-
-
Every intensivist recognizes that families play a prominent role in ICU decision making.
-
Prior studies have demonstrated that delayed transfer of critically ill patients from the emergency department (ED) to the ICU (> 6 hours) prolongs ICU and hospital stay.
-
Prone positioning has been advocated as a management strategy for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), but despite evidence of improved oxygenation with the technique, numerous studies have yet to establish a mortality benefit from the practice.
-
In this issue: Statin and niacin increase HDL-C, omeprazole reduces effectiveness of clopidogrel, darbe-poetin increases risk of stroke, statins decrease risk of gallstone disease, FDA Actions.
-
-
Early goal-directed therapy (EGDT) has been shown to reduce hospital mortality from severe sepsis and septic shock. Puskarich et al hypothesized that long-term outcome would also be improved.
-
Recombinant Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) toxins showed lytic activity against human (but not murine) neutrophils. The lytic activity of culture supernatants of USA400 and USA300 strains of MRSA were completely neutralized by anti-PVL monoclonal antibodies. In contrast, phenol-soluble modulin alpha3 (PSM) failed to lyse human neutrophils but did enhance PVL-mediated neutrophil lysis.
-
This retrospective cohort study reaffirms the link between hyperglycemia and mortality in the ICU, but demonstrates that the risk does not apply equally to all patient groups and, instead, varies based on admission diagnosis.
-
Many clinical trials have confirmed the benefit of early invasive therapy for high-risk patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). However, the optimal timing of cardiac catheterization in this group remains unknown.