Critical care medicine
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Critical care medicine · Apr 2017
Multicenter Study Observational StudyFever in the Emergency Department Predicts Survival of Patients With Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock Admitted to the ICU.
To study the prognostic value of fever in the emergency department in septic patients subsequently admitted to the ICU. ⋯ Contrary to common perceptions and current guidelines for care of critically ill septic patients, increased body temperature in the emergency department was strongly associated with lower mortality and shorter hospital stays in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock subsequently admitted to the ICU.
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Critical care medicine · Apr 2017
Comparative StudyDifferences in Utilization of Life Support and End-of-Life Care for Medical ICU Patients With Versus Without Cancer.
To explore differences in the utilization of life support and end-of-life care between patients dying in the medical ICU with cancer compared with those without cancer. ⋯ Among patients dying in the medical ICU, the diagnosis of active cancer influences the intensity of life support utilization and the quality of end-of-life care. Patients with active cancer use less life support and may receive better end-of-life care than similar patients without cancer. These differences are likely due to biases or misunderstandings about the trajectory of advanced nonmalignant disease among patients, families, and perhaps providers.
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Critical care medicine · Apr 2017
Impact of Acute Kidney Injury in Patients Hospitalized With Pneumonia.
Pneumonia is a common cause of hospitalization and can be complicated by the development of acute kidney injury. Acute kidney injury is associated with major adverse kidney events (death, dialysis, and durable loss of renal function [chronic kidney disease]). Because pneumonia and acute kidney injury are in part mediated by inflammation, we hypothesized that when acute kidney injury complicates pneumonia, major adverse kidney events outcomes would be exacerbated. We sought to assess the frequency of major adverse kidney events after a hospitalization for either pneumonia, acute kidney injury, or the combination of both. ⋯ When acute kidney injury accompanies pneumonia, postdischarge outcomes are worse than either diagnosis alone. Patients who survive a pneumonia hospitalization and develop acute kidney injury are at high risk for major adverse kidney events including death and should receive careful follow-up.
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Critical care medicine · Apr 2017
Observational StudyIsoflurane Sedation on the ICU in Cardiac Arrest Patients Treated With Targeted Temperature Management: An Observational Propensity-Matched Study.
Targeted temperature management after cardiac arrest requires deep sedation to prevent shivering and discomfort. Compared to IV sedation, volatile sedation has a shorter half-life and thus may allow more rapid extubation and neurologic assessment. ⋯ Volatile sedation is feasible in cardiac arrest survivors. Prospective controlled studies are necessary to confirm the beneficial effects on duration of ventilation and length of ICU stay observed in our study. Our data argue against a major effect on neurologic outcome. Close monitoring of PaCO2 is necessary during sedation via anesthetic conserving device.
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Critical care medicine · Apr 2017
Olfactomedin-4 Is a Candidate Marker for a Pathogenic Neutrophil Subset in Septic Shock.
Heterogeneity in sepsis-related pathobiology presents a significant challenge. Resolving this heterogeneity presents an opportunity to understand pathobiology and improve patient care. Olfactomedin-4 is a neutrophil subset marker and may contribute to sepsis heterogeneity. Our objective was to evaluate the expression of olfactomedin-4 and characterize neutrophil heterogeneity in children with septic shock. ⋯ Olfactomedin-4 identifies a subpopulation of neutrophils in patients with septic shock, and those with a high percentage of olfactomedin-4+ neutrophils are at higher risk for greater organ failure burden and death. Olfactomedin-4 might serve as a marker of a pathogenic neutrophil subset in patients with septic shock.