Critical care medicine
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Critical care medicine · Jan 2015
Randomized Controlled TrialPrevention of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia and Ventilator-Associated Conditions: A Randomized Controlled Trial With Subglottic Secretion Suctioning.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia diagnosis remains a debatable topic. New definitions of ventilator-associated conditions involving worsening oxygenation have been recently proposed to make surveillance of events possibly linked to ventilator-associated pneumonia as objective as possible. The objective of the study was to confirm the effect of subglottic secretion suctioning on ventilator-associated pneumonia prevalence and to assess its concomitant impact on ventilator-associated conditions and antibiotic use. ⋯ Subglottic secretion suctioning resulted in a significant reduction of ventilator-associated pneumonia prevalence associated with a significant decrease in antibiotic use. By contrast, ventilator-associated condition occurrence did not differ between groups and appeared more related to other medical features than ventilator-associated pneumonia.
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Critical care medicine · Jan 2015
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyInfluence of n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Enriched Lipid Emulsions on Nosocomial Infections and Clinical Outcomes in Critically Ill Patients: ICU Lipids Study.
n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (contained in fish oil) have been shown to beneficially influence infection rate and clinical outcomes in surgical patients probably due to their immunomodulatory action. In contrast, study results of fish oil administration in critically ill patients are controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on the prevalence of nosocomial infections and clinical outcomes in medical and surgical critically ill patients. ⋯ The results show that administration of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids reduces the risk of nosocomial infections and increases the predicted time free of infections in critically ill medical and surgical patients. The administration of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids was safe and well tolerated.
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Critical care medicine · Jan 2015
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyMulticenter, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Phase III Study of Pyridoxalated Hemoglobin Polyoxyethylene in Distributive Shock (PHOENIX).
To compare the effectiveness and safety of the hemoglobin-based nitric oxide scavenger, pyridoxalated hemoglobin polyoxyethylene, against placebo in patients with vasopressor-dependent distributive shock. ⋯ In this randomized, controlled phase III trial in patients with vasopressor-dependent distributive shock, administration of a pyridoxalated hemoglobin solution decreased the need for vasopressors but was associated with a trend to increased mortality.