Articles: function.
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Anasthesiol Intensivmed Notfallmed Schmerzther · Feb 2014
Review[Update glutamine and antioxidants in critically ill patients].
Critical illness leads to oxidative stress and can induce or exacerbate nutrient deficiencies. This predisposes patients in the intensive care unit to impaired immune function and increased risk of developing infectious complications, organ dysfunction, and therefore worsens clinical outcome. ⋯ The following article summarizes the rationale and provides an update on recent clinical studies with special focus on the use of glutamine and antioxidants in critically ill patients. It further provides recommendations for the clinical use of these substrates in this particular patient population.
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To study patient-level improvements in pain and limitations of key activities of daily living (ADLs) after primary or revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA). ⋯ Our study provides comprehensive data for patient-level improvements in pain and key ADLs. These data can be used to inform patients pre-operatively of expected outcomes, based on pre-operative status, which may further help patients set realistic goals for improvements after TKA.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Feb 2014
Observational StudyPlatelet Dysfunction as Measured by a Point-of-Care Monitor is an Independent Predictor of High Blood Loss in Cardiac Surgery.
Excessive bleeding carries a heavy burden of illness in cardiac surgery. Although platelet dysfunction is considered to be an important cause, it is not routinely measured. Our objective was to explore the relationship between platelet dysfunction and blood loss in cardiac surgery. ⋯ Platelet dysfunction, as measured by a point-of-care method during rewarming and postprotamine, is independently associated with high blood loss in cardiac surgery. Additional studies are needed to determine whether the incorporation of this assay into blood management algorithms might help rationalize blood transfusion therapy, potentially reducing blood loss and improving clinical outcomes.