Critical Care Alert – January 1, 2008
January 1, 2008
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Why Are We Giving Our Patients Blood?
Multiple recent studies have demonstrated that red blood cell (RBC) transfusion may be deleterious to critically ill patients, as it has been found to be associated with increased mortality following coronary artery bypass surgery, increased rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia and worse outcomes in patients with burn injury and trauma. -
Steroids for COPD Exacerbations: Oral or IV?
De Jong and colleagues in The Netherlands conducted a prospective, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical study of intravenous vs oral corticosteroids in the treatment of patients hospitalized because of an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). -
Should We Be Using Oral Decontamination with Ventilated Patients?
Previous work demonstrates that selective gut decontamination decreases the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), but the practice has been limited by concerns about promoting antibiotic resistance. -
Special Feature: Rapid Response Systems: Update and Critique
In an attempt to enhance what it considered a sluggish nationwide response to the Institute of Medicine's calls for reducing error and improving patient outcomes in hospital care, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) initiated in 2004 an ambitious, highly visible, 18-month program. -
Pharmacology Watch: FDA Warnings Dominate Pharmaceutical News
In this issue: FDA warnings for existing drugs dominate pharmaceutical news this month. -
Clinical Briefs in Primary Care supplement