Articles: critical-care.
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Nephrol. Dial. Transplant. · Jan 1996
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialThe effect of sodium and ultrafiltration modelling on plasma volume changes and haemodynamic stability in intensive care patients receiving haemodialysis for acute renal failure: a prospective, stratified, randomized, cross-over study.
Haemodynamic stability in intensive care unit (ICU) patient with acute renal failure (ARF) during intermittent dialytic support has been the focus for several variations to dialysis delivery. Indeed this has been noted by many as a possible cause for prolonged renal dysfunction created by repeated hypotensive renal insult, as well as a reason for the lower delivered dialysis dose afforded. End-stage renal failure patients supported by intermittent dialysis have benefitted from variable sodium dialysate and variable ultrafiltration rate protocols. The current study has focused upon the response to these dialysis variations in the ICU ARF patient. ⋯ Haemodynamic stability was greater during Protocol B than during Protocol A in all patients. Significantly less intervention was noted during Protocol B, despite the same dialysis delivery during both Protocols. Relative Blood volume changes were less during Protocol B, despite a greater total ultrafiltration. Variable sodium dialysate coupled with a variable ultrafiltration rate seems to be the preferred dialysis prescription for ICU ARF patients undergoing intermittent haemodialysis.
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Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. · Jan 1996
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialSafety and efficacy of increasing dosages of glycyl-glutamine for total parenteral nutrition in polytrauma patients.
Supplementation of parenteral nutrition with glutamine (GLN) has been suggested to improve the efficacy of nutritional support by stimulating protein synthesis and improving immunocompetence. In the present study we investigated the impact of infusing the dipeptide glycyl-glutamine (GLY-GLN) at increasing dosages on plasma amino acid concentrations in patients with polytrauma. Nine polytraumatized patients were randomly assigned according their age and their trauma score to three experimental groups. ⋯ We conclude from this first available dose finding study on glutamine-containing dipeptides that in polytraumatized patients infusion of 570 mg/kg/day of GLY-GLN (corresponding to 28 g glutamine or 40 g dipeptide/70 kg, respectively) is necessary to induce a sustained effect on plasma glutamine concentrations. No pathological accumulation of free glycine or of the dipeptide was seen with any of the three dosage steps of GLY-GLN. Thus, the administration of even high doses of GLY-GLN is feasible and safe in patients with polytrauma and is not associated with any relevant renal substrate loss.
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Acta neurochirurgica · Jan 1996
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialKetamine for analgosedative therapy in intensive care treatment of head-injured patients.
Ketamine was supposed to be contra-indicated in head injured patients although it possesses numerous advantages over other commonly used analgosedative drugs. Referring to these potential advantages and the lack of definitive data about its effect upon ICP, CPP or neurological development, we conducted a prospective study in which moderate or severely head injured patients (n = 35) were prospectively allocated to receive treatment either with a combination of ketamine or midazolam or fentanyl and midazolam. The initial dose was 6.5 mg/kg/day midazolam, 65 mg/kg/day ketamine or 65 micrograms/kg/day fentanyl and was later adjusted due to clinical requirements for a period of 3 to 14 days. ⋯ A comparison of the remaining patients revealed a lower requirement of catecholamines (significant on first day, p<0.05), an on average 8 mm Hg higher cerebral perfusion pressure and a 2 mm Hg higher intracranial pressure in the study [corrected] group. Enteral food intake was better in the study group. The outcome was comparable in both groups with or without inclusion of withdrawn patients.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
[Fructose vs. glucose in total parenteral nutrition in critically ill patients].
Parenteral nutrition required following surgery or injury should not only meet post-aggression caloric requirements but also match the specific metabolic needs so as not to worsen the metabolic disruptions already present in this situation. The primary objective of parenteral nutrition is body protein maintenance or restoration by reduction of protein catabolism or promotion of protein synthesis or both. Whether all parenteral energy donors, ie., glucose, fructose, other polyols, and lipid emulsions, are equally capable of achieving this objective continues to be a controversial issue. The objective of the present study was to answer the following questions: (1) Do glucose and fructose differ in their effects on the metabolic changes seen following surgery or injury, the changes in glucose metabolism in particular? (2) Can the observation of poorer glucose utilization in the presence of lipids be confirmed in ICU patients? ⋯ As demonstrated, parenteral fructose, unlike parenteral glucose, has a significantly less adverse impact than glucose on the glucose balance, which is disrupted initially in the post-aggression state. In addition, the less pronounced increase in insulin activity during fructose infusion than during glucose infusion can be assumed to facilitate mobilization of endogenous lipid stores and lipid oxidation. Earlier workers pointed out that any rise in free fatty acid and ketone body concentrations in the serum produces inhibition of muscular glucose uptake and oxidation, and of glycolysis. These findings were recorded in a rat model and could not be confirmed in our post-aggression state patients receiving lipid doses commensurate with the usual clinical infusion rates. The serious complications that can result from hereditary fructose intolerance are completely avoidable if a careful patient history is taken before the first parenteral use of fructose. If the patient or family members and close friends, are simply asked whether he/she can tolerate fruit and sweet dishes, hereditary fructose intolerance can be ruled out beyond all reasonable doubt. Only in the extremely rare situations in which it is not possible to question either the patient or any significant other, a test dose will have to be administered to exclude fructose intolerance. The benefits of fructose-specific metabolic effects reported in the literature and corroborated by the results of out own study suggest that fructose is an important nutrient that contributes to metabolic stabilization, especially in the post-aggression phase and in septic patients. Hyperglycaemic states are largely prevented and fewer patients require ex
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
The cost-effectiveness of a special care unit to care for the chronically critically ill.
To assess the relative value of healthcare programs, technologic innovations, and clinical decisions, policymakers are searching for ways to evaluate cost-effectiveness. What constitutes cost-effectiveness and how should it be measured? The authors discuss ways in which the cost-effectiveness of clinical programs can be measured and describes various methods of assessing both costs and effectiveness. Comparison of the cost-effectiveness of a nurse managed special care unit with that of traditional intensive care units illustrates some of these methods.