Is Associated with Outcome during Assisted Ventilation in ARDS

Long-Term Outcomes and Health Care Utilization after Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation

Critically ill patients who undergo mechanical ventilation in an ICU for longer than 21 days have high in-hospital mortality and greater postdischarge mortality, health care utilization, and health care costs compared with... read more

Long-Term Outcomes and Health Care Utilization after Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation

Impact of Delayed Admission to ICUs on Mortality of Critically Ill Patients

When the number of patients who require intensive care is greater than the number of beds available, intensive care unit (ICU) entry flow is obstructed. This phenomenon has been associated with higher mortality rates... read more

Impact of Delayed Admission to ICUs on Mortality of Critically Ill Patients

Outcomes of ARDS in Mechanically Ventilated Patients With Cirrhosis

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is common in mechanically ventilated patients with cirrhosis but is not independently associated with increased mortality. The mean age in 181 eligible patients was 53 ± 11 years;... read more

Outcomes of ARDS in Mechanically Ventilated Patients With Cirrhosis

Enteral vs. Parenteral Nutrition in Septic Shock

The strong paradigm of favoring the enteral over the parenteral route in critically ill patients has been challenged. As a consequence, updated guidelines recommend withholding enteral nutrition in patients with uncontrolled... read more

Enteral vs. Parenteral Nutrition in Septic Shock

Mobilization Practices for Patients with Burn Injury in Critical Care

Mobilization therapy of patients with burns in the ICU was characterized by a low mobility level during mechanical ventilation with a low functional status at hospital discharge. Of the 74 patients admitted, 66% were placed... read more

Mobilization Practices for Patients with Burn Injury in Critical Care

Automated vs. Non-automated Weaning for Reducing Mechanical Ventilation Duration for Critically Ill

Automated systems may result in clinically meaningful reduced durations of weaning, ventilation and ICU stay. Overall, these systems appear to be safe and can be considered a reasonable approach in the management of ventilator... read more

Automated vs. Non-automated Weaning for Reducing Mechanical Ventilation Duration for Critically Ill

Critically Ill Patients Show a Differential Contractile Response to Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation

This retrospective sub-analysis aimed to outline the characteristics of, as well as predictors for, a contractile response to Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES), and also potential clinical benefits resulting from... read more

Critically Ill Patients Show a Differential Contractile Response to Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation

Sedation is Necessary to Minimize Patients’ Discomfort During Mechanical Ventilation

More than half of critical care nurses believe sedation is needed to minimize discomfort and distress among patients receiving mechanical ventilation, according to survey results published recently in the American Journal... read more

Sedation is Necessary to Minimize Patients’ Discomfort During Mechanical Ventilation

Mechanical Ventilation Management during ECMO for ARDS

Ultra-protective lung ventilation on ECMO was largely adopted across medium to high case-volume ECMO centers. In contrast with previous observations, mechanical ventilation settings during ECMO did not impact patients' prognosis... read more

Mechanical Ventilation Management during ECMO for ARDS

Mechanical Ventilation-induced Diaphragm Atrophy Strongly Impacts Clinical Outcomes

Diaphragm atrophy developing during mechanical ventilation strongly impacts clinical outcomes. Targeting an inspiratory effort level similar to that of healthy subjects at rest might accelerate liberation from ventilation.... read more

Mechanical Ventilation-induced Diaphragm Atrophy Strongly Impacts Clinical Outcomes

Determinants of Health-Related Quality of Life After ICU

Preexisting comorbidity counts, but not severity of ICU illness, are strongly associated with health-related quality of life and physical symptoms in the year following critical illness. We prospectively collected data... read more

Determinants of Health-Related Quality of Life After ICU

Antipsychotics Not Helpful for Delirium in ICU

Delirium is a confused mental state that includes changes in awareness, thinking, judgment, sleeping patterns, and behavior. It can affect patients of any age but is more common among older adults who experience major illness... read more

Antipsychotics Not Helpful for Delirium in ICU

Implementation Challenges in the ICU: The Why, Who and How of Daily Interruption of Sedation

Despite apparent consensus, lack of shared understanding of the rationale for an intervention may lead to divergent practice patterns and failure to implement standardized, evidence-based practice. There was wide consensus... read more

Implementation Challenges in the ICU: The Why, Who and How of Daily Interruption of Sedation