Journal of critical care
-
Journal of critical care · Sep 2009
Prognosis and 1-year mortality of intensive care unit patients with severe hepatic encephalopathy.
Data regarding outcome of patients with chronic liver disease with severe hepatic encephalopathy in intensive care unit are currently scarce. ⋯ Predictors of outcome were similar to other groups of patients with liver disease admitted for other reasons. Intensive care unit mortality was lower than reported for other groups of patients with similar illness. Patients with severe HE admitted to ICU with no organ dysfunction other than mechanical ventilation had a better outcome and may require ICU admission.
-
Journal of critical care · Sep 2009
Outcomes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation for patients on vasopressors or inotropes: a pilot study.
Outcomes of critically ill patients who receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) are poor, and the subgroup on vasopressors or inotropes before cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) rarely survives. ⋯ Survival of patients requiring CPR during critical care admission was 17%. Very few patients survived who required vasopressors or inotropes immediately before CPA. This study is limited significantly by its retrospective design and small cohort, and so this question should be reexamined in a larger study.
-
Journal of critical care · Sep 2009
The diagnosis of myocardial infarction in critically ill patients: an agreement study.
The aim of the study was to assess agreement among 4 intensivists in diagnosing myocardial infarction (MI) in critically ill patients based on screening electrocardiograms (ECGs) and cardiac troponin (cTn) levels. ⋯ Diagnosing MI in the ICU remains a challenge due to variable agreement in 12-lead ECG interpretation. Such variation in practice may contribute to underrecognition of MI during critical illness.
-
Journal of critical care · Sep 2009
Assessing the predictive value of the bispectral index vs patient state index on clinical assessment of sedation in postoperative cardiac surgery patients.
To compare the depth of sedation determined by Ramsay sedation scale (RSS) with electroencephalogram-based bispectral index (BIS) and patient state index (PSI). ⋯ There is significant positive correlation between the BIS and PSI but poor correlation and poor test agreement between the RSS and BIS as well as RSS and PSI. The BIS is a better predictor of oversedation compared with the PSI. There was no significant difference between the BIS and PSI with respect to the prediction of undersedation.
-
Journal of critical care · Sep 2009
Genetic polymorphism of GSTT1 and GSTM1 and susceptibility to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) represents a major public health care problem worldwide due to its increasing prevalence, morbidity and mortality. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is known to be the fourth leading cause of death and the only cause of death, which is increasing. It is generally accepted that cigarette smoking is the most important risk factor for COPD. Nevertheless, only 10% to 20% of chronic smokers develop the severe impairment of pulmonary functions associated with COPD. This indicates the presence of genetic predisposing factors in its pathogenesis. ⋯ Carriers of null GSTM1 genotype were at high risk of developing COPD especially when they were null GSTT1 and GSTM1 haplotype.