Current opinion in critical care
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Curr Opin Crit Care · Dec 2008
ReviewComputerized clinical decision support for traumatic shock resuscitation.
To review what we learned through implementation of computerized decision support for ICU resuscitation of major torso trauma patients who arrive in shock. ⋯ Fundamental changes are needed in the care of trauma patients who arrive in shock and require a massive transfusion.
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Renal recovery after acute kidney injury (AKI) is an important outcome, most commonly defined as dialysis independence at hospital discharge. This review focuses on the epidemiology of renal recovery after AKI and provides a framework for determining the relationship of a lack of renal recovery and subsequent outcomes including the development of chronic kidney disease. ⋯ Patients with incomplete renal recovery after AKI are underrepresented in most epidemiologic studies and the precise effect on the incidence and prevalence of end stage renal disease population has yet to be determined. A standardized definition for renal recovery is needed and the influence of an AKI episode on long-term outcomes needs to be better evaluated.
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Curr Opin Crit Care · Dec 2008
ReviewSurrogate decision makers for incompetent ICU patients: a European perspective.
Frequently, ICU patients lack the capacity to share discussions and make decisions about their health. Designation of a surrogate and advance directives have been proposed to empower patients and give more place to their autonomy. Even though legitimacy of surrogates is now recognized by physicians, patients' management must take into account new legislations emphasizing patients' autonomy all over Europe. ⋯ The present review compares the legal framework of surrogacy in Belgium, Denmark, England, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland. France is the country that confers the weakest power to surrogates in decision making. Patients' competence and the ability of surrogate decision makers to cope with ICU's burden are discussed as the main limitations of the substitute decision-making process. Measures to improve substitute decision making and to limit harmful repercussions are suggested.
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Nutritional supplementation is paramount to the care of severely injured patients. Despite its widespread use in trauma, many areas of clinical nutrition remain controversial and not well defined. The benefit of early enteral nutrition in the care of injured patients has been well established, with further benefit derived by the administration of immune-enhancing formulas supplemented with glutamine, arginine, nucleotides, and omega-3-fatty acids. A new paradigm of pharmaconutrition has been developed that separates the administration of immunomodulatory nutrients from that of nutritional support. The optimal utilization and benefit of pharmaconutrients, however, remains unclear, as does the need for full caloric provision in the early postinjury phase. ⋯ Building upon previous well performed studies in trauma patients, the current focus of nutritional investigations center on the use of pharmaconutrients to modulate the inflammatory response and the use of hypocaloric feeds. These practices will be reviewed and evidence presented for their use in critically ill and injured patients.
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Curr Opin Crit Care · Dec 2008
ReviewMedical decision making: paternalism versus patient-centered (autonomous) care.
Medical literature has increasingly emphasized the need to observe patients' autonomy; however, not all experts agree with this principle. This discord is based on varying credence between the concepts of autonomy and beneficence. In critically ill patients, this conflict involves the patient's family and creates a particular family-physician relationship. The purpose of this review is to assess the evidence on medical decision making and the family-physician relationship. ⋯ Clinicians must understand the range of preferences in a society and should offer the opportunity to participate in treatment by sharing decision-making responsibility. This would involve assessing the preferences of patients and their families in order to provide care accordingly. Clinicians should then ensure proper information is provided for informed decision making and minimize factors that could have potential adverse effect.