Describing organ dysfunction in the intensive care unit: a cohort study of 20,000 patients.

Background: Multiple organ dysfunction is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in intensive care units (ICUs). Original development of the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score was not to predict outcome, but to describe temporal changes in organ dysfunction in critically ill patients. Organ dysfunction scoring may be a reasonable surrogate outcome in clinical trials but further exploration of the impact of case mix on the temporal sequence of organ dysfunction is required.

Noninvasive ventilation practice patterns for acute respiratory failure in Canadian tertiary care centres: A descriptive analysis.

Background: The extent of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) use for patients with acute respiratory failure in Canadian hospitals, indications for use and associated outcomes are unknown.

Objective: To describe NIV practice variation in the acute setting.

Methods: A prospective observational study involving 11 Canadian tertiary care centres was performed.

Matched case-control studies: a review of reported statistical methodology.

Background: Case-control studies are a common and efficient means of studying rare diseases or illnesses with long latency periods. Matching of cases and controls is frequently employed to control the effects of known potential confounding variables. The analysis of matched data requires specific statistical methods.

Time series analysis of use patterns for common invasive technologies in critically ill patients.

Purpose: Critically ill patients are frequently managed with invasive technologies as part of their medical care. Little is known about use patterns. We examined use trends for invasive technologies used in critically ill patients.

Continuous versus intermittent renal replacement therapy for critically ill patients with acute kidney injury: a meta-analysis.

Objective: To appraise the literature on the effect of initial renal replacement therapy (RRT) modality on clinical outcomes.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Setting: Academic medical center.

Prolonged refractory status epilepticus following acute traumatic brain injury: a case report of excellent neurological recovery.

Introduction: Refractory status epilepticus (RSE) secondary to traumatic brain injury (TBI) may be under-recognized and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality.

Methods: This case report describes a 20 year old previously healthy woman who suffered a severe TBI as a result of a motor vehicle collision and subsequently developed RSE. Pharmacological coma, physiological support and continuous electroencephalography (cEEG) were undertaken.