Critical Care Alert – January 1, 2023

Patients with Solid Tumors Admitted with Septic Shock: Outcomes and Mortality Predictors

The presence of metastatic disease, respiratory failure, elevated lactate levels, and poor prior performance scores were independent predictors of mortality in patients with solid tumors admitted with septic shock.

Does Surviving an ECMO Stay Put Patients at Greater Risk for Mental Health Problems?

Survivors of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) have a modest increase in risk of new mental health diagnoses after discharge compared with intensive care unit survivors who do not undergo ECMO.

Does Selective Decontamination of the Digestive Tract Reduce In-Hospital Mortality in Critically Ill Adults?

The SuDDICU randomized controlled trial of Australian patients found that selective decontamination of the digestive tract (SDD) did not significantly decrease in-hospital mortality, although the confidence interval around the effect estimate includes a clinically important benefit. In a separate systematic review and meta-analysis that included 32 randomized trials and 24,389 participants, SDD was associated with reduced hospital mortality compared with standard care.

2022-2023: A Severe Season for Respiratory Syncytial Virus

The 2022-2023 northern hemisphere respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season began with fury, crowding hospitals and making many young children extremely ill. Meanwhile, advancing research points to potential means of better preventing RSV infection.