Journal of critical care
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Journal of critical care · Apr 2014
Prediction equation to estimate dead space to tidal volume fraction correlates with mortality in critically ill patients.
The measurement of dead space to tidal volume fraction (Vd/Vt) using various methodologies has been shown to be a reliable predictor of mortality in critically ill patients. In this study, we evaluated the correlation of a validated equation using clinically available information to predict calculation of Vd/Vt with clinically relevant outcome parameters in patients requiring mechanical ventilation. ⋯ In this study-specific population of critically ill patients, the prediction equation of Vd/Vt using clinically available parameters correlates with mortality. In addition, we provide a simple method to estimate Vd/Vt that can be potentially applicable to all critically ill intensive care unit patients.
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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.
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Journal of critical care · Apr 2014
Evaluating the obtunded patient after cardiac surgery: The role of continuous electroencephalography.
This prospective study was designed to evaluate the role of continuous electroencephalography (EEG) in the management of adult patients with neurological dysfunction early after cardiac surgery. ⋯ Non-convulsive status epilepticus may be an under-recognized cause of obtundation early after cardiac surgery. Continuous EEG monitoring is a non-invasive test that can identify patients that may benefit from anti-epileptic medication. Larger comparative studies are required to establish whether this leads to significant improvements in patient outcomes.
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Journal of critical care · Apr 2014
Simple bedside predictors of mechanical ventilation in patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome.
The objective of the study is to develop and validate a predictor score for assessing the requirement of mechanical ventilation (MV) in patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS). ⋯ Several independent risk factors were found to predict the requirement for MV in patients with GBS at admission. However, after scoring and analyzing them, it was found that combining a few of them was more useful to predict the need for MV. A model using NSB score, developed using clinical variables, accurately predicted the requirement of MV. In addition, among the NSB score parameters, simple bedside SBC could adequately assess the adequacy of vital capacity.
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Journal of critical care · Apr 2014
Anxiety and depression symptoms among families of adult intensive care unit survivors immediately following brief length of stay.
Prior studies of anxiety and depression among families of intensive care unit patients excluded those admitted for less than 2 days. We hypothesized that families of surviving patients with length of stay less than 2 days would have similar prevalence of anxiety and depression compared with those admitted for longer. ⋯ Families of surviving patients with brief length of stay may have similar prevalence of anxiety and depression at discharge to those with longer length of stay.