qSOFA Performance Score as Prognostic Tool in Infected Patients Outside the ICU

qSOFA Performance Score as Prognostic Tool in Infected Patients Outside the ICU

A positive qSOFA score had high specificity outside the ICU in early detection of in-hospital mortality, acute organ dysfunction, and ICU admission, but low sensitivity may have limitations as a predictive tool for adverse... read more

The Great Debate Between Balanced and Unbalanced Crystalloids Continues

The Great Debate Between Balanced and Unbalanced Crystalloids Continues

This meta-analysis contributes very little to the current discussion mainly because of the heterogeneity of included studies. The use of fluid type in different pathologies isn't really what we need, but rather tailored use... read more

Corticosteroids for Treating Pneumonia

Corticosteroids for Treating Pneumonia

Pneumonia remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States.1 There is both theoretical and laboratory evidence that corticosteroids may have beneficial effects in pneumonia through local pulmonary and... read more

Association of Vasopressin Plus Catecholamine Vasopressors vs Catecholamines Alone With Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With Distributive Shock

Association of Vasopressin Plus Catecholamine Vasopressors vs Catecholamines Alone With Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With Distributive Shock

In this meta-analysis, the addition of vasopressin to catecholamine vasopressors compared with catecholamines alone was associated with a lower risk of atrial fibrillation. However, findings for secondary outcomes varied.... read more

Hospital Elder Life Program: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Effectiveness

Hospital Elder Life Program: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Effectiveness

The Hospital Elder Life Program is effective in reducing incidence of delirium and rate of falls, with a trend toward decreasing length of stay and preventing institutionalization. With ongoing efforts in continuous program... read more

Host Genetic Variants in Sepsis Risk

Host Genetic Variants in Sepsis Risk

Published data revealed that host genetic variants have a substantial influence on sepsis susceptibility. However, the results have been inconsistent. We aimed to systematically review the published studies and quantitatively... read more

High-frequency Oscillatory Ventilation: Still a Role?

High-frequency Oscillatory Ventilation: Still a Role?

In light of emerging data from clinical trials, the place of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) in the management of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is uncertain. Although not first-line, HFOV remains... read more

Crystalloids vs. Colloids for Fluid Resuscitation in the ICU

Crystalloids vs. Colloids for Fluid Resuscitation in the ICU

This systematic review and meta-analysis, which included only high-level evidence from randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) conducted in intensive care settings, revealed that crystalloids were less effective than colloids... read more

Stronger evidence for vitamin C use in sepsis treatment

Stronger evidence for vitamin C use in sepsis treatment

A new meta-analysis reveals a positive correlation between incorporating vitamin C in the treatment of sepsis and favorable patient outcomes. Results of the meta-analysis showed a marked reduction in mortality and duration... read more

PTSD Phenomena After Critical Illness

PTSD Phenomena After Critical Illness

Experiencing critical illness and intensive care can be extremely stressful. Roughly 1 in 5 critical illness survivors have clinically significant post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in the year after intensive... read more

Value of variation index of inferior vena cava diameter in predicting fluid responsiveness in patients with circulatory shock receiving mechanical ventilation

Value of variation index of inferior vena cava diameter in predicting fluid responsiveness in patients with circulatory shock receiving mechanical ventilation

The findings of this study suggest that the ΔIVCD performed moderately well in predicting fluid responsiveness in patients with circulatory shock receiving mechanical ventilation. Overall, 603 patients were included in this... read more

Magnesium for Rapid Atrial Fibrillation Rate-Control in the ED

Magnesium for Rapid Atrial Fibrillation Rate-Control in the ED

Over the years, IV magnesium has been studied for the treatment of rapid AF in several clinical situations, most prominently in post-cardiac surgery patients. However, there are also studies in ED and cardiology patients,... read more

Prolonged Glucocorticoid Treatment is Associated with Improved ARDS Outcomes

Prolonged Glucocorticoid Treatment is Associated with Improved ARDS Outcomes

Prolonged methylprednisolone treatment accelerates the resolution of ARDS, improving a broad spectrum of interrelated clinical outcomes and decreasing hospital mortality and healthcare utilization. We conducted two sets of... read more

Effect of Decompressive Laparotomy on Organ Function in Patients with Abdominal Compartment Syndrome

Effect of Decompressive Laparotomy on Organ Function in Patients with Abdominal Compartment Syndrome

Decompressive laparotomy has been advised as potential treatment for abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) when medical management fails; yet, the effect on parameters of organ function differs markedly in the published literature.... read more

Noninvasive Ventilation in Patients With ARF and Do-Not-Intubate and Comfort-Measures-Only Orders

Noninvasive Ventilation in Patients With ARF and Do-Not-Intubate and Comfort-Measures-Only Orders

A large proportion of patients with do-not-intubate orders who received noninvasive ventilation survived to hospital discharge and at 1 year, with limited data showing no decrease in quality of life in survivors. Provision... read more

Flexible Versus Restrictive Visiting Policies in ICUs

Flexible Versus Restrictive Visiting Policies in ICUs

Flexible ICU visiting hours have the potential to reduce delirium and anxiety symptoms among patients and to improve family members' satisfaction. However, they may be associated with an increased risk of burnout among ICU... read more

Biomarkers for Prediction of RRT in AKI

Biomarkers for Prediction of RRT in AKI

Acute kidney injury (AKI) frequently occurs in critically ill patients and often precipitates use of renal replacement therapy (RRT). However, the ideal circumstances for whether and when to start RRT remain unclear. We performed... read more