Articles: outcome.
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In the intensive care unit (ICU) setting, the combination of mechanical ventilation and renal replacement therapy (RRT) has been associated with prolonged length of hospital stay, high cost of care and poor outcome. We gathered outcome data on patients who had severe renal dysfunction on transfer to our regional weaning center (RWC) for attempted weaning from prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV). We screened the admission laboratory values of 1077 patients transferred to our RWC over an 8-year period. We reviewed the medical records of patients with serum creatinine > 2.5 mg/dl. ⋯ Patients who require PMV and RRT have a very poor prognosis. The small number of patients with renal insufficiency not requiring RRT had a more favorable hospital outcome and mortality, but long-term survival remained poor.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Jan 1997
Spinal anesthesia versus intravenous sedation for transvaginal oocyte retrieval: reproductive outcome, side-effects and recovery profiles.
Transvaginal ultrasonically guided oocyte retrieval is commonly performed as part of in vitro fertilization efforts. The impact of anesthetic management on patient outcome from this procedure has not been well characterized. At our institution, patients are offered a choice of either heavy intravenous sedation or spinal anesthesia with minimal or no sedatives. ⋯ The intravenous sedation group required a significantly longer period until recovery room discharge criteria were met (P = 0.03), and were more likely to have postoperative emetic episodes (46% versus 6% in the spinal anesthesia group: P < 0.01). Two unplanned hospital admissions occurred in the intravenous sedation group: both were related to uncontrolled nausea and vomiting. We conclude that spinal anesthesia may have advantages over intravenous sedation for oocyte retrieval.
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To review the effect of enteral nutrition on nosocomial pneumonia in critically ill patients as summarized in randomized clinical trials. STUDY IDENTIFICATION AND SELECTION: Studies were identified through MEDLINE, SCISEARCH, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, bibliographies of primary and review articles, and personal files. Through duplicate independent review, we selected randomized trials evaluating approaches to nutrition and their relation to nosocomial pneumonia. DATA ABSTRACTION: In duplicate, independently, we abstracted key data on the design features, population, intervention and outcomes of the studies. ⋯ Nutritional interventions in critically ill patients appear to have a modest and inconsistent effect on nosocomial pneumonia. This body of evidence neither supports nor refutes the gastropulmonary route of infection.
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The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that a new mode of ventilation (pressure-regulated volume control; PRVC) is associated with improvements in respiratory mechanics and outcome when compared with conventional volume control (VC) ventilation in patients with acute respiratory failure. We conducted a randomised, prospective, open, cross over trial on 44 patients with acute respiratory failure in the general intensive care unit of a university hospital. After a stabilization period of 8 h, a cross over trial of 2 x 2 h was conducted. Apart from the PRVC/VC mode, ventilator settings were comparable. The following parameters were recorded for each patient: days on ventilator, failure in the assigned mode of ventilation (peak inspiratory pressure > 50 cmH2O) and survival. ⋯ Peak inspiratory pressure was significantly lower during PRVC ventilation than during VC ventilation, and thus PRVC may be superior to VC in certain patients. However, in this small group of patients, we could not demonstrate that PRVC improved outcome.
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The dramatic decline in mortality related to cardiac surgery has resulted in over 330,000 surgeries involving cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) being performed yearly in the United States. Although few patients die as a result of cardiac surgery, over two thirds of the patients demonstrate evidence of acute neuropsychological dysfunction postoperatively. The potential mechanisms contributing to post-CPB neuropsychological deficits are many, but two major inter-related etiologic factors, hypo-perfusion and emboli, are suggested as the probable culprits. ⋯ Conversely, if hypoperfusion is the cause of the injury, then decreasing brain blood flow to minimize embolic delivery would increase the likelihood of perfusion injury. By monitoring the carotid arteries of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery, we have determined the frequency and quantity of embolic signals that occur during CPB. Although we have not been able to determine the nature of the embolus, gaseous or solid, we have demonstrated a relationship between the overall embolic load and the probability of having NP dysfunction. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Volume 13, September 1996)