American journal of critical care : an official publication, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
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The number of patients surviving critical care is increasing. Quality of life after critical care is known to be poor for some patients. The evidence base for effective rehabilitation interventions in the period following a stay in an intensive care unit is limited. ⋯ Patients' aspirations for their intensive care unit recovery are diverse. Design of postdischarge care can be informed by this greater understanding of the heterogeneous starting points and goal trajectories of survivors of critical illness.
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Early diagnosis of complex congenital heart disease and advances in surgical interventions have resulted in remarkable improvements in prognoses and hospital survival. Although studies have provided insight into children's experiences with complex congenital heart disease after hospitalization, few have addressed parents' experiences providing care for infants with complex congenital heart disease who are discharged home with complex care needs after surgical palliation. ⋯ The category of "having to be the one" highlighted mothers' experiences providing medicalized care at home to their infants after complex cardiac surgery while managing other responsibilities, such as employment, busy households, and parenting other school-age children. The role of the caregiver is vital but demanding. Mothers' caregiving at home may be enhanced by nursing interventions such as routine screening for infant distress plus assessment for alterations in family coping or relational challenges that threaten family function.
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Despite a lack of data from intensive care patients, bispectral index monitors are often used to measure the depth of sedation for critically ill patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) who require continuous neuromuscular blocking agents. ⋯ Titration based on bispectral index did not result in a significant difference in sedation or analgesia exposure, or clinical outcomes, from that achieved with traditional sedation monitoring in patients with ARDS who were receiving a neuromuscular blocking agent, despite more dose adjustments during the first 24 hours of receiving the neuromuscular blocking agent.