Critical Care News and Research

RSS

Manning ICU with 24-hour specialist staff does not improve long-term survival

Having round-the-clock rather than on-demand presence of an intensivist does not increase intensive care unit patients’ long-term survival rates, report US researchers.

6 Aug 2012

‘Fifth link’ improves outcomes after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

Neurologic outcomes for survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest are significantly improved after implementation of the 2010 American Heart Association's fifth link in the chain-of-survival concept for postresuscitation care, show Japanese study results.

3 Aug 2012

Hypoxic lung environment increases HIF-2a tumor growth signaling

In addition to the well-known risk factor of smoking, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) increases lung cancer risk.

25 Jul 2012

FDA approves Forest Laboratories’ Tudorza Pressair to treat COPD

Forest Laboratories, Inc. and Almirall, S.A. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium bromide inhalation powder) for the long-term maintenance treatment of bronchospasm associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

24 Jul 2012

Vitamin D might modify damaging effects of smoking on lung function

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with worse lung function and more rapid decline in lung function over time in smokers, suggesting that vitamin D may have a protective effect against the effects of smoking on lung function, according to a new study from researchers in Boston.

21 Jul 2012

CPAP benefits extend to mild OSA patients

The use of continuous positive airway pressure treatment, an effective option for severe obstructive sleep apnea, should be extended to sleepy patients with milder OSA, say US researchers.

20 Jul 2012

Alcohol abuse spills over into critical care resources

A quarter of patients admitted to intensive care units in Scotland have alcohol problems, while a fifth have chronic alcohol disease, a survey finds.

20 Jul 2012

CPAP effectively reduces symptoms and improves QOL in sleepy patients with milder OSA

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), well established as an effective treatment for severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), is also effective in patients with mild and moderately severe OSA and daytime sleepiness, according to a new study.

20 Jul 2012

Vitamin D may modify damaging effects of smoking on lung function

20 Jul 2012

Study gauges depression among spouses of severe-sepsis survivors

Severe sepsis, a body's dangerous defensive response against an infection, not only diminishes the quality of life for patients - it puts their spouses at a greater risk of depression, a joint University of Michigan Health System and University of Washington School of Medicine study shows.

19 Jul 2012

PPAHS releases safety checklist that targets Patient-Controlled Analgesia

The Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety (PPAHS), an advocacy group devoted to improving patient health and safety, today announced the release of a concise checklist that reminds caregivers of the essential steps needed to be taken to initiate Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA) with a patient and to continue to assess that patient's use of PCA.

18 Jul 2012

Specific therapy may cut pneumonia mortality in HIV babies

The high mortality rate associated with acute severe pneumonia-related respiratory failure in infants exposed to or infected with HIV can be reduced to 30% if a treatment plan involving antibiotics, ventilation, and fluid restriction is used, researchers report.

17 Jul 2012

Vitamin D deficiency may impair lung function in asthmatic children treated with budesonide

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with poorer lung function in asthmatic children treated with inhaled corticosteroids, according to a new study from researchers in Boston.

14 Jul 2012

Physicians strongly support positive clinical and social impact of using robots in ICUs

Remote presence robots are used in intensive care units (ICUs) to help critical care physicians supplement on-site patient visits and maintain more frequent patient interactions. Physicians who employ this technology to supplement day-to-day patient care strongly support the positive clinical and social impact of using robots, according to a report published in Telemedicine and e-Health, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

11 Jul 2012

Alcohol has toxic effect on critical care services

Alcohol may account for more than one in 10 emergency department admissions, a study from the UK suggests.

10 Jul 2012

Critical care needs high in childhood stroke

Children with stroke frequently require admission to the intensive care unit, show findings from a population-based study.

9 Jul 2012

New hemoglobin monitoring system for anemia screening introduced by OrSense Ltd.

OrSense Ltd., developer of monitors for non-invasive measurements of various blood parameters, introduced today at the 32nd International Congress of the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT), in Cancun, Mexico, GlasswingTM, its next-generation, wireless, non-invasive hemoglobin (Hb) measurement system for anemia monitoring, hemorrhage detection and pre-donation screening.

9 Jul 2012

OrSense launches Glasswing for anemia monitoring and hemorrhage detection

OrSense Ltd., developer of monitors for non-invasive measurements of various blood parameters, introduced today at the 32nd International Congress of the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT), in Cancun, Mexico, Glasswing, its next-generation, wireless, non-invasive hemoglobin (Hb) measurement system for anemia monitoring, hemorrhage detection and pre-donation screening.

9 Jul 2012

ImaCor releases Zura EVO ultrasound system

ImaCor Inc., the pioneer of the world's only hemodynamic transesophageal echocardiography (hTEE) management device, today released the Zura EVO ultrasound system.

9 Jul 2012

New vaccine candidate against leading cause of hospital-acquired infections

Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) have discovered a new vaccine candidate for the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa taking advantage of a new mechanism of immunity.

7 Jul 2012