Journal of critical care
-
Journal of critical care · Aug 2012
Review Meta AnalysisPrognostic value of extravascular lung water index in critically ill patients: a systematic review of the literature.
The prognostic value of extravascular lung water (EVLW) has been widely investigated; however, a wide range of its predictive accuracy has been reported. ⋯ The EVLWI appears to be a good predictor of mortality in critically ill patients.
-
Journal of critical care · Aug 2012
ReviewLiberation of neurosurgical patients from mechanical ventilation and tracheostomy in neurocritical care.
Neurosurgical patients commonly require mechanical ventilation and monitoring in a neurocritical care unit. There are only few studies that specifically address the process of liberation from mechanical ventilation in this population. Patients who remain ventilator or artificial airway dependent receive a tracheostomy. ⋯ In this article, we review the general principles of liberation and the current literature as it pertains to neurosurgical patients with primary brain injury. The criteria for "readiness of extubation" include a combination of neurologic assessment, hemodynamic, and respiratory parameters. Future studies are required to better assess indicators for extubation readiness, evaluate the predictors of extubation failure in brain-injured patients, and define the most appropriate timing for a tracheostomy.
-
Journal of critical care · Aug 2012
The early phase of human sepsis is characterized by a combination of apoptosis and proliferation of T cells.
T cell activation as well as unresponsiveness has been described in separate studies in sepsis. Our aim was to establish the coexistence of both T cell fate in human sepsis. ⋯ Concomitant T cell proliferation and T cell apoptosis are observed in human sepsis, being related to a different pathway.
-
Journal of critical care · Aug 2012
Review Meta AnalysisEfficacy of information interventions in reducing transfer anxiety from a critical care setting to a general ward: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Our aim was to undertake a comprehensive systematic review on the efficacy of information interventions on reducing anxiety in patients and family members on transfer from a critical care setting to a general ward. ⋯ Providing information to understand a future ward environment can significantly reduce patients' and family members' transfer anxiety from the critical care setting when compared with standard care.
-
Journal of critical care · Aug 2012
Multicenter StudyEvolution of neutrophil apoptosis in septic shock survivors and nonsurvivors.
The aims were to analyze the temporal evolution of neutrophil apoptosis, to determine the differences in neutrophil apoptosis among 28-day survivors and nonsurvivors, and to evaluate the use of neutrophil apoptosis as a predictor of mortality in patients with septic shock. ⋯ During the first 12 days of septic shock development, the level of neutrophil apoptosis decreases and does not recover normal values. No differences were observed between surviving and nonsurviving patients.