Journal of critical care
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Journal of critical care · Oct 2014
Enteral naloxone for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation in the medical intensive care unit.
To determine the safety and efficacy of enteral naloxone for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation in the medical intensive care unit (MICU). ⋯ Enteral naloxone appears safe for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation in the MICU. Enteral naloxone may be effective in treating opioid-induced constipation; however, further studies are warranted.
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Journal of critical care · Oct 2014
Accelerometer-based devices can be used to monitor sedation/agitation in the intensive care unit.
Monitoring sedation/agitation levels in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) are important to direct treatment and to improve outcomes. This study was designed to determine the potential use of accelerometer-based sensors/devices to objectively measure sedation/agitation in patients admitted to the ICU. ⋯ Accelerometer data correlate strongly with the sedation/agitation levels of patients in the ICUs, and appropriately designed accelerometer-based sensors/devices have the potential to be used for automating objective and continuous monitoring of sedation/agitation levels in patients in the ICU.
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Journal of critical care · Oct 2014
Respiratory rate at intensive care unit discharge after liver transplant is an independent risk factor for intensive care unit readmission within the same hospital stay: A nested case-control study.
Intensive care unit (ICU) readmission negatively impacts patients' outcomes. We aimed to characterize and determine risk factors for ICU readmission within the initial hospital stay after liver transplant (LT). ⋯ Intensive care unit readmission within the initial hospital stay after LT negatively impacts LT recipients' outcomes. Monitoring respiratory rate at discharge from the first ICU stay after LT is important to prevent readmission.
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Journal of critical care · Oct 2014
Low tissue oxygen saturation at emergency center triage is predictive of intensive care unit admission.
Timely recognition of critical patients by emergency center triage is an ongoing challenge. Peripheral tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) measurement has been used to monitor shock patients' responses to resuscitation. Interest has developed in evaluating StO2 as a triage tool, but limited studies have addressed critically ill patients. ⋯ In this patient population, an StO2 less than 70% significantly increased the risk of ICU admission. Tissue oxygen saturation at triage identifies critical patients who may not be recognized by vital signs alone. Tissue oxygen saturation measurement could help providers make earlier decisions regarding hospital resource allocation.
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Journal of critical care · Oct 2014
Cost effectiveness of a benzodiazepine vs a nonbenzodiazepine-based sedation regimen for mechanically ventilated, critically ill adults.
Nonbenzodiazepine sedation (eg, dexmedetomidine or propofol) may be more cost effective than benzodiazepine (BZ) sedation despite its higher acquisition cost. ⋯ Among MV adults, non-BZ sedation has a more favorable CE ratio than BZ sedation over most cost estimates.