Journal of critical care
-
Journal of critical care · Dec 2013
Multicenter StudyThe association between primary language spoken and all-cause mortality in critically ill patients.
The study objective was to investigate the association between primary language spoken and all-cause mortality in critically ill patients. ⋯ In a regional cohort, not speaking English as a primary language is associated with improved outcomes after critical care. Our observations may have clinical relevance and illustrate the intersection of several factors in critical illness outcome including severity of illness, comorbidity, and social and economic factors.
-
Journal of critical care · Dec 2013
Initial fractal exponent of heart rate variability is associated with success of early resuscitation in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock: a prospective cohort study.
Heart rate variability (HRV) reflects autonomic nervous system tone as well as the overall health of the baroreflex system. We hypothesized that loss of complexity in HRV upon intensive care unit (ICU) admission would be associated with unsuccessful early resuscitation of sepsis. ⋯ Loss of complexity in HRV is associated with worse outcome early in severe sepsis and septic shock. Further work should evaluate whether complexity of HRV could guide treatment in sepsis.
-
Journal of critical care · Dec 2013
Comparative StudyEvaluation of the radial artery applanation tonometry technology for continuous noninvasive blood pressure monitoring compared with central aortic blood pressure measurements in patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome.
We compared blood pressure (BP) measurements obtained using radial artery applanation tonometry with invasive BP measurements using a catheter placed in the abdominal aorta through the femoral artery in patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). ⋯ In intensive care unit patients with MODS, mean arterial pressure and diastolic arterial pressure can be determined accurately and precisely using radial artery applanation tonometry compared with central aortic values obtained using a catheter placed in the abdominal aorta through the femoral artery. Although systolic arterial pressure could also be derived accurately, wider 95% limits of agreement suggest lower precision for determination of systolic arterial pressure.
-
Journal of critical care · Dec 2013
Combat casualties undergoing lifesaving interventions have decreased heart rate complexity at multiple time scales.
We found that heart rate (HR) complexity metrics such as sample entropy (SampEn) identified patients with trauma receiving lifesaving interventions (LSIs). We now aimed (1) to test a multiscale entropy (MSE) index, (2) to compare it to single-scale measures including SampEn, and (3) to assess different parameter values for calculation of SampEn and MSE. ⋯ Complexity of HR dynamics over a range of time scales was lower in high-risk than in low-risk combat casualties and outperformed traditional vital signs.
-
Journal of critical care · Dec 2013
Observational StudyElectronic bed weighing vs daily fluid balance changes after cardiac surgery.
The purpose of this study is to establish the validity and reliability of measuring weight in critically ill patients with electronic weighing beds. ⋯ Body weight measured by electronic weighing beds does not seem sufficiently robust or accurate to replace daily FB in ICU. The clinical value of purchasing such beds remains uncertain.