Journal of critical care
-
Journal of critical care · Apr 2017
Combining quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment with plasma lactate concentration is comparable to standard Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score in predicting mortality of patients with and without suspected infection.
We sought to determine whether quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) score can be used to predict mortality of patients without suspected infection. ⋯ The qSOFA score had a modest ability to predict mortality of both septic and nonseptic patients; combining qSOFA with plasma lactate had a predictive ability comparable to the standard SOFA score.
-
Journal of critical care · Apr 2017
The diagnostic utility of sonographic carotid flow time in determining volume responsiveness.
We aimed to predict volume responsiveness and to assess the diagnostic accuracy of carotid flow time (FTc) with the change in hydration status before and after a passive leg raise (PLR) maneuver. ⋯ The use of point-of-care ultrasound to measure FTc may provide a noninvasive alternative to determine fluid status. Percentage change in FTc of ≥5% provides a reliable diagnostic accuracy for predicting fluid status.
-
Journal of critical care · Apr 2017
Psychometric assessment of the Family Satisfaction in the Intensive Care Unit questionnaire in the United Kingdom.
To establish the psychometric properties of the Family Satisfaction in the Intensive Care Unit 24-item (FS-ICU-24) questionnaire in the United Kingdom. ⋯ The Family Satisfaction in the Intensive Care Unit 24-item questionnaire demonstrated good psychometric properties in the United Kingdom setting. Construct validity could be improved by use of 3 domains and some scope for further improvement was identified.
-
Journal of critical care · Apr 2017
Observational StudyPlasma adrenomedullin in critically ill patients with sepsis after major surgery: A pilot study.
Adrenomedullin is released by different tissues in hypoxia, oxidative stress, and inflammation and is found in general and medical patients and, recently, in sepsis patients in emergency departments. The aim of this study was to evaluate biologically active adrenomedullin that mirrors directly the active peptide levels in plasma of surgical intensive care unit (ICU) patients with sepsis. ⋯ This is the first study investigating adrenomedullin in patients with sepsis following major surgery. Higher adrenomedullin on admission is associated with increased vasopressor need and mortality after 90 days. Thus, adrenomedullin may be a useful additional parameter in surgical patients with sepsis.
-
Journal of critical care · Apr 2017
Mortality, length of stay, bloodstream and respiratory viral infections in a pediatric intensive care unit.
We investigated whether diagnostic categories and presence of infections were associated with increased mortality or length of stay (LOS) in patients admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). ⋯ Patients with diagnoses of leukemia, lymphoma, cardiomyopathy/myocarditits, encephalitis, and comorbidity of bloodstream infections and pneumococcal disease were significantly at risk of PICU mortality. Length of stay of survivors was associated with bloodstream gram-positive infection. The highest odds for death were among patients with leukemia/lymphoma and bloodstream coinfection. As early diagnosis of these childhood malignancies is desirable but not always possible, adequate and early antimicrobial coverage for gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria might be the only feasible option to reduce PICU mortality in these patients. In Hong Kong, a subtropical Asian city, none of the common respiratory viruses were associated with increased mortality or LOS in PICU.