Critical care medicine
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Critical care medicine · Jul 2018
Multicenter StudyImpact of ICU Structure and Processes of Care on Outcomes After Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Multicenter Cohort Study.
It is uncertain whether dedicated neurocritical care units are associated with improved outcomes for critically ill neurologically injured patients in the era of collaborative protocol-driven care. We examined the association between dedicated neurocritical care units and mortality and the effects of standardized management protocols for severe traumatic brain injury. ⋯ Compared with dedicated neurocritical care models, standardized management protocols for severe traumatic brain injured patients are process-targeted intervention strategies that may improve clinical outcomes.
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Critical care medicine · Jul 2018
Multicenter StudyMarkedly Deranged Injury Site Metabolism and Impaired Functional Recovery in Acute Spinal Cord Injury Patients With Fever.
To characterize the effect of fever after acute, traumatic spinal cord injury on injury site metabolism and patient outcome. ⋯ Early after spinal cord injury, fever is associated with more deranged injury site metabolism than normothermia and worse prognosis.
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Critical care medicine · Jul 2018
Multicenter StudyFeasibility and Safety of Intravascular Temperature Management for Severe Heat Stroke: A Prospective Multicenter Pilot Study.
Heat stroke is a life-threatening condition with high mortality and morbidity. Although several cooling methods have been reported, the feasibility and safety of treating heat stroke using intravascular temperature management are unclear. This study evaluated the efficacies of conventional treatment with or without intravascular temperature management for severe heat stroke. ⋯ The combination of intravascular temperature management and conventional cooling was safe and feasible for treating severe heat stroke. The results indicate that better temperature management may help prevent organ failure. A large randomized controlled trial is needed to validate our findings.