Critical Care
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Frailty: An Important Determinant of Outcome in Critical Illness
In this prospective study of older ICU patients (mean age, 67 years), frailty as assessed by a simple scale was present in one-third and was strongly associated with increased risk of adverse events, morbidity, and mortality. -
Patients with Multiple Medical Emergency Team Calls Are at High Risk for Adverse Outcomes
In this large observational study in four hospitals with a standardized rapid response system, among patients with an initial team activation who were not immediately transferred to the ICU, those with one or more additional activations during the hospitalization were more likely to need ICU care and had both longer hospital stays and higher mortality. -
Ventilator-Associated Events (VAE): An Attempt to Step Out of the Mire
Hospital-based infection surveillance experts nationwide participated in a survey to access the level of agreement in diagnosing ventilator-associated pneumonia by evaluating six identical case studies. The level of agreement between participants was poor. -
Sedative Medications: Challenging to Predict Clinical Effectiveness in Some Mechanically Ventilated Patients
This pilot study reports that dexmedetomidine might be the sedative of choice for less ill mechanically ventilated ICU patients who take antidepressant medications at home. -
Pediatric Manifestations of Group A Streptococcal Disease
Group A streptococcus (GAS) may cause disease both by direct infection, termed suppurative disease, and also by the response of the body to an antecedent infection, termed nonsuppurative disease. An invasive GAS infection is defined as one in which GAS can be isolated from a part of the body that is normally sterile, as would be the case in pneumonia but not in pharyngitis. -
Epiglottitis
Since the introduction of the vaccine against H. influenzae, there has been a significant decrease in the number of children presenting with epiglottitis. Although there is little evidence that the disease has increased in adults, clearly the percentage of cases in adults compared to children has increased. Further, there is greater recognition of milder cases with direct visualization and imaging. -
Carbon Monoxide and Cyanide Poisoning in Smoke Inhalation Victims
MONOGRAPH: Both toxins can cause significant injury or death if unrecognized by clinicians.
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Emergency Medicine Reports - Full January 4, 2015 Issue in PDF
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The Value of Laboratory Testing in the Trauma Patient
Trauma patients have a wide variety of presentations and acuity, and range from healthy patients with minor injuries to patients with extensive medical histories and major trauma. -
Full January 1, 2009 Issue in PDF