Intensive care medicine
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Intensive care medicine · Apr 2015
Acute brain failure in severe sepsis: a prospective study in the medical intensive care unit utilizing continuous EEG monitoring.
Investigate the prevalence, risk factors and impact of continuous EEG (cEEG) abnormalities on mortality through the 1-year follow-up period in patients with severe sepsis. ⋯ NCS and PD are common in patients with severe sepsis and altered mental status. They were less frequent among the most severely sick patients and were not associated with outcome in this study. Lack of EEG reactivity was more frequent in patients on continuous sedation and was associated with mortality up to 1 year after discharge. Larger studies are needed to confirm these findings in a broader population and to further evaluate long-term cognitive outcome, risk of late seizure and epilepsy.
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Intensive care medicine · Apr 2015
Observational StudyAsynchronies during mechanical ventilation are associated with mortality.
This study aimed to assess the prevalence and time course of asynchronies during mechanical ventilation (MV). ⋯ Asynchronies are common throughout MV, occurring in all MV modes, and more frequently during the daytime. Further studies should determine whether asynchronies are a marker for or a cause of mortality.
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Intensive care medicine · Apr 2015
Observational StudyThe effect of chronotype on sleepiness, fatigue, and psychomotor vigilance of ICU nurses during the night shift.
In general, sleeping and activity patterns vary between individuals. This attribute, known as chronotype, may affect night shift performance. In the intensive care unit (ICR), night shift performance may impact patient safety. We have investigated the effect of chronotype and social demographics on sleepiness, fatigue, and night shift on the performance of nurses. ⋯ Most of the ICU night shift nurses assessed here appeared to have adapted well to night shift work, despite the high percentage of morning chronotypes, possibly due to their 8-h shift duration. Parental responsibilities may, however, influence shift work tolerance.