Critical Care
RSSArticles
-
Beta-blocker Dose More Important Than Heart Rate in Systolic Heart Failure
Beta-blockers reduce both morbidity and mortality in chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.
-
Acetaminophen for Fever in the ICU
SYNOPSIS: Seven hundred ICU patients with fever and known or suspected infection were randomly assigned to receive acetaminophen 1 g IV or placebo every 6 hours until ICU discharge, resolution of fever, cessation of antimicrobial therapy, or death. Early administration of acetaminophen did not affect number of ICU-free days.
-
Clostridium difficile Infection — Back to the Future
SYNOPSIS: This study provides strong evidence that the diagnosis of Clostridium difficile infection (as opposed to colonization) should be made on the basis of evidence of toxin production, not the mere presence of the organism as detected by glutamate dehydrogenase testing or the presence of toxin genes.
-
Efficacy and Safety of Very Early Mobilization After Onset of Acute Stroke
SYNOPSIS: The higher dose, very early (within 24 hours) mobilization protocol was associated with a reduction in the odds of a favorable outcome at 3 months after stroke occurrence. -
To Cut Or Not To Cut
ABSTRACT & COMMENTARY: Here are the benefits and the downsides of doing an early cholecystectomy.
-
Does Atrial Fibrillation Portend a Worse Prognosis in the ICU?
In this prospective, observational cohort study, both new-onset and recurrent atrial fibrillation were associated with increased hospital mortality, especially in patients without sepsis.
-
Nutrition in the ICU: The Controversy Continues
When comparing critically ill patients who receive standard enteral feeding vs permissive underfeeding, there is no difference in 90-day mortality.
-
Is Optimizing Respiratory Muscle Function During Mechanical Ventilation an Illusion?
Rapid loss in diaphragmatic thickness during the first week of mechanical ventilation is common and associated with higher levels of ventilator driving pressure.
-
Is Less More Or Is More Less?
ABSTRACT & COMMENTARY: Here are details on oxygen saturation goals in the mechanically ventilated.
-
Reducing Daily Chest Radiographs in the ICU
Quality improvement protocols can reduce the number of chest radiographs in the ICU without compromising care.