Journal of critical care
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Journal of critical care · Jun 2012
Pleural antigen assay in the diagnosis of pediatric pneumococcal empyema.
The purpose of the study was to assess the diagnostic value of rapid pneumococcal antigen detection (PAD) in pleural fluid samples of children with empyema. ⋯ Pneumococcal antigen detection in pleural fluid specimens from children provides a rapid, simple, sensitive, and reliable method of diagnosis for pneumococcal empyema at bedside.
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Journal of critical care · Jun 2012
Clinical TrialImpact of high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy on intensive care unit patients with acute respiratory failure: a prospective observational study.
The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of high-flow nasal cannula oxygen (HFNC) on patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF) in comparison with conventional oxygen therapy. ⋯ Use of HFNC in patients with persistent ARF was associated with significant and sustained improvement of both clinical and biologic parameters.
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Journal of critical care · Jun 2012
Multicenter StudyEpidemiology and management of atrial fibrillation in medical and noncardiac surgical adult intensive care unit patients.
The aim of the study was to describe the epidemiology and management of atrial fibrillation (AF) in noncardiac surgery critically ill patients in a retrospective, observational study at 3 mixed medical-surgical, university-affiliated intensive care units (ICUs). ⋯ Atrial fibrillation is common but transient in most ICU patients. Electrical cardioversion is often unsuccessful, and pharmacologic rhythm conversion is often only transiently effective. Modifiable risk factors are common among these patients. Future studies are needed to address the management of AF in the ICU.
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Journal of critical care · Jun 2012
Controlled Clinical TrialA pilot clinical trial to evaluate a novel time-to-positivity assay to measure the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy for septic patients in intensive care.
The purpose of the study was to investigate whether a novel assay of antibiotic efficacy could predict clinical outcome measures in septic patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). ⋯ This pilot study provides preliminary evidence that measurement of Tpos1 24 hours after the initiation of antibiotic therapy is associated with ICU length of stay and might be of value as a surrogate marker of antibiotic activity.
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Journal of critical care · Jun 2012
Critically ill patients with cancer and sepsis: clinical course and prognostic factors.
The purposes of this study were to evaluate the clinical course and to identify independent predictors of mortality in patients with cancer with sepsis. ⋯ Sepsis remains a frequent complication in patients with cancer and associated with high mortality. Our results can be of help to assist intensivists in clinical decisions and to improve characterization and risk stratification in these patients.