Intensive care medicine
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Intensive care medicine · Feb 2011
Short-term survival by treatment among patients hospitalized with acute heart failure: the global ALARM-HF registry using propensity scoring methods.
To date, treatment with intravenous (IV) agents such as vasodilators, diuretics, and inotropes has shown marginal or mixed benefits in acute heart failure (AHF) trials. The aim of this study was to identify the risks and benefits of IV drugs in patients hospitalized with acute decompensated heart failure. ⋯ In terms of in-hospital survival, a vasodilator in combination with a diuretic fared better than treatment with only a diuretic. Catecholamine inotropes should be used cautiously as it has been seen that they actually increase the risk for in-hospital mortality.
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Intensive care medicine · Feb 2011
The relationship between workload and medical staffing levels in a paediatric cardiac intensive care unit.
To evaluate the matching between workload in a paediatric cardiac intensive care unit (ICU) and the corresponding medical staffing levels over a 24-h period. ⋯ Workload was most intense for the in-house team at night, in terms of sicker admissions, ECMOs and cardiac arrests. Conventional roster patterns may not offer ideal matching between staffing and workload. Data analysis of variable and urgent workload may be used to inform medical rosters.
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Intensive care medicine · Feb 2011
Peripherally inserted central venous catheters and central venous catheters related thrombosis in post-critical patients.
Peripherally inserted central venous catheters (PICC) have been proposed as an alternative to central venous catheters (CVC). The aim of this study was to determine the thrombosis rate in relation to PICC placement in patients discharged from the intensive care unit (ICU). ⋯ In our post-critically ill population, PICCs were associated with a higher rate of DVT complications than CVCs. Routine ultrasound surveillance for the first 2 weeks after patient discharge from the ICU with a PICC and preferential use of CVC for these patients may be warranted.
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Intensive care medicine · Feb 2011
Editorial CommentCan the "FloTrac" really track flow in septic patients?