Improving survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: AHA Consensus Statement. Neumar RW et al. Circulation 2011;123:2898-2910. FREE FULL TEXT. Guideline. Review.
Jun 282011
Jun 262011
The best approach to nutrition during critical illness is unknown. Casaer et al randomized 4,640 critically-ill patients who could not get enough calories by enteral feeding to receive TPN either on ICU day 3, or to wait until ICU day 8. While waiting for their TPN in the late group, patients got calories in sugar [… read more]
Jun 252011
Zager et al examined registry data on 38,917 patients admitted to Beth Israel and Brigham & Women’s hospitals between 1997-2007, and concluded that low socioeconomic status (as determined by census tract neighborhood of residence) did not influence 30- or 365-day mortality after admission to these hospitals’ ICU. CHEST 2011;139:1368-1379.
Jun 242011
Peacock et al randomized 226 people in 13 US EDs to either IV nicardipine or IV labetalol for hypertensive emergency (SBP ~215). More patients receiving nicardipine achieving their target BP range within 30 minutes (92% vs. 83%). (n=226) Critical Care 2011;15:R157. FREE FULL TEXT
Jun 232011
That’s what Banerjee et al argue, after retrospectively comparing ICU costs before/after implementation of 24-hour in-house intensivist coverage. They found that total costs for patients admitted at night declined by 61%, while daytime costs were unchanged. Crit Care Med 2011;39:1257-1262.
Jun 212011
Potential metabolic consequences of statins in sepsis. Brealy DA et al. Crit Care Med 2011;39:1514-1520.
Jun 192011
Masclans et al followed 38 patients with ARDS in 3 ICUs for 6 months. Health-related quality of life (Nottingham Test Profile) was lower than expected at 6 months, with 40% reporting limitations in daily activities mainly due to low energy, mobility and social functioning. Mild radiographic abnormalities and restrictive physiology were usually present on HRCT [… read more]
Jun 152011
Survival of trauma patients after massive red blood cell transfusion using a high or low red blood cell to plasma transfusion ratio. Rajasekhar et al. Crit Care Med 2011;39:1507-1513. Meta-analysis.
Jun 142011
Gershengorn et al retrospectively compared two MICUs at Beth Israel: one with “midlevels” (nurse practitioners and physician assistants during the day with attending coverage overnight) and one that was all house staff 24/7. There were no differences in important outcomes (mortality, MICU or hospital LOS), although the study was nonrandomized and subject to bias. CHEST [… read more]
Jun 122011
Pileggi et al analyzed 28 studies and concluded that decontaminating the GI/respiratory tract with antiseptics reduced ventilator-associated pneumonia by 27%; decontamination with antibiotics reduced VAP by 36%. Antibiotic decontamination also reduced ICU infections in general, by 29%. Critical Care 2011;15:R155. FREE FULL TEXT Also see last month’s “Oral / gastric antibiotic decontamination reduced bacteremias in [… read more]
Jun 102011
Toxic epidermal necrolysis and Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Gerull et al. Crit Care Med 2011;39:1507-1513.
Jun 092011
Cardiopulmonary arrest and cardiopulmonary monitoring. Sixteen articles, 104 pages. Curr Opin Crit Care 2011;17:211-315. Cardiac arrest review.
Jun 082011
Of 421 patients admitted to ICUs after cardiac arrest, 281 (67%) developed 373 infections, mostly pneumonias, report Mongardon et al. Crit Care Med 2011;39:1359-1364.
Jun 072011
Meijvis et al randomized 304 people hospitalized with CAP in the Netherlands to receive dexamethasone (5 mg) or placebo daily for 4 days on admission. Those getting steroids had a ~1 day shorter length of stay and no adverse effects, besides hyperglycemia. Patients were ill, with almost half having a pneumonia severity index/PORT class of [… read more]
Jun 062011
Seyler et al prospectively observed 53 patients with sepsis and renal failure on CRRT. Measured at a single point in time after infusion, the concentrations of Zosyn, Ceftaz, and Cefepime at standard dosing regimens were all deemed suboptimal by the authors. Meropenem performed slightly better. Critical Care 2011;15:R137. FREE FULL TEXT
Jun 042011
Elliott et al (of ANZICS) randomized 195 survivors of >24h mechanical ventilation to get 3 home physical therapy visits and telephone support, or usual care, over the 8 weeks after hospital discharge. At 26 weeks, there was no difference in 6-minute walk, quality-of-life measures, or objective physical function measures. (n=195) Critical Care 2011;15:R142. FREE FULL [… read more]
Jun 022011
Sharma et al retrospectively observed >200,000 total patient-days for 9 months before and 27 months after implementation of a rapid response team at a single institution (U of Texas Galveston). Code rates and mortality did not change. CHEST 2011;139:1361-1367. Many cohort studies with historical controls over the past decade suggested benefits of RRTs, although others [… read more]
May 262011
Rice et al randomized 200 mechanically ventilated patients to either trophic feedings (10 mL/hr) or full enteric feedings for 6 days. There were no differences in mortality or ventilator-free days. The trophic-fed patients had fewer episodes of “high residuals.” (n=200) Crit Care Med 2011;39:967-974.
May 152011
Acute lung injury & critical care update for 2010: Vadasz I, Sznajder J, AJRCCM 2011;183:1147-1152. ARDS review. Critical care review.
May 152011
Prone positioning improves oxygenation in ARDS patients without improving outcome. Recruitment maneuvers do too. Rival et al prospectively tested the effects of both strategies together in 16 ARDS patients. Two extended sighs of 45 cm H2O in pressure control mode while lying prone improved PaO2/FiO2 from 98 to 166 mm Hg, without obvious adverse (or positive) effects. Critical [… read more]