Intensive Care News and Research

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Connecticut Children's Hospital and Specialty Group terminate contracts with Anthem

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem) has been in discussions with Connecticut Children's Medical Center (the Hospital) and Connecticut Children's Specialty Group (the Specialty Group) for a year to continue them in our network. We recognize the Hospital and Specialty Group are important to our members and their children.

16 Apr 2012

U.S. spends more on cancer care, but gains time in return

A new analysis published in Health Affairs found that American cancer patients lived almost two years longer than those in 10 European countries -- leading the researchers to say that the additional expense is worth it.

12 Apr 2012

Nursing research news from Johns Hopkins

Two decades ago, the landmark Cruzan decision catalyzed individual thinking, policy discussions and lawmaking about advance care directives and choices.

7 Apr 2012

Viewpoints: Support for drug benefit merger; Health reform comes too slowly for some patients; Pinpointing Romney's views on mandate

It seems counterintuitive, but the Federal Trade Commission has just decided that a $29 billion merger of two of the three largest companies that manage pharmaceutical benefits for employers and health plans -; Express Scripts and Medco Health Solutions -; would not substantially lessen competition. That judgment deserves credence because of the thoroughness of the F.T.C.'s eight-month inquiry and the willingness of the agency to oppose other mergers when the evidence warrants.

6 Apr 2012

MEDNAX acquires Burlington Anesthesia

MEDNAX, Inc., today announced the acquisition of Burlington Anesthesia PLLC, a physician group practice that provides anesthesia services in Burlington, N.C. and Farhouch Berdjis MD Medical Corp (FBMC), a pediatric cardiology practice in Orange, Calif.

6 Apr 2012

Scientists image process of consciousness after general anesthesia

Awakening from anesthesia is often associated with an initial phase of delirious struggle before the full restoration of awareness and orientation to one's surroundings. Scientists now know why this may occur: primitive consciousness emerges first. Using brain imaging techniques in healthy volunteers, a team of scientists led by Adjunct Professor Harry Scheinin, M.D. from the University of Turku, Turku, Finland in collaboration with investigators from the University of California, Irvine, USA, have now imaged the process of returning consciousness after general anesthesia.

5 Apr 2012

Vitamin D deficiency may increase risk of mortality in intensive care patients

Scientists have long believed that vitamin D, which is naturally absorbed from sunlight, has an important role in the functioning of the body's autoimmune system. Now Prof. Howard Amital of Tel Aviv University's Sackler Faculty of Medicine and Sheba Medical Center has discovered that the vitamin may also affect the outcomes of patients in intensive care.

4 Apr 2012

Moderate caloric intake may reduce risk of obesity in low-birth weight offspring

Babies who are born small have a tendency to put on weight during childhood and adolescence if allowed free access to calories. However, a new animal model study at UCLA found when small babies were placed on a diet of moderately regulated calories during infancy, the propensity of becoming obese decreased.

3 Apr 2012

Positive outcome from AiCuris’ Letermovir phase 2b trial on HCMV infections

AiCuris announced today that data on the positive outcome of Letermovir (AIC246) tested in a phase 2b trial in transplant patients will be disclosed at several international meetings on behalf of the AIC246 study team.

3 Apr 2012

Medicaid long-term care restrictions tighten

The Wall Street Journal offers tips on how to preserve some assets while attempting to qualify for Medicaid assistance.

2 Apr 2012

Johns Hopkins Hospital's new home to open on May 1

The Johns Hopkins Hospital's new home, set to open on May 1, will redefine the very essence of the hospital experience, and cutting-edge technology designed to improve care, streamline workflow and encourage efficiencies will play a central role.

31 Mar 2012

Paramedics are probably right when they suspect strokes

If a paramedic suspects a patient is having a stroke, the paramedic is probably right, a Loyola University Medical Center study has found.

29 Mar 2012

Adjusting ventilator to keep breath size and lung pressures lower can reduce death from lung injury

Carefully adjusting mechanical ventilator settings in the intensive care unit to pump smaller breaths into very sick lungs can reduce the chances of dying by as much as 8 percent, according to a study by critical care experts at Johns Hopkins. Study participants were evaluated for two years after their acute lung injury.

28 Mar 2012

Viewpoints: Opposition from the right weakening support for Ryan's budget plan; Doctors need to confront overweight patients

It's no surprise that the White House has denounced Paul Ryan's new House budget as the end of welfare-state civilization. The puzzle is why some conservatives are taking shots at the best chance in decades for serious government reform.

28 Mar 2012

New analytical method predicts maturity in premature infants

Late gestation is a busy time for babies getting ready for life outside the womb, particularly for functions critical to life such as breathing and maintaining an adequate heartbeat. These two functions are connected in mature infants and healthy people throughout life, so measuring their level of connectedness can give doctors a cue about whether an infant is ready to head home or needs to remain in the care of the neonatal intensive care unit.

27 Mar 2012

Dick Cheney’s heart transplant success at 71

Former vice president Dick Cheney, at 71, who has survived five heart attacks and years of heart failure, is recuperating in intensive care at a Northern Virginia hospital after undergoing a heart transplant Saturday. He had been on the waiting list for 20 months.

26 Mar 2012

Results from Merck's vorapaxar study on cardiovascular events

Researchers today presented and published results from the TRA-2P (Thrombin-Receptor Antagonist in Secondary Prevention of Atherothrombotic Ischemic Events) TIMI 50 study of vorapaxar, Merck's investigational anti-thrombotic medicine, in patients with a prior history of cardiovascular events or disease.

26 Mar 2012

Former premature infants to celebrate 25th anniversary of LUHS' NICU on March 20

Former premature infants will return to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Loyola University Health System's (LUHS) neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 20. These patients are among the more than 18,000 infants who have been cared for by LUHS doctors and nurses since the unit opened its doors in 1987.

20 Mar 2012

Winnie Palmer Hospital plans to expand neonatal intensive care unit

Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies is announcing plans to expand its neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The $13 million expansion will add 30 beds to the unit, making it the largest NICU in the United States.