Critical care medicine
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Critical care medicine · Feb 2009
Physical therapy utilization in intensive care units: results from a national survey.
Patients who survive admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) commonly complain of fatigue, weakness, and poor functional status. This study sought to determine the utilization of inpatient physical therapy (PT) for patients recovering from critical illness. ⋯ PT is commonly administered to ICU patients during the recovery from critical illness in the United States. However, the frequency and the type of PT significantly varies based on the type of hospital and the clinical scenario.
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Critical care medicine · Feb 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialN-acetylcysteine as adjunctive treatment in severe malaria: a randomized, double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial.
Markers of oxidative stress are reported to be increased in severe malaria. It has been suggested that the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) may be beneficial in treatment. We studied the efficacy and safety of parenteral NAC as an adjunct to artesunate treatment of severe falciparum malaria. ⋯ Systemic oxidative stress is increased in severe malaria. Treatment with NAC had no effect on outcome in patients with severe falciparum malaria in this setting.
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Critical care medicine · Feb 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialFurosemide does not improve renal recovery after hemofiltration for acute renal failure in critically ill patients: a double blind randomized controlled trial.
To study the potential beneficial role of furosemide in resolving renal failure after hemofiltration in mechanically ventilated critically ill patients. ⋯ Furosemide by continuous infusion in the recovery phase of hemofiltration-dependent acute kidney failure did increase urinary volume and sodium excretion but did not lead to a shorter duration of renal failure or more frequent renal recovery.
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Critical care medicine · Feb 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialInteractive video instruction improves the quality of dispatcher-assisted chest compression-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation in simulated cardiac arrests.
Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) significantly improves survival of cardiac arrest victims. Dispatch assistance increases bystander CPR, but the quality of dispatcher-assisted CPR remains unsatisfactory. This study was conducted to assess the effect of adding interactive video communication to dispatch instruction on the quality of bystander chest compressions in simulated cardiac arrests. ⋯ The addition of interactive video communication to dispatcher-assisted chest compression-only CPR initially delayed the commencement of chest compressions, but subsequently improved the depth and rate of compressions. The benefit was achieved mainly through real-time feedback.
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Critical care medicine · Feb 2009
Multicenter StudyInfluence of vasopressor agent in septic shock mortality. Results from the Portuguese Community-Acquired Sepsis Study (SACiUCI study).
Guidelines for the adrenergic support of septic shock are controversial. In patients with community-acquired septic shock, we assessed the impact of the choice of vasopressor support on mortality. ⋯ In patients with community-acquired septic shock, our data suggest that norepinephrine administration could be associated with worse outcome.