Critical Care Alert – February 1, 2014

February 1, 2014

• How Should the Respiratory Muscles be Managed During Critical Illness?

  Despite intense research on respiratory muscle physiology and patient-ventilator interfacing, this knowledge has not been integrated into a comprehensive approach toward managing the respiratory muscles in critical illness. This special feature describes the complex array of issues complicating such an endeavor.

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• A Worldwide Assessment of Procedure-Related Pain Intensity and Distress in ICU Patients

  Results from a large, multinational study indicate that ICU patients worldwide experience moderately intense pain, most commonly from chest tube removal, wound drain removal, and arterial line insertion.

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• Futile Care in the ICU: Prevalence, Risk Factors, Costs

  This prospective, single-center study reported that critical care perceived to be futile is common, is associated with certain patient factors, and can be quite costly.

  Read more about Futile Care in the ICU: Prevalence, Risk Factors, Costs - Critical Care Alert – February 1, 2014