Family presence during brain death evaluation

Family presence during brain death evaluation: A randomized controlled trial. Critical Care Medicine, April 2014, Vol. 42(4), p.934-42.

Tawil, I., et al.

http://journals.lww.com/ccmjournal/Abstract/2014/04000/Family_Presence_During_Brain_Death_Evaluation__A.21.aspx

To evaluate if a family presence educational intervention during brain death evaluation improves understanding of brain death without affecting psychological distress.

Psychological wellbeing, health related quality of life and memories of intensive care

Psychological wellbeing, health related quality of life and memories of intensive care and a specialised weaning centre reported by survivors of prolonged mechanical ventilation. Intensive and Critical Care Nursing, June 2014, Vol. 30(3), p.145-51.

Rose, L., et al.

http://www.intensivecriticalcarenursing.com/article/S0964-3397(13)00116-X/abstract?rss=yes

To compare memories and recall of intensive care unit and specialised weaning centre admission, characterise health-related quality of life and psychological morbidity, and examine the relationship between delusional memories and psychological outcomes.

Sedation and delirium in the intensive care unit

Sedation and delirium in the intensive care unit. Anaesthesia and intensive care medicine, 2013, 14:1

Porter, R. and McClure, J.

http://www.alfredicu.org.au/assets/Documents/Reserach-Docs/Full-Publications/2013-Publications/2013-PorterSedationAIC.PDF

Two decades of mortality trends among patients with severe sepsis

Two decades of mortality trends among patients with severe sepsis. Critical care medicine, March 2014, Vol. 42(3), p.625-31.

Stevenson, E.K., et al.

http://journals.lww.com/ccmjournal/Abstract/2014/03000/Two_Decades_of_Mortality_Trends_Among_Patients.16.aspx

We searched MEDLINE for multicenter randomized trials that enrolled patients with severe sepsis from 1991 to 2009. We calculated standardized mortality ratios for each trial from observed 28-day mortality of usual care participants and predicted mortality from severity-of-illness scores. To compare mortality trends from clinical trials to administrative data, we identified adult severe sepsis hospitalizations in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 1993–2009, using two previously validated algorithms.

Prevalence, risk factors and mortality for ventilator-associated pneumonia in middle-aged, old and very old critically ill patients

Prevalence, risk factors and mortality for ventilator-associated pneumonia in middle-aged, old and very old critically ill patients. Critical care medicine, March 2014, Vol. 42(3), p.601-09.

Blot, S., et al.

http://journals.lww.com/ccmjournal/Abstract/2014/03000/Prevalence,_Risk_Factors,_and_Mortality_for.13.aspx

We investigated the epidemiology of ventilator-associated pneumonia in elderly ICU patients. More precisely, we assessed prevalence, risk factors, signs and symptoms, causative bacterial pathogens, and associated outcomes.

Central venous catheter placement by advanced practice nurses demonstrates low procedural complication and infection rates

Central venous catheter placement by advanced practice nurses demonstrates low procedural complication and infection rates: A report from 13 years of service. Critical care medicine, March 2014, Vol. 42(3), p.536-43.

Alexandrou, E., et al.

http://journals.lww.com/ccmjournal/Abstract/2014/03000/Central_Venous_Catheter_Placement_by_Advanced.6.aspx

To report procedural characteristics and outcomes from a central venous catheter placement service operated by advanced practice nurses.

Impact of compliance with infection management guidelines on outcome in patients with severe sepsis

Impact of compliance with infection management guidelines on outcome in patients with severe sepsis: A prospective observational multi-center study. Critical care, 2014 18: R42.

Bloos, F., et al.

http://ccforum.com/content/18/2/R42/abstract

Current sepsis guidelines recommend antimicrobial treatment (AT) within one hour after onset of sepsis-related organ dysfunction (OD) and surgical source control within 12 hours. The objective of this study was to explore the association between initial infection management according to sepsis treatment recommendations and patient outcome.

Early mobilization of patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Early mobilization of patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: A retrospective cohort study. Critical care, 2014 18: R38

Abrams, D., et al.

http://ccforum.com/content/18/1/R38/abstract

Critical illness is a well-recognized cause of neuromuscular weakness and impaired physical functioning. Physical therapy (PT) has been demonstrated to be safe and effective for critically ill patients. The impact of such an intervention on patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has not been well characterized. We describe the feasibility and impact of active PT on ECMO patients.

