Critical care medicine
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Critical care medicine · Sep 2014
ReviewWhen Cardiac Failure, Kidney Dysfunction, and Kidney Injury Intersect in Acute Conditions: The Case of Cardiorenal Syndrome.
To review and describe diagnostic and prognostic value of biomarkers of renal function and renal injury in the cardiorenal syndrome complicating acutely decompensated heart failure. ⋯ Biomarkers reflecting renal function and injury are likely to better phenotype subgroups of patients with cardiorenal syndrome and to provide unique prognostic information. Future studies are needed relative to strategies using such biomarkers to guide care of affected patients.
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Critical care medicine · Sep 2014
Observational StudySepsis Severity Score: An Internationally Derived Scoring System From the Surviving Sepsis Campaign Database.
As the Surviving Sepsis Campaign was assessing patient-level data over multiple countries, we sought to evaluate the use of a pragmatic and parsimonious severity-of-illness scoring system for patients with sepsis in an attempt to provide appropriate comparisons with practical application. ⋯ The Sepsis Severity Score accurately estimated the probability of hospital mortality in severe sepsis and septic shock patients. It performed well with respect to calibration and discrimination, which remained consistent over deciles. It functioned well over international geographic regions. This robust, population-specific evaluation of international severe sepsis patients provides an effective and accurate mortality estimate allowing for appropriate quality comparisons with practical clinical and research application.
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Critical care medicine · Sep 2014
The Effect of Acute Kidney Injury and Discharge Creatinine Level on Mortality Following Cardiac Surgery.
Acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery is associated with increased operative and late mortality. The objective was to determine if short and long term mortality are systematically improved with completeness of postoperative acute kidney injury reversal or with amount of residual renal function. ⋯ Acute kidney injury was associated with higher operative and late mortality. Lesser amounts of residual renal function were associated with increased late mortality.
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Critical care medicine · Sep 2014
Review Meta AnalysisLactate Clearance Is a Useful Biomarker for the Prediction of All-Cause Mortality in Critically Ill Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Lactate clearance has been widely investigated for its prognostic value in critically ill patients. However, the results are conflicting. The present study aimed to explore the diagnostic accuracy of lactate clearance in predicting mortality in critically or acutely ill patients. ⋯ Our study demonstrates that lactate clearance is predictive of lower mortality rate in critically ill patients, and its diagnostic performance is optimal for clinical utility.