Journal of critical care
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Journal of critical care · Apr 2020
Review Case ReportsFrom a pressure-guided to a perfusion-centered resuscitation strategy in septic shock: Critical literature review and illustrative case.
To support a paradigm shift in the management of septic shock from pressure-guided to perfusion-centered, expected to improve outcome while reducing adverse effects from vasopressor therapy and aggressive fluid resuscitation. ⋯ We propose focusing the hemodynamic management of septic shock on reversing organ hypoperfusion instead of attaining a predefined MAP target as the key strategy for improving outcome.
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Journal of critical care · Apr 2020
Randomized Controlled TrialThe role of neutrophil chemotaxis activity as an immunologic biomarker to predict mortality in critically-ill patients with severe sepsis.
Innate immunity is an important host response to infection. However, the role of innate immunity as a prognostic biomarker in severe sepsis is still unknown. This study is to evaluate the discriminatory characteristics of these biomarkers on clinical outcome. ⋯ Neutrophil chemotaxis activity appears to be a promising novel immunologic biomarker in predicting clinical outcome in patients with severe sepsis.
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Journal of critical care · Apr 2020
Multicenter StudyAssociation between organizational characteristics and adequate pain management at the intensive care unit.
Half of the patients experience pain during their ICU stay which is known to influence their outcomes. Nurses and physicians encounter organizational barriers towards pain assessment and treatment. We aimed to evaluate the association between adequate pain management and nurse to patient ratio, bed occupancy rate, and fulltime presence of an intensivist. ⋯ Higher nurse to patient ratios increase the percentage of patients with adequate pain management especially in medical and mechanically ventilated patients.
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Journal of critical care · Apr 2020
Multicenter StudyThe effects of an enteral nutrition feeding protocol on critically ill patients: A prospective multi-center, before-after study.
The aim of this study was to explore the effects of an enteral nutrition (EN) feeding protocol in critically ill patients. ⋯ The implementation of the enteral feeding protocol is associated with improved energy intake and a decreased incidence of enteral nutrition related adverse events for critically ill patients, but it had no statistically beneficial effects on reducing the hospital mortality rate. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02976155. Registered November 29, 2016- Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02976155.
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Journal of critical care · Apr 2020
ReviewEffects of propofol on ischemia-reperfusion and traumatic brain injury.
Oxidative stress exacerbates brain damage following ischemia-reperfusion and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Management of TBI and critically ill patients commonly involves use of propofol, a sedation medication that acts as a general anesthetic with inherent antioxidant properties. Here we review available evidence from animal model systems and clinical studies that propofol protects against ischemia-reperfusion injury. ⋯ Evidence suggests that propofol protects astrocytes from oxidative stress and stimulates astroglial-mediated protection of neurons. One may speculate that in brain injury patients under sedation/anesthesia, propofol provides brain tissue protection or aids in recovery by enhancing astrocyte function. Nevertheless, our understanding of neurologic recovery versus long-term neurological sequelae leading to neurodegeneration is poor, and it is also conceivable that propofol plays a partial as yet unrecognized role in long-term impairment of the injured brain.