Revista Brasileira de terapia intensiva
-
Constipation is a common complication identified among critically ill patients. Its incidence is highly variable due to lack of definition of such patients. ⋯ Ogilvie syndrome, a major cause of morbidity and mortality in intensive care units was also reviewed. Considering the above cases it was concluded that more attention to this disorder is required in intensive care units as well as development of protocols for diagnosis and management of critically ill patients.
-
Rev Bras Ter Intensiva · Aug 2009
Breathing pattern in weaning patients: comparison of two inspired oxygen fractions.
An inspired oxygen fraction (FiO2) of 40% is often used for weaning patients, but lower FiO2 values are also recommended, if arterial oxygen pressure (PaO2)/ FiO2 >150-200 mmHg. This study aimed to compare respiratory variables and vital data values recorded during use of sufficient FiO2 (ideal) to maintain peripheral oxygen saturation at 92% with values recorded during use of FiO2 established at 40% (baseline) in weaning patients. ⋯ These results suggest that FiO2 levels sufficient to ensure a SpO2>92% did not alter breathing patterns or trigger clinical changes in weaning patients.
-
To evaluate the medical decisions at end-of-life of patients admitted at HU/UFSC and to compare these decisions and the profile of patients who died in the intensive care unit (ICU) to those who died in medical (MW) and surgical wards (SW). ⋯ The profile of patients who died and medical decisions during the end-of-life process were different in the intensive care unit, clinical and surgical wards.
-
Pulmonary artery catheter is frequently used to monitor patients during liver transplantation. Recently developed less invasive methods for estimating cardiac output and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure together with the failure of randomized studies to demonstrate reduced mortality in pulmonary artery catheter-monitored patients, has restricted its applicability. Pulmonary artery rupture by pulmonary artery catheter is a rare, but dangerous complication. ⋯ Complications from use of pulmonary artery catheter are infrequent, however, due to their clinical severity, can cause high morbidity and mortality. A decreased use of pulmonary artery catheter reduced the number of complications observed. New clinical studies comparing pulmonary artery catheter with non-invasive methods for pulmonary capillary wedge pressure measurement must be conducted in liver transplantation.
-
Rev Bras Ter Intensiva · Jun 2009
Early detection strategy and mortality reduction in severe sepsis.
To evaluate the impact of implementing an institutional policy for detection of severe sepsis and septic shock. ⋯ The strategy used helped to identify early risk of sepsis and resulted in decreased mortality associated with severe sepsis and septic shock.