BACKGROUND AND THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY sepsis is one of the most widespread and lethal disease in Intensive Care Units (ICU). Based on pathophisyology of sepsis, it seems that routine laboratory tests combined with analysis of pro-inflammatory cytokines plasma levels, help clinicians to have more information about disease progress and its correct management. METHODS This was a prospective ob...

To explore dynamic changes and clinical significance of serum IMD and PCT in patients with acute pancreatitis. According to acute pancreatitis guide, patients with acute pancreatitis were divided into mild acute pancreatitis (MAP group, n = 60) and severe acute pancreatitis (SAP group, n = 30). Serum IMD and serum PCT contents in MAP group and SAP group were detected in 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 h...

BACKGROUND The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is popular, simple, and reliable, and provides information about the level of consciousness in trauma patients. However, a systemic evaluation scale specially in patients with multiple trauma is so important. The revised Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation system type 2 (APACHE II) is a physiologically based system including physiological varia...

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to explore the predictive factors for mortality in primary septicemia or wound infections caused by Vibrio vulnificus. METHODS A retrospective review of 90 patients 18 years and older who were hospitalized due to V vulnificus infection between January 2000 and December 2006 was performed. Clinical characteristics, laboratory studies, treatments, and ou...

OBJECTIVE Argatroban, a direct thrombin inhibitor, was evaluated for anticoagulation in continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) in critically ill patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia type II and acute renal failure. The investigation focused on predictors for the maintenance doses of argatroban with efficacy and safety of argatroban being secondary outcomes. DESIGN Prospective, ...

We evaluated the reliability and efficiency of an automated system for calculating APACHE II scores. We imported an automated APACHE II scoring system developed at another institution. We scored a convenience sample of 50 consecutive intensive care unit (ICU) admissions using three methods: (1) the automated system (2) an expert scorer using a manual data abstraction method, and (3) the current...

OBJECTIVE To determine the efficacy of the Mortality in Emergency Department Sepsis (MEDS) score in the stratification of patients who presented to the emergency department (ED) with severe sepsis. METHODS Adults who presented to the ED with severe sepsis were retrospectively recruited and divided into group A (MEDS score <12) and group B (MEDS score > or =12). Their outcomes were evaluated w...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the clinical characteristics and costs incurred for patients who stayed for a prolonged period in a surgical intensive care unit (ICU). DESIGN AND METHODS Data of all patients admitted to a surgical ICU in Barbados during the period of two years from July 1999 to June 2001 were prospectively collected. Demographic data, diagnoses on admission and Acute Physiology and Chr...

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To assess morbidity and mortality as well as to prognosticate the patients by using SOFA and APACHE II scores of patients with sepsis, severe sepsis and multi-organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in rural setup ICU. MATERIAL AND METHODOLOGY We carried out prospective study on patients with sepsis as per ACCP guidelines and analysed their clinical and microbiological profile. ...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES To identify the severity of elderly patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) in a university hospital, relating it to the in-ICU mortality. METHODS Retrospective study, with analysis of 130 patients admitted to ICU from March 2004 to July 2005. RESULTS Of the 130 patients, there was a predominance of women, and mean 72.2 ± 7.3 years. There were more patie...