Critical care : the official journal of the Critical Care Forum
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Timely initiation of physical, occupational, and speech therapy in critically ill patients is crucial to reduce morbidity and improve outcomes. Over a 5-year time interval, we sought to determine the utilization of these rehabilitation therapies in the USA. ⋯ Physical, occupational, and speech therapy are not routinely delivered to critically ill patients, particularly while on mechanical ventilation in the USA. The utilization of these therapies varies according to insurance coverage, geography, and hospital teaching status, and at a hospital level.
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We aimed to examine recent trends in patient characteristics and mortality in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) receiving renal replacement therapy (RRT), including continuous RRT (CRRT) and intermittent RRT (IRRT), in intensive care units (ICUs). ⋯ This nationwide study confirmed a consistent decline in mortality among patients with AKI on RRT in ICUs. The adjusted mortality also declined during the study period; however, physiological variables were not measured in this study and it is possible that RRT may have been indicated for patients with less severe AKI in more recent years.