Journal of critical care
-
Journal of critical care · Feb 2015
Comparative Study Observational StudyPrognostic evaluation of severe sepsis and septic shock: Procalcitonin clearance vs Δ Sequential Organ Failure Assessment.
The purpose of the study is to compare the clearance of procalcitonin (PCT-c) in the first 24 and 48 hours of treatment of severe sepsis and septic shock with another early prognostic marker represented by the 48-hour Δ Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA). ⋯ The 48-hour Δ SOFA score and the clearance of 24- and 48-hour PCT are useful markers of prognosis in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. A decrease in PCT-c in the first 24 hours of treatment should prompt the reassessment of the appropriateness and adequacy of treatment.
-
Journal of critical care · Feb 2015
Prolonged mechanical ventilation in Canadian intensive care units: A national survey.
We sought to describe prevalence and care practices for patients experiencing prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV), defined as ventilation for 21 or more consecutive days and medical stability. ⋯ Prolonged mechanical ventilation patients occupied 11% of Canadian acute care ventilator bed capacity. Most units preferred an individualized approach to weaning and mobilization with considerable variation in weaning methods, protocol availability, access to specialized rehabilitation equipment, communication technology, psychiatry, and discharge follow-up.
-
Journal of critical care · Feb 2015
Observational StudyComparative effectiveness of physician diagnosis and guideline definitions in identifying sepsis patients in the emergency department.
The purpose of our study was to compare the agreement of emergency physician diagnoses relative to the 1991 American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP)/Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) and 2001 ACCP/SCCM/European Society of Intensive Care Medicine/American Thoracic Society/Surgical Infection Society internationally accepted definitions of sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock. ⋯ Our study showed that ED physician diagnosis of sepsis may disagree with the international definitions such that severe sepsis is underrecognized by clinical judgment alone. Although these results are limited to a single center, we raise concern that early treatments for these high-risk patients may be delayed due to inaccurate clinical diagnosis. Efforts are needed to increase the application of sepsis guideline definitions to better identify ED patients with this potentially deadly condition.
-
Journal of critical care · Feb 2015
Low-dose recombinant factor VIIa for reversing coagulopathy in patients with isolated traumatic brain injury.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of low-dose recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) (20 μg/kg) in reversing coagulopathy in patients with isolated traumatic brain injury (TBI). ⋯ The use of low-dose rFVIIa (20 μg/kg) is effective for correcting coagulopathy in patients with TBI without an increase in thromboembolic events. Moreover, it is more effective for preventing the occurrence of PHI.
-
Journal of critical care · Feb 2015
Electrolyte shifts across the artificial lung in patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: Interdependence between partial pressure of carbon dioxide and strong ion difference.
Partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2), strong ion difference (SID), and total amount of weak acids independently regulate pH. When blood passes through an extracorporeal membrane lung, PCO2 decreases. Furthermore, changes in electrolytes, potentially affecting SID, were reported. We analyzed these phenomena according to Stewart's approach. ⋯ When PCO2 is reduced and oxygen added, several changes in electrolytes occur. These changes cause a PCO2-dependent SID reduction that, by acidifying plasma, limits pH correction caused by carbon dioxide removal. In this particular setting, PCO2 and SID are interdependent.