The Concerns of Recovery Practitioners Assisting in the Care of ICU Patients

2001 ◽  
Vol 2 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 6-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynn Sealey
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care ◽  
Intensive Care Units ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Training And Development ◽  
Small Study ◽  
Icu Patients ◽  
Recovery Unit ◽  
High Dependency

When high dependency and intensive care units are full, which occurs more and more often nationally, recovery wards are being utilised to hold critically ill patients. Recovery practitioners are often expected to assist in the care of these patients.A small study established the views of a sample of recovery practitioners regarding the recovery unit being used as stop-gap, or ICU overflow. There were positive and negative opinions from recovery practitioners who were involved in the care of these critically ill patients. Recovery practitioners often reported feeling inexperienced and ill equipped, with increased levels of stress when working in the ICU bay. Only 20% of recovery practitioners in the study, expressed optimism about working in the ICU bay, and 60% identified that training and development was a strategy which may help to overcome some of their perceived problems.This paper reports these concerns and identifies strategies which have been implemented to address some of these concerns.

Short-Term Ventilation of Critically Ill Patients in Recovery

2003 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 214-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Ryan ◽  
Gillian Tobin
Keyword(s):  
Critical Care ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Intensive Care Units ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Recovery Unit ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Care Facilities

There is often a shortfall of critical care facilities which can result in a number of patients who need management in intensive care units (ICUs) being treated in a recovery unit prior to being found an ICU bed. This article describes a study which examined this situation. The patients’ origins, durations of stay in recovery, outcomes and final destinations are discussed. The authors conclude that recovery provides a hidden resource to supplement the lack of intensive care beds and suggest ways that the problem might be addressed.

ICU admissions: Consequences after discharge

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 550-556
Author(s):  
Minal Karavadra ◽  
Ricky Bell
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Intensive Care Units ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Psychiatric Disturbance ◽  
Intensive Care Department ◽  
Previous Level ◽  
The Uk

The intensive care department may seem a long way from the GP's consulting room, but every year tens of thousands of critically ill patients are admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) across the UK. Patients are often left with long term sequelae that may require GP input. Physical weakness, psychiatric disturbance and cognitive decline are not uncommon after an illness that requires a stay in an ICU. These hinder a patient’s return to their previous level of function and impact caregivers after discharge. This article aims to highlight the chronic symptoms patients can acquire during ICU admission that may come to the attention of GPs for their advice and treatment.

scholarly journals Effect of applying nurses driven electrolyte repletion protocol on electrolyte disturbances control among critically ill patients

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 72
Author(s):  
Mohamed E. Abdelgawad ◽  
Nadia T. Ahmed ◽  
Ahmed M. Elmenshawy
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care ◽  
Intensive Care Units ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Improve Patient Care ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Electrolyte Disturbances ◽  
Electrolyte Loss

Background and objective: Electrolyte disturbances remain a common lifesaving issue in the intensive care units. They are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. They are mostly resulted secondary to critical illness itself or associated treatment modalities. Therefore, electrolytes repletion should be done effectively and timely. This could be ensured using nurse driven protocols rather than traditional methods of repletion. These protocols are nurse initiated and collaboratively developed. They have been shown to improve patient care outcomes through the provision of high quality care. They are increasingly being used in the critical care setting. Objective: Determine the effect of applying nurses driven electrolytes repletion protocol on electrolytes disturbance control among critically ill patients.Methods: Quasi experimental research design was used. Sixty two critically ill patients with electrolytes loss were enrolled in the study at Alexandria Main University Hospital intensive care units, Egypt. All episodes of electrolyte loss were evaluated. Repletion of electrolyte loss was done according to unit routine for the control group and nurses driven electrolytes repletion protocol for the study group. Episodes of electrolyte disturbances, adverse events and timing of repletion were evaluated.Results: Neurological disorders represent the most encountered diagnosis. The most common cause of electrolyte loss in was the use of diuretics. Furthermore, there was a highly statistical difference between the two groups as regard electrolytes levels, effectiveness and timing of replacement.Conclusions: Application of nurses driven electrolyte repletion protocol resulted in improvements in the effectiveness and timeliness of electrolyte replacement.

scholarly journals Kinetic Patterns of Candida albicans Germ Tube Antibody in Critically Ill Patients: Influence on Mortality

2009 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. 1527-1528 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Zaragoza ◽  
Javier Pemán ◽  
Guillermo Quindós ◽  
Jose R. Iruretagoyena ◽  
María S. Cuétara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Intensive Care Units ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Germ Tube ◽  
Antifungal Agents ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Antifungal Treatment ◽  
Lower Mortality

