Critical Care Alert – June 1, 2007

June 1, 2007

• Predictors of PTSD in Ventilated ICU Patients

  This pilot study from the Medical and Coronary ICUs at Vanderbilt University Medical Center sought to identify factors associated with the development of symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following critical illness.

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• Family Conferences in the ICU Infrequently Address The Patient's Prognosis for Survival

  Although prognostic information is viewed as very important to family members of incapacitated, critically ill patients, little is known about what prognostic information clinicians provide during family conferences.

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• Can Procalcitonin Distinguish Sepsis from Other Causes of SIRS?

  Several studies have suggested that procalcitonin may be a useful biochemical marker to differentiate sepsis from other, non-infectious, causes of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), such as pancreatitis.

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• Managing ARDS: Steroid Saga Sequel

  Systemic and pulmonary inflammation are key in the development and progression of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Lack of improvements in inflammatory markers and in the lung injury score (LIS) by day 7 are associated with higher mortality.

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• Should We Use Intensive Insulin Therapy to Prevent Critical Illness Polyneuropathy?

  Van den Berghe et al have recently reported the results of intensive insulin therapy (IIT) on morbidity and mortality in medical intensive care unit patients.

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• Pharmacology Watch: Risk With Preventative Antibiotics Outweighs Benefit for Most

  Gonococcal Infections, CDC's Updated Treatment; Head Lice Malathion First-Line Treatment; Statins, May Cut the Risk of Cataracts; FDA Actions

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• Clinical Briefs in Primary Care supplement

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