Intensive care medicine
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Intensive care medicine · Jun 2016
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyEffect of probiotics on the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia in critically ill patients: a randomized controlled multicenter trial.
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Intensive care medicine · Jun 2016
ReviewComfort and patient-centred care without excessive sedation: the eCASH concept.
We propose an integrated and adaptable approach to improve patient care and clinical outcomes through analgesia and light sedation, initiated early during an episode of critical illness and as a priority of care. This strategy, which may be regarded as an evolution of the Pain, Agitation and Delirium guidelines, is conveyed in the mnemonic eCASH-early Comfort using Analgesia, minimal Sedatives and maximal Humane care. eCASH aims to establish optimal patient comfort with minimal sedation as the default presumption for intensive care unit (ICU) patients in the absence of recognised medical requirements for deeper sedation. Effective pain relief is the first priority for implementation of eCASH: we advocate flexible multimodal analgesia designed to minimise use of opioids. ⋯ From the outset, the objective of sedation strategy is to eliminate the use of sedatives at the earliest medically justifiable opportunity. Effective analgesia and minimal sedation contribute to the larger aims of eCASH by facilitating promotion of sleep, early mobilization strategies and improved communication of patients with staff and relatives, all of which may be expected to assist rehabilitation and avoid isolation, confusion and possible long-term psychological complications of an ICU stay. eCASH represents a new paradigm for patient-centred care in the ICU. Some organizational challenges to the implementation of eCASH are identified.
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Intensive care medicine · Jun 2016
Multicenter StudyCAESAR: a new tool to assess relatives' experience of dying and death in the ICU.
To develop an instrument designed specifically to assess the experience of relatives of patients who die in the intensive care unit (ICU). ⋯ The CAESAR score 21 days after death in the ICU is strongly associated with post-ICU burden in the bereaved relatives. The CAESAR score should prove a useful primary endpoint in trials of interventions to improve relatives' well-being.
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Intensive care medicine · Jun 2016
Practice GuidelineGuidelines for the withdrawal of life-sustaining measures.
Withdrawal of life-sustaining measures is a common event in the intensive care unit yet it involves a complex balance of medical, legal and ethical considerations. Very few healthcare providers have been specifically trained to withdraw life-sustaining measures, and no comprehensive guidelines exist to help ensure clinicians deliver the highest quality of care to patients and families. Hence, we sought to develop guidelines for the process of withdrawing life-sustaining measures in the clinical setting. ⋯ We present these guidelines to help physicians provide high-quality end of life (EOL) care in the ICU. Future studies should address their effectiveness from both critical care team and family perspectives.