Critical care medicine
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Critical care medicine · Jan 2015
Development and Validation of a Quality-of-Life Questionnaire for Mechanically Ventilated ICU Patients.
To develop and validate a new instrument for measuring health-related quality of life in mechanically ventilated patients in the ICU. ⋯ The new quality-of-life questionnaire for mechanically ventilated patients is valid and can reliably measure quality of life in mechanically ventilated ICU patients. It may provide clinicians with an accurate assessment of patients' quality of life and facilitate optimal decision making regarding patients' ICU plan of care.
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To describe mean intracranial pressure after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, to identify clinical factors associated with increased mean intracranial pressure, and to explore the relationship between mean intracranial pressure and outcome. ⋯ High intracranial pressure is a common complication in the first week after subarachnoid hemorrhage in severe cases admitted to ICU. Mean intracranial pressure is associated with the severity of early brain injury and with mortality.
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Critical care medicine · Jan 2015
Delirium Transitions in the Medical ICU: Exploring the Role of Sleep Quality and Other Factors.
Disrupted sleep is a common and potentially modifiable risk factor for delirium in the ICU. As part of a quality improvement project to promote sleep in the ICU, we examined the association of perceived sleep quality ratings and other patient and ICU risk factors with daily transition to delirium. ⋯ We found no association between daily perceived sleep quality ratings and transition to delirium. Infusion of benzodiazepine and/or opioid medications was strongly associated with transition to delirium in the ICU in mechanically ventilated patients and is an important, modifiable risk factor for delirium in critically ill patients.
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Critical care medicine · Jan 2015
The Unmet Need for Addressing Cardiac Issues in Intensive Care Research.
Patients with primary cardiovascular disorders and comorbidities are commonly admitted to ICUs; however, little is known about the current state of cardiac research being conducted in these adult ICU patients. ⋯ These findings highlight the relative paucity of cardiac-specific research in the intensive care setting relative to the high prevalence of acute cardiac diseases and comorbidities. This observed disparity warrants timely attention and should lead to meaningful research opportunities aimed at improving the outcomes of critically ill cardiac patients.
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Critical care medicine · Jan 2015
Extracorporeal CO2 Removal in Hypercapnic Patients At Risk of Noninvasive Ventilation Failure: A Matched Cohort Study With Historical Control.
To assess efficacy and safety of noninvasive ventilation-plus-extracorporeal Co2 removal in comparison to noninvasive ventilation-only to prevent endotracheal intubation patients with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure at risk of failing noninvasive ventilation. ⋯ These data provide the rationale for future randomized clinical trials that are required to validate extracorporeal CO2 removal in patients with hypercapnic respiratory failure and respiratory acidosis nonresponsive to noninvasive ventilation.