Choosing Wisely Interventions to Reduce Antibiotic Overuse

Choosing Wisely Interventions to Reduce Antibiotic Overuse

These real-world multicomponent interventions responding to physician pay-for-performance (P4P) incentives were associated with substantial reductions in antibiotic prescriptions for acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs)... read more

Comparison of ETA and BALF mNGS in Severe Pneumonia

Comparison of ETA and BALF mNGS in Severe Pneumonia

Our study showed that some differences in the microbiological diagnosis via endotracheal aspirate (ETA) mNGS and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) appear to exist. Clinicians... read more

Heparin-Binding Protein Predictive Value and D-Dimer in Sepsis Patients

Heparin-Binding Protein Predictive Value and D-Dimer in Sepsis Patients

As common clinical indicators for predicting sepsis, both HBP and D-dimer have high diagnostic effectiveness. Furthermore, the combined application of these two biomarkers can achieve favorable effects. In clinical practice,... read more

Albumin Infusion May Decrease the Mortality of Hypoalbuminemia Patients with Severe Acute Pancreatitis

Albumin Infusion May Decrease the Mortality of Hypoalbuminemia Patients with Severe Acute Pancreatitis

Our study revealed that the lowest albumin level within 1 week after admission was independently associated with mortality in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). In addition, infusing albumin may decrease mortality for hypoalbuminemia... read more

CEUS Value in Diagnosis of AKI in ICU patients

CEUS Value in Diagnosis of AKI in ICU patients

Ultrasound can assess renal perfusion, but its role in the evaluation of acute kidney injury (AKI) is still unclear. This prospective cohort study was to investigate the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the... read more

Dexmedetomidine Improved Sleep Quality in the ICU After Laryngectomy

Dexmedetomidine Improved Sleep Quality in the ICU After Laryngectomy

This pilot study found that a 0.03 μg/kg/h dexmedetomidine infusion improved objective and subjective sleep quality in patients admitted to the ICU after laryngectomy. The dosing regimen used was safe and feasible for use... read more

Immediate Norepinephrine vs. Initial Fluid Loading

Immediate Norepinephrine vs. Initial Fluid Loading

In endotoxemic shock, immediate start of norepinephrine significantly improved regional splanchnic and intestinal microcirculatory flows when compared with mandatory fixed-dose fluid loading preceding norepinephrine. Immediate... read more

High Speed Blood Flow Measurements Enabled by LW-iDCS

High Speed Blood Flow Measurements Enabled by LW-iDCS

In this work we have demonstrated the development of long wavelength, interferometric diffuse correlation spectroscopy. Using a fiber optic probe with collocated detection fibers, we were able to directly compare measured... read more

TEE Before Cardioversion in Atrial Fibrillation Patients

TEE Before Cardioversion in Atrial Fibrillation Patients

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) offers an invaluable, non-invasive avenue for diagnosing and managing various cardiac conditions, including atrial fibrillation (AF). As the most common cardiac arrhythmia, AF affects... read more

Secondary Bacterial Pneumonia is the Key Factor in COVID-19 Fatalities Not Cytokine Storm

Secondary Bacterial Pneumonia is the Key Factor in COVID-19 Fatalities Not Cytokine Storm

A recent study found that secondary bacterial pneumonia, rather than the much-discussed “cytokine storm,” is a significant factor in COVID-19-related fatalities. Almost half of the patients who required mechanical... read more

Iatrogenic Hypoxemia and Atrial Septal Defect Due to Electrical Storm Ablation After Left Ventricular Assist Device

Iatrogenic Hypoxemia and Atrial Septal Defect Due to Electrical Storm Ablation After Left Ventricular Assist Device

Predominant strategies for the management of electrical storm include antiarrhythmic medical therapy, beta-blockers, and catheter ablation. Some studies have demonstrated refractory electrical storm managed with mechanical... read more

Prone vs. Supine Position Ventilation in Intubated COVID-19 Patients

Prone vs. Supine Position Ventilation in Intubated COVID-19 Patients

Whether prone positioning of patients undergoing mechanical ventilation for COVID-19 pneumonia has benefits over supine positioning is not clear. We conducted a systematic review with meta-analysis to determine whether prone... read more

Significant Persistent Pain Symptoms After Critical Care Illness

Significant Persistent Pain Symptoms After Critical Care Illness

Persistent pain could be a common health problem after critical illness care. Our data also suggest that there is a lack of specific follow-up after ICU discharge. Given the major consequences on patient quality of life,... read more

Diagnostic Accuracy of Point-of-Care Ultrasound for Shock

Diagnostic Accuracy of Point-of-Care Ultrasound for Shock

In this study, the identification of the etiology of shock by Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) was characterized by high sensitivity and a positive likelihood ratio, especially for obstructive shock. Hence, these findings... read more