Crit Care Resusc
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Editorial Comment
Glycaemic control in diabetic ketoacidosis: Too much of a good thing?
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Comparative Study Observational Study
Comparison of continous-wave Doppler ultrasound monitor and echocardiography to assess cardiac output in intensive care patients.
Continuous-wave Doppler (CWD) ultrasound through the left ventricular outflow tract is one modality used for non-invasive cardiac output measurement. The ultrasonic cardiac output monitor (USCOM) is a relatively new monitor which uses a small, transcutaneous ultrasound probe to measure cardiac output with CWD via the suprasternal window. It is faster and less complex to train new users than conventional echocardiography. In addition to stroke volume (SV), the USCOM can calculate stroke volume variation (SVV) and the Smith-Madigan inotropy index (SMII), which is an estimate of the pre-load independent contractility of the myocardium. ⋯ SV (and thus cardiac output) measured using the USCOM correlated well with echocardiographic cardiac output measurement, which suggests that the USCOM could be a valuable haemodynamic tool for assessment of cardiac output and fluid responsiveness in critically ill patients if patients with aortic stenosis are excluded. Inotropy, as a parameter of low cardiac output, was not useful in this cohort of patients.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
The Plasma-Lyte 148 v Saline (PLUS) study protocol: a multicentre, randomised controlled trial of the effect of intensive care fluid therapy on mortality.
0.9% sodium chloride (saline) is the most commonly administered resuscitation fluid on a global basis but emerging evidence suggests that its high chloride content may have important adverse effects. ⋯ The PLUS study will provide high-quality data on the comparative safety and efficacy of Plasma-Lyte 148 compared with saline for resuscitation and compatible crystalloid fluid therapy in critically ill adult patients.
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A hospital's highest-risk patients are managed in the intensive care unit. Outcomes are determined by patients' severity of illness, existing comorbidities and by processes of care delivered. The Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society (ANZICS) Centre for Outcome and Resource Evaluation (CORE) manages a binational clinical registry to benchmark performance, and report and assess ICUs which appear to have worse outcomes than others. ⋯ A combination of routine monitoring techniques, statistical analysis and contextual interpretation of findings is required to ensure potential outlier ICUs are appropriately identified. This ensures engagement and understanding from clinicians and jurisdictional health departments, while contributing to the improvement of ICU practices throughout Australia and New Zealand.
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An influenza pandemic has the potential to overwhelm intensive care resources, but the views of the general public on how resources should be allocated in such a scenario were unknown. We aimed to determine Australian and New Zealand public opinion on how intensive care unit beds should be allocated during an influenza pandemic. ⋯ In an influenza pandemic, when ICU resources would be overwhelmed, survey respondents preferred that ICU triage be performed by a senior doctor, but also perceived the use of pre-determined triage criteria to be fair.