Critical care medicine
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Critical care medicine · Sep 1998
Cost of extracorporeal life support in pediatric patients with acute respiratory failure.
To determine the impact of extracorporeal life support (ECLS) on mortality in pediatric patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF) at our institution; and to calculate the hospital charges associated with the use of ECLS. ⋯ ECLS for the pediatric patient with AHRF is done at a considerable cost. However, ECLS affects survival favorably, and compares favorably when considering cost/life-year calculations. The data presented in this study may serve as a benchmark for comparison with newer therapies (i.e., liquid ventilation, nitric oxide). These data also provide a framework for cost-based analyses at other ECLS institutions.
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Critical care medicine · Sep 1998
Selenium, systemic immune response syndrome, sepsis, and outcome in critically ill patients.
To confirm early, marked decrease in plasma selenium concentrations in patients admitted to a surgical and medical intensive care unit (ICU), and to study this decrease according to the presence or absence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), sepsis, or direct ischemia-reperfusion. ⋯ In severely ill ICU patients with SIRS, we observed an early 40% decrease in plasma selenium concentrations, reaching values observed in deleterious nutritional selenium deficiency. This prolonged decrease in selenium concentrations could explain the three-fold increase in morbidity and mortality rates in these patients compared with other ICU patients. The efficacy of selenium treatment in SIRS patients with a high gravity index score or hypoperfusion needs further investigation.
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Critical care medicine · Sep 1998
Evaluation of Institutional Review Board review and informed consent in publications of human research in critical care medicine.
To examine the frequency of obtaining Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval and informed consent in critical care research. ⋯ Many published studies in critical care lack IRB approval and/or informed consent. All research supported by the pharmaceutical industry was fully approved. The findings raise ethical concerns about critical care research.