Critical care : the official journal of the Critical Care Forum
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Comparative Study
Landmark survival as an end-point for trials in critically ill patients--comparison of alternative durations of follow-up: an exploratory analysis.
Interventional ICU trials have followed up patients for variable duration. However, the optimal duration of follow-up for the determination of mortality endpoint in such trials is uncertain. We aimed to determine the most logical and practical mortality end-point in clinical trials of critically ill patients. ⋯ A minimum of 90 days follow-up is necessary to fully capture the mortality effect of sepsis and community acquired pneumonia. A shorter period of follow-up time may be sufficient for non-operative trauma.
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Comparative Study
Comparison between Flotrac-Vigileo and Bioreactance, a totally noninvasive method for cardiac output monitoring.
This study was designed to compare the clinical acceptability of two cardiac output (CO) monitoring systems: a pulse wave contour-based system (FloTrac-Vigileo) and a bioreactance-based system (NICOM), using continuous thermodilution (PAC-CCO) as a reference method. ⋯ This study showed that the NICOM and Vigileo devices have similar monitoring capabilities in post-operative cardiac surgery patients.
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Oxygen is one of the most commonly used therapeutic agents. Injudicious use of oxygen at high partial pressures (hyperoxia) for unproven indications, its known toxic potential, and the acknowledged roles of reactive oxygen species in tissue injury led to skepticism regarding its use. ⋯ Data on regional hemodynamic effects of hyperoxia and recent compelling evidence on its anti-inflammatory actions incited a surge of interest in the potential therapeutic effects of hyperoxia in myocardial revascularization and protection, in traumatic and nontraumatic ischemicanoxic brain insults, and in prevention of surgical site infections and in alleviation of septic and nonseptic local and systemic inflammatory responses. Although the margin of safety between effective and potentially toxic doses of oxygen is relatively narrow, the ability to carefully control its dose, meticulous adherence to currently accepted therapeutic protocols, and individually tailored treatment regimens make it a cost-effective safe drug.
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Multicenter Study
Association of arterial blood pressure and vasopressor load with septic shock mortality: a post hoc analysis of a multicenter trial.
It is unclear to which level mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) should be increased during septic shock in order to improve outcome. In this study we investigated the association between MAP values of 70 mmHg or higher, vasopressor load, 28-day mortality and disease-related events in septic shock. ⋯ MAP levels of 70 mmHg or higher do not appear to be associated with improved survival in septic shock. Elevating MAP >70 mmHg by augmenting vasopressor dosages may increase mortality. Future trials are needed to identify the lowest acceptable MAP level to ensure tissue perfusion and avoid unnecessary high catecholamine infusions.
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Comparative Study
The effect of diabetes mellitus on organ dysfunction with sepsis: an epidemiological study.
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common chronic co-morbid medical conditions in the USA and is frequently present in patients with sepsis. Previous studies reported that people with DM and severe sepsis are less likely to develop acute lung injury (ALI). We sought to determine whether organ dysfunction differed between people with and without DM and sepsis. ⋯ In sepsis, people with diabetes are less likely to develop acute respiratory failure, irrespective of source of infection. Future studies should determine the relationship of these findings to reduced risk of ALI in people with DM and causative mechanisms.