Critical care medicine
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Critical care medicine · Nov 2017
Worldwide Survey of the "Assessing Pain, Both Spontaneous Awakening and Breathing Trials, Choice of Drugs, Delirium Monitoring/Management, Early Exercise/Mobility, and Family Empowerment" (ABCDEF) Bundle.
To assess the knowledge and use of the Assessment, prevention, and management of pain; spontaneous awakening and breathing trials; Choice of analgesia and sedation; Delirium assessment; Early mobility and exercise; and Family engagement and empowerment (ABCDEF) bundle to implement the Pain, Agitation, Delirium guidelines. ⋯ The current implementation of the ABCDEF bundle varies across individual components and regions. We identified specific targets for quality improvement and adoption of the ABCDEF bundle. Our data reflect a significant but incomplete shift toward patient- and family-centered ICU care in accordance with the Pain, Agitation, Delirium guidelines.
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Critical care medicine · Nov 2017
Valproic Acid Combined With Postcardiac Arrest Hypothermic-Targeted Temperature Management Prevents Delayed Seizures and Improves Survival in a Rat Cardiac Arrest Model.
High-dose valproic acid in combination with hypothermic-targeted temperature management has been reported to synergistically improve neurologic outcomes after cardiac arrest. This study investigated the potential synergistic mechanisms. ⋯ High-dose valproic acid combined with hypothermic-targeted temperature management prevents postcardiac arrest seizures and improves survival. It remains to be determined if the mechanism of seizure prevention is through the antiepileptic effect of valproic acid or direct neuroprotection. Overall, the combination of high-dose valproic acid and hypothermic-targeted temperature management remains a promising strategy to improve cardiac arrest outcomes.
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Critical care medicine · Nov 2017
Observational StudyHeparin-Free Prolonged Intermittent Hemodialysis Using Calcium-Free Citrate Dialysate in Critically Ill Patients.
Critically ill patients who have a high risk of bleeding but require prolonged intermittent dialysis need a heparin-free easy-to-use alternative type of anticoagulation within the dialysis circuit. We assessed the safety and efficiency of heparin-free regional citrate anticoagulation of the dialysis circuit using a calcium-free citrate-containing dialysate, with calcium reinjected according to ionic dialysance. ⋯ Dialysis anticoagulation with calcium-free citrate-containing dialysate and calcium reinjection according to ionic dialysance is an easy-to-use, efficient, and inexpensive form of heparin-free regional anticoagulation. It allows prolonged hemodialysis sessions in critically ill patients without the need to systemically monitor ionized calcium. Furthermore, sessions can be safely extended according to the hemodynamic tolerance to ensure an adequate dose of dialysis and a negative water balance, a major point in patients with severe acute kidney disease.
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Critical care medicine · Nov 2017
Editorial CommentAspirin for Sepsis Prophylaxis: An Ounce of Prevention?