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Pulmonary artery catheters (PACS) are widely used in critically ill patients. Proponents of the catheter, introduced into the clinical arena more than 30 years ago, argue that physiologic data provided by the use of the PAC permit clinicians to target treatment and improve patient outcomes.
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Sepsis and its consequences are common causes of death in the United States. Detection of infection and its proper treatment are essential for survival in all patients, but especially those in the ICU.
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Low intensity warfarin therapy effectively prevents recurrent venous thromboembolism, according to a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Bispectral index (BIS) monitoring has received a generally favorable reception since its formal introduction at the American Association of Critical Care Nurses National Teaching Institute and Critical Care Exposition last spring.
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In guidance that should spell millions of dollars saved for the nations hospitals, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is calling a halt to routine changes of ventilator breathing circuits.
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Synopsis: The clinical decision rule tested in this study reduced unnecessary hospital admissions in patients with suspected acute cardiac ischemia without affecting safety.
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In a recent issue of Critical Care Alert I discussed the epidemiology and pathophysiology of invasive fungal infections that afflict patients in the ICU. In this issue, I review the current treatment options.
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The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) is pilot testing 8 of the 11 standardized intensive care core measures initially put forth for public comment.
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The centers for disease control and prevention (CDC) has issued updated guidance to help infection control professionals prevent costly intravascular catheter-related bloodstream infections (BSIs).
