Immediate interruption of sedation compared with usual sedation care in critically ill postoperative patients

Immediate interruption of sedation compared with usual sedation care in critically ill postoperative patients

This trial provides evidence that a strategy of avoiding continuous sedation as early as possible, in the absence of residual neuromuscular blockade and hypothermia, compared with usual sedation care, resulted in improvements... read more

Surfactant protein D is a causal risk factor for COPD

Surfactant protein D is a causal risk factor for COPD

Surfactant protein D (SP-D) is produced primarily in the lung and is involved in regulating pulmonary surfactants, lipid homeostasis and innate immunity. Circulating SP-D levels in blood are associated with chronic obstructive... read more

Interventions to Improve the Physical Function of ICU Survivors

Interventions to Improve the Physical Function of ICU Survivors

ICU admissions are ever increasing across the United States. Following critical illness, physical functioning (PF) may be impaired for up to 5 years. We performed a systematic review of randomized controlled trials evaluating... read more

The utility of biomarkers in traumatic brain injury clinical management

The utility of biomarkers in traumatic brain injury clinical management

Currently, TBI management is guided by clinical histories and neuroimaging techniques. While these techniques may be advanced, they are more costly than serum analysis, involve exposure to ionizing radiations, and have certain... read more

What’s the Bleeding Problem with Trauma Laparotomies?!

Mortality for hypotensive trauma patients undergoing emergency laparotomy have not changed in 20 years. This blog explores the literature and the future! Wait! We're emergency physicians, why do we care about laparotomies?!... read more

Short People Have Higher Risk Of Dying In The ICU

Short People Have Higher Risk Of Dying In The ICU

Researchers of a new study have found a link between a patient's height and odds of survival in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital. The study, published in the journal Intensive Care Medicine on Dec. 23, show that... read more

Patient-tailored Triage Decisions by Anesthesiologist-staffed Prehospital Critical Care Teams

Patient-tailored Triage Decisions by Anesthesiologist-staffed Prehospital Critical Care Teams

The primary objective was to estimate the incidence of patients in the Central Denmark Region triaged to bypass the local emergency department without being part of a predefined fast-track protocol. The secondary objective... read more

Continuous EEG Monitoring Remains Underused in Critically Ill

Continuous EEG Monitoring Remains Underused in Critically Ill

A retrospective cross-sectional study found that despite the fact that continuing electroencephalography (cEEG) use was associated with lower in-hospital mortality in critically ill patients, cEEG is underutilized. Experts... read more

You Can Get Sick From Germs on Hospital Floors

When you enter the hospital, probably the last thing that you’re thinking about is the floors. However, an emerging body of research suggests that hospital floors are covered with bacteria and could serve as a potential... read more

Fluid Responsiveness in a Hemodynamically Unstable Patient

Fluid Responsiveness in a Hemodynamically Unstable Patient

Only half of patients who are hemodynamically unstable will respond to a fluid bolus. There are no historical or physical examination findings that can help us decide whether a patient is a fluid responder, but we must treat... read more

Meaning of Intracranial Pressure-to-Blood Pressure Fisher-Transformed Pearson Correlation-Derived Optimal Cerebral Perfusion Pressure

Meaning of Intracranial Pressure-to-Blood Pressure Fisher-Transformed Pearson Correlation-Derived Optimal Cerebral Perfusion Pressure

These mechanistic simulations provide insight into the empiric basis of optimal cerebral perfusion pressure and the significance of PRx and Δ CPP. PRx and optimal cerebral perfusion pressure deviations do not directly reflect... 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

Risk Factors for 1-Year Mortality and Hospital Utilization Patterns in Critical Care Survivors

Risk Factors for 1-Year Mortality and Hospital Utilization Patterns in Critical Care Survivors

One in five ICU survivors die within 1 year, with advanced age and comorbidity being significant predictors of outcome, leading to high resource use. Care process factors indicating high system stress were associated with... read more

Effect of a Program Combining Transitional Care and Long-term Self-management Support on Outcomes of Hospitalized Patients With COPD

Effect of a Program Combining Transitional Care and Long-term Self-management Support on Outcomes of Hospitalized Patients With COPD

In a single-site randomized clinical trial of patients hospitalized due to Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a 3-month program that combined transition and long-term self-management support resulted in significantly... read more