Background: Semiobjective methods of quantifying cough strength and endotracheal secretions have been demonstrated to predict extubation outcomes of patients who have passed a spontaneous breathing trial (SBT).
Hypothesis: Cough strength, measured by voluntary cough peak expiratory flow (PEF), and endotracheal secretions, measured volumetrically, predict extubation outcomes of patients who have passed an SBT.
Patient Population: Critically ill patients admitted to the medical ICU of a 300-bed community teaching hospital.
Objective: To determine whether propofol affects spontaneous breathing patterns in critically ill patients recovering from respiratory failure during initial attempts at liberation from mechanical ventilation.
Design: Observational cohort study.
Patients: Ten critically ill patients in the medical intensive care unit of a 300-bed community teaching hospital.
Background: After patients recovering from respiratory failure have successfully completed a spontaneous breathing trial (SBT), clinicians must determine whether an artificial airway is still required. We hypothesized that cough strength and the magnitude of endotracheal secretions affect extubation outcomes.
Methods: We conducted a prospective study of 91 adult patients treated in medical-cardiac ICUs who were recovering from respiratory failure, had successfully completed an SBT, and were about to be extubated.
Objective: We hypothesized that patients with septic shock who achieve negative fluid balance (< or =-500 mL) on any day in the first 3 days of management are more likely to survive than those who do not.
Design: Retrospective chart review.
Patients: Thirty-six patients admitted with the diagnosis of septic shock.