Articles: intensive-care-units.
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The purpose of this study was to evaluate three modified, fiberoptic, oxygen saturation catheters as monitors of jugular venous oxygen saturation (SjvO2). ⋯ Catheter 3, which is now being marketed as the Opticath P540-H catheter, represents a significant improvement in performance and may make SjvO2 monitoring in the intensive care unit more practical.
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Intensive care medicine · Jun 1999
Comparative Study Clinical TrialDoes noninvasive ventilation reduce the ICU nosocomial infection risk? A prospective clinical survey.
To observe the nosocomial infection (NI) distribution in ventilated patients of a single intensive care unit (ICU) according to the kind of control of the upper airways: noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) versus endotracheal intubation (ETI). ⋯ The use of NPPV reduces the risk of VAP and NI, compared to ETI, irrespective of the severity of the patient's illness.
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J Paediatr Child Health · Jun 1999
Comparative StudyChanging mortality and causes of death in infants 23-27 weeks' gestational age.
To contrast the mortality rates and changes in the causes of death of very preterm infants (23-27 weeks), before and after the introduction of exogenous surfactant in 1991, and to identify any preventable causes of death remaining in the 1990s. ⋯ As the mortality rate has fallen over time, respiratory causes of death have diminished, but septic causes of death have increased. Further advances in the use of exogenous surfactant and respiratory support may reduce respiratory deaths. Effective strategies to reduce nosocomial infections are urgently required.
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J Paediatr Child Health · Jun 1999
Comparative StudyLaparotomy for necrotizing enterocolitis: intensive care nursery compared with operating theatre.
To determine whether neonates requiring laparotomy for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) are more stable perioperatively and have less disruption of physiological parameters if surgery is performed in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) compared with the operating theatre (OR). ⋯ The use of the neonatal intensive care nursery for surgery on neonates weighing less than 1500 g with severe NEC can be justified and such use should be encouraged. In contrast, secondary transport of neonates weighing less than 1500 g to the OR for laparotomy is associated with significant deterioration in a number of physiological parameters, which may impact on morbidity.
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Critical care medicine · Jun 1999
Hypernatremia in the intensive care unit: an indicator of quality of care?
To assess the frequency of hypernatremia in patients who were admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) and to determine the correlation of hypernatremia with the clinical outcomes, durations of the patients' stays in the ICU, and other clinical variables. ⋯ Despite frequent measurement of sodium levels in patients in the ICU, hypernatremia is a relatively common occurrence. Initial treatment of hypernatremia is often inadequate, and sometimes treatment is delayed. The development of hypernatremia is associated with adverse outcomes for patients developing hypernatremia in the ICU. Hypernatremia could potentially be used as an indicator of quality of care in the medical ICU.