Critical care medicine
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Critical care medicine · Aug 2014
Multicenter Study Observational StudyInitial Lactate and Lactate Change in Post-Cardiac Arrest: A Multicenter Validation Study.
Rate of lactate change is associated with in-hospital mortality in post-cardiac arrest patients. This association has not been validated in a prospective multicenter study. The objective of the current study was to determine the association between percent lactate change and outcomes in post-cardiac arrest patients. ⋯ Lower lactate levels at 0, 12, and 24 hours and greater percent decrease in lactate over the first 12 hours post cardiac arrest are associated with survival and good neurologic outcome.
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Critical care medicine · Aug 2014
Comparative StudyEmpiric Antibiotic Treatment Reduces Mortality in Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock From the First Hour: Results From a Guideline-Based Performance Improvement Program.
Compelling evidence has shown that aggressive resuscitation bundles, adequate source control, appropriate antibiotic therapy, and organ support are cornerstone for the success in the treatment of patients with sepsis. Delay in the initiation of appropriate antibiotic therapy has been recognized as a risk factor for mortality. To perform a retrospective analysis on the Surviving Sepsis Campaign database to evaluate the relationship between timing of antibiotic administration and mortality. ⋯ The results of the analysis of this large population of patients with severe sepsis and septic shock demonstrate that delay in first antibiotic administration was associated with increased in-hospital mortality. In addition, there was a linear increase in the risk of mortality for each hour delay in antibiotic administration. These results underscore the importance of early identification and treatment of septic patients in the hospital setting.
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Critical care medicine · Aug 2014
Extravascular Lung Water, B-Type Natriuretic Peptide, and Blood Volume Contraction Enable Diagnosis of Weaning-Induced Pulmonary Edema.
We tested whether the changes in extravascular lung water indexed for ideal body weight could detect weaning-induced pulmonary edema. We also studied the diagnostic value of blood volume contraction indices and B-type natriuretic peptide variations. ⋯ Spontaneous breathing trial-induced increases in extravascular lung water indexed for ideal body weight, plasma protein concentrations, hemoglobin concentration, and B-type natriuretic peptide are reliable alternatives to the pulmonary artery catheter for diagnosing weaning-induced pulmonary edema.