Journal of critical care
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Journal of critical care · Dec 2010
Comparative StudyA prospective, observational study of Xigris Use in the United States (XEUS).
Use of pharmacologic agents in clinical practice may differ from the manner in which they were studied in rigorous randomized clinical trials. This was a prospective, observational, noninterventional study to determine the profile of patients receiving drotrecogin alfa (activated) in clinical practice, provide additional outcome and safety data, and allow for a comparison to patients studied in the phase 3 Protein C Worldwide Evaluation in Severe Sepsis (PROWESS) trial. ⋯ Patients receiving drotrecogin alfa (activated) in clinical practice were more acutely ill, had a higher mortality rate, but a similar safety profile with respect to serious bleeding events compared to the PROWESS trial.
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Journal of critical care · Dec 2010
Multicenter StudyPredictors for daily interruption of sedation therapy by nurses: a prospective, multicenter study.
The aim of the study was to identify the nurse and patient-related factors predicting daily interruption of sedation (DIS) performance by nurses in the intensive care unit (ICU). ⋯ Educational strategies and institutional protocols focused on improving use of DIS need to consider the various nurse- and patient-related factors that affect DIS performance by nurses in the ICU.
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Journal of critical care · Dec 2010
Survey on physicians' knowledge of sepsis: do they recognize it promptly?
In Brazil, sepsis has a high mortality; and early recognition is essential in outcome. The aim of the study was to evaluate physicians' knowledge about systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock concepts. ⋯ The prompt recognition of sepsis and its severity is not satisfactory. This difference is probably due to the difficulty in the recognition of organ dysfunction, which hampers early identification of septic patients.
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Journal of critical care · Dec 2010
Mechanical ventilation mode (volume × pressure) does not change the variables obtained by indirect calorimetry in critically ill patients.
The aim of the study was to analyze the difference between the results obtained by indirect calorimetry (IC) using volume-controlled and pressure-controlled mechanical ventilation in 2 different ventilators and to characterize the variables achieved by IC after well-defined changes in minute volume (Vm). ⋯ Ventilators and ventilation modes do not influence the IC measurements. The observed changes have no clinical effects and are reversible, provided that increased Vm is maintained for no longer than 45 minutes.
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Journal of critical care · Dec 2010
Comparative StudyEosinopenia: Is it a good marker of sepsis in comparison to procalcitonin and C-reactive protein levels for patients admitted to a critical care unit in an urban hospital?
The role of eosinopenia as a marker of sepsis has recently been evaluated. The aim of our study was to test the value of eosinopenia as a diagnostic marker of sepsis in comparison to procalcitonin and C-reactive protein levels. ⋯ Eosinopenia is a very sensitive yet not specific serological marker of sepsis in the intensive care unit and can be utilized to guide physicians in the diagnosis of sepsis.