Journal of critical care
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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
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.
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Journal of critical care · Feb 2015
Observational StudyPain measurement in mechanically ventilated critically ill patients: Behavioral Pain Scale versus Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool.
The Behavioral Pain Scale (BPS) and Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT) are behavioral pain assessment tools for uncommunicative and sedated intensive care unit (ICU) patients. This study compares the discriminant validation and reliability of the CPOT and the BPS, simultaneously, in mechanically ventilated patients on a mixed-adult ICU. ⋯ This study showed that the BPS and the CPOT are reliable and valid for use in a daily clinical setting. Although both scores increased with a presumed painful stimulus, the discriminant validation of the BPS use was less supported because it increased during a nonpainful stimulus. The CPOT appears preferable in this particular group of patients, especially with regard to its discriminant validation.
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Journal of critical care · Feb 2015
Influence of smart real-time electronic alerting on glucose control in critically ill patients.
Hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia are frequently encountered in critically ill patients and associated with adverse outcomes. We configured a smart glycemia alert (S-GLY alert) with our Intensive Care Information System to decrease the number of hyperglycemic values and increase the proportion of time within the glucose interval of 80 to 150 mg/dL. ⋯ The implementation of a real-time smart electronic glycemia alert resulted in significantly less episodes of persistent hyperglycemia and a higher proportion of time with normoglycemia, while decreasing the number of hypoglycemic events.