Other bulletins in this series include:

Breast Surgery

Monday 29 April 2013

Mortality and quality of life in the five years after severe sepsis

Mortality and quality of life in the five years after severe sepsis. Critical care, 2013, 17: R70.

Cuthbertson, B.H., et al.

http://ccforum.com/content/17/2/R70/abstract

Severe sepsis is associated with high levels of morbidity and mortality placing a high burden on healthcare resources. We aimed to study outcomes in the 5 years after severe sepsis.

Decreasing severe pain and serious adverse events while moving intensive care unit patients

Decreasing severe pain and serious adverse events while moving intensive care unit patients: a prospective interventional study. Critical care, 2013, 17: R74.

de Jong, A., et al.

http://ccforum.com/content/17/2/R74/abstract

A quality-improvement project was conducted to reduce severe pain and stress-related events while moving ICU-patients. The Plan-Do-Check-Adjust cycle was studied during four one-month phases, separated by five-month interphases. All consecutive patients staying more than 24 hours were evaluated every morning while being moved for nursing care (bathing, massage, sheet-change, repositioning). 


A comparative study of varying doses of enoxaparin for thromboprophylaxis in critically ill patients

A comparative study of varying doses of enoxaparin for thromboprophylaxis  in critically ill patients: double-blinded, randomised controlled trial.  Critical care, 2013, 17: R75.

Robinson, S., et al.

http://ccforum.com/content/17/2/R75/abstract

Critically ill patients are predisposed to venous thromboembolism. We hypothesized that higher doses of enoxaparin would improve thromboprophylaxis without increasing the risk of bleeding. 

The effects of the semirecumbent position on hemodynamic status in patients on invasive mechanical ventilation

The effects of the semirecumbent position on hemodynamic status in patients on invasive mechanical ventilation: prospective randomized multivariable analysis. Critical care 2013, 17: R80.

Gocze, I., et al.

http://ccforum.com/content/17/2/R80/abstract

Adopting the 45degrees semirecumbent position in mechanically ventilated critically ill patients is recommended, as it has been shown to reduce the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia. Although the benefits to the respiratory system are clear, it is not known whether elevating the head of the bed results in hemodynamic instability.