Search Tag: mortality
2023 20 Apr
Vasopressors and inotropes are frequently used in intensive care units. With a special focus on recent studies, this article summarises the key messages in the management of patients requiring inotropes and vasopressors. Introduction Cardiac output (CO) is a key determinant of oxygen delivery. Low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS) causes...Read more
2023 19 Apr
Nursing teams play an important role in providing safe and adequate care to critically ill patients in the ICU. The patient-to-nurse ratio significantly impacts patient outcomes, and teamwork is also crucial. A recent study emphasises the need for effective communication, collaboration, and a shared sense of responsibility among the nursing team...Read more
2022 07 Jun
What is the effect of intraoperative handover of anesthesia care on clinical outcomes? This was discussed in a very interesting session at Euroanaesthesia Congress this week. Prof Melanie Meersch-Dini of University Hospital Münster, Germany, reviewed the findings from the HandiCAP trial, published this week in JAMA. Intraoperative handovers of...Read more
2022 31 May
Sepsis is one of the most challenging complications in the ICU. It is a physiologic response to infection that could lead to multiorgan failure and death if not managed and treated properly. Sepsis is a major health issue in the U.S., with more than 1.7 million cases diagnosed annually. Sepsis is also a leading cause of death and one of the most expensive...Read more
2021 19 Jul
Mechanical ventilation is a life-saving strategy for critically ill patients. However, it can promote and/or exacerbate lung injury through several mechanisms, including alveolar overdistension and repetitive opening and closing of the alveoli and small airways. Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) has been employed to prevent end-expiratory alveolar...Read more
2020 11 Aug
We review the decision-making processes during night shifts focusing on the perspective of residents and fellows. We explore nighttime decisions about extubations, ICU discharge, withholding/withdrawing and night shift cross-coverage. T aking a night shift in the ICU can be challenging, particularly from a resident/fellow perspective....Read more
2019 28 Dec
As we move into 2020, here's a quick recap of our most clicked stories in ICU in 2019: Using Biomarkers for Mortality Prediction in Patients With Sepsis A new study evaluated the prognostic value of six biomarkers at onset of sepsis in adult patients with sepsis or septic shock. Risk Factors for Frailty and Death in the ICU...Read more
2019 07 Nov
Most emergency rooms have a triage system that enables the triage nurse to determine which patient is seriously ill to ensure that the patient is promptly admitted and treated. For disorders like heart attack and stroke, there are standard emergency room protocols in most hospitals that enable patients to receive care within 3-5 hours of initial...Read more
2017 22 Nov
The risk of dying in the intensive care unit (ICU) is higher for patients admitted at the weekend compared to those admitted on a weekday, according to a retrospective study of registry data from Austria published in Critical Care (Zajic et al. 2017). However, the risk of dying in the ICU on a weekend was found to be lower than on a weekday, highlighting...Read more
2017 22 Nov
A clinical decision support system (CDSS) that monitors blood creatinine levels in hospitalised patients to alert physicians to potential acute kidney injury (AKI) was associated with a small but significant reduction in mortality and hospital length of stay (LOS), according to research from the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC published in the Journal...Read more