Journal of critical care
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Journal of critical care · Apr 2014
The desirability of an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Clinician-Led Bereavement Screening and Support Program for Family Members of ICU Decedents (ICU Bereave).
Many bereaved family members (FMs) of intensive care unit decedents experience symptoms of complicated grief (CG) or social distress, but there is no standard screening or follow-up for these individuals. We determined the desirability and need for an intensive care unit-based bereavement screening and support program for these FMs. ⋯ An ICU-based bereavement screening and support program for FMs of ICU decedents is both needed and desirable, although there are important needs and barriers. Future studies should evaluate the effectiveness for such a program at improving outcomes among bereaved FMs.
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Journal of critical care · Apr 2014
Observational StudyHigh-frequency percussive ventilation improves oxygenation and ventilation in pediatric patients with acute respiratory failure.
High-frequency percussive ventilation (HFPV) in pediatrics has been described predominantly in burned patients. We aimed to describe its effectiveness and safety in noninhalational pediatric acute respiratory failure (ARF). ⋯ In a heterogeneous population of pediatric ARF failing conventional ventilation, HFPV efficiently improves gas exchange in a lung-protective manner.
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Journal of critical care · Apr 2014
Neurally adjusted ventilatory assist vs pressure support ventilation in infants recovering from severe acute respiratory distress syndrome: Nested study.
Neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA) is a new ventilator modality with an innovative synchronization technique. Our aim is to verify if NAVA is feasible and safe in terms of physiological and clinical variables in infants recovering from severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). ⋯ Neurally adjusted ventilatory assist is safe and suitable in infants recovering from severe ARDS. It could provide better results than PSV and is worth to be investigated in a multicenter randomized trial.
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Journal of critical care · Apr 2014
Assessment of plasma and red cell trace element concentrations, disease severity, and outcome in patients with critical illness.
The purpose of the study is to examine the value of both plasma and red cell trace element measurements when assessing nutritional status in patients with critical illness. ⋯ The altered plasma concentrations of zinc, selenium, and copper in patients with critical illness were primarily due to the effects of the systemic inflammatory response and do not reliably indicate their status.
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Journal of critical care · Apr 2014
Serum selenium and zinc levels in critically ill surgical patients.
The authors designed this study to determine how serum selenium and zinc affect the outcomes of critically ill surgical patients. ⋯ To determine the effects of serum selenium and zinc levels on critically ill surgical patients, a large-scale prospective study is needed.