American journal of critical care : an official publication, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Body temperature and mortality in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Little is known about the relationship between body temperature and outcomes in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). A better understanding of this relationship may provide evidence for fever suppression or warming interventions, which are commonly applied in practice. ⋯ Early in ARDS, fever is associated with improved survival rates. Fever in the acute phase response to lung injury and its relationship to recovery may be an important factor in determining patients' outcome and warrants further study.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Differences in alarm events between disposable and reusable electrocardiography lead wires.
Disposable electrocardiographic lead wires (ECG-LWs) may not be as durable as reusable ones. ⋯ Disposable ECG-LWs with patented push-button design had superior performance in reducing alarms created by no telemetry, leads fail, or leads off and significant noninferiority in all false-alarm rates compared with reusable ECG-LWs. Fewer ECG alarms may save nurses time, decrease alarm fatigue, and improve patient safety.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Observational Study
Early Mobility in the Intensive Care Unit: Standard Equipment vs a Mobility Platform.
Despite the general belief that mobility and exercise play an important role in the recovery of functional status, mobility is difficult to implement in patients in intensive care units. ⋯ Early mobility can be implemented in intensive care units. Standard equipment can be used to mobilize such patients safely; however, for patients who ambulate, a platform may increase efficiency and effectiveness.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Speed of blood withdrawal and accurate measurement of oxygen content in mixed venous blood.
Measurement of mixed venous oxygen saturation helps determine whether cardiac output and oxygen delivery are sufficient for metabolic needs. As recommended by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses guideline, blood samples for determining mixed venous oxygen saturation are obtained by slowly, in 1 to 2 minutes, withdrawing 1.5 mL of blood from the distal port of the pulmonary artery catheter. In theory, the negative force of rapid withdrawal could pull oxygenated blood from the pulmonary capillary bed, causing falsely elevated saturation values. ⋯ Rapid blood sampling does not falsely elevate measurements of mixed venous oxygen saturation.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Infection Rates in Intensive Care Units by Electrocardiographic Lead Wire Type: Disposable vs Reusable.
It is unknown if disposable electrocardiographic lead wires (ECG-LWs) reduce infection rates compared with cleaned, reusable lead wires. ⋯ No difference was observed in infection rates of ICU patients receiving disposable versus reusable ECG-LWs.