Targeting Transfusion-Related Acute Lung Injury

We propose that the most promising therapeutic strategies to explore are interleukin-10 therapy, down-modulating C-reactive protein levels, targeting reactive oxygen species, or blocking the interleukin-8 receptors; all focused... read more

Effect of Nocturnal Sound Reduction on the Incidence of Delirium in ICU Patients

The incidence of delirium in ICU patients was significantly reduced after implementation of a nocturnal sound-reduction protocol. However, reported sleep quality did not improve. A significant difference in slope in the percentage... read more

Bedside Limited Echocardiography by the Emergency Physician Is Accurate During Evaluation of the Critically Ill Patient

Our study suggests that PEP sonographers are capable of obtaining images that permit accurate assessment of LVF and IVC volume. BLEEP can be performed with focused training and oversight by a pediatric cardiologist. We conducted... read more

Transfers From ICU to Hospital Ward

Little is known about documentation during transitions of patient care between clinical specialties. Therefore, we examined the focus, structure and purpose of physician progress notes for patients transferred from the intensive... read more

Stress Ulcer Prophylaxis in ICU Patients Receiving Enteral Nutrition

Our results suggested that in patients receiving enteral feeding, pharmacologic SUP is not beneficial and combined interventions may even increase the risk of nosocomial pneumonia. We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane... read more

The Overlooked Danger of Delirium in Hospitals

The condition, once known as "ICU psychosis," disproportionately affects seniors and those who have been heavily sedated—and the delusions can last long after they're discharged. Patients treated in intensive-care units... read more

Do We Need New Trials of Procalcitonin-Guided Antibiotic Therapy?

Using biomarkers as a guide to tailor the duration of antibiotic treatment in respiratory infections is an attractive hypothesis assessed in several studies. Recent work aiming to summarize the evidence assessed the effect... read more

Lower ARDS Mortality at High-Volume Intensive Care Units

For patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), mortality is lower in high-volume intensive care units (ICUs), according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Thoracic Society. The researchers... read more

Association Between Fluid Balance and Outcomes in Critically Ill Children

Fluid overload is common and is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality in critically ill children. Additional research should now ideally focus on interventions aimed to mitigate the potential for harm associated... read more

Prompt Administration of Antibiotics and Fluids in the Treatment of Sepsis

We conclude that antibiotic therapy is highly time sensitive, and efforts should be made to deliver this critical therapy as early as possible in sepsis, perhaps extending into the first point of medical contact outside the... read more

Disruptive Technology or Standard of Care?

The study and practice of medicine is constantly changing. Hospitals and specialty societies develop protocols and standards of care based on what is thought to be the best evidence and science at the time. Over the years,... read more

Differential Diagnosis Between Newly Diagnosed Asthma and COPD Using EBC Metabolomics

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are heterogeneous diseases with high pathological burden and healthcare costs. In the outpatient clinical practice, an accurate differential diagnosis is often very... read more

Differences in Impact of Definitional Elements on Mortality Precludes International Comparisons of Sepsis Epidemiology

Within a sepsis cohort, we illustrate case-mix heterogeneity using definitional elements (infection source and organ dysfunction). In the context of improving outcomes, we illustrate differential secular trends in impact... read more

Monitoring ICU Performance-impact of a Novel Individualised Performance Scorecard in Critical Care Medicine

Patients admitted to a critical care medicine (CCM) environment, including an intensive care unit (ICU), are susceptible to harm and significant resource utilisation. Therefore, a strategy to optimise provider performance... read more

Enteral vs Parenteral Nutrition in Critical Care Requiring Mechanical Ventilation

Enteral feeding was not superior to parenteral feeding for early nutritional support in critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilation and vasopressor support for shock, according to the results of a study published... read more

Prospective Evaluation of a Multifaceted Intervention to Improve Outcomes in Intensive Care

Studies comprehensively assessing interventions to improve team communication and to engage patients and care partners in ICUs are lacking. This study examines the effectiveness of a patient-centered care and engagement program... read more

Liberal Glycemic Control in Critically Ill Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

Ludwig Lin, MD, speaks with Palash Kar, MBBS, about the article, "Liberal Glycemic Control in Critically Ill Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: An Exploratory Study," published in Critical Care Medicine. In this article, Dr.... read more

Factors Associated with Life-Sustaining Treatment Restriction in the ICU

Few previous studies have investigated associations between clinical variables available after 24 hours in the ICU and decisions to restrict life-sustaining treatment. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated... read more

What have been the major recent advances in delirium research and care?

Editor-In-Chief-Elect Giuseppe Citerio discusses the recent article focused on the intensive care delirium research agenda in Intensive Care Medicine (ICM). For this evidence-based paper, a multinational and inter-professional... read more

Barriers and Facilitators to Early Rehabilitation in Mechanically Ventilated Patients

Using a theoretically driven approach, this study identified important barriers and facilitators to early rehabilitation in ICU patients. In particular, the domains of social influences and behavioral regulation were not... read more

Defining Sepsis on the Wards: Comparing Two Sepsis Definitions

Sepsis is defined as a dysregulated host response to infection, resulting in acute organ dysfunction. Although the condition has been thoroughly studied in the intensive care unit (ICU), accurate data collection outside of... read more

Supplemental Parenteral Nutrition vs. Usual Care in Critically Ill Adults

This individually titrated supplemental PN strategy applied over 7 days significantly increased energy delivery when compared to usual care delivery. Clinical and functional outcomes were similar between the two patient groups.... read more