Digital Action Plan (Web App) for Managing Asthma Exacerbations: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: A written action plan (WAP) for managing asthma exacerbations is recommended.

Objective: We aimed to compare the effect on unscheduled medical contacts (UMCs) of a digital action plan (DAP) accessed via a smartphone web app combined with a WAP on paper versus that of the same WAP alone.

Methods: This randomized, unblinded, multicenter (offline recruitment in private offices and public hospitals), and parallel-group trial included children (aged 6-12 years) or adults (aged 18-60 years) with asthma who had experienced at least 1 severe exacerbation in the previous year.

Antiplatelet Drugs and Risk of Bleeding After Bedside Pleural Procedures: A National Multicenter Cohort Study.

Background: The decision-making on antiplatelet drug withdrawal or continuation before performing a pleural procedure is based on the balance between the risk of bleeding associated with the antiplatelet therapy and the risk of arterial thrombosis due to its interruption. Knowledge on antiplatelet therapy-associated risk of bleeding after pleural procedures is lacking.

Research Question: Is the risk of bleeding associated with antiplatelet drugs increased in patients undergoing pleural procedures?

Study Design And Methods: We conducted a French multicenter cohort study in 19 centers.

Intermittent subglottic secretion drainage and ventilator-associated pneumonia: a multicenter trial.

Rationale: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) causes substantial morbidity and mortality. The influence of subglottic secretion drainage (SSD) in preventing VAP remains controversial.

Objectives: To determine whether SSD reduces the overall incidence of microbiologically confirmed VAP.

Frequency and clinical impact of preserved bispectral index activity during deep sedation in mechanically ventilated ICU patients.

Objective: Despite an overall correlation between the bispectral index of the EEG (BIS) and clinical sedation assessment, unexpectedly high BIS values can be observed at deep sedation levels. We assessed the frequency, interindividual variability and clinical impact of high BIS values during clinically deep sedation.

Design And Setting: Prospective observational study in two university-affiliated intensive care units.

Recurrent takotsubo cardiomyopathy triggered by convulsive status epilepticus.

Introduction: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy can complicate several conditions including neurological emergencies. A few recurrent cases associated with seizures have been reported, but none of the patients had status epilepticus. The pathophysiology of takotsubo syndrome, although debated, may involve stunning of the myocardium by a catecholamine storm triggered by stress.

Sedation algorithm in critically ill patients without acute brain injury.

Objective: To determine whether use of a sedation algorithm to promote a high level of tolerance to the intensive care environment and preserve consciousness affected time to arousal and duration of mechanical ventilation in patients without acute brain injury.

Design: Two-phase, prospective, controlled study.

Setting: University-affiliated medical intensive care unit.

Adaptation to the Intensive Care Environment (ATICE): development and validation of a new sedation assessment instrument.

Objective: To develop a valid, reliable, and responsive bedside instrument assessing Adaptation to the Intensive Care Environment (ATICE) in mechanically ventilated adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients.

Design: Instrument development and prospective clinimetric evaluation.

Setting: University-affiliated medical ICU.