World journal of critical care medicine
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World J Crit Care Med · Feb 2015
Serum bicarbonate may independently predict acute kidney injury in critically ill patients: An observational study.
To explore whether serum bicarbonate at admission to intensive care unit (ICU) predicted development of acute kidney injury (AKI). ⋯ Serum bicarbonate on admission may independently be used to make a diagnosis of AKI.
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World J Crit Care Med · Nov 2014
ReviewFocus on peripherally inserted central catheters in critically ill patients.
Venous access devices are of pivotal importance for an increasing number of critically ill patients in a variety of disease states and in a variety of clinical settings (emergency, intensive care, surgery) and for different purposes (fluids or drugs infusions, parenteral nutrition, antibiotic therapy, hemodynamic monitoring, procedures of dialysis/apheresis). However, healthcare professionals are commonly worried about the possible consequences that may result using a central venous access device (CVAD) (mainly, bloodstream infections and thrombosis), both peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) and centrally inserted central catheters (CICCs). This review aims to discuss indications, insertion techniques, and care of PICCs in critically ill patients. ⋯ This knowledge may minimize complications and guarantee longevity to the CVAD optimizing the risk/benefit ratio of CVAD insertion and use. Proper management of CVADs in critical care saves lines and lives. Much evidence from the medical literature and from the clinical practice supports our belief that, compared to CICCs, the so-called power-injectable peripherally inserted central catheters are a good alternative choice in critical care.
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World J Crit Care Med · Nov 2014
ReviewImpact of perioperative hyponatremia in children: A narrative review.
For more than 50 years, hypotonic fluids (crystalloids) have been the standard for maintenance fluid used in children. In the last decade, several studies have evaluated the risk of hyponatremia associated with the use of hypotonic vs isotonic fluids, which has lead to an intense debate. Children undergoing surgery have several stimuli for release of antidiuretic hormone, which controls renal water handling, including pain, nausea, vomiting, narcotic use and blood loss. ⋯ It represents an emergency condition, and early diagnosis, prompt treatment and close monitoring are essential to reduce morbidity and mortality. The widespread use of hypotonic fluids in children undergoing surgery is a matter of concern and more focus on this topic is urgently needed. In this paper, we review the literature and describe the impact of perioperative hyponatremia in children.
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World J Crit Care Med · Aug 2014
French pre-hospital trauma triage criteria: Does the "pre-hospital resuscitation" criterion provide additional benefit in triage?
To evaluate the performance of the specific French Vittel "Pre-Hospital (PH) resuscitation" criteria in selecting polytrauma patients during the pre-hospital stage and its potential to increase the positive predictive value (PPV) of pre-hospital trauma triage. ⋯ The criterion of "pre-hospital resuscitation" was statistically significant with the severity of the trauma, but did not increase the PPV. The use of "pre-hospital resuscitation" criterion could be re-considered if these results are confirmed by larger studies.
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Fluid therapy is perhaps the most common intervention received by acutely ill hospitalized patients; however, a number of critical questions on the efficacy and safety of the type and dose remain. In this review, recent insights derived from randomized trials in terms of fluid type, dose and toxicity are discussed. We contend that the prescription of fluid therapy is context-specific and that any fluid can be harmful if administered inappropriately. ⋯ Qualitative toxicity (fluid type), in particular for iatrogenic acute kidney injury and metabolic acidosis, remain a concern for synthetic colloids and isotonic saline, respectively. Physiologically balanced crystalloids may be the ''default'' fluid for acutely ill patients and the role for colloids, in particular hydroxyethyl starch, is increasingly unclear. We contend the prescription of fluid therapy is analogous to the prescription of any drug used in critically ill patients.