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Vol 15 No. 2
March/April 2008
Index Nos
15/015 - 15/028
A current awareness journal for intensivists     
2003 ISSUE
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March/April 2008
CARDIOVASCULAR
The following papers have been extracted and commented upon:
Diaz R, Goyal A, Mehta SR et al. Glucose-insulin-potassium therapy in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. JAMA 2007; 298: 23992405.
Evidence Level: II
McMurray JJV, Teerlink JR, Cotter G et al. Effects of tezosentan on symptoms and clinical outcomes in patients with acute heart failure: the VERITAS randomized controlled trials. JAMA 2007; 298: 20092019.
Evidence Level: II
ICM RECOMMENDED REVIEW PAPER
Tapson VF. Acute pulmonary embolism. N Engl J Med 2008;358:1037-1052. 98 references.
END OF LIFE
ICM RECOMMENDED REVIEW PAPERS
Qaseem A, Snow V, Shekelle P, Casey Jr DE, Cross JT, Owens DK for the Clinical Efficacy Assessment Subcommitttee of the American College of Physicians. Evidence-based interventions to improve the palliative care of pain, dyspnea, and depression at the end of life: A clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med 2008;148:141-146. 54 references.
Lorenz KA, Lynn J, Dy SM et al. Evidence for improving palliative care at the end of life: A systematic review. Ann Intern Med 2008;148:147-149. 152 references.
Goldstein NE, Fischberg D. Update in palliative medicine. Ann Intern Med 2008;148:135-140. 23 references.
GASTROINTESTINAL
The following paper has been extracted and commented upon:
Hickson M, D'Souza AL, Muthu N et al. Use of probiotic Lactobacillus preparation to prevent diarrhoea associated with antibiotics: randomised double blind placebo controlled trial. BMJ 2007; 335: 80-85.
'Hot' topic
Evidence Level: II
ICM RECOMMENDED REVIEW PAPER
Frossard J-L, Steer ML, Pastor CM. Acute pancreatitis. Lancet 2008;371:143-152. 126 references.
HEPATOLOGY
ICM RECOMMENDED REVIEW PAPER
Stravitz RT, Kramer AH, Davern T et al. Intensive care of patients with acute liver failure: Recommendations of the U.S. Acute Liver Failure Study Group. Crit Care Med 2007;35:2498-2508. 136 references.
METABOLISM
ICM RECOMMENDED REVIEW PAPER
Kitabchi AE, Freire AX, Umpierrez GE. Evidence for strict inpatient blood glucose control: time to revise glycemic goals in hospitalized patients. Metabol Clin Experimental 2008;57:116-120. 44 references.
NEUROLOGY
ICM RECOMMENDED REVIEW PAPERS
Sendi P, Bregenzer T, Zimmerli W. Spinal epidural in clinical practice. Q J Med 2008;101:1-12. 88 references.
Logan SAE, MacMahon E. Viral meningitis. BMJ 2008; 336:36-40. 30 references.
ORGANIZATION
ICM RECOMMENDED REVIEW PAPER
Towey RM, Ojara S. Intensive care in the developing world. Anaesthesia 2007;62(Suppl. 1):32-37. 31 references.
OUTCOME
The following paper has been extracted and commented upon:
Garnacho-Montero J, Ortiz-Leyba C, Herrera-Melero I et al. Mortality and morbidity attributable to inadequate empirical antimicrobial therapy in patients admitted to the ICU with sepsis: a matched cohort study. J Antimicrob Chemother 2008; 61: 436441.
Evidence Level: III
ICM RECOMMENDED REVIEW PAPER
Stroebe M, Schut H, Stroebe W. Health outcomes of bereavement. Lancet 2007;370:1960-1973. 187 references.
PAEDIATRIC
The following paper has been extracted and commented upon:
Duffett M, Choong K, Ng V, Randolph A, Cook DJ.Surfactant therapy for acute respiratory failure in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Crit Care 2007: 11: R66 (doi:10.1186/cc5944)
Level 1 paper
Evidence Level: I
RENAL
The following papers have been extracted and commented upon:
Kheterpal S, Tremper KK, Englesbe MJ et al. Predictors of postoperative acute renal failure after noncardiac surgery in patients with previously normal renal function. Anesthesiology 2007; 107: 892902.
Evidence Level: IV
Kelly AM, Dwamena B, Cronin P, Bernstein SJ, Carlos RC. Meta-analysis: effectiveness of drugs for preventing contrast-induced nephropathy. Ann Intern Med 2008; 148: 284294.
Level 1 paper
Evidence Level: I
RESPIRATORY
The following papers have been extracted and commented upon:
Lorente L, Lecuona M, Jimnez A et al. Influence of an endotracheal tube with polyurethane cuff and subglottic secretion drainage on pneumonia. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2007;176:1079-1083.
Evidence Level: II
Meersseman W, Lagrou K, Maertens J et al. Galactomannan in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid. A tool for diagnosing aspergillosis in intensive care unit patients. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2008;177:2734.
Bright idea
Evidence Level: III
ICM RECOMMENDED REVIEW PAPERS
Mazzulli T. Value of RVP in clinical settings: intensive care. J Clin Virol 2007;40:S55-S57. 19 references.
Writing Committee of the Second World Health Organization Consultation on Clinical Aspects of Human Infection with Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus. Update on avian influenza (H5N1) virus infection in humans. N Engl J Med 2008; 358:261-273. 76 references.
Muscarella LF. Reassessment of the risk of healthcare-acquired infection during rigid laryngoscopy. J Hosp Infection 2008;68:101-107. 55 references.
SEPSIS
The following papers have been extracted and commented upon:
Dellinger RP, Levy MM, Carlet JM et al; for the International Surviving Sepsis Campaign Guidelines Committee. Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International guidelines for management of severe sepsis and septic shock: 2008 Crit Care Med 2008;36:296327. Also published in Intensive Care Med 2008;34:17-60.
Evidence Level: V
Anthony KB, Fishman NO, Linkin DR, Gasink LB, Edelstein PH, Lautenbach E. Clinical and microbiological outcomes of serious infections with multidrug-resistant Gram-negative organisms treated with tigecycline. Clin Infect Dis 2008; 46: 567570.
Evidence Level: IV
Kim S-H, Kim K-H, Kim H-B et al. Outcome of vancomycin treatment in patients with methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia. Antimicrobial Agents Chemother 2008; 52: 192197.
Could change clinical practice
Evidence Level: III
Trautmann M, Pollitt A, Loh U et al. Implementation of an intensified infection control program to reduce MRSA transmissions in a German tertiary care hospital. Am J Infect Control 2007; 35: 643-649.
Could change clinical practice
Evidence Level: IV
Pashman J, Bradley EH, Wang H, Higa B, Fu M, Dembry LM. Promotion of hand hygiene techniques through use of a surveillance tool. J Hosp Infect 2007; 66: 249254.
Evidence Level: V
ICM RECOMMENDED REVIEW PAPERS
Dancer SJ. The effect of antibiotics on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. J Antimicrob Chemother 2008; 61:246-253. 88 references.
Rice LB. The Maxwell Finland Lecture: For the duration rational antibiotic administration in an era of antimicrobial resistance and Clostridium difficile. Clin Infect Dis 2008; 46:491-496. 32 references.
Sax H, Allegranzi B, Ukay I, Larson E, Boyce J, Pittet D. My five moments for hand hygiene: a user-centred design approach to understand, train, monitor and report hand hygiene. J Hosp Infection 2007;67:9-21. 72 references.
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