Chest
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To identify the typical duration of postoperative mechanical ventilation following coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), and to identify risk factors for prolonged postoperative ventilation. ⋯ Typically, patients can be expected to be extubated within 3 days after CABG. Certain preoperative comorbidities, especially preoperative cardiac or respiratory instability, are predictive of prolonged postoperative mechanical ventilation.
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Comparative Study
A study of consecutive autopsies in a medical ICU : a comparison of clinical cause of death and autopsy diagnosis.
To determine the degree of concordance between clinical cause of death and autopsy diagnosis in a medical ICU (MICU) setting. ⋯ Younger patients tended to have a higher autopsy rate than older patients. The discordance between the clinical cause of death and postmortem diagnosis was 19.8%. In 44.4% of the discordant cases, knowledge of the correct diagnosis would have altered therapy.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Filgrastim in patients with pneumonia and severe sepsis or septic shock.
Evaluate the safety of filgrastim (recombinant methionyl human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor) administration, combined with standard therapy, in patients with pneumonia and either septic shock or severe sepsis who were receiving mechanical ventilation. ⋯ Filgrastim appeared to be well tolerated in this population of patients with pneumonia and severe sepsis or septic shock. Larger studies to determine the benefit of filgrastim in patients with pneumonia and sepsis or organ dysfunction are warranted.
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To assess, by systematic review, the efficacy and safety of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) in the treatment of lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (DVT). A secondary objective is to assess the optimal dose and route of administration of rt-PA. ⋯ This systematic review does not support routine use of rt-PA for DVT.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Acute ventricular rate control in atrial fibrillation: IV combination of diltiazem and digoxin vs. IV diltiazem alone.
To analyze the efficacy of an IV combination of diltiazem and digoxin vs IV diltiazem alone for acute ventricular rate control in patients with atrial fibrillation. ⋯ This study demonstrates that in patients with atrial fibrillation who have a rapid ventricular response, the IV combination of diltiazem and digoxin results in a more efficacious ventricular rate control with fewer fluctuations than that achieved by therapy with IV diltiazem alone.