Journal of critical care
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Journal of critical care · Aug 2014
Observational StudyNoninvasive ventilation in the event of acute respiratory failure in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Some patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) develop severe acute respiratory failure (ARF) requiring admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) and ventilatory support. A limited number of observational studies have reported that noninvasive ventilation (NIV) can be an effective treatment to support breathing and to prevent use of invasive mechanical ventilation in these patients. This study aimed to retrospectively investigate the clinical status and outcomes in IPF patients receiving NIV for ARF and to identify those clinical and laboratory characteristics, which could be considered risk factors for its failure. ⋯ The outcome of IPF patients who were administered NIV was quite poor. The use of NIV was, nevertheless, found to be associated with clinical benefits in selected IPF patients, preventing the need for intubation and reducing the rate of complications/death. Elevated plasma NT-proBNP levels at the time of ICU admission is a simple clinical marker for poor NIV outcome.
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Journal of critical care · Aug 2014
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyComparison of invasive and noninvasive positive pressure ventilation delivered by means of a helmet for weaning of patients from mechanical ventilation.
The effectiveness of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation delivered by helmet (H-NPPV) as a weaning approach in patients with acute respiratory failure is unclear. ⋯ H-NPPV was well tolerated and effective in patients who were difficult to wean.
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Journal of critical care · Aug 2014
ReviewObesity and perioperative acute kidney injury: A focused review.
Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the developed world today. Obesity is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease. There has been renewed interest in the role of perioperative renal dysfunction with the establishment of new diagnostic criteria for kidney dysfunction such as the Acute Kidney Injury Network criteria and the Risk-Injury-Failure-Loss End-stage kidney disease criteria. ⋯ Furthermore, the traditional methods of quantifying obesity such as body mass index are increasing being questioned because they may not accurately reflect true visceral obesity and may skew epidemiologic classification of metabolically healthy patients. Recent epidemiologic studies suggest the existence of an obesity paradox wherein obese patients seem to have superior perioperative outcomes compared with patients with normal and low body mass index. We seek to review the epidemiologic and pathophysiologic aspects of obesity, especially with respect to structural and functional changes in kidney function and their impact on perioperative outcomes.
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Journal of critical care · Aug 2014
Multicenter StudyEffects of etomidate on vasopressor use in patients with sepsis or severe sepsis: A propensity-matched analysis.
The safety of single-bolus etomidate to facilitate intubation in septic patients is controversial due to its potential to suppress adrenal steroidogenesis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of etomidate on the development of shock when used as an induction agent to facilitate intubation in septic patients. ⋯ The use of etomidate for intubation in septic patients did not increase vasopressor requirements within 72 hours after intubation.
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Journal of critical care · Aug 2014
Observational StudyAdministration of proton pump inhibitors in critically ill medical patients is associated with increased risk of developing Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea.
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) effectively prevent gastrointestinal bleedings in critically ill patients at the intensive care unit (ICU). In non-ICU hospitalized patients, PPI administration increases the risk of infectious complications, especially Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD); but no such data are available for the ICU setting. ⋯ Proton pump inhibitor therapy was an independent risk factor for CDAD in medical ICU patients. Instead of routine PPI use for bleeding prophylaxis, further trials should investigate risk-adjusted algorithms, balancing benefits, and threats of PPI medication.