Journal of critical care
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Journal of critical care · Feb 2016
Low total cholesterol and high total bilirubin are associated with prognosis in patients with prolonged sepsis.
Nutritional biochemical indexes are generally used as markers for critically ill patients. However, they are easily influenced by acute phase changes after injury and are difficult to use as common and practical biomarkers. The objective of this study was to determine the most valuable prognostic markers among 15 common laboratory tests in patients with sepsis. ⋯ Total cholesterol and T-Bil could be associated with prognosis in patients with sepsis.
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Journal of critical care · Feb 2016
Acute respiratory distress syndrome after orthotopic liver transplantation.
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a devastating complication with substantial mortality. The aims of this study were to identify the incidence, preoperative and intraoperative risk factors, and impact of ARDS on outcomes in patients after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). ⋯ Acute respiratory distress syndrome occurred at a rate of 4.1% following OLT in adult patients and was associated with preoperative encephalopathy, requirement of intubation, and total bilirubin and intraoperative large boluses of pressors. Acute respiratory distress syndrome was associated with increased mortality, longer ventilation time, and hospital stay.
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Journal of critical care · Feb 2016
Do cost savings from reductions in nosocomial infections justify additional costs of single-bed rooms in intensive care units? A simulation case study.
Evidence shows that single-patient rooms can play an important role in preventing cross-transmission and reducing nosocomial infections in intensive care units (ICUs). This case study investigated whether cost savings from reductions in nosocomial infections justify the additional construction and operation costs of single-bed rooms in ICUs. ⋯ This case study shows that although single-patient rooms are more costly to build and operate, they can result in substantial savings compared with open-bay rooms by avoiding costs associated with nosocomial infections.
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Journal of critical care · Feb 2016
Multipronged strategy to reduce routine-priority blood testing in intensive care unit patients.
The purpose of the study is to reduce unnecessary ordering of routine-priority blood tests. ⋯ Sequential interventions to discourage the ordering of routine-priority blood tests in an ICU were associated with a significant decrease in the number of tests ordered.
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Journal of critical care · Feb 2016
Periarrest intestinal bacterial translocation and resuscitation outcome.
During the periarrest period, intestinal ischemia may result in barrier dysfunction and bacterial translocation, which has clear mechanistic links to inflammation and cascade stimulation, especially in patients who are treated with therapeutic hypothermia. Despite optimal management, periarrest bacterial translocation may worsen the outcome of cardiac arrest victims.