Journal of critical care
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Journal of critical care · Aug 2014
Review Historical ArticleHistory of brain death as death: 1968 to the present.
The concept of brain death was formulated in 1968 in the landmark report A Definition of Irreversible Coma. While brain death has been widely accepted as a determination of death throughout the world, many of the controversies that surround it have not been settled. Some may be rooted in a misconstruction about the history of brain death. ⋯ Since 1968, the concept of brain death has been extensively analyzed, debated, and reworked. Still there remains much misunderstanding and confusion, especially in the general public. In this comprehensive review, I will trace the evolution of the definition of brain death as death from 1968 to the present, providing background, history and context.
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Journal of critical care · Aug 2014
Multicenter Study Observational StudyA multicenter population-based effectiveness study of teleintensive care unit-directed ventilator rounds demonstrating improved adherence to a protective lung strategy, decreased ventilator duration, and decreased intensive care unit mortality.
The purpose of the study is to determine if teleintensive care unit (ICU)-directed daily ventilator rounds improved adherence to lung protective ventilation (LPV), reduced ventilator duration ratio (VDR), and ICU mortality ratios. ⋯ Implementation of teleICU-directed ventilator rounds was associated with improved and durable adherence to LPV and significant reductions in both VDR and ICU mortality.
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Journal of critical care · Aug 2014
The ability of current scoring systems in differentiating transient and persistent organ failure in patients with acute pancreatitis.
The purpose of this study is to investigate the accuracy of currently used scoring systems in differentiating transient and persistent organ failure in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP). ⋯ Current scoring systems are not accurate enough in differentiating transient and persistent organ failure in patients with AP.
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Journal of critical care · Aug 2014
Multicenter StudyThe views of health care professionals about selective decontamination of the digestive tract: An international, theoretically informed interview study.
Selective decontamination of the digestive tract (SDD) as a prophylactic intervention improves hospital-acquired infection and survival rates. Uptake of SDD is low and remains controversial. This study applied the theoretical domains framework to assess intensive care unit clinicians' views about SDD in regions with limited or no adoption of SDD. ⋯ We identified salient beliefs, barriers, and facilitators to SDD adoption and delivery. What participants said about SDD and the way in which they said it demonstrated the degree of clinical caution, uncertainty, and concern that SDD evokes.
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Journal of critical care · Aug 2014
The cost-effectiveness ratio of a managed protocol for severe sepsis.
Severe sepsis is a time-dependent disease, and implementation of early treatment has been associated with mortality rate reduction. However, the literature is controversial regarding cost-effectiveness analysis of this intervention. The aim was to assess the cost-effectiveness of a managed protocol for the treatment of severe sepsis. ⋯ Given that the incremental cost was lower than or equal to zero, the effectiveness of the protocol was justified by the significant increase in the life-years saved and the reduced mortality.