Journal of critical care
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Journal of critical care · Dec 2012
Randomized Controlled TrialA weaning protocol administered by critical care nurses for the weaning of patients from mechanical ventilation.
The primary objective of this clinical trial of patients on mechanical ventilation was to determine if a weaning protocol implemented solely by nurses could reduce the weaning time relative to usual care (UC). ⋯ The weaning protocol administered by the nurses was safe and reduced the weaning time from mechanical ventilation in patients who were recovering from respiratory failure.
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Journal of critical care · Dec 2012
Beneficial role of endogenous immunoglobulin subclasses and isotypes in septic shock.
There is increasing evidence on the relationship between endogenously produced immunoglobulins and the clinical outcome in septic shock (SS). ⋯ Our study evidenced that, in addition to IgG1, other major endogenous immunoglobulins isotypes and subclasses seem to play a beneficial role in SS.
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Journal of critical care · Dec 2012
Clinical TrialNonpharmacologic approach to minimizing shivering during surface cooling: a proof of principle study.
This study had 2 objectives: (1) to quantify the metabolic response to physical cooling in febrile patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and (2) to provide proof for the hypothesis that the efficiency of external cooling and the subsequent shivering response are influenced by site and temperature of surface cooling pads. ⋯ Our results identify the hazards of surface cooling in febrile critically ill patients and support the concept that optimization of cooling pad temperature and position may improve cooling efficiency and reduce shivering.
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Journal of critical care · Dec 2012
Being overweight or obese is associated with decreased mortality in critically ill patients: a retrospective analysis of a large regional Italian multicenter cohort.
To describe the epidemiology of obesity in a large cohort of intensive care unit (ICU) patients and study its impact on outcomes. ⋯ In this cohort, overweight and obese patients had a reduced risk of ICU death. Being underweight or morbidly obese was associated with an increased risk of death in some subgroups of patients.
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Journal of critical care · Dec 2012
Response to a bolus of conivaptan in patients with acute hyponatremia after brain injury.
The aim of the study was to analyze the response to the vasopressin-receptor antagonist conivaptan in a large cohort of brain-injured patients with acute hyponatremia. ⋯ Conivaptan given as a bolus can effectively treat acute hyponatremia in brain-injured patients.