Critical care medicine
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Critical care medicine · Aug 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudySubgroup mortality probability models: are they necessary for specialized intensive care units?
To examine the sensitivity of the performance of the latest Mortality Probability Model at intensive care unit admission (MPM0-III) to case-mix variations and to determine how specialized models for these subgroups would affect intensive care unit performance assessment. MPM0-III is an important benchmarking tool for intensive care units in Project IMPACT. Overall, MPM0-III has excellent discrimination and calibration but its performance varies on six common patient subsets. ⋯ We recommend users of MPM make MPM0-III their primary model. Subgroup models may have utility when evaluating highly specialized intensive care units or in research on specific, homogeneous populations.
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Critical care medicine · Aug 2009
Multicenter StudySpectrum of practice in the diagnosis of nosocomial pneumonia in patients requiring mechanical ventilation in European intensive care units.
Information on clinical practice regarding the diagnosis of pneumonia in European intensive care units is limited. The aim of this study was to describe the spectrum of actual diagnostic practices in a large sample of European intensive care units. ⋯ Etiological diagnosis of nosocomial pneumonia in a large sample of European intensive care units was based mainly on noninvasive techniques. However, there was high variability in bronchoscopy use between the participating intensive care units.