Journal of critical care
-
Journal of critical care · Aug 2011
Comparative StudyDynamic response of liquid-filled catheter systems for measurement of blood pressure: precision of measurements and reliability of the Pressure Recording Analytical Method with different disposable systems.
We aimed to compare the effects of a blood pressure transducer system specifically manufactured to limit underdamping artifacts with those of a standard system on hemodynamic parameter estimation and accuracy. ⋯ Underdamping/resonance artifacts frequently affect blood pressure measurement in operating rooms and intensive care units and cause severe overestimation of systolic blood pressure and incorrect estimation of hemodynamic parameters when the pulse contour method is used.
-
Journal of critical care · Aug 2011
Patient factors associated with transfusion practices in Veterans Affairs intensive care units: implications for further research.
We sought to describe how patient characteristics influence the frequency of red blood cell (RBC) transfusions among critically ill patients after taking into account hemoglobin (Hgb) level. ⋯ Intensive care unit patients admitted for AMI, unstable angina, and congestive heart-failure had higher likelihood of receiving RBC transfusions below specific Hgb levels varying from 6 to 11 g/dL. Further research is needed to determine how these transfusion practices influence outcomes.
-
Journal of critical care · Aug 2011
Bacteremia in Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia: outcomes and epidemiology.
Staphylococcus aureus represents a major cause of pneumonia in critically ill patients. Although bacteremia may complicate S aureus pneumonia, the epidemiology of and outcomes associated with bacteremia in this syndrome are poorly described. ⋯ Bacteremia often arises in S aureus pneumonia and is associated with both increased morbidity and mortality. Several simple clinical factors to determine clinical features identify patients with S aureus pneumonia likely to have simultaneous bacteremia.
-
Journal of critical care · Aug 2011
The role of echocardiography in the early diagnosis of the complications of endovascular repair of blunt aortic injury.
Endovascular repair of traumatic aortic injury has been associated with severe procedural complications, including endoleaks, coverage of the left subclavian artery, stent collapse, access complications, and questionable durability. Echocardiography has proven to be a valuable tool in the intraoperative detection of these complications. In the current study, we report on the use of echocardiography as an early postoperative diagnostic technique for the evaluation of endovascular stent graft positioning in the intensive care setting. ⋯ Noninvasive echocardiographic monitoring proved to be a valuable tool in the early diagnosis of postoperative stent graft malalignment. To our knowledge, this is the first time that echocardiography is described in the relevant literature as an early diagnostic technique in this setting.
-
Journal of critical care · Aug 2011
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyThe Toronto prehospital hypertonic resuscitation--head injury and multiorgan dysfunction trial: feasibility study of a randomized controlled trial.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of a prehospital trial comparing hypertonic saline and dextran (HSD) with normal saline (NS) in blunt head injury patients. ⋯ It is feasible to conduct a prehospital randomized controlled trial with HSD for treatment of blunt trauma patients with head injuries; however, consent for neurofunctional outcomes in this cohort is problematic and threatens the feasibility of definitive trials using these potentially meaningful end points.