Critical Care Alert – May 1, 2007
May 1, 2007
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Selenium and Sepsis. It's Not Your Average Once-a-Day Vitamin
Building on the results of previous pilot studies from their laboratory and a meta-analysis that showed a tendency toward improved mortality in critically-ill patients following selenium administration, Angstwurm and colleagues used a randomized, placebo-controlled multi-center trial to determine whether intravenous administration of selenium could improve outcomes in severe sepsis and septic shock. -
Improving Staff Compliance with ICU Protocols
In the institution in which this study took place, an audit revealed that adherence to 9 ICU protocols ranged from 62% to 77%. The protocols focused on a variety of patient care needs including sedation/analgesia, DVT prophylaxis, enteral nutrition, insulin administration, skin care, stress ulcer prophylaxis, and ventilator weaning. -
What Happens To Removable Vena Cava Filters?
Trauma surgeons at 21 institutions participated in this retrospective study of inferior vena cava filter (IVCF) placement and follow-up. A total of 599 IVCFs were placed at the 21 hospitals during the study year, 226 (0.8% of all admissions) at the 7 high-volume hospitals (> 2000 trauma cases admitted), and 373 (2% of all admissions, P = 0.009) at the 14 low-volume institutions. -
Which Mechanically Ventilated Patients Should Receive Bronchodilators?
Inhaled bronchodilators are the cornerstone of managing acute airway obstruction, and their use in intubated, mechanically ventilated patients with asthma and COPD is a standard of care. -
Special Feature: Clinical Research and Healthcare Insurance
Many of the recent advances in intensive care have been the product of large clinical trials. Over the years, randomized studies have demonstrated agents and modalities that impact survival of our sickest patients. -
Pharmacology Watch: Long-Awaited Torcetrapib Will Not Be Released, Too Risky
IBS-Drug Treatment Pulled, CV Side Effects; Drug Combo Better for Migraine Treatment; Pergolide Off the Market, Heart Disease Risk; Hormone Treatment, Does Timing Matter?; FDA Actions -
Clinical Briefs in Primary Care supplement