Reporting of unintended events in an intensive care unit: comparison between staff and observer.

BACKGROUND: In order to identify relevant targets for change, it is essential to know the reliability of incident staff reporting. The aim of this study is to compare the incidence and type of unintended events (UE) reported by facilitated Intensive Care Unit (ICU) staff with those recorded concurrently by an observer. METHODS: The study is a prospective data collection performed in two 4-bed multidisciplinary ICUs of a teaching hospital.

Post-traumatic stress disorder-related symptoms after intensive care.

Aim: To determine the incidence of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) related symptoms in a population of intensive care unit (ICU) admitted patients and the relationship between PTSD-related symptoms and memories of ICU.

Methods: Adults consecutively admitted to an ICU of a University hospital during 1 year, who stayed in the ICU at least 3 days, were prospectively studied. A questionnaire (ICU memory tool) was administered to 84 patients 1 week after ICU discharge and to 63 of them after 3 months.

Application of the Italian version of the Intensive Care Unit Memory tool in the clinical setting.

Introduction: The aims of the present study were to assess patients' memories of their stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) over time, using the Italian version of the ICU Memory (ICUM) tool, and to examine the relationship between memory and duration of ICU stay and infection.

Patients And Method: Adult patients consecutively admitted to a four-bed ICU of a university hospital, whose stay in the ICU was at least 3 days, were prospectively studied. The ICUM tool was administered twice: face to face 1 week after ICU discharge to 93 patients (successfully in 87); and by phone after 3 months to 67 patients.

Validation of severity scoring systems SAPS II and APACHE II in a single-center population.

Objective: To validate two severity scoring systems, the Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS II) and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II), in a single-center ICU population.

Design And Setting: Prospective data collection in a two four-bed multidisciplinary ICUs of a teaching hospital.

Patients And Methods: Data were collected in ICU over 4 years on 1,721 consecutively admitted patients (aged 18 years or older, no transferrals, ICU stay at least 24 h) regarding SAPS II, APACHE II, predicted hospital mortality, and survival upon hospital discharge.

Relationship between physical activity level and bone mineral density in two groups of female athletes.

In order to evaluate the possible relationships among hormonal status, physical activity and bone density, we carried out a study on two groups of female athletes engaged in different levels of physical activity. We measured the following hormones: luteinizing hormone (LH), folliculo-stimulating hormone (FSH), 17-beta-oestradiol (E2), progesterone (PRG), prolactin (HPRL), estrone (E1), thyreo-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), and the markers of phosphate-calcium metabolism: calcitonine (CT), parathormone (PTH), and osteocalcine (BGP). We also measured bone mineral density (BMD).