Fluid balance and urine volume are independent predictors of mortality in acute kidney injury.

Introduction: In ICUs, both fluid overload and oliguria are common complications associated with increased mortality among critically ill patients, particularly in acute kidney injury (AKI). Although fluid overload is an expected complication of oliguria, it remains unclear whether their effects on mortality are independent of each other. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of both fluid balance and urine volume on outcomes and determine whether they behave as independent predictors of mortality in adult ICU patients with AKI.

RIFLE-based data collection/management system applied to a prospective cohort multicenter Italian study on the epidemiology of acute kidney injury in the intensive care unit.

The epidemiology of acute kidney injury (AKI) has been difficult to explore in the past, due to different definitions across various studies. Nevertheless, this is a very important topic today in light of the high morbidity and mortality of critically ill patients presenting renal dysfunction during their stay in the intensive care unit (ICU). The case mix has changed over the years, and AKI is a common problem in critically ill patients often requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT).

Risk factors and outcome of Acinetobacter baumanii infection in severe trauma patients.

Objective: To investigate incidence, risk factors and outcome of Acinetobacter baumanii infection in trauma patients.

Design And Setting: A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of all trauma patients admitted to a general intensive care unit (ICU) of a 1,500-bed university hospital over 3 years.

Patients: Three hundred thirty trauma patients were included in the study.

Percutaneous translaryngeal versus surgical tracheostomy: A randomized trial with 1-yr double-blind follow-up.

Objective: To compare the outcomes and the short- and long-term complications of percutaneous translaryngeal tracheostomy (TLT) and surgical tracheostomy (ST).

Design: Prospective, randomized clinical trial with 1-yr double-blind follow-up.

Setting: A general intensive care unit of a university hospital.

Fiberoptic bronchoscopy during noninvasive positive pressure ventilation delivered by helmet.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) during noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) delivered by helmet in patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF) and suspected pneumonia.

Design And Setting: Prospective, clinical investigation in a general intensive care unit (ICU) of a university hospital.

Patients And Participants: Four adult patients with ARF who underwent NPPV via the helmet and required fiberoptic BAL for suspected pneumonia.