Journal of critical care
-
Journal of critical care · Dec 2013
Multicenter StudyThe association between primary language spoken and all-cause mortality in critically ill patients.
The study objective was to investigate the association between primary language spoken and all-cause mortality in critically ill patients. ⋯ In a regional cohort, not speaking English as a primary language is associated with improved outcomes after critical care. Our observations may have clinical relevance and illustrate the intersection of several factors in critical illness outcome including severity of illness, comorbidity, and social and economic factors.
-
Journal of critical care · Oct 2013
Multicenter StudyDiscussion of treatment trials in intensive care.
This study aimed to characterize whether and how the option of a treatment trial is discussed with surrogates in intensive care units. ⋯ In this cohort of critically ill patients, trials were infrequently and incompletely discussed. Additional work is needed to improve communication about treatment trials and evaluate their impact on patient and family outcomes.
-
Journal of critical care · Oct 2013
Multicenter StudyPrevalence of acute kidney injury in intensive care units: The "COrte de prevalencia de disFunción RenAl y DEpuración en críticos" point-prevalence multicenter study.
This study aimed to measure the point prevalence of kidney dysfunction (KD) in the intensive care setting. ⋯ Each day of study, more that half of the patients admitted to the ICU showed some derangement in kidney function. More than 25% of patients not fulfilling the KD criteria by serum creatinine or acute kidney injury network showed, in fact, a severe KD, and this finding was associated with higher mortality. More than 50% of the patients admitted to the ICU were subjected to at least 1 renal insult.
-
Journal of critical care · Aug 2013
Multicenter StudyMortality and complications in elderly patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
The purpose of the study was to analyze postoperative complications, mortality, and related factors of elderly patients undergoing cardiac surgery. ⋯ Age more than 75 years is an independent risk factor for ICU mortality when adjusted for EuroSCORE and cardiopulmonary bypass time. Elderly patients also have a higher rate of complications during ICU stay. Elderly patients develop MODS more frequently and present a higher mortality rate than younger patients with MODS.
-
Journal of critical care · Aug 2013
Multicenter StudyPediatric upper airway obstruction: interobserver variability is the road to perdition.
The purposes of the study are to determine the interobserver variability in the clinical assessment of pediatric upper airway obstruction (UAO) and to explore how variability in assessment of UAO may contribute to risk factors and incidence of postextubation UAO. ⋯ Physical findings routinely used for UAO have poor interobserver reliability among bedside providers. This variability may contribute to inconsistent findings regarding incidence, risk factors, and therapies for postextubation UAO.