Journal of critical care
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Describe a program set up in a French intensive care unit (ICU) aimed at improving communication inside the team and communication information given to patients and their relatives; explain how those actions can improve communication inside the ICU and ultimately why it could improve patient's outcome. ⋯ Quality of life within the ICU is based on many factors including a strong and positive leadership, an absolute respect of individuals, and a rigorous evaluation of quality of care, which could influence heavily the quality of life in the ICU for patients, relatives, and health care professionals and facilitate team work. Whether this could really influence outcome remains to be demonstrated.
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Journal of critical care · Jun 2010
Risk factors and treatment outcome in scuba divers with spinal cord decompression sickness.
This study was designed to determine the recompression strategy and the potential risk factors associated with the development of severe diving-related spinal cord decompression sickness (DCS). ⋯ The initial clinical course before treatment is a major prognostic factor of spinal cord DCS. Delay to recompression less than 3 hours and use of deep treatment tables did not improve outcome in DCS divers.
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Journal of critical care · Jun 2010
Effect of head rotation on overlap and relative position of internal jugular vein to carotid artery in infants and children: a study of the anatomy using ultrasonography.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of head rotation on the relative anatomy of internal jugular vein (IJV) and carotid artery (CA) in infants and children. ⋯ The head should be kept in as near a neutral position as possible because the overlap increased by head rotation in both sides. In addition, the right IJV should be preferred because of less CA overlap and more lateral positioning than the left.
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Journal of critical care · Jun 2010
Clinical characteristics, and laboratory and echocardiographic findings in takotsubo cardiomyopathy presenting as cardiogenic shock.
Although takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) has been reported to have an excellent clinical recovery, there are few data regarding clinical, laboratory, and echocardiographic findings in TTC presenting as cardiogenic shock. We aimed to assess the differences in these parameters between TTC presenting with and without cardiogenic shock. ⋯ The S group has a higher prevalence of heart failure symptoms, significant reversible mitral regurgitation, and troponin-I and N-terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide levels. However, with meticulous therapeutic strategies, prognosis of this syndrome may be excellent irrespective of hemodynamic instability.
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Journal of critical care · Jun 2010
A model for identifying patients who may not need intensive care unit admission.
This study presents a new model for identifying patients who might be too well to benefit from intensive care unit (ICU) care. ⋯ The outcome for low-risk monitor patients suggest they may be too well to benefit from intensive care. The frequency of low-risk monitor admissions provides a measure of ICU resource use. Improved resource use and reduced costs might be achieved by strategies to provide care for these patients on floors or intermediate care units.