American journal of critical care : an official publication, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Effect of tracheal gas insufflation during weaning from prolonged mechanical ventilation: a preliminary study.
Tracheal gas insufflation reduces inspired tidal volume and minute ventilation in spontaneously breathing patients and may facilitate weaning from mechanical ventilation. ⋯ Tracheal gas insufflation can reduce ventilatory demand during weaning trials in some patients who require mechanical ventilation.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Effectiveness of 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate oral rinse in reducing prevalence of nosocomial pneumonia in patients undergoing heart surgery.
Decreasing the levels of bacteria in the oropharynx should reduce the prevalence of nosocomial pneumonia. ⋯ Although rates of nosocomial pneumonia were lower in patients treated with Peridex than in patients treated with Listerine, the difference was significant only in those patients intubated more than 24 hours who had the highest degree of bacterial colonization.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Effects of an augmented postoperative fluid protocol on wound healing in cardiac surgery patients.
Cardiac surgery patients are vulnerable to hypoperfusion postoperatively and often have subcutaneous tissue oxygen tension less than 50 mm Hg. Hypovolemia most likely contributes to this hypoperfusion and may lead to impaired wound healing. ⋯ The frequency of low oxygen levels is consistent with data from earlier studies. Determination of other interventions to improve subcutaneous tissue perfusion in cardiac surgery patients is needed.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Comparison of fever treatments in the critically ill: a pilot study.
Fever in critically ill patients is often treated with antipyretics or physical cooling methods. Although fever is a host defense response that may benefit some critically ill patients, others may not tolerate the cardiovascular demands associated with fever. ⋯ Although the study included only 14 subjects, the findings will provide information for future studies in febrile critically ill patients.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Patency of radial arterial catheters.
Data on the influence of flush methods, blood-sampling methods, and site location on the patency of radial arterial catheters used for pressure monitoring are sparse. ⋯ Insertion sites closest to the bend of the wrist increase chances of maintaining patency. Catheters can be maintained with as-needed flushes, and either waste or nonwaste blood sampling can be used.