Critical care medicine
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Critical care medicine · Sep 2014
ReviewWhen Cardiac Failure, Kidney Dysfunction, and Kidney Injury Intersect in Acute Conditions: The Case of Cardiorenal Syndrome.
To review and describe diagnostic and prognostic value of biomarkers of renal function and renal injury in the cardiorenal syndrome complicating acutely decompensated heart failure. ⋯ Biomarkers reflecting renal function and injury are likely to better phenotype subgroups of patients with cardiorenal syndrome and to provide unique prognostic information. Future studies are needed relative to strategies using such biomarkers to guide care of affected patients.
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Critical care medicine · Sep 2014
Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump Effects on Macrocirculation and Microcirculation in Cardiogenic Shock Patients Supported by Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.
This study was designed to assess the effects on macrocirculation and microcirculation of adding an intra-aortic balloon pump to peripheral venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in patients with severe cardiogenic shock and little/no residual left ventricular ejection. ⋯ Restoring pulsatility and decreasing left ventricular afterload with intra-aortic balloon pump was associated with smaller left ventricular dimensions and lower pulmonary artery pressures but did not affect microcirculation variables in cardiogenic shock patients with little/no residual left ventricular ejection while on peripheral venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
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Critical care medicine · Sep 2014
Prevalence and Impact of Active and Passive Cigarette Smoking in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.
Cigarette smoke exposure has recently been found to be associated with increased susceptibility to trauma- and transfusion-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome. We sought to determine 1) the incidence of cigarette smoke exposure in a diverse multicenter sample of acute respiratory distress syndrome patients and 2) whether cigarette smoke exposure is associated with severity of lung injury and mortality in acute respiratory distress syndrome. ⋯ In this first multicenter study of biomarker-determined cigarette smoke exposure in acute respiratory distress syndrome patients, we found that active cigarette smoke exposure was significantly more prevalent among acute respiratory distress syndrome patients compared to population averages. Despite their younger age, better overall health, and lower severity of illness, smokers by 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol had similar severity of lung injury as patients with undetectable 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol. These findings suggest that active cigarette smoking may increase susceptibility to acute respiratory distress syndrome in younger, healthier patients.
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Critical care medicine · Sep 2014
Gravity Predominates Over Ventilatory Pattern in the Prevention of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia.
In the semirecumbent position, gravity-dependent dissemination of pathogens has been implicated in the pathogenesis of ventilator-associated pneumonia. We compared the preventive effects of a ventilatory strategy, aimed at decreasing pulmonary aspiration and enhancing mucus clearance versus the Trendelenburg position. ⋯ The Trendelenburg position predominates over expiratory flow bias and positive end-expiratory pressure in the prevention of gravity-dependent translocation of oropharyngeal pathogens and development of ventilator-associated pneumonia. These findings further substantiate the primary role of gravity in the pathogenesis of ventilator-associated pneumonia.
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Critical care medicine · Sep 2014
Prevalence and Test Characteristics of National Health Safety Network Ventilator-Associated Events.
The primary aim of the study was to measure the test characteristics of the National Health Safety Network ventilator-associated event/ventilator-associated condition constructs for detecting ventilator-associated pneumonia. Its secondary aims were to report the clinical features of patients with National Health Safety Network ventilator-associated event/ventilator-associated condition, measure costs of surveillance, and its susceptibility to manipulation. ⋯ The National Health Safety Network ventilator-associated event/ventilator-associated condition constructs failed to detect many patients who had ventilator-associated pneumonia, detected many cases that did not have a hospital complication, and were susceptible to manipulation. National Health Safety Network ventilator-associated event/ventilator-associated condition surveillance did not perform as well as ventilator-associated pneumonia surveillance and had several undesirable characteristics.