Journal of critical care
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Journal of critical care · Dec 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyComparison between dexmedetomidine and midazolam for sedation of eclampsia patients in the intensive care unit.
This study compares the effectiveness of midazolam and dexmedetomidine for the sedation of eclampsia patients admitted to our intensive care unit (ICU). ⋯ Dexmedetomidine sedation in eclampsia patients is effective in reducing the demand for antihypertensive medicine and duration of ICU stay.
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Journal of critical care · Sep 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyA controlled trial of noninvasive ventilation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations.
This prospective, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study tested the hypothesis that noninvasive positive pressure ventilation reduces the need for endotracheal intubation in patients hospitalized in a pulmonary ward because of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. ⋯ These results demonstrate that noninvasive positive pressure ventilation, in a pulmonary ward, reduces the need for endotracheal intubation, particularly in the more severe patients, and leads to a faster recovery in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
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Journal of critical care · Sep 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyA randomized controlled trial comparing a computer-assisted insulin infusion protocol with a strict and a conventional protocol for glucose control in critically ill patients.
The objective of this study is to evaluate blood glucose (BG) control efficacy and safety of 3 insulin protocols in medical intensive care unit (MICU) patients. ⋯ The CAIP is safer than and as effective as the standard strict protocol for controlling glucose in MICU patients. Hypoglycemia was rare under conventional treatment. However, BG levels were higher than with IV insulin protocols.
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Journal of critical care · Sep 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialEarly decompressive craniectomy for patients with severe traumatic brain injury and refractory intracranial hypertension--a pilot randomized trial.
The aims of this study were to test the feasibility and to assess potential recruitment rates in a pilot study preliminary to a phase III randomized trial of decompressive craniectomy surgery in patients with diffuse traumatic brain injury (TBI) and refractory intracranial hypertension. ⋯ In patients with severe TBI and refractory intracranial hypertension, the frequency of favorable neurologic outcomes (independent living) was low and similar to predicted values (40% favorable). A future multicenter phase III trial involving 18 neurotrauma centers with most sites conservatively recruiting at just 25% of the pilot study rate would require at least 5 years to achieve an estimated 210-patient sample size. Collaboration with neurotrauma centers in countries other than Australia and New Zealand would be required for such a phase III trial to be successful.
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Journal of critical care · Mar 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyThe safety of targeted antibiotic therapy for ventilator-associated pneumonia: a multicenter observational study.
The aim of this study was to determine the safety of targeted antibiotic therapy (TT) in ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). ⋯ Targeted therapy is associated with less antibiotic use and no evidence of harm in the management of patients with VAP.