Journal of intensive care medicine
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J Intensive Care Med · Jul 2012
ReviewVariability in the determination of death after cardiac arrest: a review of guidelines and statements.
The reemergence of organ donation after circulatory determination of death (DCDD) in Canada demands the establishment of clear, evidence-based guidelines for the determination of death. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the variability in specific criteria, diagnostic tests, and recommended wait periods for the determination of death after cardiac arrest. ⋯ This review is the first to document the variability of guidelines and statements for the determination of death after cardiac arrest, in countries where the practice of DCDD is becoming increasingly common. The scarcity of peer-reviewed published guidelines in the medical literature exemplifies the need for further investigation. We believe these results will inform the ethical discussions surrounding the determination of death after cardiac arrest. Clear and consistent guidelines based on evidence are needed to fulfill medical, ethical, and legal obligation and to ensure public trust.
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J Intensive Care Med · Jul 2012
ReviewDexmedetomidine and clonidine: from second- to first-line sedative agents in the critical care setting?
In the critical care setting, α-2 agonists present a multifaceted profile: sedation combined with arousability, suppression of delirium, preservation of respiratory drive, reduced O(2) consumption, preserved renal function, and reduced protein metabolism. In addition, this review details the reduced arterial impedance, improved left ventricular performance, preserved vascular reactivity to exogenous amines, preserved cardiac baroreflex reactivity, preserved vasomotor baroreflex activity combined with a lowered pressure set point: these features may explain the good tolerance observed when α-2 agonists are used as continuous infusion without any loading dose. Reviewing the literature allows one to suggest that a new management appears possible with arousable sedation. ⋯ Should such a speculative view be confirmed, then α-2 agonists will move from second-line sedative agents to first-line sedative agents. However, key studies are lacking to demonstrate the effect of α-2 agonists on physiological endpoints and outcome. Presently, the existing body of data suggests a niche for the use of α-2 agonists in the critical care setting.
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Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte disorder encountered in neurosurgical patients. The aggressive treatment of hyponatremia in this group is critical, as hyponatremia can lead to mental status changes, seizures, vasospasm, cerebral edema, and even death. When it occurs, it represents a failure of one of several homeostatic mechanisms that tightly regulate serum sodium. ⋯ Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone is characterized by a volume-expanded state, whereas CSW is characterized by a volume-contracted state. Determining the exact cause remains a clinical imperative as the treatment for each is different. The rate at which serum sodium is corrected must be attended to, as rapid shifts in serum sodium pose potential risk of cerebral pontine myelinolysis.
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J Intensive Care Med · May 2012
Clinical course of ICU patients with severe pandemic 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pneumonia: single center experience with proning and pressure release ventilation.
A number of different modalities have been employed in addition to conventional ventilation to improve oxygenation in patients with severe 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) pneumonia. Outcomes with ventilatory and rescue therapies for H1N1 influenza-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) have been varied. A single intensive care unit (ICU) experience with management of laboratory-confirmed 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) ARDS with a combination of proning and airway pressure release ventilation (APRV) is described. ⋯ Proning in combination with APRV provides improvement of hypoxemia with limitation of end-organ dysfunction and thereby facilitates recovery from severe 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1).
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J Intensive Care Med · May 2012
ReviewNorepinephrine or dopamine for septic shock: systematic review of randomized clinical trials.
There is debate as to the vasopressor agent of choice in patients with septic shock. According to current guidelines either dopamine or norepinephrine may be considered as the first-line agent for the management of refractory hypotension of septic shock. ⋯ The analysis of the pooled studies that included a critically ill population with shock predominantly secondary to sepsis showed superiority of norepinephrine over dopamine for in-hospital or 28-day mortality.