Journal of critical care
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Journal of critical care · Aug 2016
Observational StudyCharacteristics and outcomes of patients treated with airway pressure release ventilation for acute respiratory distress syndrome: A retrospective observational study.
The optimal mode of ventilation in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remains uncertain. Airway pressure release ventilation (APRV) is a recognized treatment for mechanically-ventilated patients with severe hypoxaemia. However, contemporary data on its role as a rescue modality in ARDS is lacking. The goal of this study was to describe the clinical and physiological effects of APRV in patients with established ARDS. ⋯ In patients with ARDS-related refractory hypoxaemia treated with APRV, an early and sustained improvement in oxygenation, low incidence of clinically significant barotrauma and progression to ECMO was observed. The safety and efficacy of APRV requires further consideration.
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Journal of critical care · Aug 2016
Observational StudySerum caspase 3 levels are associated with early mortality in severe septic patients.
Higher caspase 3 activity has been found in lymphocytes of septic patients than of healthy controls. However, an association between serum caspase 3 levels at moment of severe sepsis diagnosis and mortality in septic patients has not been previously demonstrated, and this was the main objective of the present study. ⋯ The major novel findings of our study were that there is an association between serum caspase 3 levels at moment of severe sepsis diagnosis and mortality in septic patients and that serum caspase 3 levels could be used as prognostic biomarker, and further studies are needed to corroborate these findings.
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Journal of critical care · Aug 2016
End-of-life care in the intensive care unit: Report from the Task Force of World Federation of Societies of Intensive and Critical Care Medicine.
End-of-life care in the intensive care unit (ICU) was identified as an objective in a series of Task Forces developed by the World Federation of Societies of Intensive and Critical Care Medicine Council in 2014. The objective was to develop a generic statement about current knowledge and to identify challenges relevant to the global community that may inform regional and local initiatives. ⋯ The complexity of end-of-life care in the ICU, particularly relating to withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining treatment while ensuring the alleviation of suffering, within different ethical and cultural environments is recognized. Although no single statement can therefore be regarded as a criterion standard applicable to all countries and societies, the World Federation of Societies of Intensive and Critical Care Medicine endorses and encourages the role of Member Societies to lead the debate regarding end-of-life care in the ICU within each country and to take a leading role in developing national guidelines and recommendations within each country.
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Journal of critical care · Aug 2016
Elevated red cell distribution width at initiation of critical care is associated with mortality in surgical intensive care unit patients.
Recent evidence suggests that red cell distribution width (RDW) is associated with mortality in mixed cohorts of critically ill patients. Our goal was to investigate whether elevated RDW at initiation of critical care in the intensive care unit (ICU) is associated with 90-day mortality in surgical patients. ⋯ Elevated RDW at initiation of care is associated with increased odds of 90-day mortality in surgical ICU patients. These data support the need for prospective studies to determine whether RDW can improve risk stratification in surgical ICU patients.
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Journal of critical care · Aug 2016
Observational StudyEarly procalcitonin kinetics and appropriateness of empirical antimicrobial therapy in critically ill patients: A prospective observational study.
The purpose was to investigate the value of procalcitonin (PCT) kinetics in predicting the appropriateness of empirical antimicrobial treatment in critically ill patients. ⋯ Early response of PCT in the first 24 hours of commencing empirical antimicrobials in critically ill patients may help the clinician to evaluate the appropriateness of therapy.