American journal of critical care : an official publication, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
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The preferred route for providing nutrition in the pediatric intensive care unit is enteral. Placement of postpyloric feeding tubes using an electromagnetic-tipped stylet that emits a signal detected by a device held over the patient's abdomen is effective in adult intensive care units, but has not been well studied in pediatric units. ⋯ Successful placement of postpyloric feeding tubes by nurse practitioners was safely enhanced using an electromagnetic device. Establishing users' expertise with the device before studying outcomes may improve effectiveness.
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Comorbid depression in patients with heart failure is associated with increased risk for death. In order to effectively identify depressed patients with cardiac disease, the American Heart Association suggests a 2-step screening method: administering the 2-item Patient Health Questionnaire first and then the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire. However, whether the 2-step method is better for predicting poor prognosis in heart failure than is either the 2-item or the 9-item tool alone is not known. ⋯ The 2-step method has no clear advantages compared with the 2-item screen alone or the 9-item screen alone for predicting adverse prognostic effects of depressive symptoms in heart failure.