The Efficacy of ECMO for Severe ARDS

The H1N1 epidemic demonstrated that extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) use in the most critically ill patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) resulted in a substantial decrease in mortality. The CESAR... read more

The Efficacy of ECMO for Severe ARDS

Predictors of In-Hospital Mortality After RRT Calls

Despite wide adoption of rapid response teams across the United States, predictors of in-hospital mortality for patients receiving rapid response team calls are poorly characterized. Identification of patients at high risk... read more

Predictors of In-Hospital Mortality After RRT Calls

Intubation in Special Patient Populations: Intracranial Hemorrhage

Lidocaine has weak evidence to support its ICP blunting effects. Fentanyl may be a better choice. Ketamine is a reasonable alternative to etomidate during induction. No differnce in mortality exists between usage of succinylcholine... read more

Intubation in Special Patient Populations: Intracranial Hemorrhage

Losing Sleep Over Delirium

Delirium is an acute cognitive disorder that presents with alterations in levels of consciousness accompanied by a change in cognition or perceptual disturbance that develops over a short period (hours to days) and fluctuates... read more

Losing Sleep Over Delirium

Immunocompromised Patients with ARDS

Immunosuppression is frequent in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and infections are the main risk factors for ARDS in these immunocompromised patients. Their management differs from that of immunocompetent... read more

Immunocompromised Patients with ARDS

Effects of Chlorhexidine Gluconate Oral Care on Hospital Mortality

Chlorhexidine oral care is widely used in critically and non-critically ill hospitalized patients to maintain oral health. We investigated the effect of chlorhexidine oral care on mortality in a general hospitalized population.... read more

Effects of Chlorhexidine Gluconate Oral Care on Hospital Mortality

Severity of Sepsis-Associated Coagulopathy Predicts Hospital Mortality

atients with sepsis-associated coagulopathy appear to be at heightened risk of death, according to results of a large retrospective cohort study. The risk of death in the study increased with the severity of the sepsis-associated... read more

Severity of Sepsis-Associated Coagulopathy Predicts Hospital Mortality

High-Sensitivity Troponins and Outcomes After Myocardial Infarction

An excellent report from Kai Eggers et al in Sweden on impact of introducing high-sensitivity cardiac troponins in 87,879 patients with myocardial infarction. In a nationwide cohort study on patients with a first MI, the... read more

High-Sensitivity Troponins and Outcomes After Myocardial Infarction

In vitro comparison of the adsorption of inflammatory mediators by blood purification devices

Septic shock, a leading cause of acute kidney injury, induces release of pro-/anti-inflammatory mediators, leading to increased mortality and poor renal recovery. This is the first in vitro study directly comparing three... read more

In vitro comparison of the adsorption of inflammatory mediators by blood purification devices

The Relationship Between ICU Hypotension and In-hospital Mortality and Morbidity in Septic Patients

Current guidelines recommend maintaining a mean arterial pressure (MAP)≥ 65 mmHg in septic patients. However, the relationship between hypotension and major complications in septic patients remains unclear. We, therefore,... read more

The Relationship Between ICU Hypotension and In-hospital Mortality and Morbidity in Septic Patients

The Contemporary Timing of Trauma Deaths

In this study, the distribution of trauma deaths no longer appears to be trimodal. This may reflect advances in trauma and ICU care, and the widespread adaption of damage control principles. Early deaths, however, remains... read more

The Contemporary Timing of Trauma Deaths

PICU Outcomes and Outcome Predictions

Interview with Dr. Murray Pollack, the Director of Outcomes Research at the Children's National Medical Center and Professor of Pediatrics at the George Washington University School of Medicine. Severity of illness research... read more

PICU Outcomes and Outcome Predictions

Clinical Decision Support for In-Hospital AKI

AKI carries a significant mortality and morbidity risk. Use of a clinical decision support system (CDSS) might improve outcomes. We conducted a multicenter, sequential period analysis of 528,108 patients without ESRD before... read more

Clinical Decision Support for In-Hospital AKI

Looking for a Better Way to Treat Hypoxia in the Emergency Department? Reach for High-Flow Nasal Cannula

High-flow nasal cannula should be considered a first-line therapy in all patients with hypoxemic respiratory failure not from cardiogenic pulmonary edema and without concomitant hypercapnia. The high flow rate of HFNC offers... read more

Looking for a Better Way to Treat Hypoxia in the Emergency Department? Reach for High-Flow Nasal Cannula

Do We Know Enough to Recommend Corticosteroids in ARDS?

We read with interest the evidence-based recommendations for the use of prolonged corticosteroids in early moderate to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) published in Critical Care Medicine by the Corticosteroid... read more

Do We Know Enough to Recommend Corticosteroids in ARDS?

Whole Blood – More than the Sum of Its Components?

This retrospective analysis was conducted in a US Military population across 6 combat hospitals in Iraq and Afghanistan between January 2004 and October 2007. Patient's transfused at least 1 unit RBCs met inclusion criteria... read more

Muscle Weakness and 5-Year Survival in ARDS Survivors

At hospital discharge, >1/3 of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) survivors had muscle weakness. Greater strength at discharge and throughout follow-up was associated with improved 5-year survival. In patients with... read more

Muscle Weakness and 5-Year Survival in ARDS Survivors

Vasopressors for Hypotensive Shock

This review seeks unbiased evidence about the effects of different drugs that enhance blood pressure on risk of dying in critically ill patients with impaired blood circulation. Review authors identified 28 randomized controlled... read more

Vasopressors for Hypotensive Shock