A retrospective Cohort study on the effect of the LOw-molecular weighT heparin (LMWH) nadroparin dose on anti-XA levels in a mixed medical-surgical ICU population: CLOT-Xa.

Purpose: Low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs) are widely used for prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in critically ill patients. The objective of this study was to assess the dose-response relationship between nadroparin dose and anti-Xa activity in ICU patients.

Materials And Methods: Critically ill adult patients who were admitted to the ICU, and received at least three subcutaneous injections of nadroparin were included.

Reliability, validity and usability of the K-force grip dynamometer to evaluate handgrip-strength in patients with intensive care unit-acquired weakness.

Objective: Handgrip dynamometry is recognised as a method for evaluating volitional muscle strength in the intensive care, but conventional handgrip dynamometers cannot accurately measure grip strength in very weak patients. The aim of this study was to determine the reliability, validity and usability of the K-force grip in patients with intensive care unit-acquired weakness.

Design: Evaluation of measurement properties of the K-force grip.

Thirst in adult patients in the intensive care unit: A scoping review.

Purpose: To review the literature on thirst in intensive care unit (ICU) patients and report potential causes, risk factors, diagnosis and measurement tools, as well as potential co-occurrence with other distressing symptoms, and the management of thirst in the ICU.

Design: A scoping review employing the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology.

Methods: PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL were searched from inception to April 2024.

Emergency Department Triage, Transfer Times, and Hospital Mortality of Patients Admitted to the ICU: A Retrospective Replication and Continuation Study.

Objectives: This study aimed to provide new insights into the impact of emergency department (ED) to ICU time on hospital mortality, stratifying patients by academic and nonacademic teaching (NACT) hospitals, and considering Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE)-IV probability and ED-triage scores.

Design, Setting, And Patients: We conducted a retrospective cohort study (2009-2020) using data from the Dutch National Intensive Care Evaluation registry. Patients directly admitted from the ED to the ICU were included from four academic and eight NACT hospitals.

A Core Outcome Set for Research Evaluating Interventions to Enable Communication in Patients With an Artificial Airway: An International Delphi Consensus Study (Comm-COS).

Objectives: Critically ill adults requiring artificial airways experience profound communication deficits. Studies of interventions supporting communication report disparate outcomes, creating subsequent challenges in the interpretation of their effectiveness. Therefore, we aimed to develop international consensus for a communication core outcome set (Comm-COS) for future trials of communication interventions in this population.

Driving pressure during routine ventilation in the ICU: Is the ICU-team as driven as they should be?

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of structured staff training on the respiratory support provided.

Materials And Methods: Staff training with emphasis on the applied DP in mechanical ventilation was provided during one year. After completion of staff training, the effect was prospectively evaluated in patients who were continuously mechanically ventilated in a controlled mode for at least 6 h starting from admission.

The effect of computerised decision support alerts tailored to intensive care on the administration of high-risk drug combinations, and their monitoring: a cluster randomised stepped-wedge trial.

Background: Drug-drug interactions (DDIs) can harm patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Yet, clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) aimed at helping physicians prevent DDIs are plagued by low-yield alerts, causing alert fatigue and compromising patient safety. The aim of this multicentre study was to evaluate the effect of tailoring potential DDI alerts to the ICU setting on the frequency of administered high-risk drug combinations.

Thirst in adult patients in the intensive care unit: protocol for a scoping review.

Introduction: Thirst is one of the most bothersome symptoms experienced by intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Effective diagnosis and management of thirst in the ICU is essential, particularly as patients are less sedated than previously and more aware of this problem. Currently, no overview of publications on thirst identification and management in ICU patients exists.

Mental health-related quality of life is related to delirium in intensive care patients.

Purpose: Delirium during intensive care unit (ICU) stay may be related to premorbid mental illness. In addition, delirium during ICU stay may also negatively affect long-term health-related quality of life. The aim of our study was to investigate if delirium in the ICU is related to premorbid mental quality of life and affects long-term mental quality of life after ICU stay.

Variation in communication and family visiting policies in intensive care within and between countries during the Covid-19 pandemic: The COVISIT international survey.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, intensive care units (ICU) introduced restrictions to in-person family visiting to safeguard patients, healthcare personnel, and visitors.

Methods: We conducted a web-based survey (March-July 2021) investigating ICU visiting practices before the pandemic, at peak COVID-19 ICU admissions, and at the time of survey response. We sought data on visiting policies and communication modes including use of virtual visiting (videoconferencing).

Health care professionals overestimate the risk for locoregional recurrences after breast cancer treatment depending on their specialty.

Purpose: For the implementation of personalised surveillance, it is important to create more awareness among HCPs with regard to the risk for locoregional recurrences (LRRs). The aim of this study is to evaluate the current awareness and estimations of individual risks for LRRs after completion of primary treatment for breast cancer among health care professionals (HCPs) in the Netherlands, without using any prediction tools.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was performed among 60 HCPs working in breast cancer care in seven Dutch hospitals and 25 general practitioners (GPs).

Dysphagia in Intensive Care Evaluation (DICE): An International Cross-Sectional Survey.

Dysphagia occurs commonly in the intensive care unit (ICU). Despite the clinical relevance, there is little worldwide research on prevention, assessment, evaluation, and/or treatment of dysphagia for ICU patients. We aimed to gain insight into this international knowledge gap.

Nephrotoxicity of continuous amphotericin B in critically ill patients with abdominal sepsis: a retrospective analysis with propensity score matching.

Background: Continuous infusion of conventional amphotericin B (CCAB) is used in ICUs for pre-emptive treatment of invasive fungal infections. Amphotericin B has previously been associated with nephrotoxicity.

Objectives: To investigate if CCAB with therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) results in renal impairment over time in critically ill patients with abdominal sepsis.

Measuring thirst distress of patients in the intensive care unit.

Background: Thirst is one of the most intense and distressing symptoms experienced by patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), and no validated measurement tools exist. Validating a thirst measurement tool for the ICU population could be a first step in gaining a better understanding of thirst in ICU patients and aid the development and implementation of strategies regarding the prevention and control of thirst.

Aim: The objective of this study was to determine the validity and reliability of the "Thirst distress scale for patients with heart failure (TDS-HF)" in measuring thirst distress in adult ICU patients.

Health-related quality of life in ICU survivors-10 years later.

Many Intensive Care (ICU) survivors experience long lasting impairments in physical and psychological health as well as social functioning. The objective of our study was to evaluate these effects up to 10 years after ICU discharge. We performed a long-term prospective cohort study in patients admitted for longer than 48 h in a medical-surgical ICU.