Other bulletins in this series include:

Breast Surgery

Thursday 25 April 2013

Intensive care unit-acquired weakness

Intensive care unit-acquired weakness: clinical phenotypes and molecular mechanisms. American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine. February 2013, Vol. 187(3), p.238-46.

Batt, J. et al.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23204256?dopt=Abstract

Intensive care unit-acquired weakness begins within hours of mechanical ventilation and may not be completely reversible over time. It represents a major functional morbidity of critical illness and is an important patient-centered outcome with clear implications for quality of life and resumption of prior work and lifestyle.

Oxygen therapy in critical illness

Oxygen therapy in critical illness: precise control of arterial oxygenation and permissive hypoxemia. Critical care medicine, Feb 2013, Vol. 41(2), p.423-32.

Martin, D.S. and Grocott, M.P.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23263574?dopt=Abstract

The management of hypoxemia in critically ill patients is challenging. Whilst the harms of tissue hypoxia are well recognized, the possibility of harm from excess oxygen administration, or other interventions targeted at mitigating hypoxemia, may be inadequately appreciated. The benefits of attempting to fully reverse arterial hypoxemia may be outweighed by the harms associated with high concentrations of supplemental oxygen and invasive mechanical ventilation strategies. We propose two novel related strategies for the management of hypoxemia in critically ill patients. 

Toothbrushing for critically ill mechanically ventilated patients

Toothbrushing for critically ill mechanically ventilated patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials evaluating ventilator-associated pneumonia.  Critical care medicine, Feb 2013, Vol. 41(2), p.646-55.

Alhazzani, W. et al.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23263588?dopt=Abstract

Oral care may decrease ventilator-associated pneumonia in the ICU. The objective of this review was to summarize and critically appraise randomized trials in mechanically ventilated patients in the ICU testing the effect of oral care strategies involving toothbrushing on ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Surviving sepsis campaign

Surviving sepsis campaign: International guidelines for management of severe sepsis and septic shock. Critical care medicine, Feb 2013, Vol. 41(2); p.580-637.

Dellinger, R.P., et al.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23353941?dopt=Abstract

Objective: To provide an update to the "Surviving Sepsis Campaign Guidelines for Management of Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock," last published in 2008.