CARDIOVASCULAR

The following papers have been extracted and commented upon:

Olasveengen TM, Sunde K, Brunborg C, Thowsen J, Steen PA, Wik L. Intravenous drug administration during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. JAMA 2009;302:2222–2229.

‘Hot’ Topic

Evidence Level: II

Christenson J, Andrusiak D, Everson-Stewart S et al. Chest compression fraction determines survival in patients with out-of-hospital ventricular fibrillation. Circulation 2009;120:1241–1247.

Evidence Level: IV

HAEMATOLOGY

The following paper has been extracted and commented upon:

Lo G-H, Chen W-C, Wang H-M et al. Low-dose terlipressin plus banding ligation versus low-dose terlipressin alone in the prevention of very early rebleeding of oesophageal varices. Gut 2009;58:1275–1280.

Evidence Level: II

INFECTION CONTROL

The following papers have been extracted and commented upon:

Reilly JS, Stewart S, Christie P et al. Universal screening for meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: interim results from the NHS Scotland pathfinder project. J Hosp Infect 2010;74:35–41.

Evidence Level: IV

Martinez-Capolino C, Reyes K, Johnson L et al. Impact of active surveillance on meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus transmission and hospital resource utilisation. J Hosp Infect 2010;74:232–237.

Evidence Level: IV

Brenwald NP, Baker N, Oppenheim B. Feasibility study of a real-time PCR test for meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a point of care setting. J Hosp Infect 2010;74:245–249.

Evidence Level: III

ORGANIZATION

The following paper has been extracted and commented upon:

Thomas EJ, Lucke JF, Wueste L, Weavind L, Patel B. Association of telemedicine for remote monitoring of intensive care patients with mortality, complications, and length
of stay. JAMA 2009;302:2671–2678.

Bright idea

Evidence Level: IV

ICM RECOMMENDED REVIEW PAPER

Harvey S, Rowan K, Harrison D, Black N. Using clinical databases to evaluate healthcare interventions. Int J Technol Assessment Health Care 2010;26:86-94. 25 references.

OUTCOME

The following paper has been extracted and commented upon:

Stenestrand U, Wijkman M, Fredrikson M, Nystrom FH. Association between admission supine systolic blood pressure and 1-year mortality in patients admitted to the intensive care unit for acute chest pain. JAMA 2010;303:1167–1172.

Evidence Level: IV

RENAL

The following paper has been extracted and commented upon:

Srisawat N, Lawsin L, Uchino S, Bellomo R, Kellum JA and the BEST Kidney Investigators. Cost of acute renal replacement therapy in the intensive care unit: results from The Beginning and Ending Supportive Therapy for the Kidney (BEST Kidney) Study. Critical Care 2010;14:R46

Evidence Level: IV

RESPIRATORY

The following paper has been extracted and commented upon:

Sud S, Sud M, Friedrich JO et al. High frequency oscillation in patients with acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS): systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ 2010;340: c2327; doi:10.1136/bmj.c2327.

Top Quality Research

Evidence Level: I

SEPSIS

The following papers have been extracted and commented upon:

Jones AE, Shapiro NI, Trzeciak S, Arnold RC, Claremont HA, Kline JA. Lactate clearance vs central venous oxygen saturation as goals of early sepsis therapy. A randomized clinical trial. JAMA 2010; 303: 739–746.

‘Hot’ Topic

Evidence Level: II

Micek ST, Welch EC, