Critical care medicine
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Critical care medicine · Mar 1995
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical TrialDouble-blind, randomized, multicenter study of doxacurium vs. pancuronium in intensive care unit patients who require neuromuscular-blocking agents.
To compare the neuromuscular-blocking and hemodynamic effects of doxacurium vs. pancuronium administered by intermittent bolus to intensive care unit (ICU) patients who required neuromuscular block to facilitate mechanical ventilation for > or = 24 hrs. ⋯ In critically ill patients requiring neuromuscular block for > 24 hrs, doxacurium was well tolerated without evidence of tachycardia and with a relatively prompt recovery profile.
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Critical care medicine · Mar 1995
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialEarly enteral administration of a formula (Impact) supplemented with arginine, nucleotides, and fish oil in intensive care unit patients: results of a multicenter, prospective, randomized, clinical trial.
To determine if early enteral feeding, in an intensive care unit (ICU) patient population, using a formula supplemented with arginine, dietary nucleotides, and fish oil (Impact), results in a shorter hospital stay and a reduced frequency of infectious complications, when compared with feeding a common use enteral formula (Osmolite.HN). ⋯ Early enteral feeding of the experimental formula was safe and well tolerated in ICU patients. In patients who received the experimental formula, particularly if they were septic on admission to the study, a substantial reduction in hospital length of stay was observed, along with a significant reduction in the frequency of acquired infections.
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Critical care medicine · Mar 1995
Multicenter StudyInflammatory mediators in relation to the development of multiple organ failure in patients after severe blunt trauma.
To evaluate the posttraumatic course of several inflammatory mediators or markers (complement components C3, C3a, terminal complement complex, thromboxane B2, C-reactive protein, elastase, and neopterin) in relation to the development of multiple organ failure and mortality. ⋯ In multiple trauma patients, excessive triggering of the inflammatory cascade-as expressed by complement activation and stimulation of neutrophils producing elastase--plays an important and early role in the development of multiple organ failure.
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Critical care medicine · Mar 1995
Multicenter StudySurvey of critical care management of comatose, head-injured patients in the United States.
This survey was designed to study current practices in the monitoring and treatment of patients with severe head injury in the United States. ⋯ The survey data indicate that there is a considerable variation in the management of patients with severe head injury in the United States. The establishment of guidelines for the management of head injury based on available scientific data and moderated by practical and financial considerations may lead to improvement in the standard of care.