Poor outcome is associated with less negative fluid balance in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage treated with prophylactic vasopressor-induced hypertension.

Background: Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a serious condition associated with high mortality rates and long-term disability. We investigated the impact of fluid balance on neurologic outcome after adjustment for possible confounders related to intensive care therapy and extra-cerebral organ failure during the early phase after SAH.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we analyzed data from all 142 adult patients admitted to our university hospital surgical intensive care unit (ICU) with SAH between March 2004 and November 2010.

Adjuvant selenium supplementation in the form of sodium selenite in postoperative critically ill patients with severe sepsis.

Introduction: Plasma selenium (Se) concentrations are reduced in critically ill surgical patients, and lower plasma Se concentrations are associated with worse outcomes. We investigated whether adjuvant Se supplementation in the form of sodium selenite could improve outcomes in surgical patients with sepsis.

Methods: In this retrospective study, all adult patients admitted to a 50-bed surgical ICU with severe sepsis between January 2004 and April 2010 were included and analysed according to whether they had received adjuvant Se supplementation, which was given at the discretion of the attending physician.