Journal of critical care
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Journal of critical care · Oct 2013
Comparative StudyComparison of predictive powers of S100B and cell-free plasma DNA values in intensive care unit patients with intracranial hemorrhage.
To investigate predictive powers of S100B and cell-free DNA (cfDNA) levels in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) who have with intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) for prognosis. ⋯ Both S100B and cfDNA values can be used as markers to predict the prognosis of ICU patients with ICH. However, S100B is more powerful for predicting the prognosis.
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Journal of critical care · Oct 2013
Comparative StudyInhaled epoprostenol vs inhaled nitric oxide for refractory hypoxemia in critically ill patients.
The purpose of this is to compare efficacy, safety, and cost outcomes in patients who have received either inhaled epoprostenol (iEPO) or inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) for hypoxic respiratory failure. ⋯ We found no difference in efficacy and safety outcomes when comparing iNO and iEPO in hypoxic, critically ill patients. Inhaled epoprostenol is associated with less drug expenditure than iNO.
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Journal of critical care · Oct 2013
Patients with New York Heart Association class III heart failure may benefit with high flow nasal cannula supportive therapy: High flow nasal cannula in heart failure.
High flow nasal cannula (HFNC) may decrease preload being associated with beneficial hemodynamic and respiratory effects in adults with heart failure. ⋯ These findings suggest that patients with NYHA class III heart failure may benefit with HFNC supportive therapy.
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Journal of critical care · Oct 2013
Coagulopathy, catecholamines, and biomarkers of endothelial damage in experimental human endotoxemia and in patients with severe sepsis: A prospective study.
The aim of this study was to investigate associations between circulating catecholamines, endothelial damage, and coagulopathy in experimental human endotoxemia and septic patients. ⋯ Experimental endotoxemia induced a discrete hemostatic response without sympathoadrenal activation or endothelial damage. Septic patients had high levels of catecholamines and endothelial damage biomarkers that correlated with each other and with markers of hypocoagulability and disease severity.
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Journal of critical care · Oct 2013
Oral midodrine treatment accelerates the liberation of intensive care unit patients from intravenous vasopressor infusions.
Persistent low-level hypotension represents a barrier to discharging patients from the intensive care unit (ICU). Midodrine may be an effective adjunct to wean intravenous (IV) vasopressors and permit ICU discharge. We tested the hypothesis that midodrine, given to patients on IV vasopressors who otherwise met ICU discharge criteria, increased the magnitude of change in IV vasopressor rate. ⋯ Midodrine treatment was associated with an increase in the magnitude of decline of the IV vasopressor rate. Oral midodrine may facilitate liberation of surgical ICU patients from an IV vasopressor infusion, and this may affect discharge readiness of patients from the ICU.