ABSTRACT The influence of kinetic patterns of Candida albicans germ tube antibodies (CAGTA) on mortality was analyzed in six intensive care units. Statistically significant lower mortality rates were found in patients with patterns of increasing CAGTA titers who had been treated with antifungal agents. Thus, antifungal treatment should be considered when CAGTA titers are increasing in critically ill patients.

scholarly journals Discomforts in Critically ill Patients: Our Experience in Intensive Care Unit of a Tertiary Care Hospital in India

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reetu Verma ◽  
Sasmita Panda ◽  
Rajeev Kumar Nishad
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Nursing Care ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Tertiary Care Hospital ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Icu Patients ◽  
Common Cause

Introduction: Patients admitted in the Intensive Care Units (ICUs) experiences various discomforts which may be recognised or unrecognised. These discomforts may arise from the environment, may be related to the ICU care and discomfort related to the health status of the patient and critical care interventions. Aim: To identify the various discomforts in ICU patients, to classify them with respective causes, identify the most common cause among them and whether ICU sedation helps in reducing discomforts. Materials and Methods: This observational study was conducted from 15th July to 15th October 2018 on 120 mixed ICU patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital in India. Patients who were admitted to ICU for more than 24 hours, aged 18 years and above, those who gave written informed consent were observed and enquired for any discomfort. Discomforts have been identified and recorded by a fulltime intensivist by direct observation, by interacting with the patients and asking the family members and others (indirect approach). Through this study discomforts of critically ill patients were broadly classified into four categories 1. Due to existing illness, 2. Due to ICU interventions, 3. Due to improper nursing care and 4. Due to environmental factors. Results: Out of 120 patients studied, 84 patients (70%) reported some kind of discomfort during their ICU stay. Existing illness was the most common cause of discomfort, 80 patients (66.6%) suffered due to it. ICU interventions was the second most common cause, 71 patients (59.1%) had discomfort due to interventions. Thirty five patients (29.1%) suffered due to improper nursing care and 25 patients (20.8%) suffered due to the environmental factors. In this study, it was observed that sedation reduces all kind of discomforts. conclusion: In this study 70% of patients, who were admitted to ICU due to various illness reported some kind of discomfort. The most common cause of ICU discomforts was existing illness followed by ICU interventions. In this study it was observed that sedation reduces all kind of discomforts. Sedated patients tolerate the endotracheal tube better and they had less environmental and procedure related discomforts. With the present study observation it can be suggested that ICU charts of nurses and doctors can carry a separate column for mentioning discomforts in different duty shifts. However, with the use of appropriate analgesia and sedation discomfort can be reduced.

scholarly journals Low Caspofungin Exposure in Patients in Intensive Care Units

2016 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim C. M. van der Elst ◽  
Anette Veringa ◽  
Jan G. Zijlstra ◽  
Albertus Beishuizen ◽  
Rob Klont ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Drug Exposure ◽  
Standard Dose ◽  
Drug Distribution ◽  
Volume Of Distribution ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Time Curve ◽  
Icu Patients

ABSTRACT In critically ill patients, drug exposure may be influenced by altered drug distribution and clearance. Earlier studies showed that the variability in caspofungin exposure was high in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. The primary objective of this study was to determine if the standard dose of caspofungin resulted in adequate exposure in critically ill patients. A multicenter prospective study in ICU patients with (suspected) invasive candidiasis was conducted in the Netherlands from November 2013 to October 2015. Patients received standard caspofungin treatment, and the exposure was determined on day 3 of treatment. An area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 24 h (AUC0–24) of 98 mg · h/liter was considered adequate exposure. In case of low exposure (i.e., <79 mg · h/liter, a ≥20% lower AUC0–24), the caspofungin dose was increased and the exposure reevaluated. Twenty patients were included in the study, of whom 5 had a positive blood culture. The median caspofungin AUC0–24 at day 3 was 78 mg · h/liter (interquartile range [IQR], 69 to 97 mg · h/liter). A low AUC0–24 (<79 mg · h/liter) was seen in 10 patients. The AUC0–24 was significantly and positively correlated with the caspofungin dose in mg/kg/day (P = 0.011). The median AUC0–24 with a caspofungin dose of 1 mg/kg was estimated using a pharmacokinetic model and was 114.9 mg · h/liter (IQR, 103.2 to 143.5 mg · h/liter). In conclusion, the caspofungin exposure in ICU patients in this study was low compared with that in healthy volunteers and other (non)critically ill patients, most likely due to a larger volume of distribution. A weight-based dose regimen is probably more suitable for patients with substantially altered drug distribution. (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under registration no. NCT01994096.)

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