Critical care medicine
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Critical care medicine · Nov 2024
ICU-Electroencephalogram Unit Improves Outcome in Status Epilepticus Patients: A Retrospective Before-After Study.
Continuous electroencephalogram (cEEG) monitoring is recommended for status epilepticus (SE) management in ICU but is still underused due to resource limitations and inconclusive evidence regarding its impact on outcome. Furthermore, the term "continuous monitoring" often implies continuous recording with variable intermittent review. The establishment of a dedicated ICU-electroencephalogram unit may fill this gap, allowing cEEG with nearly real-time review and multidisciplinary management collaboration. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of ICU-electroencephalogram unit establishing on SE outcome and management. ⋯ Integrating neurology expertise in the ICU setting through the establishment of an ICU-electroencephalogram unit with nearly real-time cEEG review, shortened SE duration, and increased likelihood of returning to premorbid neurologic function, with an increased number of antiseizure medications used. Further studies are warranted to validate these findings and assess long-term prognosis.
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Critical care medicine · Nov 2024
The Impact of Delayed Transition From Noninvasive to Invasive Mechanical Ventilation on Hospital Mortality in Immunocompromised Patients With Sepsis.
To determine whether mortality differed between initial invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) or noninvasive ventilation (NIV) followed by delayed IMV in immunocompromised patients with sepsis. ⋯ Prolonged NIV trial before delayed IMV transition is associated with higher mortality in immunocompromised sepsis patients ultimately intubated.
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Critical care medicine · Nov 2024
Observational StudyFrequency of and Risk Factors for Increased Healthcare Utilization After Pediatric Sepsis Hospitalization.
To determine the frequency of and risk factors for increased post-sepsis healthcare utilization compared with pre-sepsis healthcare utilization. ⋯ In this nationally representative cohort of children who survived sepsis hospitalization in the United States, nearly one in three had increased healthcare utilization in the 90 days after discharge. Children with hospitalizations longer than 30 days and complex chronic conditions were more likely to experience increased healthcare utilization.
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Critical care medicine · Nov 2024
Best Practices in Telecritical Care: Expert Consensus Recommendations From the Telecritical Care Collaborative Network.
Telecritical care (TCC) refers to the delivery of critical care using telehealth technologies. Despite increasing utilization, significant practice variation exists and literature regarding efficacy remains sparse. The Telecritical Care Collaborative Network sought to provide expert, consensus-based best practice recommendations for the design and delivery of TCC. ⋯ These expert consensus recommendations cover a broad range of topics relevant to delivery of TCC. Experts agreed that TCC is most effective when delivered by care teams with specific expertise and by programs with explicit protocols focusing on effective communication, technical reliability, and real-time availability. Interventions should be tailored to local conditions. Although further research is needed to guide future best practice statements, these results provide valuable and actionable recommendations for the delivery of high-quality TCC.
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Critical care medicine · Nov 2024
Healthcare Use and Expenditures in Rural Survivors of Hospitalization for Sepsis.
Sepsis survivors have greater healthcare use than those surviving hospitalizations for other reasons, yet factors associated with greater healthcare use in this population remain ill-defined. Rural Americans are older, have more chronic illnesses, and face unique barriers to healthcare access, which could affect postsepsis healthcare use. Therefore, we compared healthcare use and expenditures among rural and urban sepsis survivors. We hypothesized that rural survivors would have greater healthcare use and expenditures. ⋯ In this large cohort study, we report important differences in healthcare use and expenditures between rural and urban sepsis survivors. Future research and policy work is needed to understand how best to optimize sepsis survivorship across the urban-rural continuum.