Central venous-arterial carbon dioxide difference as an indicator of cardiac index.

Objective: The mixed venous-arterial (v-a) pCO(2) difference has been shown to be inversely correlated with the cardiac index (CI). A central venous pCO(2), which is easier to obtain, may provide similar information. The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation between the central venous-arterial pCO(2) difference and CI.

Prevalence of elevated troponin I in end-stage renal disease patients receiving hemodialysis.

Objectives: Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who are receiving hemodialysis have an increased incidence of atherosclerotic heart disease. Currently, there is considerable controversy regarding the significance of elevated cardiac troponin I (cTnI) levels in patients with ESRD. The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence of elevated cTnI levels in asymptomatic patients with ESRD on hemodialysis.

Critical care and emergency medicine.

The changing landscape of health care has resulted in an increase in the delivery of critical care in the emergency department. Although the emergency department duration is brief compared with the total length of hospitalization, physiologic determinants of outcome may be established before ICU admission. The care provided during the emergency department stay for critically ill patients has been shown to significantly impact the progression of organ failure and mortality.