Pathophysiology and management of abdominal compartment syndrome Jeffrey Walker Abdominal compartment syndrome is a potentially lethal condition caused by any event that produces intra-abdominal hypertension; the most common cause is blunt abdominal trauma. Increasing intra-abdominal pressure causes progressive hypoperfusion and ischemia of the intestines and other peritoneal and retroperitoneal structures. Pathophysiological effects include release of […]
Category: American Journal of Critical Care
Evidence-based practice: use of the ventilator bundle to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia Arlene F. Tolentino-DelosReyes * PURPOSE To examine critical care nurses’ knowledge about the use of the ventilator bundle to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia. * METHOD Published reports were reviewed for current evidence on the use of the ventilator bundle to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia, and education […]
Family experiences participating in the process of withdrawal of Life-Sustaining Therapy Wiegand D. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the experience of families participating in the process of withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy (LST) from a family member with an unexpected, life-threatening illness or injury. Background/Significance: There is an increasing incidence of withdrawal […]
Oral care interventions in critical care: frequency and documentation – a survey of oral care practices for reducing dental plaque, oral colonization, and ventilator-associated pneumonia in critically ill patients Mary Jo Grap * BACKGROUND No data have been collected to describe the products, methods, and frequency of oral care needed to reduce dental plaque, oral […]
The United States healthcare crisis: using our bold voices to effect change – Editorial Kathleen Dracup Baseball season is upon us. This may seem an incongruous beginning for an editorial on critical care issues. It is even more incongruous given that one of us (CBB) grew up in a world of cricket where games were […]
The use of isolation precautions in cardiac transplant recipients – Poster Abstracts – Author Abstract D Dietrich Purpose: The objective of this study was to describe the use of strict isolation protocols versus the use of standard universal precautions in transplant centers nationwide. Background/Significance: Previous research has shown little difference in infection rates of cardiac […]
Acute care nurse practitional practice: results of a 5-year longitudinal study Ruth M. Kleinpell The role of acute care nurse practitioners (ACNPs) has developed in capacity. More than 3500 advanced practice nurses have been certified as ACNPs, and the number of practice settings where these professionals work is continually expanding. Beginning in 1996, a series […]
Clinical utility of blood cultures drawn from central vein catheters and peripheral venipuncture in critically ill medical patients – Poster Abstracts – Author Abstract D Prentice Purpose: To determine the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of blood cultures obtained through a central vein catheter compared with peripheral venipuncture. Background/Significance: Bloodstream infections (BSI) […]
Procrastination is the thief of time : surviving guidelines Christopher W. Bryan-Brown The title of this editorial is the first line of a Shakespearean-style sonnet, penned (the author more accurately stated, “penciled”) by a young schoolboy as a punishment for being late. The author later became a professor of poetry at both Cornell and Oxford […]