Perceived Quality of Life in Intensive Care Medicine Physicians: A French National Survey.

There is a growing interest in the quality of work life (QWL) of healthcare professionals and staff well-being. We decided to measure the perceived QWL of ICU physicians and the factors that could influence their perception. We performed a survey coordinated and executed by the French Trade Union of Intensive Care Physicians (SMR).

Randomized intubation with polyurethane or conical cuffs to prevent pneumonia in ventilated patients.

Rationale: The occurrence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is linked to the aspiration of contaminated pharyngeal secretions around the endotracheal tube. Tubes with cuffs made of polyurethane rather than polyvinyl chloride or with a conical rather than a cylindrical shape increase tracheal sealing.

Objectives: To test whether using polyurethane and/or conical cuffs reduces tracheal colonization and VAP in patients with acute respiratory failure.

Elements of margin of safety, toxicity and action of sodium selenite in a lipopolysaccharide rat model.

Project: Both septic shock and sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) lead to multiple organ failure through oxidation. Na2SeO3 has direct oxidant effects above the nutritional level and indirect anti-oxidant properties. In a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) rat model we assessed margin of safety, toxicity and beneficial effect of pentahydrate Na2SeO3 (5H2O·Na2SeO3) at oxidant doses.

[Raising awareness among freelance nurses of infection prevention in home health care].

An alternative to conventional hospitalisation, home health care involves technical procedures which can carry a high risk of infection. In the home, infection prevention is a central element of safety of care. A home health care structure in the Lille region is working to raise awareness among freelance nursing partners and encourage them to follow a quality improvement approach.

Noninvasive mechanical ventilation in patients having declined tracheal intubation.

Purpose: Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is a treatment option in patients with acute respiratory failure who are good candidates for intensive care but have declined tracheal intubation. The aim of our study was to report outcomes after NIV in patients with a do-not-intubate (DNI) order.

Methods: Prospective observational cohort study in all patients who received NIV for acute respiratory failure in 54 ICUs in France and Belgium, in 2010/2011.