American journal of critical care : an official publication, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Bras for Breast Support After Sternotomy: Patient Satisfaction and Wear Compliance.
For women undergoing median sternotomy, especially those with a bra cup size C or larger, breast support can reduce pain, wound breakdown, and infection. This study addressed a gap in research, identifying the best bra after sternotomy in terms of patient satisfaction and wear compliance. ⋯ The hook-eye closure product had the most satisfaction and greatest wear compliance, and it received the highest recommendation. A practice change was made to fit and place the hook-eye bra in the operating room immediately after surgery.
-
Accurate height measurement is critical for accurate dosing of medications, mechanical ventilation, and nutritional calculations. Prior research has identified inaccuracies with self-reported height, and height is notably important to measure accurately in critically ill patients. In this study, conducted in a large tertiary academic medical center, medical records rarely indicated the method of height measurement, and there were statistically significant variations in measured height across admissions.
-
Iliopsoas hematoma occasionally occurs in patients receiving anticoagulation therapy. It may be a life-threatening complication and can cause disseminated intravascular coagulation, which could develop into abdominal compartment syndrome. The incidence of and factors associated with iliopsoas hematoma during venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) have not been well studied. ⋯ Our findings emphasize that recognizing factors associated with iliopsoas hematoma and detecting them early are crucial during venovenous ECMO in order to treat patients with iliopsoas hematoma appropriately.
-
Communication is key to understanding the emotional state of critical care patients. ⋯ The communicative intervention CONECTEM was effective in improving psychoemotional state among critical care patients during medical transport.