Journal of critical care
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Journal of critical care · Apr 2012
Stress hyperglycemia may not be harmful in critically ill patients with sepsis.
Stress hyperglycemia (SH) is commonly seen in critically ill patients. It has been shown to be associated with adverse outcomes in some groups of patients. The effects of SH on critically ill patients with sepsis have not been well studied. We aimed to evaluate the effects of SH in critically ill patients with sepsis. ⋯ Stress hyperglycemia may not be harmful in critically ill patients with sepsis. Patients with SH had lower ICU mortality.
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Journal of critical care · Apr 2012
Incidence and risk factors for sepsis in surgical patients: a cohort study.
The aim of the study was to evaluate risk factors for infection and sepsis in surgical patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). ⋯ This study showed that sepsis has high incidence and mortality in surgical patients admitted to the ICU. Urgent surgeries, mechanical ventilation, fluid resuscitation, and vasoactive drugs in the postoperative period and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment at ICU admission were risk factors for sepsis.
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Journal of critical care · Feb 2012
Comparative StudyComparison of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) rates between different ICUs: Implications of a zero VAP rate.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Measures to reduce the incidence of VAP have resulted in institutions reporting a zero or near-zero VAP rates. The implications of zero VAP rates are unclear. This study was done to compare outcomes between two intensive care units (ICU) with one of them reporting a zero VAP rate. ⋯ During comparisons of VAP rate between institutions, a zero VAP rate needs to be considered in the context of overall ventilator days, mean durations of ventilator stay and ICU mortality.
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Journal of critical care · Feb 2012
Ventilator-associated pneumonia is an important risk factor for mortality after major cardiac surgery.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the main infectious complication in cardiac surgery patients and is associated with an important increase in morbidity and mortality. The aim of our study was to analyze the impact of VAP on mortality excluding other comorbidities and to study its etiology and the risk factors for its development. ⋯ The development of VAP after CPB is the most important independent risk factor for in-hospital mortality. Identification of effective strategies for the prevention of VAP is needed.