Renal Function, Weaning, and Survival in Patients With Ventilator-Dependent Respiratory Failure.

Background: Acute kidney injury in acute critical illness has been associated with poor weaning and survival outcomes. The relation between renal dysfunction as defined by creatinine clearance (CrCl) and weaning from prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) is not known. The objective of this study was to determine the relation of measured CrCl to weaning and survival in patients on PMV.

Can Creatinine Height Index Predict Weaning and Survival Outcomes in Patients on Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation After Critical Illness?

Objective: Malnutrition is common in chronic critically ill patients on prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) and may affect weaning. The creatinine height index (CHI), which reflects lean muscle mass, is regarded as the most accurate indicator of malnutrition. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of CHI in comparison with other traditional nutritional indices on successful weaning and survival in patients on PMV after critical illness.

An analysis of clinical outcomes and costs of a long term acute care hospital.

Objective: Compare clinical outcomes and costs in a study group of long-term acute care hospital (LTCH) patients with a control group of LTCH-eligible patients in an acute care hospital. LTCHs were created to provide post-acute care services not available at other post-acute settings. This is based on the premise that these patients would otherwise have stayed at acute care hospitals as high-cost outliers.

Severe sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome from community-acquired legionella pneumonia: case report.

A case of a young man with community-acquired pneumonia, severe acute respiratory distress syndrome, and sepsis is reported. Treatment with antibiotics and various modes of mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit were unsuccessful. A urinary legionella antigen test was positive for Legionella pneumophila.

The incidence of tracheoarterial fistula in patients with chronic tracheostomy tubes: a retrospective study of 544 patients in a long-term care facility.

Objective: The incidence of tracheoarterial fistula (TAF) in patients with short-term tracheostomy tubes has been reported between 0.6% and 0.7%.

Hypothyroidism and failure to wean in patients receiving prolonged mechanical ventilation at a regional weaning center.

Objective: Hypothyroidism is cited as an uncommon cause of ventilator-dependent respiratory failure. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of hypothyroidism in patients with respiratory failure, receiving prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) with failure to wean, referred to a regional weaning center (RWC) for weaning.

Setting: RWC.