Journal of intensive care medicine
-
J Intensive Care Med · Sep 2015
ReviewMaking a Difference in Eye Care of the Critically Ill Patients.
Ocular surface disorders are frequently encountered in patients under sedation and paralyzed patients in intensive care units (ICUs). In the ICUs, treatment is usually focused on the management of organ failures, and eye care becomes a side issue. As a result, ophthalmological complications do occur (incidence ranges from 3.6% to 60%) and are frequently overlooked in this setting. ⋯ We only looked at higher quality articles. Among various eye care measures that have been advocated to prevent exposure keratopathy, the most effective is the application of polyethylene covers. Early diagnosis and effective treatment will help prevent microbial keratitis and visual loss.
-
J Intensive Care Med · Jul 2015
ReviewManaging the Complications of Mild Therapeutic Hypothermia in the Cardiac Arrest Patient.
Mild therapeutic hypothermia (MTH) is used to lower the core body temperature of cardiac arrest (CA) patients to 32°C from 34°C to provide improved survival and neurologic outcomes after resuscitation from in-hospital or out-of-hospital CA. Despite the improved benefits of MTH, there are potentially unforeseen complications associated during management. ⋯ We aim to provide the medical community comprehensive information related to the potential complications of survivors of CA receiving MTH, as it is imperative for the clinician to understand the physiologic changes that take place in the patient receiving MTH and how to prepare for them and manage them if they do occur. We hope to provide information of how to manage these potential complications through both a review of the current literature and a reflection of our own experience.
-
J Intensive Care Med · Jul 2015
Review Case ReportsExogenous Vasopressin-Induced Hyponatremia in Patients With Vasodilatory Shock: Two Case Reports and Literature Review.
Vasopressin has gained wide support as an adjunct vasopressor in patients with septic shock. This agent exerts its vasoconstriction effects through smooth muscle V1 receptors and also has antidiuretic activity via renal V2 receptors. This interaction with the renal V2 receptors results in the integration of aquaporin 2 channels in the apical membrane of the renal collecting duct leading to free water reabsorption. ⋯ Extensive diuresis followed its discontinuation with subsequent normalization of serum sodium. One of the patients required the use of hypertonic saline for more rapid normalization of serum sodium due to concerns for potential seizure activity. A review of the literature relevant to the incidence of vasopressin-induced hyponatremia is provided as well as discussion on additional factors relevant to septic shock that should be considered when determining the relative risk of hyponatremia in patients receiving vasopressin.
-
J Intensive Care Med · Jul 2015
ReviewThe Influence of Surrogate Decision Makers on Clinical Decision Making for Critically Ill Adults.
Intensive care unit patients rarely have decisional capacity and often surrogates make clinical decisions on their behalf. Little is known about how surrogate characteristics may influence end-of-life decision making for these patients. This study sought to determine how surrogate characteristics impact physicians' approach to end-of-life decision making. ⋯ Some surrogate characteristics may modify clinicians' beliefs and practices regarding end-of-life care, suggesting the nuances of the surrogate-physician relationship and clinical decision making for critically ill patients.
-
J Intensive Care Med · Mar 2015
ReviewEthical considerations in consenting critically ill patients for bedside clinical care and research.
Care of critically ill patients, as in any other field, demands the exercise of ethical principles related to respect of patient's autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and distributive justice. Professional duty and the common law require doctors to obtain consent before giving treatment or for requesting participation in clinical research. A procedure or research study must be adequately explained, and the patient must have the capacity to consent. ⋯ In the case of clinical research, informed consent must always be sought. Exemptions to this rule are morally justified in circumstances related to research in life-threatening conditions or life-saving interventions in which the investigator departs from sound principles of equipoise. This usually implies the imposition of safeguards such as consultation with the community in which the study were to take place, oversight in patient screening and recruitment process by institutional review boards, special study designs, retrospective and prospective consent processes, and independent safety monitoring.