Critical Care Alert – November 1, 2003
November 1, 2003
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Safer Suctioning with Pressure Support
In this study, the effect of endotracheal suctioning-induced alveolar derecruitment was studied. -
Bilateral Pleural Effusions: Do Both Sides Need to be Tapped?
In this retrospective review of 33 patients with bilateral pleural effusions who had the fluid on both sides tapped, the cause of the effusions was most often cardiac disease and seemed to be the same on both sides in every case. -
Are ‘Routine’ Daily Chest X-Rays Justifiable in ICU Patients?
For patients who required > 48 hours of mechanical ventilation, daily routine chest radiographs and films obtained based on clinical indications produced similar outcomes. -
Special Feature: Avoiding Adverse Events in the ICU
Health care workers are expected to practice without error, an ideal that in reality does not occur. In fact, errors occur more frequently that we would prefer. -
Early, Aggressive ICU Nutrition Drawing More Advocates
Most large hospitals today have dedicated icu nutritionists who make nutritional recommendations for every critically ill patient admitted. Though some physicians remain skeptical of studies that support using early, aggressive enteral or parenteral nutritional support to improve patient outcomes, leaders in nutritional research say that those studies which failed to indicate positive effects were improperly conducted. -
Who Gets What in Critical Care?
Two severely ill patients in the emergency department of your hospital need admission to intensive care, but only one bed is available. Who gets admitted first? -
Clinical Briefs in Primary Care Supplement
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Pharmacology Watch: Generic Paxil Scheduled to Hit Market this Fall
A generic form of paroxetine (PaxilGlaxoSmithKline) will soon be on the market. The drug marks the second SSRI antidepressant to go generic after fluoxetine (Prozac) last year.