Activities of daily living associated with postoperative intensive care unit survival in elderly patients following elective major abdominal surgery: An observational cohort study.

Elderly patients who undergo major abdominal surgery are being in increasing numbers. Intensive care unit (ICU) survival is critical for surgical decision-making process. Activities of daily living (ADL) are associated with clinical outcomes in the elderly.

Early versus late percutaneous dilational tracheostomy in critically ill patients anticipated requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation.

Background: Tracheostomy should be considered to replace endotracheal intubation in patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation (MV). However, the optimal timing for tracheostomy is still a topic of debate. The present study aimed to investigate whether early percutaneous dilational tracheostomy (PDT) can reduce duration of MV, and to further verify whether early PDT can reduce sedative use, shorten intensive care unit (ICU) stay, decrease the incidence of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP), and increase successful weaning and ICU discharge rate.

A comparison of 2 types of chest compressions in a porcine model of cardiac arrest.

Objective: Chest compressions performed by some medical workers are of poor quality, which are too few and shallow with incomplete release. This study was designed to compare the effects of these clinical quality chest compressions with standard manual chest compressions in a porcine model of cardiac arrest.

Methods: Ventricular fibrillation was induced in 18 pigs by programed electrical stimulation.