Reduction of nosocomial infections in the intensive care unit using an electronic hand hygiene compliance monitoring system.

Introduction: Healthcare-associated infection is an important cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Well-regulated infection control and hand hygiene are the most effective methods for preventing healthcare-associated infections. This study evaluated and compared conventional hand hygiene observation and an electronic hand-hygiene recording and reminder system for preventing healthcare-associated infections.

A new scoring system for early diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia: LUPPIS.

Introduction: The Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (CPIS) based on chest X-ray has been developed to facilitate clinical diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP); however, this scoring system has a low diagnostic performance. We developed the Lung Ultrasound and Pentraxin-3 Pulmonary Infection Score (LUPPIS) for early diagnosis of VAP and evaluated the performance of this new scoring system.

Material And Methods: In a prospective study of 78 patients with suspected VAP, we assessed the detection accuracy of LUPPIS for pneumonia in adult patients.

The Role of Transcranial Doppler Ultrasonography in the Diagnosis of Brain Death.

Ancillary tests can be used for the diagnosis of brain death in cases wherein uncertainty exists regarding the neurological examination and apnoea test cannot be performed. Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) is a useful, valid, non-invasive, portable, and repeatable ancillary test for the confirmation of brain death. Despite its varying sensitivity and specificity rates with regard to the diagnosis of the brain death, its clinical use has steadily increased in the intensive care unit because of its numerous superior properties.

Effect of the Dexamethasone-Ondansetron Combination Versus Dexamethasone-Aprepitant Combination to Prevent Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting.

Objective: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common problem associated with general anaesthesia. The incidence can be as high as 80% in high-risk patients. Our primary objective was to compare the efficacy of the combination of dexamethasone-ondansetron and dexamethasone-aprepitant in patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Procalcitonin for Differentiating Bacteraemic Gram-Negative Sepsis from Gram-Positive Sepsis.

Objective: The identification of bacteraemia in patients with suspected sepsis is crucial for survival. A cheap, fast and reliable biomarker, which can predict the causative pathogen group, may be useful to confirm or exclude the presence of bacteraemia. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between procalcitonin (PCT) and the causative pathogen in intensive care patients with sepsis and bacteraemia.

Sequential Measurements of Pentraxin 3 Serum Levels in Patients with Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia: A Nested Case-Control Study.

Purpose: The main purpose of this study was to investigate the dynamics of pentraxin 3 (PTX3) compared with procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with suspicion of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).

Materials And Methods: We designed a nested case-control study. This study was performed in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit of a tertiary care academic university and teaching hospital.

Low Tidal Volume Positive End-Expiratory Pressure versus High Tidal Volume Zero-Positive End-Expiratory Pressure and Postoperative Pulmonary Functions in Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy.

Objective: The aim was to compare the effects of low tidal volume (VT) and moderate positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) with high VT and zero end-expiratory pressure (ZEEP) on postoperative pulmonary functions and oxygenation in patients undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.

Subjects And Methods: Forty-four patients were randomized into low VT-PEEP and high VT-ZEEP groups. The patients were ventilated with a VT of 6 mL/kg and 8 cm H2O PEEP in the low VT-PEEP group and a VT of 10 mL/kg and 0 cm H2O PEEP in the high VT-ZEEP group.

The Assessment of Intravascular Volume with Inferior Vena Cava and Internal Jugular Vein Distensibility Indexes in Children Undergoing Urologic Surgery.

Purpose: The purpose of this work is to assess the predictive value, for fluid responsiveness (FR), of the inferior vena cava distensibility index (IVC-DI) and internal jugular vein distensibility index (IJV-DI) in pediatric surgical patients.

Material And Methods: Prior to being placed under general anesthesia, 24 surgical patients were enrolled. Baseline parameters were recorded with the patient in the semirecumbent position (Stage 1).

The value of internal jugular vein collapsibility index in sepsis.

Background: Rapid, accurate, and reproducible assessment of intravascular volume status is crucial in order to predict the efficacy of volume expansion in septic patients. The aim of this study was to verify the feasibility and usefulness of the internal jugular vein collapsibility index (IJV-CI) as an adjunct to the inferior vena cava collapsibility index (IVC-CI) to predict fluid responsiveness in spontaneously-breathing patients with sepsis.

Methods: Three stages of sonographic scanning were performed.

Simple method for determining the size of the ProSeal laryngeal mask airway in children: a prospective observational study.

Background And Objectives: The size of the ProSeal laryngeal mask airway in children is determined by the patient's weight. However, in some instances, an alternative method may be required. This study aimed to compare sizing by the auricle with conventional ProSeal laryngeal mask airway sizing by weight in children.

[Simple method for determining the size of the ProSeal laryngeal mask airway in children: a prospective observational study].

Background And Objectives: The size of the ProSeal laryngeal mask airway in children is determined by the patient's weight. However, in some instances, an alternative method may be required. This study aimed to compare sizing by the auricle with conventional ProSeal laryngeal mask airway sizing by weight in children.

Vitamin D level is associated with mortality predictors in ventilator-associated pneumonia caused by Acinetobacter baumannii.

Introduction: Vitamin D plays a role in host defense and is known to be associated with mortality in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). We aimed to evaluate the relationships between vitamin D levels and predictors of mortality in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) caused by extensively drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumanii (XDR A. baumanii).

Perioperative low-dose ketamine improves postoperative analgesia following Cesarean delivery with general anesthesia.

Objective: In this study, the effect of perioperative uses of low dose ketamine on post-operative wound pain and analgesic consumption in patients undergoing elective Cesarean section was evaluated.

Methods: In randomized, double blind clinical trial, 52 women with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class I-II identification undergoing elective Cesarean section in general anesthesia were enrolled. In the ketamine group (group K), a ketamine bolus of 0.

Sepsis and Acute Kidney Injury.

Acute kindney injury (AKI) is a clinical syndrome which is generally defined as an abrupt decline in glomerular filtration rate, causing accumulation of nitrogenous products and rapid development of fluid, electrolyte and acid base disorders. In intensive care unit sepsis and septic shock are leading causes of AKI. Sepsis-induced AKI literally acts as a biologic indicator of clinical deterioration.