Critical care : the official journal of the Critical Care Forum
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The autopsy has long been regarded as an important tool for confirming the clinical cause of death, education and quality assurance. Concerns surrounding informed consent and the retention of organs have heightened clinicians' anxieties in requesting permission to perform an autopsy. The present study was conducted to determine whether the autopsy still has a role to play in extending knowledge about the cause of death in a group of patients who died while receiving intensive care. ⋯ Postmortem examinations remain a useful tool in confirming diagnostic accuracy and should be considered in all patients who die in the intensive care unit. Recognition of the diagnoses missed before death may improve outcome or avoid unnecessary prolongation of life where terminal disease is present.
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Administration of drotrecogin alfa (activated) has been demonstrated to reduce mortality in patients with severe sepsis who are at high risk for death or who have multiple organ dysfunction. This benefit was associated with an increased incidence of bleeding events, but the latter were mainly procedure related. ⋯ Acute renal failure and hemodialysis are not contraindications to this therapy, and no drug dosage adjustment is indicated. Finally, the type and source of infection, and its anticipated natural history, may determine whether drotrecogin alfa (activated) is indicated as well as the timing of its administration.
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To measure the mass transfer and clearance of procalcitonin (PCT) in patients with septic shock during continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH), and to assess the mechanisms of elimination of PCT. ⋯ We conclude that PCT is removed from the plasma of patients with septic shock during CCVH. Most of the mass is eliminated by convective flow, but adsorption also contributes to elimination during the first hours of CVVH. The effect of PCT removal with a conventional CVVH substitution fluid rate (<2.5 l/hour) on PCT plasma concentration seems to be limited, and PCT remains a useful diagnostic marker in these septic patients. The impact of high-volume hemofiltration on the PCT clearance, the mass transfer and the plasma concentration should be evaluated in further studies.
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The objective of the present study was to evaluate the opinion of Portuguese intensive care physicians regarding 'do-not-resuscitate' (DNR) orders and decisions to withhold/withdraw treatment. ⋯ The probability of survival from the acute episode and patients' wishes were the most important criteria influencing end-of-life decisions. These decisions are made only by the medical group in most of the responding ICUs, with little input from nursing staff, patients, or patients' relatives, although many respondents expressed a wish to involve them more in this process. Sex, experience and religious beliefs of the respondents influences the way in which these decisions are made.
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Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) in childhood is associated with a high mortality and morbidity. Decompressive craniectomy has regained therapeutic interest during past years; however, treatment guidelines consider it a last resort treatment strategy for use only after failure of conservative therapy. ⋯ These observational pilot data indicate feasibility and efficacy of decompressive craniectomy in malignant ICP rise secondary to TBI. Further controlled trials are necessary to evaluate the indication and standardization of early decompressive craniectomy as a 'second tier' standard therapy in pediatric severe head injury.