Journal of critical care
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Journal of critical care · Dec 2019
Multicenter StudyMeasuring the nursing workload in intensive care with the Nursing Activities Score (NAS): A prospective study in 16 hospitals in Belgium.
The evaluation of nursing workload is a common practice in intensive care units (ICUs). It allows the calculation of an optimal nurse/patient ratio (N/P) which is a major challenge to ensuring the quality of care while controlling the costs of health care. The objectives of this study were, therefore, to evaluate the N/P ratio and to study nursing activities in intensive care in French-speaking Belgium. ⋯ There is a significant difference in N/P ratio between the Belgian regulation (1/3) and the one calculated by the NAS (1/1.5). A systematic objective assessment of shift workload should be done to avoid N/P ratio differences in intensive care.
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Journal of critical care · Dec 2019
ReviewManaging the Alpha-1 patient in the ICU: Adapting broad critical care strategies in AATD.
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AATD) is a progressive pulmonary disease under-recognized or misdiagnosed by clinicians. Patients with AATD can develop a variety of organ-specific complications and as a result, often require hospitalization and treatment within critical care and ICU settings. ⋯ In addition, we have outlined certain aspects of the care of this patient population that may be of interest to critical care practitioners. With greater disease awareness and earlier diagnosis the onset of symptoms can be delayed, which will ultimately reduce the frequency of deleterious health consequences.
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Journal of critical care · Dec 2019
Multicenter StudyRapid sequence induction traceability in an ICU dedicated patient data management system: a multicentric retrospective study.
Patient data management systems (PDMS) are widely used in intensive care units (ICUs) to improve care traceability. Verbal orders are still used for prescriptions requiring immediate execution but should be subsequently recorded in the system. We assessed the rapid sequence induction (RSI) traceability for endotracheal intubation in an ICU dedicated PDMS. ⋯ PDMS are supposed to improve prescription completeness and traceability, but our study suggests an opposite result. A co-responsibility policy between physicians and nurses should be promoted to improve care traceability. PDMS ergonomic improvements and enhanced integration in clinical workflow might also result in better compliance with documentation requirements. In each centre, indicators of PDMS correct use should be defined and periodically monitored.
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Journal of critical care · Dec 2019
Multicenter Study Observational StudyAssociation between acute kidney injury and neurological outcome or death at 6 months in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: A prospective, multicenter, observational cohort study.
This study aimed to evaluate the association between acute kidney injury (AKI) and 6 months neurological outcome after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). ⋯ AKI is associated with poor neurological outcome (MRS 4-6) at 6 months in OHCA patients treated with TTM.