Journal of critical care
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Journal of critical care · Dec 2008
Implementation of the Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines for severe sepsis and septic shock: we could go faster.
The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of applying sepsis bundles in the intensive care unit (ICU) and their effect on outcomes. ⋯ Correct application of the sepsis bundles was associated with reduced mortality and length of ICU stay. Earlier implementation of the 24-hour management bundle could result in better outcomes.
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Journal of critical care · Dec 2008
Respiratory failure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease after extubation: value of expiratory flow limitation and airway occlusion pressure after 0.1 second (P0.1).
The aim of this study was to confirm the ability of the airway occlusion pressure after 0.1 second (P0.1) recorded after extubation to define chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with a high risk of postextubation respiratory failure and to evaluate the role of the expiratory flow limitation (EFL) in these patients. ⋯ Bedside evaluation of EFL and P0.1 helps to define COPD patients at high risk for postextubation respiratory failure. Extubation failure in COPD was associated with higher EFL.
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Journal of critical care · Dec 2008
Effect of corticosteroids on arginine vasopressin-containing vasopressor therapy for septic shock: a case control study.
Studies showing corticosteroids decrease time to shock reversal in septic shock did not include arginine vasopressin, which also may reduce the duration of catecholamine therapy. Thus, the effect of corticosteroids on vasopressin-containing vasopressor regimens is unknown. We designed this study to evaluate the effect of corticosteroids on time to vasopressin-containing vasopressor withdrawal and the proportion of patients alive without vasopressors at day 7. ⋯ Although corticosteroids did not improve the time to withdrawal of vasopressin-containing vasopressor therapy they significantly increased the proportion of patients alive without vasopressors at day 7.