Current opinion in critical care
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Early identification and appropriate management of sepsis improves outcomes. Despite convincing data showing the benefits of early recognition and treatment of sepsis and septic shock, implementation of such evidence-based therapy is suboptimal. This review describes methods that have been shown to improve bedside application of the evidence-based guidelines. ⋯ Implementation of the SSC bundles revolves around practice improvement measures. Hospitals that have successfully implemented these bundles have consistently shown improved outcomes and reductions in healthcare spending. Finally, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has approved SSC bundle compliance as a core measure, and hospitals in the United States are mandated to collect and report their data regularly to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
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The narrative review aims to discuss recent results and important knowledge gaps regarding acute kidney injury (AKI) in postoperative patients undergone major noncardiac surgery. ⋯ AKI is a frequent postoperative complication with a substantial risk for both short and long-term adverse events, and its incidence is likely to rise because of increasing major surgical procedures. Studies investigating better strategies to prevent and treat AKI in this population are urgently needed.
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Curr Opin Crit Care · Oct 2017
ReviewTranslating evidence into practice in acute respiratory distress syndrome: teamwork, clinical decision support, and behavioral economic interventions.
Although the treatment of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with low tidal volume (LTV) mechanical ventilation improves mortality, it is not consistently administered in clinical practice. This review examines strategies to improve LTV and other evidence-based therapies for patients with ARDS. ⋯ Multiple strategies can be utilized to improve adherence to LTV ventilation in ARDS patients.
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Curr Opin Crit Care · Oct 2017
ReviewHow to translate the new hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated pneumonia guideline to the bedside.
Hospital-acquired pneumonia and ventilator-associated pneumonia remain significant causes of morbidity, mortality, and financial burden in the United States and around the globe. Although guidelines for the management of patients with these conditions have been available for several years, implementation remains challenging. Here, we review the most common barriers faced by clinicians in implementing the current guidelines and offer suggestions for improved adherence. ⋯ Translating the current hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated pneumonia guidelines to the bedside requires understanding of the current barriers affecting care of patients with these conditions. Adopting clinical guidelines facilitates the management of these patients and improves outcomes. Dissemination of the guidelines, provider education, antibiotic stewardship programs, access to local antibiogram information, audit and feedback, electronic tools and leadership commitment are likely to play important roles in guideline implementation. More studies on hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated pneumonia guideline implementation are necessary to identify the most effective interventions.