Crit Care Resusc
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Objective: To determine the cost-effectiveness of early goal-directed therapy (EGDT) for patients with early septic shock. Design: Within-trial cost-effectiveness evaluation. Setting: Nineteen hospitals in Australia and New Zealand. ⋯ For a willingness-to-pay threshold of $50 000 per QALY, the probability of EGDT being cost-effective was only 6.4%. Conclusions: In patients presenting to the emergency department with early septic shock, EGDT compared with usual care was not cost-effective. Clinical trial registration:ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT00975793.
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Objectives: To validate a real-time Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Activity Index as a marker of ICU strain from daily data available from the Critical Health Resource Information System (CHRIS), and to investigate the association between this Index and the need to transfer critically ill patients during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Victoria, Australia. Design: Retrospective observational cohort study. Setting: All 45 hospitals with an ICU in Victoria, Australia. ⋯ After adjusting for confounding factors, including occupancy and lack of available ICU staff, a rising ICU Activity Index score was associated with an increased risk of a critical care transfer (odds ratio, 4.10; 95% CI, 2.34-7.18; P < 0.001). Conclusions: The ICU Activity Index appeared to be a valid marker of ICU strain during the COVID-19 pandemic. It may be useful as a real-time clinical indicator of ICU activity and predict the need for redistribution of critical ill patients.
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Objective: The accuracy of different non-invasive body temperature measurement methods in intensive care unit (ICU) patients is uncertain. We aimed to study the accuracy of three commonly used methods. Design: Prospective observational study. ⋯ No methods achieved clinical adequacy even accounting for significant explanatory variables. Conclusions: The axillary chemical dot, tympanic infrared and temporal scanner methods are inaccurate measures of core temperature in ICU patients. These non-invasive methods appeared unreliable for use in ICU patients.
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Objective: To describe the tasks completed by the critical care outreach physician (CCOP) and staff perceptions of the CCOP role. Design: Prospective observational study and survey of intensive care unit (ICU) staff. Setting: University-affiliated teaching hospital in Australia. ⋯ Areas where the role was perceived to be less beneficial included improving handover, identifying patients at clinical risk outside the ICU, and reducing repeat MET calls. Conclusions: The tasks of a CCOP involved high level communication, coordination of care, and supervision of ICU staff. The effect of this role on patient-centred outcomes requires further research.