American journal of surgery
-
Prospective evaluation of the percutaneous tracheostomy by the guide wire dilating forceps (GWDF) technique. ⋯ The GWDF technique is a safe and efficient bedside alternative to open tracheostomy. Fiberscopic control is recommended to increase the safety of the procedure. Although studies of late complications are necessary, it appears to be justifiable to consider percutaneous tracheostomy for patients who require tracheostomy.
-
The diagnosis of urosepsis should be entertained each time a patient has a febrile episode. Urosepsis carries with it a mortality rate of 25% to 60%. We determined the incidence and risk factors of urosepsis in the catheterized critically ill patient. ⋯ We found a 15.8% incidence of urosepsis in our patient population. Urosepsis was more likely to occur in patients over 60 years of age, patients with extended length of stay in the intensive care unit or in the hospital in general, and patients with an extended duration of urinary catheterization.