Intensive care medicine
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Intensive care medicine · Jun 2001
The interpretation of train-of-four monitoring in intensive care: what about the muscle site and the current intensity?
To investigate the effect of current intensity and choice of the stimulated muscle group on train-of-four (TOF) interpretation in the intensive care unit (ICU). ⋯ For a good TOF interpretation in the ICU the current intensity should be tested before onset of blockade. The orbicularis oculi is less sensitive to cisatracurium than adductor pollicis and plantar flexor both at onset and after a prolonged infusion. The recovery from relaxation is faster on orbicularis oculi and plantar flexor than on adductor pollicis.
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Intensive care medicine · Jun 2001
Mortality after discharge from intensive care: the impact of organ system failure and nursing workload use at discharge.
Mortality after ICU discharge accounts for approx. 20-30% of deaths. We examined whether post-ICU discharge mortality is associated with the presence and severity of organ dysfunction/failure just before ICU discharge. ⋯ It is better to delay the discharge of a patient with organ dysfunction/failure from the ICU, unless adequate monitoring and therapeutic resources are available in the ward.