Critical care medicine
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Critical care medicine · May 2024
Meta AnalysisFixed- Versus Variable-Dose Prothrombin Complex Concentrate for the Emergent Reversal of Vitamin K Antagonists: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (4-PCC) is recommended for rapid reversal of vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) such as warfarin, yet optimal dosing remains uncertain. ⋯ A fixed-dose regimen for 4-PCC administration provides benefits over a variable-dose regimen in terms of dose reduction, faster administration time, improved clinical hemostasis, and reduced mortality and thromboembolic events. Further studies are warranted to better refine the optimal fixed-dose regimen.
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Critical care medicine · May 2024
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyPerspectives of ICU Patients on Deferred Consent in the Context of Post-ICU Quality of Life: A Substudy of a Randomized Clinical Trial.
Deferred consent enables research to be conducted in the ICU when patients are unable to provide consent themselves, and there is insufficient time to obtain consent from surrogates before commencing (trial) treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate how former ICU patients reflect on their participation in a study with deferred consent and examine whether their opinions are influenced by the quality of life (QoL) following hospital discharge. ⋯ Former ICU patients who participated in the ICONIC study often did not remember their participation but were predominantly positive regarding the use of deferred consent. Those with a higher QoL were most likely to be content.
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Critical care medicine · Nov 2023
Randomized Controlled TrialComparison of Noninvasive Mechanical Ventilation With High-Flow Nasal Cannula, Face-Mask, and Helmet in Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure in Patients With COVID-19: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
For COVID-19-related respiratory failure, noninvasive respiratory assistance via a high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC), helmet, and face-mask noninvasive ventilation is used. However, which of these options is most effective is yet to be determined. This study aimed to compare the three techniques of noninvasive respiratory support and to determine the superior technique. ⋯ This exploratory trial found no difference in intubation rate and mortality among the three intervention groups for the COVID-19 patients with hypoxemic respiratory failure; however, more evidence is needed to confirm these findings as the trial was aborted prematurely.
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Critical care medicine · Apr 2024
ReviewOxygenation During Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: Physiology, Current Evidence, and a Pragmatic Approach to Oxygen Titration.
This review aims to: 1) identify the key circuit and patient factors affecting systemic oxygenation, 2) summarize the literature reporting the association between hyperoxia and patient outcomes, and 3) provide a pragmatic approach to oxygen titration, in patients undergoing peripheral venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). ⋯ Hyperoxia results from a range of ECMO circuit and patient-related factors. It is common during peripheral venoarterial ECMO, and its presence is associated with poor outcome. A pragmatic approach that avoids hyperoxia, while also preventing hypoxia has been described for patients receiving peripheral venoarterial ECMO.
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Critical care medicine · Dec 2023
Meta AnalysisBlood Purification for Adult Patients With Severe Infection or Sepsis/Septic Shock: A Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive and updated systematic review with network meta-analysis (NMA) to assess the outcome benefits of various blood purification modalities for adult patients with severe infection or sepsis. ⋯ Our NMA suggests that plasma exchange and polymyxin-B hemoperfusion may provide potential benefits for adult patients with severe infection or sepsis/septic shock when compared with standard care alone, but most comparisons were based on low or very low certainty evidence. The therapeutic effect of polymyxin-B hemoperfusion remains uncertain. Further RCTs are required to identify the specific patient population that may benefit from extracorporeal blood purification.