Critical care medicine
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Critical care medicine · Jan 2004
Comparative StudyLong-term mortality and quality of life after prolonged mechanical ventilation.
To describe and identify factors associated with mortality rate and quality of life 1 yr after prolonged mechanical ventilation. ⋯ Mortality rate after prolonged mechanical ventilation is high. Long-term mortality rate is associated with older age and poor prehospitalization functional status. Many survivors needed assistance after discharge from the hospital, and more than half still required caregiver assistance at 1 yr. Interventions providing support for caregivers and patients may improve the functional status and quality of life of both groups and thus need to be evaluated.
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Critical care medicine · Jan 2004
Comparative StudyEffect of an intensive care unit rotating empiric antibiotic schedule on the development of hospital-acquired infections on the non-intensive care unit ward.
We have previously shown that a rotating empirical antibiotic schedule could reduce infectious mortality in an intensive care unit (ICU). We hypothesized that this intervention would decrease infectious complications in the non-ICU ward to which these patients were transferred. ⋯ An effective rotating empirical antibiotic schedule in an ICU is associated with a reduction in infectious morbidity (hospital-acquired and resistant hospital-acquired infection rates) on the non-ICU wards to which patients are transferred.
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Critical care medicine · Jan 2004
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyUsing population death rate to predict rate of admissions to the intensive care unit.
To determine whether the intensive care unit (ICU) admission rates of new health plan members can be predicted by the mortality of non-ICU-treated members. ⋯ A single linear equation predicted ICU admission rate from death rate of non-ICU-treated patients among cohorts of new members. ICU admission rates can be predicted from a measure of population illness burden, such as the mortality of non-ICU-treated patients. It may be possible to extend this analysis to other hospitals and health care systems to evaluate the adequacy of ICU services provided.
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Critical care medicine · Jan 2004
Practice Guideline GuidelineGuidelines for the inter- and intrahospital transport of critically ill patients.
The development of practice guidelines for the conduct of intra- and interhospital transport of the critically ill patient. ⋯ The transport of critically ill patients carries inherent risks. These guidelines promote measures to ensure safe patient transport. Although both intra- and interhospital transport must comply with regulations, we believe that patient safety is enhanced during transport by establishing an organized, efficient process supported by appropriate equipment and personnel.
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Critical care medicine · Jan 2004
Comparative StudyEffects of feeding on gastric tonometric measurements in critically ill children.
To determine the effect of gastric feeding on the measurement of gastric intramucosal PCO2 (PiCO2) and its derived gastric intramucosal PCO2-arterial PCO2 difference (PiCO2-PaCO2 difference) and gastric intramucosal pH (pHi) in a group of critically ill children using recirculating gas tonometry. ⋯ In our patient group, gastric feeding decreased the PiCO2 and PiCO2-PaCO2 difference and increased pHi compared with the unfed state. These findings are in contrast to those found in adult studies.