Critical care medicine
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Critical care medicine · Sep 2022
Reexamining the Role of Postoperative ICU Admission for Patients Undergoing Elective Craniotomy: A Systematic Review.
The standard-of-care for postoperative care following elective craniotomy has historically been ICU admission. However, recent literature interrogating complications and interventions during this postoperative ICU stay suggests that all patients may not require this level of care. Thus, hospitals began implementing non-ICU postoperative care pathways for elective craniotomy. This systematic review aims to summarize and evaluate the existing literature regarding outcomes and costs for patients receiving non-ICU care after elective craniotomy. ⋯ Overall, these studies suggest that non-ICU care pathways for appropriately selected postcraniotomy patients may represent a meaningful opportunity to improve care value. However, included studies varied greatly in patient selection, postoperative care protocol, and outcomes reporting. Standardization and multi-institutional collaboration are needed to draw definitive conclusions regarding non-ICU postoperative care for elective craniotomy.
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Critical care medicine · Sep 2022
Randomized Controlled TrialDaily Written Care Summaries for Families of Critically Ill Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
To determine the effect of daily written updates on the satisfaction and psychologic symptoms of families of ICU patients. ⋯ Written communication improved satisfaction and the emotional well-being of families of critically ill patients, supporting its use as a supplement to traditional communication approaches.