BACKGROUND Quantitative studies have demonstrated several factors predictive of readmissions to intensive care. Clinical decision tools, derived from these factors have failed to reduce readmission rates. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively explore the experiences and perceptions of physicians and nurses to gain more insight into intensive care readmissions. METHODS Semi-structured...

Critical care patients benefit from the attention of nursing personnel with a high competence level. The aim of the study was to describe and evaluate the self-assessed basic competence of intensive care unit nurses and related factors. A cross-sectional survey design was used. A basic competence scale (Intensive and Critical Care Nursing Competence Scale version 1, Likert scale 1-5, 1 = poor a...

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to determine the validity and reliability of the Thai version of the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU), when compared to the diagnoses made by delirium experts. PATIENTS AND METHODS This was a cross-sectional study conducted in both surgical intensive care and subintensive care units in Thailand between February-June 2011. ...

    Background: Malnutrition has been linked to poor outcomes after elective joint arthroplasty, but the risk of unplanned postoperative intensive care unit (ICU) admission in malnourished arthroplasty patients is unknown. Methods: 1098 patients were followed as part of a prospective risk stratification program at a tertiary, high-volume arthroplasty center. Chronic malnutrition was defined as ...

Introduction Sedation is used almost universally in the care of Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The action and side-effects of intravenous drugs in the severely ill patient population of an ICU are difficult to control. The AnestheticConserving Device (AnaConDa) can be used to administer inhaled anesthetics using an ICU ventilator. Inhaled sedation is efficient and easily controllable; in low concen...

Health care facilities in India are either privately run institutions or publicly funded. Most intensive care unit (ICU) beds in India are in private hospitals. The relatively few ICU beds in public hospitals, which offer free treatment, constitute approximately 10% of the critical care facilities in India. Health insurance and social security are almost nonexistent, and 57.6% of the total heal...