Critical care medicine
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Critical care medicine · Oct 2024
Characteristics of Patients Hospitalized in Rural and Urban ICUs From 2010 to 2019.
Rural hospitals are threatened by workforce shortages and financial strain. To optimize regional critical care delivery, it is essential to understand what types of patients receive intensive care in rural and urban hospitals. ⋯ Rural hospitals care for an increasingly complex critically ill patient population with similar organ dysfunction as urban hospitals. There is a pressing need to develop policies at federal and regional healthcare system levels to support the continued provision of high-quality ICU care within rural hospitals.
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Critical care medicine · Oct 2024
Beneficial Effect of Calcium Treatment for Hyperkalemia Is Not Due to "Membrane Stabilization".
Hyperkalemia is a common life-threatening condition causing severe electrophysiologic derangements and arrhythmias. The beneficial effects of calcium (Ca 2+ ) treatment for hyperkalemia have been attributed to "membrane stabilization," by restoration of resting membrane potential (RMP). However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Our objective was to investigate the mechanisms underlying adverse electrophysiologic effects of hyperkalemia and the therapeutic effects of Ca 2+ treatment. ⋯ These data suggest that Ca 2+ treatment for hyperkalemia restores conduction through Ca 2+ -dependent propagation, rather than restoration of membrane potential or "membrane stabilization." Our findings provide a mechanistic rationale for Ca 2+ treatment when hyperkalemia produces abnormalities of conduction (i.e., QRS prolongation).
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Critical care medicine · Oct 2024
Meta AnalysisProphylactic Antibiotics Delivered Via the Respiratory Tract to Reduce Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia: A Systematic Review, Network Meta-Analysis, and Trial Sequential Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
To assess the effects of antibiotics delivered via the respiratory tract in preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). ⋯ In adult patients with mechanical ventilation for over 48 h, prophylactic antibiotics delivered via the respiratory tract reduced the risk of VAP, particularly for those treated with nebulized aminoglycosides.
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Critical care medicine · Oct 2024
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyAlbumin Versus Balanced Crystalloid for the Early Resuscitation of Sepsis: An Open Parallel-Group Randomized Feasibility Trial. The ABC-Sepsis Trial.
International guidelines recommend IV crystalloid as the primary fluid for sepsis resuscitation, with 5% human albumin solution (HAS) as the second line. However, it is unclear which fluid has superior clinical effectiveness. We conducted a trial to assess the feasibility of delivering a randomized controlled trial comparing balanced crystalloid against 5% HAS as sole early resuscitation fluid in patients with sepsis presenting to hospital. ⋯ Our results suggest it is feasible to recruit critically ill patients to a fluid resuscitation trial in U.K. EDs using 5% HAS as a primary resuscitation fluid. There was lower mortality in the balanced crystalloid arm. Given these findings, a definitive trial is likely to be deliverable, but the point estimates suggest such a trial would be unlikely to demonstrate a significant benefit from using 5% HAS as a primary resuscitation fluid in sepsis.
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Critical care medicine · Oct 2024
Meta AnalysisBenefits and Harms of Procalcitonin- or C-Reactive Protein-Guided Antimicrobial Discontinuation in Critically Ill Adults With Sepsis: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.
In sepsis treatment, antibiotics are crucial, but overuse risks development of antibiotic resistance. Recent guidelines recommended the use of procalcitonin to guide antibiotic cessation, but solid evidence is insufficient. Recently, concerns were raised that this strategy would increase recurrence. Additionally, optimal protocol or difference from the commonly used C-reactive protein (CRP) are uncertain. We aimed to compare the effectiveness and safety of procalcitonin- or CRP-guided antibiotic cessation strategies with standard of care in sepsis. ⋯ In sepsis, procalcitonin- or CRP-guided antibiotic discontinuation strategies may be beneficial and safe. In particular, the usefulness of procalcitonin guidance for current Sepsis-3, where antimicrobials are used for more than 7 days, was supported. Well-designed studies are needed focusing on monitoring protocol and recurrence.