Intensive care medicine
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Intensive care medicine · May 1997
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialSaccharomyces boulardii prevents diarrhea in critically ill tube-fed patients. A multicenter, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial.
To assess the preventive effect of Saccharomyces boulardii on diarrhea in critically ill tube-fed patients and to evaluate risk factors for diarrhea. ⋯ S. boulardii prevents diarrhea in critically ill tube-fed patients, especially in patients with risk factors for diarrhea.
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Intensive care medicine · May 1997
Meta AnalysisAssessing the efficiency of the admission process to a critical care unit: does the literature allow the use of benchmarking?
To determine the ability of the current literature to supply appropriate data for benchmarking admission practice to a multidisciplinary critical care unit. ⋯ The current literature does not provide adequate data on critical care unit admission practices to allow useful application of the method of benchmarking. There is a need for publicly accessible large databases to allow individual critical care units to determine their level of efficiency when compared to similar institutions.
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Intensive care medicine · May 1997
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialGastrointestinal permeability following cardiopulmonary bypass: a randomised study comparing the effects of dopamine and dopexamine.
To compare the effects of dopexamine and dopamine on the mucosal permeability of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). ⋯ Compared to dopamine, dopexamine reduces GIT permeability following surgery involving cardiopulmonary bypass. The mechanism of this effect remains unclear.
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Intensive care medicine · May 1997
Quality of life outcomes after intensive care. Comparison with a community group.
Compare the health related quality of life of intensive care patients with a community sample. ⋯ ICU patients following discharge have worse perceived health and more anxiety than others in the community. Sixty-three per cent of patients had a poorer QOL and functional health than those who returned to full health and those in the community.
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Intensive care medicine · May 1997
Respiratory system mechanics in the early phase of acute respiratory failure due to severe kyphoscoliosis.
To evaluate respiratory mechanics in the early phase of decompensation in a group of seven patients with severe kyphoscoliosis (KS) (Cobb angle > 90 degrees) requiring mechanical ventilatory support. ⋯ During acute decompensation, both lung and chest-wall compliance are severely reduced in KS patients: conversely, and, contrary to that in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, increases in airway resistance and PEEPi seem to play only a secondary role.