Medicina intensiva
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Limitation of life-sustaining treatment in patients with prolonged admission to the ICU. Current situation in Spain as seen from the EPIPUSE Study.
Limitation of life-sustaining treatment (LLST) is a recommended practice in certain circumstances. Limitation practices are varied, and their application differs from one center to another. The present study evaluates the current situation of LLST practices in patients with prolonged admission to the ICU who suffer worsening of their condition. ⋯ LLST in ICUs is usually carried out under unanimous decision of the medical team, is performed more frequently in patients with severe comorbidity, and usually does not have a negative impact upon the relationship with the patients and their families.
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Multicenter Study
Brain death organ donation potential and life support therapy limitation in neurocritical patients.
To analyze the profile, incidence of life support therapy limitation (LSTL) and donation potential in neurocritical patients. ⋯ LSTL is a frequent practice in neurocritical patients. In almost one-half of the cases, LSTL consisted of avoiding admission to the ICU, and on several occasions the donation potential was not evaluated by the transplant coordinator.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study Observational Study
Comparative analysis of patients admitted to Spanish Intensive Care Units due to medical and surgical disease.
To describe the characteristics of the patients case-mix admitted to ICUs due to medical and surgical disease, and to compare both groups. ⋯ The mortality rate is higher in non-coronary medical patients, though resource use per patient is greater in the urgent surgery cases. The APACHE II scale underestimates mortality in emergency surgery patients.
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Renal replacement therapy in Intensive Care Units in Catalonia (Spain).
To assess the indications, settings and techniques used in renal replacement therapy (RRT) in Intensive Care Units (ICUs). ⋯ The ICU physicians in this study followed current RRT guidelines. CRRT was preferred over intermittent renal replacement therapy, regardless of patient hemodynamic status.
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Respiratory infections caused by Aspergillus spp. in critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care units.
The presence of respiratory fungal infection in the critically ill patient is associated with high morbidity and mortality. ⋯ Respiratory infections caused by Aspergillus spp. in critically ill patients admitted to the ICU in Spain are infrequent, and affect a very selected group of patients, characterized by high mortality and conditioned by non-modifiable risk factors.