Critical care : the official journal of the Critical Care Forum
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Anidulafungin compared with fluconazole in severely ill patients with candidemia and other forms of invasive candidiasis: support for the 2009 IDSA treatment guidelines for candidiasis.
During the past decade, the incidence of Candida infections in hospitalized patients has increased, with fluconazole being the most commonly prescribed systemic antifungal agent for these infections. However, the 2009 Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) candidiasis guidelines recommend an echinocandin for the treatment of candidemia/invasive candidiasis in patients who are considered to be "moderately severe or severely" ill. To validate these guidelines, clinical trial data were reviewed. ⋯ In this post hoc analysis, anidulafungin was more effective than fluconazole for treatment of severely ill patients with candidemia, thus supporting the 2009 IDSA guidelines.
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Although tracheal intubation (TI) in the pre-hospital setting is regularly carried out by emergency medical service (EMS) providers throughout the world, its value is widely debated. Heterogeneity in procedures, providers, patients, systems and stated outcomes, and inconsistency in data reporting make scientific reports difficult to interpret and compare, and the majority are of limited quality. To hunt down what is really known about the value of pre-hospital TI, we determined the rate of reported Utstein airway variables (28 core variables and 12 fixed-system variables) found in current scientific publications on pre-hospital TI. ⋯ Core data required for proper interpretation of results were frequently not recorded and reported in studies investigating TI in adults. This makes it difficult to compare scientific reports, assess their validity, and extrapolate to other EMS systems. Pre-hospital TI is a complex intervention, and terminology and study design must be improved to substantiate future evidence based clinical practice.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Red blood cell transfusion and outcomes in patients with acute lung injury, sepsis and shock.
In this study, we sought to determine the association between red blood cell (RBC) transfusion and outcomes in patients with acute lung injury (ALI), sepsis and shock. ⋯ In patients with new-onset ALI, sepsis and shock, we found no independent association between RBC transfusion and mortality or VFDs. The physiological criteria did not identify patients more likely to be transfused or to benefit from transfusion.
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Preadmission beta-blocker use and 30-day mortality among patients in intensive care: a cohort study.
Beta-blockers have cardioprotective, metabolic and immunomodulating effects that may be beneficial to patients in intensive care. We examined the association between preadmission beta-blocker use and 30-day mortality following intensive care. ⋯ Preadmission beta-blocker use is associated with reduced mortality following ICU admission.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
High-dose fenoldopam reduces postoperative neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocaline and cystatin C levels in pediatric cardiac surgery.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of high-dose fenoldopam, a selective dopamine-1 receptor, on renal function and organ perfusion during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in infants with congenital heart disease (CHD). ⋯ The treatment with high-dose fenoldopam during CPB in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery for CHD with biventricular anatomy significantly decreased urinary levels of NGAL and CysC and reduced the use of diuretics and vasodilators during CPB.