Journal of critical care
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The objective of this study was to determine the effect of early vs late vasopressin therapy on catecholamine dose and duration. ⋯ Early initiation of vasopressin therapy in adult critically ill patients with septic shock was associated with no difference in total catecholamine requirements but decreased incidence of new onset arrhythmias.
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Journal of critical care · Aug 2014
Critical care ultrasound training: A survey of US fellowship directors.
The purpose of this study is to describe the current state of bedside ultrasound use and training among critical care (CC) training programs in the United States. ⋯ This study identified deficiencies in current training, suggesting a need for a formal curriculum for bedside ultrasound training in CC fellowship programs.
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Journal of critical care · Aug 2014
Influence of abdominal obesity on multiorgan dysfunction and mortality in acute respiratory distress syndrome patients treated with prone positioning.
Obesity is a worldwide pandemic, and obese patients face an increased risk of developing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Prone positioning (PP) is a frequently used intervention in the treatment of ARDS. There are no data describing the impact of PP on morbidity and mortality in abdominally obese patients. We report our observations in abdominally obese ARDS patients treated with PP. ⋯ A cautious approach to PP should be considered in abdominally obese patients.
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Journal of critical care · Aug 2014
Immature granulocytes predict microbial infection and its adverse sequelae in the intensive care unit.
We evaluated the predictive value of immature granulocyte (IG) percentage in comparison with white blood cell counts (WBC) and C-reactive protein (CRP), for infection, its invasiveness, and severity in critically ill patients. ⋯ Immature granulocyte percentage is a useful marker, as CRP, to predict infection, its invasiveness, and severity, in critically ill patients. However, the IG percentage adds to WBC and CRP in the early exclusion of infection and can be obtained routinely without extra blood sampling or costs.
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Journal of critical care · Aug 2014
The prognostic and risk-stratified value of heart-type fatty acid-binding protein in septic patients in the emergency department.
To evaluate the prognostic and risk-stratified ability of heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) in septic patients in the emergency department (ED). ⋯ Heart-type fatty acid-binding protein was helpful for prognosis and risk stratification of septic patients in the ED.