BACKGROUND Improvement of appropriate bed use and access to intensive care (ICU) beds is essential in optimizing utilization of ICU capacity. The introduction of an intermediate care unit (IMC) integrated in the ICU care may improve this utilization. METHOD In a before-after prospective intervention study in a university hospital mixed ICU, the impact of introducing a six-bed mixed IMC unit s...

INTRODUCTION Low plasma glutamine concentration at ICU admission is associated with unfavorable outcomes. The prediction of plasma glutamine concentration after ICU discharge on outcomes has not been characterized. In the recent Scandinavian Glutamine Trial, a survival advantage was seen with glutamine supplementation as long as patients stayed in the ICU. It was therefore hypothesized that the...

A meta-analysis of parenteral fish oil in 23 studies in intensive care unit (ICU) and non-ICU patients reported a reduced infection rate (significant in ICU patients) and shorter lengths of ICU and hospital stays (both non-ICU and ICU patients). Parenteral fish oil reduced inflammation and improved oxygenation index and liver function. The findings of the meta-analysis are discussed in this rep...

INTRODUCTION Although sodium disturbances are common in hospitalised patients, few studies have specifically investigated the epidemiology of sodium disturbances in the intensive care unit (ICU). The objectives of this study were to describe the incidence of ICU-acquired hyponatraemia and hypernatraemia and assess their effects on outcome in the ICU. METHODS We identified 8142 consecutive adu...

BACKGROUND Despite increasing attention on reducing relatively costly hospital practices while maintaining the quality of care, few studies have examined how hospitals use the intensive care unit (ICU), a high-cost setting, for patients admitted with heart failure (HF). We characterized hospital patterns of ICU admission for patients with HF and determined their association with the use of ICU-...

INTRODUCTION Critical hospital resources, especially the demand for ICU beds, are usually limited following mass casualty incidents such as suicide bombing attacks (SBA). Our primary objective was to identify easily diagnosed external signs of injury that will serve as indicators of the need for ICU admission. Our secondary objective was to analyze under- and over-triage following suicidal bomb...

Neurointensivist, Neuro/Cardio ICU, Hospital Espanhol, Salvador BA, Brazil; Chief, Neurology Department, Hospital São Rafael, Salvador BA, Brazil; Coordinator, Adult ICU, Hospital Santo Amaro, José Oliveira Foundation, Salvador BA, Brazil; Chief, Neurology Department and Neuro/cardio ICU, Hospital Espanhol, Salvador BA, Brazil; Coordinator, Adult ICU, Hospital da Cidade, Salvador BA, Brazil; Su...