Journal of critical care
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Journal of critical care · Feb 2018
ReviewDengue fever: Report from the task force on tropical diseases by the World Federation of Societies of Intensive and Critical Care Medicine.
Dengue is an arbovirus affecting humans and spread by mosquitoes. Severe dengue follows a secondary infection with a different virus serotype. The problem is truly global as it is endemic in over 100 countries. ⋯ Commercial rapid tests and ELISA kits are freely available, ensuring early diagnosis. The basis of management of severe dengue is effective fluid replacement. Future directions in management will involve vector control and development of effective vaccination.
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Journal of critical care · Feb 2018
Development of a prediction model for long-term quality of life in critically ill patients.
We developed a prediction model for quality of life (QOL) 1 year after intensive care unit (ICU) discharge based upon data available at the first ICU day to improve decision-making. ⋯ Although only 40% of variability in long-term QOL could be explained, this prediction model can be helpful in decision-making.
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Journal of critical care · Feb 2018
Multicenter StudyEnd-of-life discussions: Who's doing the talking?
To determine, in a tertiary academic medical center, the reported frequency of end-of-life discussions among nurses and the influence of demographic factors on these discussions. ⋯ In a survey conducted in two tertiary care institutions, more than one-third of nurses from all disciplines responded that they never or almost never discuss end-of-life issues with their patients. Specialty influenced the likelihood of discussing end-of-life issues with patients.
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Journal of critical care · Feb 2018
qSOFA score: Predictive validity in Enterobacteriaceae bloodstream infections.
To determine whether the quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) retains predictive validity in patients with Enterobacteriaceae sepsis that all received appropriate initial antimicrobial therapy. ⋯ Our results support qSOFA score, AMS, and sepsis severity as acceptable bedside tools for prognostication during initial clinical assessment in patients with sepsis. qSOFA retained its predictive validity in this cohort, suggesting that appropriate initial antimicrobial therapy is not an effect modifier for mortality when using qSOFA for prognostication.
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Journal of critical care · Feb 2018
Comparative StudyThe comparative effectiveness of noninvasive and invasive ventilation in patients with pneumonia.
To compare the outcomes of patients hospitalized with pneumonia treated with noninvasive ventilation (NIV) and invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). ⋯ Initial NIV was associated with better survival among the subgroup of patients hospitalized with pneumonia who had COPD or heart failure. Patients who failed NIV had high in-hospital mortality, emphasizing the importance of careful patient selection monitoring when managing severe pneumonia with NIV.