Intensive care medicine
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Intensive care medicine · May 2001
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialGrowth hormone does not affect albumin synthesis in the critically ill.
To study the effect of growth hormone (GH) on albumin synthesis in critically ill patients. ⋯ Albumin synthesis rates were consistently higher in the two groups of critically ill patients than previously reported values in healthy subjects. However, GH treatment for 5 days neither stimulated nor inhibited albumin synthesis rates in these critically ill patients.
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Intensive care medicine · May 2001
Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist: evaluation of a new screening tool.
Delirium in the intensive care unit is poorly defined. Clinical evaluation is difficult in the setting of unstable, often intubated patients. A screening tool may improve the detection of delirium. ⋯ This study suggests that the Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist can easily be applied by a clinician or a nurse in a busy critical care setting to screen all patients even when communication is compromised. The tool can be utilized quickly and helps to identify delirious patients. Earlier diagnosis may lead to earlier intervention and better patient care.
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Intensive care medicine · May 2001
Albumin supplementation during the first week after a burn does not mobilise tissue oedema in humans.
To measure water balance and changes in distribution, and the effect of giving supplementary albumin, early after a burn injury. ⋯ Body water increases after a burn. Excess water is mainly deposited in the extracellular space. Tissue oedema fluid is not mobilised by albumin supplementation.
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Intensive care medicine · May 2001
Validating the Sedation-Agitation Scale with the Bispectral Index and Visual Analog Scale in adult ICU patients after cardiac surgery.
To validate the Sedation-Agitation Scale (SAS) with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Bispectral Index (BIS) in adult ICU patients after cardiac surgery. ⋯ Sedation-Agitation Scale and BIS are valid measures of wakefulness after cardiac surgery, but EMG interference may affect the accuracy of BIS for a small percentage of patients not receiving neuromuscular blockade.
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Intensive care medicine · May 2001
The value of the chloride: sodium ratio in differentiating the aetiology of metabolic acidosis.
Stewart's physicochemical approach to acid-base balance defines the aetiology of a metabolic acidosis by quantifying anions of tissue acids (TA), which consist of unmeasured anions (UMA) and/or lactate. We hypothesised that an increase in TA during metabolic acidosis would lead to a compensatory fall in the plasma chloride (Cl) relative to sodium (Cl:Na ratio) in order to preserve electro-neutrality. Thus, the Cl:Na ratio could be used as a simple alternative to the anion gap in identifying raised TA. ⋯ In metabolic acidosis due to TA, plasma Cl concentration decreases relative to sodium. The Cl:Na ratio is a simple alternative to the AG for detecting TA in this setting.