Critical care medicine
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Critical care medicine · Oct 2022
Meta AnalysisEffectiveness of Continuous Cuff Pressure Control in Preventing Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
Microaspiration of subglottic secretions is the main pathogenic mechanism for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Adequate inflation of the endotracheal cuff is pivotal to providing an optimal seal of the extraluminal airway. However, cuff pressure substantially fluctuates due to patient or tube movements, which can induce microaspiration. Therefore, devices for continuous cuff pressure control (CCPC) have been developed in recent years. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to assess the effectiveness of CCPC in VAP prevention. ⋯ The use of CCPC was associated with a reduction in VAP incidence; however, this was based on very low certainty of evidence due to concerns related to risk of bias and inconsistency.
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Critical care medicine · Oct 2022
Multicenter StudyAwareness With Paralysis Among Critically Ill Emergency Department Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study.
In mechanically ventilated patients, awareness with paralysis (AWP) can have devastating consequences, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and thoughts of suicide. Single-center data from the emergency department (ED) demonstrate an event rate for AWP factors higher than that reported from the operating room. However, there remains a lack of data on AWP among critically ill, mechanically ventilated patients. The objective was to assess the proportion of ED patients experiencing AWP and investigate modifiable variables associated with its occurrence. ⋯ AWP was present in a concerning proportion of mechanically ventilated ED patients, was associated with rocuronium exposure in the ED, and led to increased levels of perceived threat, placing patients at greater risk for PTSD. Studies that aim to further quantify AWP in this vulnerable population and eliminate its occurrence are urgently needed.
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Critical care medicine · Oct 2022
Clinical Benefits of Early Concurrent Use of Cryoprecipitate and Plasma Compared With Plasma Only in Bleeding Trauma Patients.
The effectiveness of cryoprecipitate (Cryo) in trauma has not been well established; the benefits of Cryo might have been overestimated in previous studies since the difference in the total amount of administered clotting factors was not considered. We aimed to evaluate the benefits of the concurrent use of Cryo in combination with fresh frozen plasma (FFP) for bleeding trauma patients. ⋯ Cryo use combined with FFP was significantly associated with reduced mortality in bleeding trauma patients. Future randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm these results.