Critical care medicine
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Critical care medicine · Nov 2012
Review Meta AnalysisEfficacy spectrum of antishivering medications: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Shivering after anesthesia or in the critical care setting is frequent, can be prolonged, and has the potential for serious adverse events and worsening outcomes. Furthermore, there are conflicting published data and clinical protocols on how to best treat shivering. In this study, we aimed to critically analyze the published evidence of antishivering medications. ⋯ There is significant heterogeneity in the literature with respect to study methods and efficacy testing of antishivering treatments. Clonidine, meperidine, tramadol, nefopam, and ketamine were the most frequently reported pharmacological interventions and showed a variable degree of efficacy in randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trials.
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Critical care medicine · Nov 2012
Association of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene variants with acute lung injury in African American children with pneumonia*.
The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator regulates fluid balance in alveolar epithelial cells and appears to modulate the inflammatory response. To determine whether more severe lung injury in children who develop community-acquired pneumonia is associated with variations known to affect function in the gene coding for cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator. ⋯ Genetic variation in cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator is associated with acute lung injury in African American children with community-acquired pneumonia.
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Rates of venous thromboembolism as high as 58% have been reported after trauma, but there is no widely accepted screening protocol. If Medicare adds venous thromboembolism to the list of "preventable complications," they will no longer reimburse for treatment, which could have devastating effects on many urban centers. We hypothesized that prescreening with a risk assessment profile followed by routine surveillance with venous duplex ultrasound that could identify asymptomatic venous thromboembolism in trauma patients. ⋯ Medicare's inclusion of venous thromboembolism after trauma as a "never event" should be questioned. In trauma patients, high-risk assessment profile score and pelvic fracture with prolonged operative intervention are independent predictors for venous thromboembolism development, despite thromboprophylaxis. Although routine venous duplex ultrasound screening may not be cost-effective for all trauma patients, prescreening using risk assessment profile yielded a cohort of patients with a high prevalence of venous thromboembolism. In such high-risk patients, routine venous duplex ultrasound and/or more aggressive prophylactic regimens may be beneficial.
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Critical care medicine · Nov 2012
Review Meta AnalysisEtomidate is associated with mortality and adrenal insufficiency in sepsis: a meta-analysis*.
To evaluate the effects of single-dose etomidate on the adrenal axis and mortality in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. ⋯ Administration of etomidate for rapid sequence intubation is associated with higher rates of adrenal insufficiency and mortality in patients with sepsis.
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Critical care medicine · Nov 2012
The effects of a newly developed miniaturized mechanical chest compressor on outcomes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a porcine model*.
When the duration of cardiac arrest is prolonged, reperfusion of the vital organs by effective chest compression is the most important intervention for successful resuscitation. We investigated the effects of a newly developed miniaturized chest compressor on the outcomes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. ⋯ The miniaturized chest compressor improves hemodynamic efficacy and the success of cardiopulmonary resuscitation with significantly less injury, which is as effective as the LUCAS device. It may provide a new option for cardiopulmonary resuscitation.