Palatability of a novel oral formulation of prednisone in healthy young adults.

Objectives: Prednisone is a widely used anti-inflammatory for a variety of conditions. While oral liquid formulations of prednisone enable weight-based dosing, children frequently find them to be objectionable due to bitter taste. This limitation of prednisone can adversely impact patient acceptance and may result in non-compliance.

Use of a nursing checklist to facilitate implementation of therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest.

Therapeutic hypothermia has become a widely accepted intervention that is improving neurological outcomes following return of spontaneous circulation after cardiac arrest. This intervention is highly complex but infrequently used, and prompt implementation of the many steps involved, especially achieving the target body temperature, can be difficult. A checklist was introduced to guide nurses in implementing the therapeutic hypothermia protocol during the different phases of the intervention (initiation, maintenance, rewarming, and normothermia) in an intensive care unit.

Transesophageal Doppler measurement of renal arterial blood flow velocities and indices in children.

Background: Doppler-derived renal blood flow indices have been used to assess renal pathologies. However, transesophageal ultrasonography (TEE) has not been previously used to assess these renal variables in pediatric patients. In this study, we (a) assessed whether TEE allows adequate visualization of the renal parenchyma and renal artery, and (b) evaluated the concordance of TEE Doppler-derived renal blood flow measurements/indices compared with a standard transabdominal renal ultrasound (TAU) in children.

Evaluation of a local ICU sedation guideline on goal-directed administration of sedatives and analgesics.

Purpose: Sedatives and analgesics are commonly used in mechanically ventilated patients in the intensive care unit. Sedation guidelines have been shown to improve sedation management as well as various patient outcomes. The main objective was to evaluate adherence to a sedation guideline with both sedative prescribing and documentation of Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) scores.

Implementation of a Hospital-wide Protocol for Induced Hypothermia Following Successfully Resuscitated Cardiac Arrest.

Permanent neurologic impairment following cardiac arrest is often severely debilitating, even after successful resuscitation. Therapeutic hypothermia decreases anoxic brain injury and subsequent cognitive deficits. Current practice guidelines recommend therapeutic hypothermia in comatose survivors of cardiac arrest.