"You helped me keep my head above water"-experience of bereavement research after loss of a loved one in the ICU: insights from the ARREVE study.

Purpose: Bereavement research has helped to improve end-of-life practices in the ICU. However, few studies have explored bereaved relatives experience of research participation in this context. We aimed to explore the experience of bereaved relatives' participation in the ARREVE study which included three telephone follow-up calls to complete several quantitative tools.

Correction to: Terminal weaning or immediate extubation for withdrawing mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients (the ARREVE observational study).

Correction to: Intensive Care Med (2017) DOI 10.1007/s00134-017-4891-0.

Terminal weaning or immediate extubation for withdrawing mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients (the ARREVE observational study).

Purpose: The relative merits of immediate extubation versus terminal weaning for mechanical ventilation withdrawal are controversial, particularly regarding the experience of patients and relatives.

Methods: This prospective observational multicentre study (ARREVE) was done in 43 French ICUs to compare terminal weaning and immediate extubation, as chosen by the ICU team. Terminal weaning was a gradual decrease in the amount of ventilatory assistance and immediate extubation was extubation without any previous decrease in ventilatory assistance.

Evaluation of eight biomarkers to predict short-term mortality in patients with acute severe dyspnea.

Background: Being able to better predict risk and optimal care for patients presenting with acute dyspnea is critical. Prognostic biomarkers are well known: amino-terminal pro-B-type Natriuretic Peptide, troponin, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin. Some were more recently developed: mid-regional pro-A-type natriuretic peptide (Mid Pro-ANP), mid-regional-pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proADM), pro-endothelin, copeptin.

Complications of intravascular catheters in ICU: definitions, incidence and severity. A randomized controlled trial comparing usual transparent dressings versus new-generation dressings (the ADVANCED study).

Purpose: To describe all post-insertion complications involving most used intravascular access, and to determine whether the use of a new-generation transparent dressing (3M™ IV Advanced) might reduce their number and impact on ICU patient outcomes.

Methods: Patients older than 18, with an expected length of stay ≥48 h and requiring at least one central venous catheter (CVC), arterial catheter (AC), haemodialysis catheter (HDC), pulmonary arterial catheters (PAC) or peripheral venous catheter (PVC) were randomized into two groups: a new-generation transparent dressing, or the hospital's classical transparent dressing, and were followed daily for any infectious and non-infectious complications. Complications were graduated for severity by an independent international multicentre multidisciplinary panel of practitioners using a Delphi process.

ICU physicians' and nurses' perceptions of terminal extubation and terminal weaning: a self-questionnaire study.

Purpose: Terminal extubation (TE) and terminal weaning (TW) are the methods available for withdrawing mechanical ventilation. Perceptions of TE and TW by intensive care unit (ICU) staff may influence bedside practices and the feasibility of studies comparing these methods.

Methods: From January to June 2013, 5 nurses and 5 physicians in each of 46 (out of 70, 65.

Venous thromboembolism in the ICU: main characteristics, diagnosis and thromboprophylaxis.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), including pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep venous thrombosis (DVT), is a common and severe complication of critical illness. Although well documented in the general population, the prevalence of PE is less known in the ICU, where it is more difficult to diagnose and to treat. Critically ill patients are at high risk of VTE because they combine both general risk factors together with specific ICU risk factors of VTE, like sedation, immobilization, vasopressors or central venous catheter.

Failure of empirical systemic antifungal therapy in mechanically ventilated critically ill patients.

Rationale: Systemic antifungal treatments are empirically administered to the sickest critically ill patients, often without documented invasive fungal infection.

Objectives: To estimate the impact of systemic antifungal treatment on 30-day survival of patients suspected to have invasive candidiasis.

Methods: All nonneutropenic, nontransplant recipients managed in five intensive care units intubated for at least 5 days, and free of invasive candidiasis, were included.

Characteristic and clinical relevance of Candida mannan test in the diagnosis of probable invasive candidiasis.

The gold standard laboratory tests used to diagnose invasive Candida infection (ICI) are based on the in vitro culture of blood or samples from other sterile sites. However, these tests have limited sensitivity (Se) and are generally not diagnostic until late in the infectious process. The Serion Candida mannan kit was evaluated for the diagnosis of ICI at Grenoble University Hospital (France) between 2007 and 2011.

Pulmonary embolism in mechanically ventilated patients requiring computed tomography: Prevalence, risk factors, and outcome.

Objective: To estimate the rate of pulmonary embolism among mechanically ventilated patients and its association with deep venous thrombosis.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Medical intensive care unit of a university-affiliated teaching hospital.

Antifungal use influences Candida species distribution and susceptibility in the intensive care unit.

Objectives: Antifungal prescription practices have changed over the last decade, and the impact of these changes is unclear. Our objective here was to evaluate the effect of antifungal drug use on the distribution and drug susceptibility of Candida spp. in a French intensive care unit (ICU).

New materials and devices for preventing catheter-related infections.

Catheters are the leading source of bloodstream infections for patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Comprehensive unit-based programs have proven to be effective in decreasing catheter-related bloodstream infections (CR-BSIs). ICU rates of CR-BSI higher than 2 per 1,000 catheter-days are no longer acceptable.

Multiple-center evaluation of mortality associated with acute kidney injury in critically ill patients: a competing risks analysis.

Introduction: In this study, we aimed to assess the association between acute kidney injury (AKI) and mortality in critically ill patients using an original competing risks approach.

Methods: Unselected patients admitted between 1997 and 2009 to 13 French medical or surgical intensive care units were included in this observational cohort study. AKI was defined according to the RIFLE criteria.

New challenges in the diagnosis, management, and prevention of central venous catheter-related infections.

Catheters are the leading source of bloodstream infections in critically ill patients. Because the clinical signs of infection are nonspecific, such infections are overly suspected, which results in unnecessary removal of catheters. A conservative approach might be attempted in mild infections, whereas catheters should always be removed in cases of severe sepsis or septic shock.

Therapeutic impact and diagnostic performance of multiplex PCR in patients with malignancies and suspected sepsis.

Objectives: New molecular methods allow rapid pathogen detection in patients with sepsis, but their impact on treatment decisions remains to be established. We evaluated the therapeutic usefulness of multiplex PCR testing in patients with cancer and sepsis.

Methods: 110 patients with cancer and sepsis were included prospectively and underwent LightCycler® SeptiFast (LC-SF) multiplex PCR testing in addition to standard tests.

Use of intensive care in patients with nonresectable lung cancer.

Background: Admission of patients with lung cancer to the ICU has been criticized. We evaluated whether ICU admission improved 3-month survival in patients with nonresectable lung cancer. Factors associated with survival were identified.

Diagnostic strategy for hematology and oncology patients with acute respiratory failure: randomized controlled trial.

Rationale: Respiratory events are common in hematology and oncology patients and manifest as hypoxemic acute respiratory failure (ARF) in up to half the cases. Identifying the cause of ARF is crucial. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (FO-BAL) is an invasive test that may cause respiratory deterioration.