Articles: intensive-care-units.
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The objective of this study is to identify whether the current system of visits schedule and patient's information at a Clinical and Surgical Intensive Care Unit (ICU) satisfy the patient's visitors. To do it, two hundred questionnaires were distributed, during a month, and one hundred and sixty returned. The results showed that 70% of the visitors are satisfied with the current schedule; 67% come in daily; 66% are satisfied with the time they have for visiting, 54% asked for access in out of the current schedule, 69% are satisfied with staff information about patients; 88% of the visitors are patient's relatives. The most frequent suggestion was to increase the visit time at this ICU.
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Intensive care medicine · Jan 1999
Admission patterns and outcomes in a paediatric intensive care unit in South Africa over a 25-year period (1971-1995).
To describe admission and outcome patterns of diseases managed at a paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in a developing country between 1971 and 1995, in order to provide data which will assist in improving the management of diseases and the rational allocation of health resources. ⋯ The profile of diseases in children admitted to this PICU has changed considerably over 25 years. Some of these changes can be attributed to the shift in emphasis to primary health care, especially higher vaccination coverage rates. Profitable utilisation of limited ICU facilities would probably be enhanced by the use of outcome measures such as mortality and mean number of ICU days of stay per survivor.
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ICU psychosis is common amongst patients admitted to critical care settings. ICU psychosis is the result of a complex interaction between physiological and psychological factors. Environmental factors will contribute to ICU psychosis (including sleep deprivation, excessive noise, separation, poor communication and immobilisation). These environmental factors can be manipulated to reduce the incidence of ICU psychosis.
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J Clin Neurophysiol · Jan 1999
ReviewContinuous EEG monitoring in the neuroscience intensive care unit and emergency department.
This article reviews established, emergent, and potential applications of continuous EEG (CEEG) monitoring in the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Emergency Department. In each application, its goal as a neurophysiologic monitor is to extend our powers of observation to detect abnormalities at a reversible stage and to guide timely and physiologically sound interventions. Since this subject was reviewed 5 years ago, the use of CEEG monitoring has become more widespread. ⋯ More recently, it has been found advantageous for targeting management of acute severe head trauma patients. Networking technology has facilitated the implementation and oversight of CEEG monitoring and promises to expand its availability, credibility, and effectiveness. The maturing of CEEG use is reflected in preliminary efforts to assess its cost benefit, cost effectiveness, and impact on patient outcomes.