Crit Care Resusc
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Design and statistical analysis plan for a trial comparing a conservative fluid management strategy with usual care in patients after cardiac surgery: the FAB study.
Cardiac surgery is one of the most frequently performed major surgical procedures. Following surgery, haemodynamic instability and prevention of organ dysfunction may be treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) with intravenous fluid, inotropes and vasopressors. In other surgical groups, liberal intravenous fluid administration and a positive fluid balance have been associated with adverse outcomes and increased risk of morbidity and mortality. There is a paucity of evidence to guide intravenous fluid administration in cardiac surgery patients. We have previously shown that a protocol-guided strategy avoiding unnecessary fluid administration significantly reduces fluid loading. ⋯ This trial aims to determine whether a protocol-guided strategy that avoids unnecessary fluid administration reduces ICU length of stay and improves outcomes in higher-risk adults undergoing cardiac surgery.
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Pressure injuries are a significant problem for critically ill patients; they increase morbidity, cost, and duration of hospitalisation. Prolonged immobility is a major risk factor, but evidence guiding how frequently patients should be turned to prevent this complication is limited. We aimed to determine the impact of changing from 5-hourly to 3-hourly turns on pressure injury incidence in critically ill patients. ⋯ A change in turn frequency from 5-hourly to 3-hourly was associated with a halved incidence of pressure injuries. Critically ill patients may benefit from more frequent turns.