Journal of critical care
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Journal of critical care · Feb 2016
Observational StudyNear-infrared spectroscopy to assess microvascular dysfunction: A prospective pilot study in cardiac surgery patients.
The diagnosis of microvascular dysfunction remains challenging after cardiac surgery. We hypothesized that peripheral near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) monitoring in combination with a vascular occlusion test could reliably assess postoperative microvascular dysfunction in that setting. ⋯ Peripheral NIRS monitoring in combination with a vascular occlusion test failed to assess cardiopulmonary bypass-induced microvascular dysfunction.
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Journal of critical care · Feb 2016
Finding the red flags: Swallowing difficulties after cardiac surgery in patients with prolonged intubation.
This retrospective audit set out to identify referral rates, swallowing characteristics, and risk factors for dysphagia and silent aspiration in at-risk patients after cardiac surgery. Dysphagia and silent aspiration are associated with poorer outcomes post cardiac surgery. ⋯ Patients identified with dysphagia after cardiac surgery had a high incidence of silent aspiration and increased risk of pneumonia. However, referral rates were low in this at-risk patient group. Early identification and ongoing assessment and appropriate management of dysphagic patients by a speech-language pathologist are strongly recommended.
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Journal of critical care · Feb 2016
Observational StudyPostoperative sepsis in cancer patients undergoing major elective digestive surgery is associated with increased long-term mortality.
Major postoperative events (acute respiratory failure, sepsis, and surgical complications) are frequent early after elective gastroesophageal and pancreatic surgery. It is unclear whether these complications impact equally on long-term outcome. ⋯ Postoperative sepsis was the only major postoperative event associated with long-term mortality. Postoperative sepsis may reflect a deep impairment of immune response, which is potentially associated with cancer recurrence and mortality.
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Journal of critical care · Feb 2016
High central venous-to-arterial CO2 difference/arterial-central venous O2 difference ratio is associated with poor lactate clearance in septic patients after resuscitation.
Recently, the central venoarterial carbon dioxide difference/arterial-central venous oxygen difference (P(v-a)CO2/C(a-v)O2) ratio has been suggested as an additional indicator of anaerobic metabolism. We investigated the relationship between the P(v-a)CO2/C(a-v)O2 ratio and 8-hour lactate clearance (LC) in septic patients after resuscitation. ⋯ The high P(v-a)CO2/C(a-v)O2 ratio is associated with poor LC after resuscitation. The P(v-a)CO2/C(a-v)O2 ratio may provide useful information for assessing the LC potential and optimizing the LC rate.
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Journal of critical care · Feb 2016
Comparative StudyUsing patient admission characteristics alone to predict mortality of critically ill patients: A comparison of 3 prognostic scores.
This study compared the performance of 3 admission prognostic scores in predicting hospital mortality. ⋯ All 3 intensive care unit admission prognostic scores had a good ability to predict hospital mortality of critically ill patients, with best discrimination in emergency admissions.