Journal of critical care
-
Journal of critical care · Sep 2004
An empirical analysis of the decision-making of limiting life-sustaining treatment for patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Hong Kong, China.
To understand the prognostic and quality-of-life considerations surrounding life-sustaining treatment decisions for patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Hong Kong China. ⋯ A decision-making framework used by patients/families/physicians to limit life-sustaining treatments in patients with advanced COPD is delineated. Observations regarding how treatment limiting decision-making for patients with advanced chronic illnesses can be improved in Hong Kong are discussed.
-
Journal of critical care · Sep 2004
Should procalcitonin be introduced in the diagnostic criteria for the systemic inflammatory response syndrome and sepsis?
To define whether procalcitonin should be introduced in the diagnostic criteria of sepsis. ⋯ Despite the limited diagnostic value of procalcitonin for SIRS, concentrations of procalcitonin above 1.1 ng/mL are highly indicative for sepsis without, however, excluding the presence of SIRS.
-
Journal of critical care · Sep 2004
Patterns of chest physiotherapy in Australian Intensive Care Units.
The aim of this study was to identify the availability of physiotherapy services in Australian Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and articulate the roles that physiotherapists and nursing staff play in the provision of chest physiotherapy. ⋯ The provision of chest physiotherapy services is often shared between physiotherapists and nurses, however, the actual therapies provided appears to vary depending on the provider. While strong evidence for chest physiotherapy procedures is lacking, the widespread use in the ICU suggests that it is an ideal setting for undertaking clinical research.
-
Journal of critical care · Jun 2004
Practice Guideline GuidelineClinical practice guideline for the use of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in COPD patients with acute respiratory failure.
Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation has been demonstrated to be of benefit in preventing endotracheal intubation and reducing mortality in specific patients in the setting of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The successful application of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation depends on a multitude of factors, including patient selection, choice of interface, physician experience, and patient-ventilator synchrony. The use of clinical practice guidelines has been shown to improve the process and outcomes of care. This paper presents a guideline for the use of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in the setting of acute ventilatory failure in patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
-
Journal of critical care · Jun 2004
Intravenous immunoglobulin for severe infections: a survey of Canadian specialists.
To survey the opinions of Canadian critical care medicine and infectious disease specialists about the use of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) for the treatment of severe infections. ⋯ Specialist's beliefs surrounding the efficacy of IVIG would challenge but not preclude the conduct of future placebo controlled trials of severe streptococcal infections in Canada.