Effect of infections on 30-day mortality among critically ill patients hospitalized in and out of the intensive care unit.

Background: This analysis is part of a multicenter study conducted in Israel to evaluate survival of critically ill patients treated in and out of intensive care units (ICUs).

Objective: To assess the role of infection on 30-day survival among critically ill patients hospitalized in ICUs and regular wards.

Design: All adult inpatients were screened on four rounds for patients meeting ICU admission criteria.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation surprise drills for assessing, improving and maintaining cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills of hospital personnel.

Background: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a sudden emergency procedure that requires a rapid and efficient response, and personnel trained in lifesaving procedures. Regular practice and training are necessary to improve resuscitation skills and reduce anxiety among the staff. Western Galilee Hospital has developed simulator programs for surprise CPR training exercises in all hospital departments and units.

[The importance of CPR training for assessing the knowledge and skills of hospital medical and nursing personnel].

Background: Saving life demands only two hands and some basic knowledge. A qualified person can open airways, resuscitate, massage a heart and call for help. A person with cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training can sustain an ailing person's heart and brain for a short time.

[Severe hypercapnia in asthmatic attack].

This is an unusual case, of an adult man who was hospitalized with a severe asthmatic attack and severe hypercapnia, refractory to intensive medical treatment, which responded to pressure mechanical ventilation. We advise to consider this mode of treatment in similar cases.

Survival of critically ill patients hospitalized in and out of intensive care.

Objective: A lack of intensive care units beds in Israel results in critically ill patients being treated outside of the intensive care unit. The survival of such patients is largely unknown. The present study's objective was to screen entire hospitals for newly deteriorated patients and compare their survival in and out of the intensive care unit.

Survival of critically ill patients hospitalized in and out of intensive care units under paucity of intensive care unit beds.

Objective: The demand for intensive care beds far exceeds their availability in many European countries. Consequently, many critically ill patients occupy hospital beds outside intensive care units, throughout the hospital. The outcome of patients who fit intensive care unit admission criteria but are hospitalized in regular wards needs to be assessed for policy implications.