Health-related quality of life of long-term survivors of intensive care: changes after intensive care treatment. Experience of an Austrian intensive care unit.

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine if health-related quality of life of long-term survivors changes 24 months after intensive care treatment compared to the quality of life before admission.

Methods: From 281 patients treated at the ICU in 2001, 132 survivors were contacted by phone on average 24 months after discharge. Fernandez questionnaire was used to assess preadmission quality of life prospectively and postdischarge quality of life, retrospectively.

Severity of insulin resistance in critically ill medical patients.

Critical illness is characterized by a hypermetabolic state associated with increased mortality, which is partly ascribed to the occurrence of hyperglycemia caused by enhanced endogenous glucose production and insulin resistance (IR). Insulin resistance is well described in patients after surgery and trauma. However, it is less clearly quantified in critically ill medical patients.

Metabolic inefficacy of a short-term low-dose insulin regimen in critically ill patients: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Objective: Hyperglycemia and protein catabolism frequently occur in critically ill patients and both are associated with increased complication rates. These metabolic alterations can be improved by insulin administered exogenously. Since a wide range of insulin dosages have been used, this randomized, placebo-controlled, investigator-blinded, clinical study tests the hypothesis that a low-dose insulin regimen improves hyperglycemia and protein catabolism in critically ill medical patients.

Single-dose pharmacokinetics of ofloxacin during continuous venovenous hemofiltration in critical care patients.

Background: Ofloxacin is a quinolone administered to patients with severe infections. Pharmacokinetic data on ofloxacin in critically ill patients on renal replacement therapy are sparse and conflicting.

Methods: Eight patients with anuric acute renal failure were administered 400 mg of ofloxacin intravenously.

Impaired subcortical and cortical sensory evoked potential pathways in septic patients.

Objective: Sensory evoked potential (SEP) peak latencies were recorded in order to evaluate the incidence and severity of septic encephalopathy, testing the hypothesis that the occurrence of septic encephalopathy is more frequent than generally assumed.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Medical intensive care unit of a university hospital.

Clearance of ceftazidime during continuous venovenous haemofiltration in critically ill patients.

Published recommendations for the optimal dosing regimen of ceftazidime in critically ill patients with continuous venovenous haemofiltration (CVVH) differ. The aim of this prospective study was to analyse the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters of ceftazidime during CVVH with a high-flux polysulphone membrane, and derive a dosage recommendation. Twelve critically ill patients (five female, seven male) with acute renal failure undergoing CVVH using a 0.