Critical Care Alert – July 1, 2010
July 1, 2010
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Tracheotomy: Why and When
Terragni et al performed this 4-year-long multicenter randomized controlled trial to determine whether early (6-8 days) vs late (13-15 days) tracheotomy would reduce ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) incidence. -
Oral Nutritional Intake Among Critically Ill Patients Is Grossly Deficient in the Week Following Extubation
Peterson and colleagues at rush university medical Center carried out an observational study of ICU patients' oral nutritional intake in the 7 days following extubation after mechanical ventilation for acute respiratory failure. -
Does "Auto-anticoagulation" Protect Against VTE in Patients with Liver Disease?
This study sought to determine whether the coagulo-pathy associated with chronic liver disease specifically the elevated International Normalized Ratio (INR) frequently present in patients with advanced disease is protective against venous thromboembolism (VTE) in hospitalized patients. -
Can We Extubate Seemingly Unweanable Patients with Neuromuscular Disease?
Patients with neuromuscular disease who are intubated and subsequently fail multiple spontaneous breathing trials are often relegated to placement of a tracheo-stomy and continuous mechanical ventilation. -
Special Feature: Difficult Airway Management: The LMA Option
Difficult intubations are usually the result of a difficult airway, sometimes anticipated and sometimes not. -
Pharmacology Watch: PPIs, Clostridium difficile, and Bone Fractures
In this issue: New reports about proton pump inhibitors and the effects of gastric suppression, pioglitazone vs vitamin E for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, metformin and vitamin B12 deficiency, and FDA Actions. -
Clinical Briefs in Primary Care supplement