Critical care medicine
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Critical care medicine · Jan 2008
Review Meta AnalysisEffect of obesity on intensive care morbidity and mortality: a meta-analysis.
To evaluate the effect of obesity on intensive care unit mortality, duration of mechanical ventilation, and intensive care unit length of stay among critically ill medical and surgical patients. ⋯ Obesity in critically ill patients is not associated with excess mortality but is significantly related to prolonged duration of mechanical ventilation and intensive care unit length of stay. Future studies should target this population for intervention studies to reduce their greater resource utilization.
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Critical care medicine · Jan 2008
Review Meta Analysis Comparative StudyEmpiric antibiotic therapy for suspected ventilator-associated pneumonia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials.
To compare specific antibiotic regimens, and monotherapy vs. combination therapy, for the empirical treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). ⋯ Monotherapy is not inferior to combination therapy in the empirical treatment of VAP. Available data neither identify a superior empirical regimen nor conclusively conclude that available regimens result in equivalent outcomes. Larger and more rigorous trials evaluating the choice of, and even need for, empirical therapy for VAP are needed.