Articles: mechanical-ventilation.
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Annals of intensive care · Jan 2012
Neuromuscular blocking agents in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome: a summary of the current evidence from three randomized controlled trials.
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a potentially fatal disease with high mortality. Our aim was to summarize the current evidence for use of neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBA) in the early phase of ARDS. ⋯ The use of NMBA in the early phase of ARDS improves outcome.
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Annals of intensive care · Jan 2012
Relative cost and outcomes in the intensive care unit of acute lung injury (ALI) due to pandemic influenza compared with other etiologies: a single-center study.
⋯ ALI/ARDS secondary to pandemic influenza infection is associated with more severe respiratory compromise but has lower overall acuity and better survival rates than ALI/ARDS due to other causes. Higher absolute charges in the noninfluenza group are likely due to underlying comorbid medical conditions.
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Annals of intensive care · Jan 2012
Effect of tracheal suctioning on aspiration past the tracheal tube cuff in mechanically ventilated patients.
⋯ In patients intubated with a PVC-cuffed tracheal tube and under mechanical ventilation with PEEP ≥5 cm H2O and a cuff pressure set at 30 cm H2O, a single tracheal suctioning maneuver did not increase the risk of aspiration in the trachea under the cuff.
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Annals of intensive care · Jan 2012
Dexmedetomidine as adjunct treatment for severe alcohol withdrawal in the ICU.
Patients undergoing alcohol withdrawal in the intensive care unit (ICU) often require escalating doses of benzodiazepines and not uncommonly require intubation and mechanical ventilation for airway protection. This may lead to complications and prolonged ICU stays. Experimental studies and single case reports suggest the α2-agonist dexmedetomidine is effective in managing the autonomic symptoms seen with alcohol withdrawal. We report a retrospective analysis of 20 ICU patients treated with dexmedetomidine for benzodiazepine-refractory alcohol withdrawal. ⋯ This observational study suggests that dexmedetomidine therapy for severe alcohol withdrawal is associated with substantially reduced benzodiazepine dosing, a decrease in alcohol withdrawal scoring and blunted hyperadrenergic cardiovascular response to ethanol abstinence. In this series, there was a low rate of mechanical ventilation associated with the above strategy. One of 20 patients suffered two 9-second asystolic pauses, which did not recur after dexmedetomidine discontinuation. Prospective trials are warranted to compare adjunct treatment with dexmedetomidine versus standard benzodiazepine therapy.
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Music is an ideal intervention to reduce anxiety and promote relaxation in critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilatory support. This article reviews the basis for a music listening intervention and describes two case examples with patients utilizing a music listening intervention to illustrate the implementation and use of the music listening protocol in this dynamic environment. The case examples illustrate the importance and necessity of engaging a music therapist in not only assessing the music preferences of patients, but also for implementing a music listening protocol to manage the varied and challenging needs of patients in the critical care setting. Additionally, the case examples presented in this paper demonstrate the wide array of music patients prefer and how the ease of a music listening protocol allows mechanically ventilated patients to engage in managing their own anxiety during this distressful experience.