American journal of critical care : an official publication, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Interface pressure at different degrees of backrest elevation with various types of pressure-redistribution surfaces.
Increased elevation of the head of the bed is linked to a higher risk for sacral pressure ulcers. A semirecumbent position of at least 30° is recommended for the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients treated with mechanical ventilation. Therefore, prevention of pressure ulcers and prevention of pneumonia seem to demand contradictory, possibly incompatible, positioning. ⋯ Backrest elevation up to 30° might be a compromise between the seemingly incompatible demands of skin integrity and the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia. The reverse Trendelenburg position and a mattress system with low-air-loss technology could be additional useful tools to help prevent skin breakdown at the sacrum.
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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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Assessing depression in patients hospitalized with coronary heart disease is clinically challenging because depressive symptoms are often confounded by poor somatic health. ⋯ Clinicians should be alert for clinical depression in hospitalized patients with coronary heart disease who have the cognitive/affective symptom cluster.
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Lemierre syndrome is a rare and life-threatening illness. Often referred to as "the forgotten disease," its incidence is reported to be as low as 1 in a million. The microorganism responsible for Lemierre syndrome is typically Fusobacterium necrophorum. ⋯ The patient's initial presentation and extensive travel history as an Army veteran were particularly challenging aspects in establishing his diagnosis. The diagnosis of Lemierre syndrome is frequently delayed. Routine use of bedside ultrasonography may aid in rapid diagnosis of the disease.
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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.