Journal of critical care
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Journal of critical care · Dec 2012
Predicting the need for mechanical ventilation in acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: comparing the CURB-65 and BAP-65 scores.
Clinicians lack a validated tool for risk stratification for need for mechanical ventilation (MV) in acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). We sought to compare 2 risk scores, BAP-65 and CURB-65, at predicting a need for MV in AECOPDs. ⋯ BAP-65 identifies patients with AECOPD at high risk for need of MV more accurately than does CURB-65. BAP-65 may represent a useful tool for initial MV risk stratification in AECOPD.
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Journal of critical care · Dec 2012
Clinical TrialImpact of red blood cells transfusion on ICU-acquired bloodstream infections: a case-control study.
Our study investigated the impact of packed red blood cell (pRBC) transfusion on the occurrence of bloodstream infections (BSIs) in patients admitted in a multidisciplinary intensive care unit (ICU), further assessing potential associations with particular BSI types. A nested matched (1:1) case-control design was implemented. Sex, age, admission category, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation score II (plus Injury Severity Score in trauma patients) were used for matching. ⋯ In multivariable analysis, pRBC transfusion was independently associated with 2-fold probability for BSI (adjusting for matching variables and propensity score). There was a significant dose-dependent association of BSI risk with regard to the number of pRBC units transfused (odds ratios [OR], 1.73, 2.09, 2.34 for 1-3, 4-6, and more than 6 pRBC units transfused, respectively, compared with nontransfused patients, P values .116, .018, and .015, respectively). In subgroup analysis, catheter-related BSIs displayed the strongest association with pRBC transfusion (OR = 5.01, P = .014).
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Journal of critical care · Dec 2012
Prognostic factors and outcomes of patients with pulmonary hypertension admitted to the intensive care unit.
Patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) can decompensate to the point where they require care in the intensive care unit (ICU). Our objective is to examine the outcomes and characteristics of patients with PH admitted to the ICU. ⋯ Mortality is high in critically ill patients with PH. The identification of prognostic baseline characteristics and interventions in the ICU is important and warrants further investigation.
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The purpose of this study is to determine the frequency of exposure keratopathy in sedated/mechanically ventilated patients in the intensive care unit and its risk factors. ⋯ The frequency of exposure keratopathy in sedated/mechanically ventilated patients is high with lagophthalmos and chemosis as the main risk factors.
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Journal of critical care · Dec 2012
Comparative StudyBias reduction in repeated-measures observational studies by the use of propensity score: the case of enteral sedation for critically ill patients.
Within the evidence-based medicine paradigm, randomized controlled trials represent the "gold standard" to produce reliable evidence. Indeed, planning and implementing randomized controlled trials in critical care medicine presents limitations because of intrinsic and structural problems. As a consequence, observational studies still occur frequently. In these cases, propensity score (PS) (probability of receiving a treatment conditional on observed covariates) is an increasingly used technique to adjust the results. Few studies addressed the specific issue of a PS correction of repeated-measures designs. ⋯ Propensity score represents a useful additional tool to estimate the effects of treatments in nonrandomized studies. In the case study, an enteral sedation approach was equally effective to an intravenous regime, allowing for a lower level of sedation and spare of resources.