Critical care medicine
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Critical care medicine · Feb 2023
Meta AnalysisLower Versus Higher Exposure to Vasopressor Therapy in Vasodilatory Hypotension: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis.
Balancing the risks of hypotension and vasopressor-associated adverse effects is a daily challenge in ICUs. We conducted a systematic review with meta-analysis to examine the effect of lower versus higher exposure to vasopressor therapy on mortality among adult ICU patients with vasodilatory hypotension. ⋯ In patients with vasodilatory hypotension who are started on vasopressors, moderate-certainty evidence from three randomized trials showed that lower vasopressor exposure probably lowers mortality. However, additional trial data are needed to reach an optimal information size to detect a clinically important 10% relative reduction in mortality with this approach.
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Critical care medicine · Feb 2023
Meta AnalysisMethodological and Clinimetric Evaluation of Inspiratory Respiratory Muscle Ultrasound in the Critical Care Setting: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Significant variations exist in the use of respiratory muscle ultrasound in intensive care with no society-level consensus on the optimal methodology. This systematic review aims to evaluate, synthesize, and compare the clinimetric properties of different image acquisition and analysis methodologies. ⋯ Diaphragm muscle ultrasound is reliable, valid, and responsive in ICU patients, but significant variation exists in the imaging acquisition and analysis methodologies. Future work should focus on developing standardized protocols for ultrasound imaging and consider further research into the role of intercostal muscle imaging.
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Critical care medicine · Feb 2023
Editorial CommentTwo Curves Diverged-Has That Made All the Difference?
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Critical care medicine · Feb 2023
Multicenter Study Observational StudyHemoglobin Concentration Impacts Viscoelastic Hemostatic Assays in ICU Admitted Patients.
Low hemoglobin concentration impairs clinical hemostasis across several diseases. It is unclear whether hemoglobin impacts laboratory functional coagulation assessments. We evaluated the relationship of hemoglobin concentration on viscoelastic hemostatic assays in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and perioperative patients admitted to an ICU. ⋯ Lower hemoglobin concentrations have a consistent, measurable impact on ROTEM/TEG testing in ICU admitted patients, which appear to be artifactual. It is possible that patients with low hemoglobin may appear to have normal viscoelastic parameters when, in fact, they have a mild hypocoagulable state. Further work is required to determine if these tests should be corrected for a patient's hemoglobin concentration.
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