Critical care medicine
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Critical care medicine · Aug 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudySubgroup mortality probability models: are they necessary for specialized intensive care units?
To examine the sensitivity of the performance of the latest Mortality Probability Model at intensive care unit admission (MPM0-III) to case-mix variations and to determine how specialized models for these subgroups would affect intensive care unit performance assessment. MPM0-III is an important benchmarking tool for intensive care units in Project IMPACT. Overall, MPM0-III has excellent discrimination and calibration but its performance varies on six common patient subsets. ⋯ We recommend users of MPM make MPM0-III their primary model. Subgroup models may have utility when evaluating highly specialized intensive care units or in research on specific, homogeneous populations.
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Critical care medicine · Aug 2009
Multicenter StudySpectrum of practice in the diagnosis of nosocomial pneumonia in patients requiring mechanical ventilation in European intensive care units.
Information on clinical practice regarding the diagnosis of pneumonia in European intensive care units is limited. The aim of this study was to describe the spectrum of actual diagnostic practices in a large sample of European intensive care units. ⋯ Etiological diagnosis of nosocomial pneumonia in a large sample of European intensive care units was based mainly on noninvasive techniques. However, there was high variability in bronchoscopy use between the participating intensive care units.
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Recently, many studies have investigated the immunomodulatory effects of insulin and glucose control in critical illness. This review examines evidence regarding the relationship between diabetes and the development of acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS), reviews studies of lung injury related to glycemic and nonglycemic metabolic features of diabetes, and examines the effect of diabetic therapies. ⋯ Clinical and experimental data indicate that diabetes is protective against the development of ALI/ARDS. The pathways involved are complex and likely include effects of hyperglycemia on the inflammatory response, metabolic abnormalities in diabetes, and the interactions of therapeutic agents given to diabetic patients. Multidisciplinary, multifaceted studies, involving both animal models and clinical and molecular epidemiology techniques, are essential.
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Critical care medicine · Aug 2009
ReviewPrevalence and mortality associated with cytomegalovirus infection in nonimmunosuppressed patients in the intensive care unit.
Cytomegalovirus is the most common viral opportunistic infection in immunocompromised patients. However, recent studies have demonstrated active cytomegalovirus infection in nonimmunosuppressed intensive care unit patients. ⋯ Active cytomegalovirus infection occurs frequently in nonimmunosuppressed patients in intensive care, especially in those with positive cytomegalovirus serology, intensive care unit stay > or =5 days, severe sepsis, and high disease severity, in whom the rate of cytomegalovirus infection is up to 36%. Mortality rate is significantly doubled with cytomegalovirus, but a cause-effect relationship cannot be established yet. A large prospective cohort study on the patient population identified by our findings is needed to define who is at the highest risk for developing active cytomegalovirus infection and to determine its effects on mortality.
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Critical care medicine · Aug 2009
ReviewManagement of acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome in children.
Acute lung injury (ALI) and its more severe form, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), are devastating disorders of overwhelming pulmonary inflammation and hypoxemia, resulting in high morbidity and mortality. ⋯ PubMed search for clinical trials, selected literature review of other relevant studies on epidemiology and diagnosis. DATA SYNTHESIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Lower mortality combined with a relatively lower frequency of ALI/ARDS in children makes performance of clinical trials challenging. Based on expert opinion, the following are recommended: 1) avoid tidal volumes > or =10 mL/kg body weight; 2) keep plateau pressure < or =30 cm H2O, arterial pH at 7.30 to 7.45, and Pao2 60 to 80 torr (8 to 10.7 kPa) (Spo2 > or =90%); 3) provide sedation, analgesia, and stress ulcer prophylaxis; and 4) use a 10 g/dL hemoglobin threshold for packed red blood cell transfusion in unstable patients (shock or profound hypoxia). Evidence supports dropping the hemoglobin transfusion threshold to 7 g/dL once profound hypoxia and shock have resolved. Promising therapies for pediatric ALI/ARDS based on pediatric studies include endotracheal surfactant, high-frequency oscillatory ventilation, noninvasive ventilation, and use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a rescue therapy. Promising therapies based on adult trials include use of corticosteroids for lung inflammation and fibrosis, use of 4 to 6 mL/kg tidal volumes and restrictive fluid management. Prone positioning, bronchodilators, inhaled nitric oxide, tight glucose control, and high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) oxygen are therapies that require further study before they can be recommended for children with ALI/ARDS.