Journal of critical care
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Journal of critical care · Feb 2015
Randomized Controlled TrialNeuromuscular electrical stimulation in mechanically ventilated patients: A randomized, sham-controlled pilot trial with blinded outcome assessment.
The purpose of the study is to compare neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) vs sham on leg strength at hospital discharge in mechanically ventilated patients. ⋯ In this pilot randomized trial, NMES did not significantly improve leg strength at hospital discharge. Significant improvements in secondary outcomes require investigation in future research.
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Journal of critical care · Feb 2015
Fat embolism in pediatric patients: An autopsy evaluation of incidence and Etiology.
Little is known about the incidence and etiology of fat embolism in pediatric patients. We sought to determine the incidence, time course, and associated factors of pulmonary fat embolism (PFE), cerebral fat embolism (CFE), and kidney fat embolism (KFE) in trauma and nontrauma pediatric patients at the time of autopsy. ⋯ Pulmonary fat embolism, CFE, and KFE are common in pediatric trauma and medical deaths. Body mass index is independently associated with the development of PFE. Absence of nuclear elements suggests that fat embolism did not originate from intramedullary fat.
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Journal of critical care · Feb 2015
The influence of anesthesia on heart rate complexity during elective and urgent surgery in 128 patients.
As an emerging "new vital sign," heart rate complexity (by sample entropy [SampEn]) has been shown to be a useful trauma triage tool by predicting occult physiologic compromise and need for life-saving interventions. Sample entropy may be confounded by anesthesia possibly limiting its value intraoperatively. We investigated the effects of anesthesia on SampEn during elective and urgent surgical procedures. We hypothesized that SampEn is reduced by general anesthesia. ⋯ Sample entropy decreases after induction of anesthesia and continues to decrease even immediately after emergence in patients without any immediately life-threatening conditions. This finding may complicate interpretation low complexity as a predictor of life-saving interventions in patients in the perioperative period.
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Journal of critical care · Feb 2015
Multicenter Study Observational StudyAssociation between serum total antioxidant capacity and mortality in severe septic patients.
Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in severe septic patients has been analyzed in few studies with limited number of subjects. In addition, no association between TAC serum levels and mortality in patients with sepsis has been investigated. We aimed at assessing a possible relationship between TAC serum levels and mortality using a large cohort of patients with severe sepsis. ⋯ The most relevant and new findings of our study, the largest cohort of septic patients providing data on circulating TAC levels so far, were that serum TAC levels are associated with mortality and could be used as biomarker to outcome prediction in severe septic patients.
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Journal of critical care · Feb 2015
Observational StudyThe impact of cardiac dysfunction on acute respiratory distress syndrome and mortality in mechanically ventilated patients with severe sepsis and septic shock: An observational study.
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with significant mortality and morbidity in survivors. Treatment is only supportive, therefore elucidating modifiable factors that could prevent ARDS could have a profound impact on outcome. The impact that sepsis-associated cardiac dysfunction has on ARDS is not known. ⋯ Cardiac dysfunction in mechanically ventilated patients with sepsis did not impact ARDS incidence, clinical outcome in ARDS patients, or mortality. This contrasts against previous investigations demonstrating an influence of nonpulmonary organ dysfunction on outcome in ARDS. Given the frequency of ARDS as a sequela of sepsis, the impact of cardiac dysfunction on outcome should be further studied.