Development of a simple score to predict outcome for unresponsive wakefulness syndrome

Development of a simple score to predict outcome for unresponsive wakefulness syndrome. Critical care 2014, 18: R37.  

Kang, X., et al.

http://ccforum.com/content/18/1/R37/abstract

Accurate assessment of prognosis for patients with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS; formerly vegetative state) may help clinicians and families guide the type and intensity of therapy; however, there is no suitable and accurate means to predict the outcome so far. We aimed to develop a simple bedside scoring system to predict the likelihood of awareness recovery in patients with UWS.

Patients' survival after surgery

Listen to the Lancet: Patients' survival after surgery.  Lancet, Feb 2014 [podcast]

http://feedly.com/index.html#subscription%2Ffeed%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fpodcast.thelancet.com%2Flancet.xml


Linda Aiken discusses the results of a European study that links nurses' workload and education to patients' survival after surgery.

Interventions to improve the physical function of ICU survivors

Interventions to improve the physical function of ICU survivors: A systematic review. Chest, 2013, Vol. 144(5), p.1469-80.

Calvo-Ayala, E., et al.

http://journal.publications.chestnet.org/article.aspx?articleid=1727081#Abstract

ICU admissions are ever increasing across the United States. Following critical illness, physical functioning (PF) may be impaired for up to 5 years. We performed a systematic review of randomized controlled trials evaluating the efficacy of interventions targeting PF among ICU survivors. The objective of this study was to identify effective interventions that improve long-term PF in ICU survivors.

Long-term cognitive impairment after critical illness

Long-term cognitive impairment after critical illness. New england journal of medicine 2013; 369:1306-1316.

Pandharipande, P.P., et al.

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1301372

Survivors of critical illness often have a prolonged and disabling form of cognitive impairment that remains inadequately characterized. We enrolled adults with respiratory failure or shock in the medical or surgical intensive care unit (ICU), evaluated them for in-hospital delirium, and assessed global cognition and executive function 3 and 12 months after discharge with the use of the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (population age-adjusted mean [±SD] score, 100±15, with lower values indicating worse global cognition) and the Trail Making Test, Part B (population age-, sex-, and education-adjusted mean score, 50±10, with lower scores indicating worse executive function).

Are the best patient outcomes achieved when ICU bundles are rigorously adhered to?

Point: Are the best patient outcomes achieved when ICU bundles are rigorously adhered to? Yes. Chest, 2013, Vol. 144(2), p.372-74.

Dellinger, R.P. and Townsend, S.R.

http://journal.publications.chestnet.org/article.aspx?articleid=1722640

CU bundles have emerged as important tools in addressing clinical health-care conditions with evidence-based medicine. An ICU bundle is a set of treatment goals (usually three to seven) that when grouped and achieved together over a finite time span are believed to promote optimum outcomes. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) has been one of the main proponents of the bundle concept. Bundle-based care is based on evidence-based medicine. Bundles exist for the prevention of surgical site- and catheter-associated central line infections as well as for the prevention of urinary tract infections, weaning from ventilation, promotion of palliative care, treatment of sepsis, and prevention of pressure ulcers. 

Persistent fever in the ICU

Persistent fever in the ICU. Chest, Jan 2014, Vol. 145(1), p.158-165.

Rehman, T. and deBoisblanc, B.P.

http://journal.publications.chestnet.org/article.aspx?articleid=1793890

Disorders of elevated body temperature may be classified as either fever or hyperthermia. Fever is caused by a pyrogen-mediated upward adjustment of the hypothalamic thermostat; hyperthermia results from a loss of physiologic control of temperature regulation. Fever in the ICU can be due to infectious or noninfectious causes. 

Survival of hemotological patients after discharge from the intensive care unit

Survival of hemotological patients after discharge from the intensive care unit: A prospective observational study. Critical care, 2013; 17 R:302

Bernal, T., et al.

http://ccforum.com/content/pdf/cc13172.pdf

Although the survival rates of hematological patients admitted to the ICU are improving, 
little is known about the long-term outcome. Our objective was to identify factors related to 
long-term outcome in hematological patients after ICU discharge.