Heart & lung : the journal of critical care
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Pneumonia is the second most common nosocomial infection in the United States and the leading cause of death from nosocomial infections. Intubation and mechanical ventilation greatly increase the risk of bacterial pneumonia. ⋯ Nurses caring for patients treated with mechanical ventilation must recognize risk factors and include strategies for reducing these factors as part of their nursing care. This article summarizes the literature related to VAP: its incidence, associated factors, diagnosis, and current therapies, with an emphasis on nursing implications in the care of these patients.
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Comparative Study
Relationship of age, sex, and procedure type to extubation outcome after heart surgery.
To identify the relationship of age, sex, and type of procedure to extubation outcome (< or = 8 hours or > 8 hours), and to identify barriers to extubation after heart surgery. ⋯ Age is a powerful predictor of delayed extubation after heart surgery. Only postoperative somnolence distinguished barriers to extubation in younger and older patients.