Journal of critical care
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Journal of critical care · Oct 2014
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyClonidine in the sedation of mechanically ventilated children: A pilot randomized trial.
Clonidine is often used as a sedative in critically ill children, but its effectiveness has not been evaluated in a large, rigorous randomized controlled trial. Our objectives in this pilot trial were to assess the feasibility of a larger trial with respect to (1) effective screening, (2) recruitment, (3) timely drug administration, and (4) protocol adherence. ⋯ This pilot trial demonstrated feasibility of a larger randomized controlled trial. Some important challenges emerged, allowing refinement of the study protocol and enrolment estimates. We recommend that future trials capitalize on the experience gained and use these results to design a larger trial focusing on clinically important outcomes.
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Journal of critical care · Oct 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialThe effect of Na-selenite treatment on the oxidative stress-antioxidants balance of multiple organ failure.
Our study tested the hypothesis that sodium (Na)-selenite expression treatment can reduce oxidative stress and increase plasma antioxidants, whereas modulating white blood cell antigen expression in severe sepsis. Selenite is a well known cofactor of glutathione peroxidases and other antioxidant enzymes; therefore, one may expect an antioxidant effect of treatment. ⋯ Although our Na-selenite treatment regime successfully restored the selenium deficiency of severe septic patients, antioxidant and white blood cell antigen expression modulating effect of the therapy was not observed in our patient group.
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Journal of critical care · Aug 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialThe effect of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation combined with tracheal gas insufflation on extravascular lung water in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome: A randomized, crossover, physiologic study.
High-frequency oscillation combined with tracheal gas insufflation (HFO-TGI) improves oxygenation in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). There are limited physiologic data regarding the effects of HFO-TGI on hemodynamics and pulmonary edema during ARDS. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of HFO-TGI on extravascular lung water (EVLW). ⋯ High-frequency oscillation combined with tracheal gas insufflation improves gas exchange and lung mechanics in ARDS and potentially attenuates EVLW accumulation.
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Journal of critical care · Aug 2014
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyComparison of invasive and noninvasive positive pressure ventilation delivered by means of a helmet for weaning of patients from mechanical ventilation.
The effectiveness of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation delivered by helmet (H-NPPV) as a weaning approach in patients with acute respiratory failure is unclear. ⋯ H-NPPV was well tolerated and effective in patients who were difficult to wean.
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Journal of critical care · Jun 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialThe effect of the arterial catheter insertion technique on the success of radial artery cannulation: A prospective and randomized study.
The main objective of the current investigation was to compare a single wall puncture to vessel transfixing on the success of radial artery cannulation by resident physicians. ⋯ Our findings suggest that there does not appear to be an advantage of the transfixing technique over the single wall puncture method for cannulating the radial artery by resident physicians. Cannulation was achieved in shorter time using the single wall puncture technique even after accounting for differences between residents and prior levels of experience.