Hemodynamic Support after Cardiac Surgery

Low cardiac output syndrome is a common complication of cardiac surgery and is associated with increased mortality. Levosimendan has been shown in small studies to be an effective therapy.... read more

Hemodynamic Support after Cardiac Surgery

Antifungal Treatment in the ICU

Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. Almost 80% of IFIs are due to Candida spp., which are the third most common isolated microorganisms in the intensive... read more

Antifungal Treatment in the ICU

Electrophysiological Investigations of Peripheral Nerves and Muscles

Resting trans-membrane potential difference (Em) of skeletal muscle is correlated to the energy status of the organism: the more severe the illness, the lower the Em. In 1971, Cunningham demonstrated this association with... read more

Electrophysiological Investigations of Peripheral Nerves and Muscles

Hoopla Aside, hs-cTnI is Not Catching Missed Mis

We have been searching for a tool to identify myocardial infarction patients who are truly safe for discharge ever since Pope, et al., found that we were discharging two percent of patients with MIs from the emergency department.... read more

Hoopla Aside, hs-cTnI is Not Catching Missed Mis

Aid Tool Does Not Help Care Decisions in Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation

Treatment decisions commonly have to be made in intensive care units (ICUs). These decisions are difficult for surrogate decision makers and often lead to decisional conflict, psychological distress, and treatments misaligned... read more

Aid Tool Does Not Help Care Decisions in Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation

Medical Dispatchers’ Perception of Visual Information in Real Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest

Providing medical dispatchers with visual information from the location of OHCA might improve their understanding of the OHCA-scenario, which might enhance communication, their ability to guide more bystanders and improve... read more

Medical Dispatchers’ Perception of Visual Information in Real Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest

Widespread use of Chlorhexidine Doesn’t Promote Resistance in S. Aureus

Investigators from the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) Division of Infectious Diseases recently published reassuring data indicating that use of chlorhexidine (CHG) to bathe hospitalized patients does not lead... read more

Widespread use of Chlorhexidine Doesn’t Promote Resistance in S. Aureus

The Effect of Defining COPD by the Lower Limit of Normal of FEV1/FVC Ratio in TIOSPIR Participants

Using the lower limit of normal to define airflow obstruction would have excluded patients in TIOtropium Safety and Performance In Respimat study with a higher risk of nonfatal major adverse cardiovascular events and a lower... read more

The Effect of Defining COPD by the Lower Limit of Normal of FEV1/FVC Ratio in TIOSPIR Participants

When is Patient Feedback Valid? Supporting Patient Feedback as a Catalyst for Change

As part of the revalidation process, doctors must collect patient feedback at least once every five years. While it is encouraging to see patient feedback included in this process, questions must be asked about what message,... read more

When is Patient Feedback Valid? Supporting Patient Feedback as a Catalyst for Change

Recommendations on the Use of Ultrasound Guidance for Adult Thoracentesis

The use of ultrasound guidance for thoracentesis has been associated with increased success rates and decreased complication rates. Ultrasound can be used to estimate the pleural fluid volume, characterize the effusion as... read more

Recommendations on the Use of Ultrasound Guidance for Adult Thoracentesis

Optimizing Patient and Family Education Resources for the ICU

Offering stronger patient and family education tools in the ICU will ease patient and caregiver fears and make them more comfortable with the care setting. An integrated, centralized, and digital platform is best suited for... read more

Optimizing Patient and Family Education Resources for the ICU

The Psychological Impact of Intensive Care

A period in intensive care is known to negatively affect patients' long term physical, cognitive and psychiatric health, in what's known as post-intensive care syndrome (PICS). Researchers from the University of Oxford sought... read more

The Psychological Impact of Intensive Care

50 States Ranked by Amount of Active Nurses

California contains the most professionally active registered nurses in the U.S. with 337,738 RNs, according to a ranking from the Kaiser Family Foundation. The ranking is based on October 2018 data compiled by Redi-Data... read more

50 States Ranked by Amount of Active Nurses

Partial Pressure of Oxygen and Neurological Outcome in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Patients

Following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), patients regularly suffer from post cardiac arrest syndrome including symptoms of anoxic brain injury and reperfusion-related damage. Hyperoxemia or hypoxemia exposure occurred... read more

Partial Pressure of Oxygen and Neurological Outcome in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Patients

Systematic Review of the Effects of ICU Noise on Sleep of Healthy Subjects and the Critically Ill

ICU patients exhibit disturbed sleeping patterns, often attributed to environmental noise, although the relative contribution of noise compared to other potentially disrupting factors is often debated. We therefore systematically... read more

Systematic Review of the Effects of ICU Noise on Sleep of Healthy Subjects and the Critically Ill

ICU RN Job Dissatisfaction, Burnout Linked to Moral Distress

Job satisfaction and practice environment are associated with moral distress among critical care nurses, according to a study published online Jan. 3 in the American Journal of Critical Care. The researchers found that 56... read more

ICU RN Job Dissatisfaction, Burnout Linked to Moral Distress

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

Host Genetic Variants in Sepsis Risk

A Framework for Increasing Trust Between Patients and the Organizations That Care for Them

Trust matters in health care. It makes patients feel less vulnerable, clinicians feel more effective, and reduces the imbalances of information by improving the flow of information. Trust is so fundamental to the patient-physician... read more

A Framework for Increasing Trust Between Patients and the Organizations That Care for Them