Base-excess chloride; the best approach to evaluate the effect of chloride on the acid-base status: A retrospective study.

To practically determine the effect of chloride (Cl) on the acid-base status, four approaches are currently used: accepted ranges of serum Cl values; Cl corrections; the serum Cl/Na ratio; and the serum Na-Cl difference. However, these approaches are governed by different concepts. Our aim is to investigate which approach to the evaluation of the effect of Cl is the best.

Serum Vitamin D Level at ICU Admission and Mortality.

Objective: Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays a major role in the regulation of bone and calcium metabolism and has effects on the immune and cardiovascular systems. Vitamin D deficiency is commonly seen in the general population as well as in critically ill patients and is reported to be associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Our aim was to determine the relationship between vitamin D level at ICU admission and mortality.

The effects of the chloride:sodium ratio on acid-base statusand mortality in septic patients.

Background/aim: Calculation of the chloride:sodium (Cl:Na) ratio is proposed to enable a quick evaluation of the effect of Cl and Na on the acid-base balance in critically ill patients. In the present study, the relationship of the Cl:Na ratio of septic patients with acid-base status and ICU mortality were investigated.

Materials And Methods: In our two-center study, 434 patients who were diagnosed with sepsis were included.

Elective Tracheotomy Practices in Turkey.

Objectives: Elective tracheotomy (ET) procedures in intensive care units (ICU) might be different in accordance with countries and ICUs' features. The aim of the present study was to search the epidemiology of ET procedures in Turkey.

Methods: A questionnaire which consists of 43 questions was sent by e-mail to 238 ICUs which were officially recognized by The Turkish Ministry of Health.

Non-lactate strong ion difference: a clearer picture.

Purpose: The recommended method for elucidating the effects of strong ions other than lactate on acid-base balance is to calculate the non-lactate strong ion difference (SIDnl). A relationship between HCO3 (-) and SIDnl in hyperchloremic patients has already been demonstrated; in the present study, the relationships between SIDnl, the apparent strong ion difference (SIDa), and mortality at intensive care unit (ICU) admission were investigated.

Methods: In our two-center study, 2691 patients admitted to the ICU were retrospectively evaluated, including 1069 critically ill patients.

Nocturnal hypoxia and the success rate of standard atrial fibrillation treatment: a case report.

Introduction: Sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (SAHS) is one of the extracardiac reasons of atrial fibrillation (AF), and the prevalence of AF is high in SAHS-diagnosed patients. Nocturnal hypoxemia is associated with AF, pulmonary hypertension, and nocturnal death. The rate of AF recurrence is high in untreated SAHS-diagnosed patients after cardioversion (CV).

Apnea-hypopnea index use among intensive care patients: a case series.

Introduction: ApneaLink™ (RESMED-Munich, Germany) is a simple and inexpensive device that determines the apnea-hypopnea index. The sensitivity and specificity of the apnea-hypopnea index are 100 and 87.5%, respectively.

Epidemiology of severe sepsis in the intensive care unit.

Severe sepsis affects large numbers of intensive care unit patients and is associated with high mortality rates. Understanding the epidemiology of sepsis is important to effectively allocate adequate resources. However, differences in definitions and in studied populations must be taken into consideration when interpreting and comparing the available epidemiological data.