American journal of critical care : an official publication, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
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Multicenter Study
Medical end-of-life decisions: experiences and attitudes of Belgian pediatric intensive care nurses.
To investigate Belgian pediatric intensive care nurses' involvement in and attitudes toward medical end-of-life decisions with a possible or certain life-shortening effect. ⋯ Belgian pediatric intensive care nurses are often involved in carrying out medical end-of-life decisions, including administration of life-ending drugs, whereas their participation in decision making is more limited. Most think that the current euthanasia law should be extended to minors so that administering life-ending drugs would be possible for terminally ill children in specific circumstances.
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High-frequency oscillatory ventilation is an alternative ventilation mode that improves oxygenation in trauma patients in whom conventional ventilation strategies have been unsuccessful. ⋯ Although high-frequency oscillatory ventilation improves oxygenation, severity of traumatic injury and organ failure, not respiratory parameters, are predictors of survival. High-frequency oscillatory ventilation should be considered for pulmonary rescue of severely injured patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.
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Endotracheal tube cuff pressure must be maintained within a narrow therapeutic range to prevent complications. Cuff pressure is measured and adjusted intermittently. ⋯ Continuous monitoring of cuff pressure is feasible, accurate, and safe. Cuff pressures vary widely among patients.
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Erythrocyte blood transfusions are commonly used in intensive care units, yet little is known about their effects on long-term survival. ⋯ Blood transfusion was associated with a decreased risk of late (>180 days) death in intensive care patients.