An Orthopedic Surgeon Explains: Diastolic Heart Failure

It seems that every now and then we have to deal with something other than the bones. As you can imagine, this is sub-optimal at best. Because bones. Anyhow, I’ve been asked to discuss one of those issues with you, and... read more

An Orthopedic Surgeon Explains: Diastolic Heart Failure

Effects of Polymyxin B Hemoperfusion on Mortality in Patients With Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock

Several studies have reported a survival benefit for polymyxin B hemoperfusion treatment in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. However, recently, a propensity-matched analysis and a randomized controlled trial... read more

Effects of Polymyxin B Hemoperfusion on Mortality in Patients With Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock

In Treating Sepsis, Questions About Timing and Mandates

The question of whether Rory's Regulations save lives isn’t asked or answered in the recent study. Sepsis deaths were already decreasing in the United States before the mandate, and determining its contribution to... read more

In Treating Sepsis, Questions About Timing and Mandates

Sepsis Prediction in Critically Ill Patients by Platelet Activation Markers on ICU Admission

Platelets have been involved in both immune surveillance and host defense against severe infection. To date, whether platelet phenotype or other hemostasis components could be associated with predisposition to sepsis in critical... read more

Sepsis Prediction in Critically Ill Patients by Platelet Activation Markers on ICU Admission

Optimal Timing of RRT in Patients with AKI in the Context of Sepsis

Among 620 patients enrolled in AKIKI, 494 (80%) had sepsis and 413 (67%) septic shock. This can help to suggest recommendations in septic patients with AKI. AKIKI showed no significant difference in mortality between early... read more

Optimal Timing of RRT in Patients with AKI in the Context of Sepsis

Detecting impaired myocardial relaxation in sepsis with a novel tissue Doppler parameter

Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction is associated with mortality outcomes in severe sepsis and septic shock. There are ongoing issues with diagnosing diastolic dysfunction in this cohort, partly owing to the poor applicability... read more

Detecting impaired myocardial relaxation in sepsis with a novel tissue Doppler parameter

Resuscitating Sepsis – How I do it after Albios

Watch "Resuscitating Sepsis - How I do it after Albios" by Luciano Gattinoni.... read more

Resuscitating Sepsis – How I do it after Albios

Sepsis-Associated 30-Day Risk-Standardized Readmissions

One third of sepsis survivors were readmitted and wide variation exists between hospitals. Several demographic and structural factors are associated with this variation. Measures of higher quality in-hospital care were correlated... read more

Sepsis-Associated 30-Day Risk-Standardized Readmissions

Impact of End-Stage Renal Disease and Acute Kidney Injury on ICU Outcomes in Patients With Sepsis

Patients with sepsis having AKI have a higher mortality rate than those with ESRD and non-KI. Hospital and ICU mortality rates for patients with ESRD were similar to non-KI patients. Late AKI compared to early AKI had a higher... read more

Impact of End-Stage Renal Disease and Acute Kidney Injury on ICU Outcomes in Patients With Sepsis

Evaluating Transfusion Strategies

Cancer patients are at increased risk of septic shock. Therefore, Bergamin et al set out to assess whether a restrictive strategy of red blood cell (RBC) transfusion reduces 28-day mortality when compared with a liberal strategy... read more

Evaluating Transfusion Strategies

State Sepsis Mandates – A New Era for Regulation of Hospital Quality

New York State regulations mandating protocol-based sepsis care may have unintended consequences. Hospitals should have maximal flexibility in deciding how to implement protocol-guided care so that they can respond appropriately... read more

State Sepsis Mandates – A New Era for Regulation of Hospital Quality

New Biomarker Improves Early Sepsis Detection in the Emergency Department

Sepsis most often presents to the emergency department (ED), and delayed detection is harmful. The white blood count (WBC) is often used to detect sepsis in the ED. New research shows that volume increases of circulating... read more

New Biomarker Improves Early Sepsis Detection in the Emergency Department

Evaluation of early antimicrobial therapy adaptation guided by the BetaLACTA test

Rapid diagnostic tests detecting microbial resistance are needed for limiting the duration of inappropriateness of empirical antimicrobial therapy (EAT) in ICU patients, besides reducing the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics.... read more

Evaluation of early antimicrobial therapy adaptation guided by the BetaLACTA test

WHO Resolution: Recognizing Sepsis as a Global Health Priority

The true burden of disease arising from sepsis remains unknown. The current estimates of 30 million episodes and 6 million deaths per year come from a systematic review that extrapolated from published national or local population... read more

WHO Resolution: Recognizing Sepsis as a Global Health Priority

Sepsis and Therapeutic Interventions

The global burden of sepsis is substantial. Therefore, in a retrospective before-after clinical study, Marik et al compared the outcome and clinical course of consecutive septic patients treated with intravenous vitamin C,... read more

Sepsis and Therapeutic Interventions

Why a stay in the ICU can leave patients worse off

Almost 6 million patients land in an intensive care unit every year, and for many, it marks a turning point in their lives. A substantial number of patients leave the ICU with newly acquired problems, from dementia to nerve... read more

Why a stay in the ICU can leave patients worse off

COPD can increase risk of developing sepsis

People with COPD have a higher than average risk of developing lung infections, such as pneumonia, which then puts them at higher risk for developing sepsis. Sepsis and septic shock can result from an infection anywhere in... read more

COPD can increase risk of developing sepsis

Sepsis E-alert System with Response Team Improves Outcomes

According to a new study, the use of a multifaceted intervention including an electronic sepsis alert (e-alert) system with sepsis response team was associated with improvement in care processes of sepsis and septic shock... read more

Sepsis E-alert System with Response Team Improves Outcomes

Potential survival benefit of polymyxin B hemoperfusion in patients with septic shock

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether polymyxin B hemoperfusion (PMX-HP) improves the survival of patients with septic shock. Our results strongly suggest that PMX-HP reduces all-cause hospital mortality and... read more

Potential survival benefit of polymyxin B hemoperfusion in patients with septic shock

Management of Septic Shock

The results of the PRISM trials confirm that early intervention strategies, including early detection of sepsis, risk stratification, early administration of antibiotics, and appropriate fluid resuscitation, improve the outcomes... read more

Management of Septic Shock

Malnutrition, Critical Illness Survivors, and Postdischarge Outcomes

The exposure of interest was malnutrition determined at intensive care unit (ICU) admission by a registered dietitian using clinical judgment and on data related to unintentional weight loss, inadequate nutrient intake, and... read more

Malnutrition, Critical Illness Survivors, and Postdischarge Outcomes

ER Overcrowding Delays Sepsis Treatment

Prompt antibiotic initiation is associated with improved mortality in sepsis and septic shock. However, new research shows that patients with sepsis, a life-threatening complication of an infection, had delays approaching... read more

ER Overcrowding Delays Sepsis Treatment