Intensive care medicine
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Intensive care medicine · Feb 2008
Cardiac morphological and functional changes during early septic shock: a transesophageal echocardiographic study.
The objective was to prospectively evaluate cardiac morphological and functional changes using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) during early septic shock. ⋯ Shock: clinical studies (38), Cardiovascular monitoring (34).
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Intensive care medicine · Feb 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialStress doses of hydrocortisone in septic shock: beneficial effects on opsonization-dependent neutrophil functions.
To assess the effects of stress doses of hydrocortisone (HC) on clinical parameters and neutrophil functions in patients with septic shock. ⋯ In patients with septic shock stress doses of HC exert beneficial effects in terms of improvements in hemodynamics, decrease in pro-inflammatory mediators, and oxidative stress without the compromise of opsonization-dependent phagocytic neutrophil functions; thus, HC treatment does not aggravate non-specific immunosuppression but instead improves innate immunity in the early stage of septic shock.
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Intensive care medicine · Feb 2008
Multicenter StudyCandidemia and candiduria in critically ill patients admitted to intensive care units in France: incidence, molecular diversity, management and outcome.
To determine the concomitant incidence, molecular diversity, management and outcome of nosocomial candidemia and candiduria in intensive care unit (ICU) patients in France. ⋯ Candidemia is late-onset ICU-acquired infection associated with high mortality. No difference in susceptibility and genetic background were found between blood and urine strains of Candida species.
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Intensive care medicine · Feb 2008
Multicenter StudyReasons, considerations, difficulties and documentation of end-of-life decisions in European intensive care units: the ETHICUS Study.
To evaluate physicians' reasoning, considerations and possible difficulties in end-of-life decision-making for patients in European intensive care units (ICUs). ⋯ European ICU physicians do not experience difficulties with end-of-life decisions in most cases. Allocation of limited resources is a minor consideration and autonomous choices by patient or family remain unusual. Inter-regional differences were found.
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Intensive care medicine · Feb 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialHeparinized solution vs. saline solution in the maintenance of arterial catheters: a double blind randomized clinical trial.
The objectives were to analyze the effectiveness of heparinized solution vs. saline solution for the maintenance of arterial catheters and to detect changes in the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and platelet count in the samples extracted from both groups of arterial catheters. ⋯ The use of heparinized solution for arterial catheter maintenance doesnot appear to be justified. It did not increase the duration of the catheters, nor did it improve their functionality significantly. On the other hand, heparin Na altered aPTT significantly.