Journal of critical care
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Journal of critical care · Dec 2014
Observational StudyThe relationship between physician case volume and in-hospital mortality of critically ill children with a diagnosis of pneumonia: A cross-sectional observational analytical study.
The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between physician case volume and the outcomes of critically ill children with pneumonia. ⋯ A higher physician's pneumonia case volume is associated with a lower length of hospital stay, lower in-hospital mortality rate, and lower hospitalization expenses among critically ill children with pneumonia.
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Journal of critical care · Dec 2014
The effects of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt on systemic cardiocirculatory parameters.
We aimed to evaluate the effects of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt (TIPS) on systemic cardiocirculatory parameters in patients treated with TIPS for portal hypertension-associated complications. ⋯ Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt placement is associated with an increase in central venous pressure and an improvement of global blood flow (cardiac index and stroke volume index) in patients with portal hypertension.
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Journal of critical care · Dec 2014
Biphasic changes (overreduction and overoxidation) of plasma redox status and clinical implications in early stage of severe burns.
Although the changes of redox status in the early stage of severe burns are considered to be associated with the disease progression, whereas antioxidant therapy cannot improve the prognosis, the characteristics and mechanisms of dynamic change of redox status related with the disease progression deserve further study. ⋯ This study firstly revealed the excessive, biphasic changes of redox status and clinical implications in the early stage of severe burns, providing a new viewpoint for early pathological changes of severe burns and will be helpful for corresponding early treatment. ΔORP value also appears to be a potential early prognostic marker.
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Journal of critical care · Dec 2014
Observational StudyCardiac index monitoring by femoral arterial thermodilution after cardiac surgery in children.
The aim of this study is to determine whether the maintenance of cardiac index (CI) measured by femoral arterial thermodilution during the postoperative period after heart surgery in children is related to short-term outcome. ⋯ Monitoring by femoral arterial thermodilution has been feasible in our experience. Maintenance of a CI of 3 L min(-1) m(-2) or greater is related to a better patient's early outcome.
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Journal of critical care · Dec 2014
Observational StudyAlcoholic liver disease in the intensive care unit: Outcomes and predictors of prognosis.
An increasing number of patients with alcoholic liver disease (ALD) are being referred for critical care support, but limited information is available on their short- and medium-term outcomes. This study aimed to determine mortality rates, identify optimal predictors of prognosis, and determine the appropriate time to apply these predictors in patients with ALD admitted to intensive care unit (ICU). ⋯ Patients admitted to ICU with ALD have a very high inhospital mortality. A combination of the established Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score and lactate provided the most accurate predictor of outcome on day of admission and at all subsequent time points.