Critical care medicine
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Critical care medicine · Jul 1998
Inflammatory mediators in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and plasma in leukocytopenic patients with septic shock-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome.
The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a frequent complication of severe sepsis and a major cause of death in patients with hematologic malignancy during chemotherapy-induced leukocytopenia. Inflammatory mediators are important modulators of host response to injury and have been found to be increased in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of nonleukocytopenic patients with ARDS. Since inflammatory cytokines in plasma of nonleukocytopenic patients seem to be efficient predictors of the course of ARDS, we examined this hypothesis in leukocytopenic patients with septic shock-induced ARDS. ⋯ Determination of cytokine concentrations in BAL samples may be useful for evaluation of severity and course of ARDS in leukocytopenic patients, whereas measurement of plasma cytokines is not helpful.
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Critical care medicine · Jul 1998
Reasons for dissatisfaction: a survey of relatives of intensive care patients who died.
To describe the reasons for eventual dissatisfaction among the families of patients who died in the intensive care unit (ICU), regarding both the assistance offered during the patient's stay in the hospital and the information received from the medical staff. ⋯ Our survey found that the relatives of patients who died were most dissatisfied with the care received according to: a) the type of death (e.g., sudden death vs. death preceded by a gradual deterioration in the patient's condition); and b) the manner in which the relatives were notified of the death (in person vs. by telephone). The personal characteristics of the people interviewed, such as gender and the closeness of their relationship to the deceased, also seem to have some bearing on the opinions expressed. A high percentage of respondents were satisfied with the treatment received by their dying relative and the information conveyed by caregivers. Nevertheless, the dissatisfaction expressed by some respondents indicates a need for improvement, especially in communicating information to the relatives of these patients.
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Critical care medicine · Jul 1998
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialA prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial of enteral immunonutrition in the critically ill. Guy's Hospital Intensive Care Group.
To assess the effects of enteral immunonutrition (IMN) on hospital mortality and length of stay in a heterogeneous group of critically ill patients. ⋯ While the administration of enteral IMN to a general, critically ill population did not affect mortality, those patients in whom it was possible to achieve early enteral nutrition with Impact had a significant reduction in the morbidity of their critical illness.
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Critical care medicine · Jul 1998
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialA prospective, randomized, and controlled study of fluid management in children with severe head injury: lactated Ringer's solution versus hypertonic saline.
Resuscitation in severe head injury may be detrimental when given with hypotonic fluids. We evaluated the effects of lactated Ringer's solution (sodium 131 mmol/L, 277 mOsm/L) compared with hypertonic saline (sodium 268 mmol/L, 598 mOsm/L) in severely head-injured children over the first 3 days after injury. ⋯ Treatment of severe head injury with hypertonic saline is superior to that treatment with lactated Ringer's solution. An increase in serum sodium concentrations significantly correlates with lower ICP and higher CPP. Children treated with hypertonic saline require fewer interventions, have fewer complications, and stay a shorter time in the ICU.
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To review the problems associated with pulmonary artery catheter use in the intensive care unit; to discuss the need for clinical trials to assess its benefits; and to present original data on the use of the pulmonary artery catheter in European countries. ⋯ A moratorium on pulmonary artery catheter use is not necessary and clinical trials in heterogeneous ICU populations are not warranted. Improved training in the insertion, interpretation, and implementation of the pulmonary artery catheter and the data it generates is required. As an alternative to expensive clinical trials on the pulmonary artery catheter, we propose that our limited financial resources for clinical investigation be invested in the development of innovative techniques that may reduce the need for pulmonary artery catheter in the future.