Other bulletins in this series include:

Breast Surgery

Tuesday 10 July 2012

Should lower respiratory tract excretions from intensive care patients be systematically screened for influenza?

Should lower respiratory tract excretions from intensive care patients be systematically screened for influenza virus during the influenza season?  Critical care 2012, Vol. 16: R104


Munoz, P., et al.


http://ccforum.com/content/16/3/R104


Influenza is easily overlooked in intensive care units (ICUs), particularly in patients with alternative causes of respiratory failure or in those who acquire influenza during their ICU stay.

The determinants of hospital mortality among patients with septic shock

The determinants of hospital mortality among patients with septic shock receiving appropriate initial antibiotic treatment.  Critical care medicine, July 2012, Vol. 40(7), p.2016-21.


Labelle, A., et al.


http://journals.lww.com/ccmjournal/Abstract/2012/07000/The_determinants_of_hospital_mortality_among.2.aspx



To identify the determinants of hospital mortality among patients with septic shock receiving appropriate initial antibiotic treatment. A retrospective cohort study of hospitalized patients with blood culture positive septic shock (January 2002–December 2007).



Impact of an intensive care unit diary on psychological distress in patients and relatives

Impact of an intensive care unit diary on psychological distress in patients and relatives. Critical care medicine, July 2012, Vol. 40(7), p.2033-2040.

Garrouste-Orgeas, M., et al.

http://journals.lww.com/ccmjournal/Abstract/2012/07000/Impact_of_an_intensive_care_unit_diary_on.4.aspx


To assess the impact of an intensive care unit diary on the psychological well-being of patients and relatives 3 and 12 months after intensive care unit discharge. Prospective single-center study with an intervention period between two control periods.

The top-cited clinical research articles on sepsis

The top-cited clinical research articles on sepsis: a bibliometric analysis.  Critical care 2012, Vol. 16: R110.


Tao, T., et al.


http://ccforum.com/content/16/3/R110/abstract


A comprehensive list of citation classics in sepsis was generated by searching the database of Web of Science-Expanded (1970 to present) using keywords "sepsis" or "septic shock". The top 50 cited clinical research papers were retrieved by reading the abstract or full text if needed. Each eligible article was reviewed for basic information, including countries of origin, article types, journals, authors and funding sources.

Down but not out: myocardial depression in sepsis

Down but not out: myocardial depression in sepsis.  Critical care 2012, Vol. 16: 132.

McClean, A.S.

Myocardial depression in septic patients is well recognized yet still poorly understood. The prognostic significance in terms of overall mortality when it is identified, remains in dispute. Parameters of left ventricular function measured by tissue Doppler imaging may assist in resolving whether dysfunction identified early in the course of sepsis is a good prognostic sign.

Should heparin-binding protein levels be routinely monitored in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock?

Should heparin-binding protein levels be routinely monitored in  patients with severe sepsis and septic shock?    Critical care, 2012, Vol. 16: 133

Mnull, H. and Onull, B.

Heparin-binding protein (HBP), also known as azurocidin, has multiple functions in the inflammatory process, especially during severe infections. Beside its antimicrobial properties, HBP may induce vascular leakage leading to extravascular efflux, which is an important pathophysiologic event in the development of septic shock. 

The relationship between delirium duration, white matter integrity and cognitive impairment in intensive care unit survivors

The relationship between delirium duration, white matter integrity and cognitive impairment in intensive care unit survivors as determined by diffusion tensor imaging. Critical care medicine, Vol. 40(7), p.2182-9.

Morandi, A., et al.

http://journals.lww.com/ccmjournal/Abstract/2012/07000/The_relationship_between_delirium_duration,_white.23.aspx

Evidence is emerging that delirium duration is a predictor of long-term cognitive impairment in intensive care unit survivors. Relationships between 1) delirium duration and brain white matter integrity, and 2) white matter integrity and long-term cognitive impairment are poorly understood and could be explored using magnetic resonance imaging.

A prospective analysis of lymphocyte phenotype and function over the course of acute sepsis

A prospective analysis of lymphocyte phenotype and function over the course of acute sepsis.  Critical care 2012, Vol. 16: R112.

Boomer, J.S., et al.

http://ccforum.com/content/16/3/R112/abstract

Severe sepsis is characterized by an initial hyper-inflammatory response that may progress to an immune-suppressed state associated with increased susceptibility to nosocomial infection. Analysis of samples obtained from patients that died of sepsis has identified expression of specific inhibitory receptors expressed on lymphocytes that are associated with cell exhaustion. The objective of this study was to prospectively determine the pattern of expression of these receptors and immune cell function in patients with acute sepsis.

The confusion assessment method for the Intensive Care Unit

The confusion assessment method for the Intensive Care Unit and intensive care delirium screening checklist for the diagnosis of delirium. Critical care 2012, Vol. 16: R115.


Gusmao-Flores, D., et al.


http://ccforum.com/content/16/4/R115/abstract

Delirium is a frequent form of acute brain dysfunction in critically ill patients, and several detection tools for it have been developed for use in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The objective of this study is to evaluate the current evidence on the accuracy of the Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU) and the Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (ICDSC) for the diagnosis of delirium in critically ill patients.

Early and simple detection of diastolic dysfunction during weaning from mechanical ventilation

Early and simple detection of diastolic dysfunction during weaning from mechanical ventilation. Critical care, July 2012, Vol. 16: 137.

Gnull, V.

Weaning from mechanical ventilation imposes additional work on the cardiovascular system and can provoke or unmask left ventricular diastolic dysfunction with consecutive pulmonary edema or systolic dysfunction with inadequate increase of cardiac output and unsuccessful weaning. Echocardiography, which is increasingly used for hemodynamic assessment of critically ill patients, allows differentiation between systolic and diastolic failure. For various reasons, transthoracic echocardiographic assessment was limited to patients with good echo visibility and to those with sinus rhythm without excessive tachycardia. In these patients, often selected after unsuccessful weaning, echocardiographic findings were predictive for weaning failure of cardiac origin. In some studies, patients with various degrees of systolic dysfunction were included, making evaluation of the diastolic dysfunction to the weaning failure even more difficult.