Critical care medicine
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Critical care medicine · Nov 1998
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyPatients readmitted to the intensive care unit during the same hospitalization: clinical features and outcomes.
To determine the clinical features and outcomes of patients readmitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) during the same hospital stay and the causes for these readmissions. ⋯ Patients with GI and neurologic diseases are at greatest risk of requiring ICU readmission. Respiratory diseases are the major reason for readmission due to new complications. Readmitted patients have a high risk of hospital death that may be underestimated by the usual physiologic indicators on either initial admission or readmission. Further studies are required to determine if patients at risk for readmission can be identified early to improve the outcome.
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Critical care medicine · Nov 1998
Review Case ReportsIncreased apnea threshold in a pediatric patient with suspected brain death.
To evaluate the current standards for apnea testing in the evaluation of brain death in children. ⋯ This case report suggests that current guidelines for apnea testing may lead to erroneous evaluation of medullary-respiratory drive.
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Critical care medicine · Nov 1998
Multicenter StudyUse of the SOFA score to assess the incidence of organ dysfunction/failure in intensive care units: results of a multicenter, prospective study. Working group on "sepsis-related problems" of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine.
To evaluate the use of the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score in assessing the incidence and severity of organ dysfunction in critically ill patients. ⋯ The SOFA score is a simple, but effective method to describe organ dysfunction/failure in critically ill patients. Regular, repeated scoring enables patient condition and disease development to be monitored and better understood. The SOFA score may enable comparison between patients that would benefit clinical trials.
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Critical care medicine · Nov 1998
Comparative StudyDiastolic filling in human severe sepsis: an echocardiographic study.
To determine if nonsurvivors have a more abnormal pattern of left ventricular relaxation than survivors with severe sepsis. ⋯ Severe sepsis nonsurvivors have a more abnormal echocardiographic pattern of left ventricular relaxation than survivors.
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Critical care medicine · Nov 1998
Comparative StudyBlood transfusion and lung function in chronically anemic patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
To study in anemic patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) whether blood transfusion reduces minute ventilation and work of breathing (WOB). ⋯ We conclude that red blood cell transfusion in anemic patients with COPD leads to a significant reduction of both the minute ventilation and the WOB. In these patients, transfusion may be associated with unloading of the respiratory muscles, but it may also result in mild hypoventilation.