Intensive care medicine
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Intensive care medicine · May 2009
ReviewDepression in general intensive care unit survivors: a systematic review.
To critically review data on the prevalence of depressive symptoms in general intensive care unit (ICU) survivors, risk factors for these symptoms, and their impact on health-related quality of life (HRQOL). ⋯ Depressive symptoms are common in general ICU survivors and negatively impact HRQOL. Future studies should address how factors related to individual patients, critical illness and post-ICU recovery are associated with depression in ICU survivors.
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Intensive care medicine · May 2009
Family members of critically ill cancer patients: assessing the symptoms of anxiety and depression.
To determine prevalence and factors associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression in family members of critically ill cancer patients. ⋯ Present findings demonstrated a high prevalence of anxiety and depression in critically ill cancer patients' family members during an intensive care unit stay.
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Intensive care medicine · May 2009
ReviewSleep and delirium in ICU patients: a review of mechanisms and manifestations.
Sleep deprivation and delirium are conditions commonly encountered in intensive care unit patients. Sleep in these patients is characterized by sleep fragmentation, an increase in light sleep, and a decrease of both slow wave sleep and rapid eye movement sleep. The most common types of delirium in this population are hypoactive and mixed-type. ⋯ The link between them may be ascribed to shared mechanisms. An imbalance in neurotransmitters as well as alteration of melatonin production may contribute to the pathogenesis of both phenomena. A better understanding of the mechanisms and factors that contribute to sleep deprivation and delirium can guide the development of new methods and models for prevention and treatment of these problems and consequently improve patient outcomes.
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Intensive care medicine · May 2009
Multicenter Study Clinical TrialIntravascular cooling for rapid induction of moderate hypothermia in severely head-injured patients: results of a multicenter study (IntraCool).
To evaluate the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of a new method of intravascular temperature management for inducing moderate hypothermia (MHT). ⋯ Intravascular methods to induce MHT combined with precooling with cold saline at 4 degrees C appear to be feasible and effective in reducing ICP in patients with high ICP refractory to first-line therapeutic measures.
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Intensive care medicine · May 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialEffect of synbiotic therapy on the incidence of ventilator associated pneumonia in critically ill patients: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
To investigate the effect of enteral Synbiotic 2000 FORTE (a mixture of lactic acid bacteria and fibre) on the incidence of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) in critically ill patients. ⋯ Enteral administration of Synbiotic 2000 FORTE has no statistically significant impact on the incidence of VAP in critically ill patients.