Journal of critical care
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Journal of critical care · Apr 2014
Comparative StudyComputerized physician order entry in the cardiac intensive care unit: Effects on prescription errors and workflow conditions.
To evaluate the effects of a computerized physician order entry (CPOE) system in the cardiac intensive care unit by detecting prescription errors (PEs) and also to assess the impact on working conditions. ⋯ Computerized physician order entry in the cardiac intensive care unit proved to be a safe and effective strategy in reducing PEs and was globally well received by professionals.
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Journal of critical care · Apr 2014
Indocyanine green clearance as an outcome prediction tool in cardiac surgery: A prospective study.
To evaluate the role of plasma disappearance rate of indocyanine green (PDR-ICG) as an outcome prediction tool in cardiac surgery. ⋯ In addition to the established scores, PDR-ICG may provide valuable information for the assessment of perioperative morbidity and mortality in cardiac surgery. Pre- and early postoperative measurements may help to identify patients at risk for developing perioperative complications.
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Journal of critical care · Apr 2014
Influence of dexmedetomidine therapy on the management of severe alcohol withdrawal syndrome in critically ill patients.
Although benzodiazepines are first-line drugs for alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS), rapidly escalating doses may offer little additional benefit and increase complications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate dexmedetomidine's impact on benzodiazepine requirements and hemodynamics in AWS. ⋯ Dexmedetomidine decreased benzodiazepine requirements and improved the overall hemodynamic profile of patients with severe AWS. These results provide promising evidence about the potential benefit of dexmedetomidine for AWS.
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Journal of critical care · Apr 2014
Hypoglycemia is associated with increased mortality in patients with acute decompensated liver cirrhosis.
The liver plays an important role in glucose metabolism, in terms of glucolysis and gluconeogenesis. Several studies have shown that hyperglycemia in patients with liver cirrhosis is associated with progression of the liver disease and increased mortality. However, no study has ever targeted the influence of hypoglycemia. The aim of this study was to assess the association of glucose disturbances with outcome in patients presenting to the emergency department with acute decompensated liver cirrhosis. ⋯ Hypoglycemia is associated with increased mortality in patients with acute decompensated liver cirrhosis. It is not yet clear whether hypoglycemia is jointly responsible for the increased short-term mortality of patients with acute decompensated liver cirrhosis or is only a consequence of the severity of the disease or the complications.
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Journal of critical care · Apr 2014
Thermodilution vs pressure recording analytical method in hemodynamic stabilized patients.
Many mini-invasive devices to monitor cardiac output (CO) have been introduced and, among them, the pressure recording analytical method (PRAM). The aim of this study was to assess the agreement of PRAM with the intermittent transpulmonary thermodilution and continuous pulmonary thermodilution in measuring CO in hemodynamically stabilized patients. ⋯ The PRAM system showed good agreement with pulmonary artery catheter and PiCCO in hemodynamically stabilized patients.