Critical care medicine
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Critical care medicine · May 1997
Comparative StudyWhole-body impedance cardiography in the measurement of cardiac output.
To evaluate the reliability of whole-body impedance cardiography with electrodes on wrists and ankles in the measurement of cardiac output compared with the thermodilution method. ⋯ There was close agreement between whole-body impedance cardiography and thermodilution in the measurement of cardiac output in patients with coronary artery disease without cardiac shunts and valvular lesions. The repeatability of the impedance method was significantly better than the repeatability of thermodilution. Whole-body impedance cardiography can be recommended for the assessment of cardiac output and its changes in the resting state. Whole-body impedance cardiography is a feasible and handy method for noninvasive and continuous measurement of cardiac output.
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Critical care medicine · May 1997
Comparative StudyRoutine portable chest radiographs in the medical intensive care unit: effects and costs.
To determine the effects and net costs of routine chest radiographs in a medical intensive care unit (ICU). ⋯ The policy of obtaining routine chest radiographs in the medical ICU is effective and results in net savings.
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Critical care medicine · May 1997
Assessing the impact of patient characteristics and process performance on rural intensive care unit hospital mortality rates.
To examine the relationship between patient characteristics, processes of care, and risk of hospital mortality in rural intensive care units (ICU). ⋯ Most of the variation in mortality was explained by differences in patient physiologic and demographic characteristics at ICU admission. After adjusting for patient characteristics, better performance in some processes of care would have significant impact on reducing risk of mortality.
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Critical care medicine · May 1997
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyEvaluating laboratory usage in the intensive care unit: patient and institutional characteristics that influence frequency of blood sampling.
To develop a predictive equation to estimate the frequency of blood drawing for intensive care unit (ICU) laboratory tests and to evaluate variations in ICU blood sampling practices after adjusting for patient and institutional factors. ⋯ The ability to adjust for patient and institutional variables and to predict the number of blood samples drawn for laboratory tests can allow ICUs to compare their practices with those of other units. When integrated into a continuous quality improvement process, this information can be used to identify and focus on opportunities for improving blood conservation and reducing excessive diagnostic testing.
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Critical care medicine · May 1997
Comparative Study Clinical TrialEffects of pentoxifylline on hemodynamics and oxygenation in septic and nonseptic patients.
To evaluate the effects of pentoxifylline on hemodynamics and systemic oxygenation in septic and nonseptic critically ill patients. ⋯ The administration of pentoxifylline to septic patients results in a significant improvement in hemodynamic performance compared with critically ill nonseptic patients. The better hemodynamic state is accompanied by an increase in DO2 and VO2 with unchanged oxygen extraction ratio.