Evaluation of Evidence-Based Guidelines for Fever Management in Critically Ill Adult Patients With Brain Injury

Elevated temperature in patients with brain injury has been linked to increased hospital and intensive care unit lengths of stay, increased morbidity, greater disability, and higher mortality. The prevailing medical opinion is that maintaining normothermia in patients with acute brain injury is beneficial. However, little evidence exists to support this recommendation. Nurses are responsible for diagnosing and treating fever, but evidence-based guidelines that would govern fever management for these patients do not exist. This article discusses what evidence is available to support the management of fever in patients with brain injury and in what areas evidence is lacking.

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Nutrition Support in Mechanically Ventilated, Critically Ill Adult Patients: Are We Ready for Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines?

Nutrition in Clinical Practice ◽

10.1177/0115426504019003193 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 19 (3) ◽

pp. 193-200 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Daren K. Heyland ◽

Rupinder Dhaliwal ◽

John W. Drover

Keyword(s):

Clinical Practice ◽

Critically Ill ◽

Clinical Practice Guidelines ◽

Practice Guidelines ◽

Adult Patients ◽

Nutrition Support ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Mechanically Ventilated

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An evidence-based multidisciplinary approach focused at creating algorithms for targeted therapy of IVACs caused by Enterobacterales in critically ill adult patients

Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy ◽

10.1080/14787210.2021.1976145 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Milo Gatti ◽

Bruno Viaggi ◽

Gian Maria Rossolini ◽

Federico Pea ◽

Pierluigi Viale

Keyword(s):

Targeted Therapy ◽

Critically Ill ◽

Multidisciplinary Approach ◽

Adult Patients ◽

Evidence Based

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Fever

AACN Advanced Critical Care ◽

10.4037/15597768-2007-1008 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 76-87

Author(s):

Richard Henker ◽

Karen K. Carlson

Keyword(s):

Critically Ill ◽

Critical Care Nurses ◽

Critically Ill Patient ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Patient Morbidity ◽

Salient Points ◽

Assessment And Treatment ◽

Fever Management ◽

Planning Intervention

Fever occurs frequently in critically ill patients and requires knowledgeable assessment and treatment by critical care nurses. Fever can result from infection or inflammation and should be differentiated from simple hyperthermia. Although temperature measurement and fever management are not often priorities in the management of a critically ill patient, the physiologic consequences of fever may affect patient morbidity. This article defines and describes fever and its pathophysiology. An evidence-based plan of care for the assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation of the patient with fever is outlined, using levels of recommendation based on the strength of the available evidence. A case study is presented to illustrate application to clinical practice. Commentary about the case is provided to review the salient points of care.

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