Critical care medicine
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Critical care medicine · Mar 2013
ICU early physical rehabilitation programs: financial modeling of cost savings.
To evaluate the potential annual net cost savings of implementing an ICU early rehabilitation program. ⋯ A financial model, based on actual experience and published data, projects that investment in an ICU early rehabilitation program can generate net financial savings for U.S. hospitals. Even under the most conservative assumptions, the projected net cost of implementing such a program is modest relative to the substantial improvements in patient outcomes demonstrated by ICU early rehabilitation programs.
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Critical care medicine · Mar 2013
Preoperative endogenous ouabain predicts acute kidney injury in cardiac surgery patients.
Acute kidney injury is a frequent complication of cardiac surgery and increases morbidity and mortality. As preoperative biomarkers predicting the development of acute kidney injury are not available, we have tested the hypothesis that preoperative plasma levels of endogenous ouabain may function as this type of biomarker. ⋯ Preoperative plasma endogenous ouabain levels are powerful biomarkers of acute kidney injury and postoperative complications and may be a direct cause of podocyte damage.
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Critical care medicine · Mar 2013
Antithrombin reduces inflammation and microcirculatory perfusion failure in closed soft-tissue injury and endotoxemia.
Closed soft-tissue trauma leads to activation of the coagulation cascade and is often complicated by systemic inflammation and infection. Previous investigations have shown potent anti-inflammatory properties of antithrombin. We herein report on the action of antithrombin on skeletal muscle injury in experimental endotoxemia. ⋯ Antithrombin ameliorates microcirculatory dysfunction and tissue injury in traumatized animals during endotoxemia. Furthermore, a reduced inflammatory cell response helps to prevent leukocyte-dependent secondary tissue injury.
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Critical care medicine · Mar 2013
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