Critical care : the official journal of the Critical Care Forum
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Comparison of fluid balance and hemodynamic and metabolic effects of sodium lactate versus sodium bicarbonate versus 0.9% NaCl in porcine endotoxic shock: a randomized, open-label, controlled study.
Sodium lactate has been shown to improve hemodynamics and avoid fluid overload. The objective of this study was to confirm a beneficial effect on fluid balance with sodium lactate infusion and to specify whether the advantage of lactate is related to a negative chloride balance, its particular metabolism, or simply its energy load. ⋯ Sodium lactate infusion improves fluid balance and hemodynamics. The advantage of lactate does not seem to be explained by its energy load or by the induced negative chloride balance with subsequent water movements.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Simvastatin for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome: long-term outcomes and cost-effectiveness from a randomised controlled trial.
Simvastatin therapy for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has been shown to be safe and associated with minimal adverse effects, but it does not improve clinical outcomes. The aim of this research was to report on mortality and cost-effectiveness of simvastatin in patients with ARDS at 12 months. ⋯ Simvastatin was found to be cost-effective for the treatment of ARDS, being associated with both a significant QALY gain and a cost saving. There was no significant reduction in mortality at 12 months, TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN, 88244364. Registered 26 November 2010.
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Clinical Trial Observational Study
Cost analysis of the very elderly admitted to intensive care units.
Very elderly patients are often admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) despite poor outcomes and frequent preference to avoid unnecessary prolongation of life. We sought to determine the cost of ICU admission for the very elderly and the factors influencing this cost. ⋯ Considering the poor clinical outcomes, and that many ICU admissions may be undesired by very elderly patients, ICU costs in this population are substantial. Our finding that a preference for comfort care predicted a lower cost independent of mortality reinforces the importance of early goals of care discussions to avoid both undesired and potentially non-beneficial interventions, consequently reducing costs.
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Functional status (FS) before intensive care unit (ICU) admission is associated with short-term and long-term outcomes among critically ill patients. However, measures of FS are generally not integrated into ICU-specific mortality prediction models. ⋯ Baseline FS prior to critical illness is a strong independent predictor of mortality and impacts the relationship between observed and APIV PM in those with lower illness severity. Future iterations of mortality prediction models should integrate a baseline measure of FS to improve performance.