Articles: intensive-care-units.
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Am. J. Clin. Pathol. · Oct 1995
ReviewPoint-of-care testing in the intensive care unit. The intensive care physician's perspective.
Technological advancements have, for the first time, made the entire laboratory testing process feasible at the bedside. Physicians working in the intensive care unit have always had immediate access to patients' medical history, physical examination, and physiologic monitoring data, but had to wait for laboratory results. ⋯ The concept of point-of-care testing in the intensive care unit is relatively new, but as technology progresses, physicians will undoubtedly become aware and use it in the intensive care unit. This article focuses on the intensive care physician's perspective on laboratory testing, the evolution of the intensive care unit laboratory, advantages of point-of-care testing in that setting, new developments in arterial blood gas analyzers and monitors, and cost-effectiveness and incorporation of point-of-care testing.
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Intensive care medicine · Oct 1995
Multicenter StudyArtificial nutrition support in intensive care units in Spain. Nutritional and Metabolic Working Group of the Spanish Society of Intensive Care Medicine and Coronary Units (SEMIUC).
A multicenter survey to study the use of nutritional support in patients admitted to the ICU in Spain. ⋯ Nutritional support is a common practice in the treatment of ICU patients in our country. All information concerning its use is necessary to optimize it.
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Critical care clinics · Oct 1995
ReviewThe cost of sedating and paralyzing the critically ill patient.
The cost of health care is consuming an ever-increasing amount of United State's gross domestic product. It is estimated that 15% of health care dollars are spent in the ICU. ⋯ Many of the sedatives, analgesics, and neuromuscular blocking agents have high acquisition and indirect costs. Educating ICU practitioners on cost issues and key indications for these drugs not only may help with cost containment in the ICU but also can improve patient care.
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To evaluate the morbidity and severity of illness during interhospital transfer of critically ill children by a specialised paediatric retrieval team. ⋯ Our study indicates that a specialised paediatric retrieval team can rapidly deliver intensive care to critically ill children awaiting transfer. Such children can be transferred to a paediatric intensive care unit with minimal morbidity and mortality related to transport. There was no deterioration in the clinical condition of most patients during transfer.