Critical care : the official journal of the Critical Care Forum
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Focused liquid ultrasonography in dropsy protocol for quantitative assessment of subcutaneous edema.
Although subcutaneous edema is a common symptom of critically ill patients, it is still underreported due to the lack of a systematic method for evaluating it. The present study aims to describe the occurrence and distribution of subcutaneous edema, as well as the risk factors associated with it, in critically ill patients using the focused liquid ultrasonography in dropsy (FLUID) protocol, and to assess their impact on ICU mortality. ⋯ The FLUID protocol provides a comprehensive strategy for the semi-quantitative assessment of subcutaneous edema in critically ill patients. In detecting the onset and severity of edema, ultrasound was found to outperform the pitting test. Subcutaneous edema showed a gravity-dependent distribution pattern, and its severity was associated with mortality.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Polymorphism in interferon alpha/beta receptor contributes to glucocorticoid response and outcome of ARDS and COVID-19.
The use of glucocorticoids has given contradictory results for treating acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The use of intravenous Interferon beta (IFN β) for the treatment of ARDS was recently tested in a phase III ARDS trial (INTEREST), in which more than half of the patients simultaneously received glucocorticoids. Trial results showed deleterious effects of glucocorticoids when administered together with IFN β, and therefore, we aimed at finding the reason behind this. ⋯ The distribution of this SNP within clinical study arms may explain the contradictory results of multiple ARDS studies and outcomes in COVID-19 concerning type I IFN signaling and glucocorticoids.
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Observational Study
Novel serum biomarkers for predicting neurological outcomes in postcardiac arrest patients treated with targeted temperature management.
To determine the clinical feasibility of novel serum biomarkers in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients treated with target temperature management (TTM). ⋯ Novel serum biomarkers reliably predicted poor neurological outcomes for patients with OHCA treated with TTM when life-sustaining therapy was not withdrawn. Cutoffs from two large existing studies (TTM and COMACARE substudy) were externally validated in our study. The predictive power of the novel biomarkers was the highest at 72 h after CA.
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The current ARDS guidelines highly recommend lung protective ventilation which include plateau pressure (Pplat < 30 cm H2O), positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP > 5 cm H2O) and tidal volume (Vt of 6 ml/kg) of predicted body weight. In contrast, the ELSO guidelines suggest the evaluation of an indication of veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) due to hypoxemic or hypercapnic respiratory failure or as bridge to lung transplantation. ⋯ Subsequently, we discuss whether extended physiological ventilation parameter analysis might be relevant for indication of ECMO support and can be implemented during the daily routine evaluation of ARDS patients. Particularly, this viewpoint focus on driving pressure and mechanical power.
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Meta Analysis
The outcome of IV vitamin C therapy in patients with sepsis or septic shock: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
To update a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and further explore the outcome of IV vitamin C (IVVC) administration in sepsis or septic shock patients. ⋯ In this meta-analysis, IVVC in sepsis or septic shock patients significantly improved delta SOFA score and reduced the duration of vasopressor use, whereas it was not associated with reduction in short-term mortality and had higher adverse events.