American journal of critical care : an official publication, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
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Many therapies used in critical care cause potassium depletion. Current practice relies on potassium replacement protocols after a patient becomes hypokalemic. Potassium bolus therapy creates risk for patients, is costly, and increases nurses' workload. ⋯ Patients with normal potassium and creatinine levels at admission benefitted from a maintenance intravenous dose of potassium of 72 to 144 mmol/L per day. Compared with control patients, patients receiving this dose avoided detrimental hypokalemic events, had fewer invasive procedures and lower costs, and required less nursing care.
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Observational Study
Patient predictors of dexmedetomidine effectiveness for sedation in intensive care units.
Dexmedetomidine, a selective α2-adrenergic receptor agonist, is increasingly used as a sedative in intensive care despite variations in patients' responses. ⋯ Effective sedation with dexmedetomidine is variable.