Current opinion in critical care
-
Curr Opin Crit Care · Dec 2013
ReviewMeasuring renal function in critically ill patients: tools and strategies for assessing glomerular filtration rate.
Alterations in kidney function are common in critically ill patients and are generally assessed by changes in serum creatinine (sCr) or urine output, which are considered surrogates for glomerular filtration rate (GFR) but do not reflect the overall kidney function. There is a great need for more reliable measurements of glomerular filtration in order to guide diagnosis and therapy for acute kidney injury. In this review, we will focus on recent advances to measure GFR that could help to better evaluate kidney function and improve patient care. ⋯ Standardized assays for sCr measurements, the use of a more precise scale with more frequent measurements, and the interpretation of the results based on patient's characteristics can increase the clinical value of sCr. New endogenous and exogenous markers will provide a more precise estimation. Imaging techniques are being developed and will probably be available in the near future. New gold standards for glomerular filtration will help in the development and improvement in the use of new biomarkers of kidney injury.
-
Curr Opin Crit Care · Dec 2013
ReviewCauses and consequences of disproportionate care in intensive care medicine.
Increased use of advanced life-sustaining measures in patients with poor long-term expectations secondary to more chronic organ dysfunctions, comorbidities and/or a poor quality of life has become a worrying trend over the last decade. This can lead to futile, disproportionate or inappropriate care in the ICU. This review summarizes the causes and consequences of disproportionate care in the ICU. ⋯ Disproportionate care is common in western ICUs. It can lead to violation of basic bioethical principles, suffering of patients and relatives and compassion fatigue and moral distress in healthcare providers. Avoiding inappropriate use of ICU resources and disproportionate care in the ICU should have high priority for ICU managers but also for every healthcare provider taking care of patients at the bedside.
-
Curr Opin Crit Care · Dec 2013
ReviewSniffing out acute kidney injury in the ICU: do we have the tools?
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the most common complications of critical illnesses, and early detection of AKI can improve its outcome. Using advanced electronic surveillance tools has attracted attention in recent years. ⋯ ESS tools (sniffers) for AKI may allow improvement in patient processes of care or more efficient patient recruitment in AKI-related ICU studies.
-
Septic shock is one of the most common and life-threatening conditions afflicting critically ill patients. Intravenous volume resuscitation is considered an initial and very important step in management. The most suitable fluid for volume expansion during septic shock remains unclear. In this review, we focus on the benefits and adverse effects of the most commonly used intravenous fluids in critically ill septic patients. ⋯ Crystalloids should still be considered as the first-choice drug for volume resuscitation in patients with septic shock. Colloids such as albumin can be considered in some clinical settings. HES should be avoided. Balanced crystalloids might have an important role to play in the management of septic shock.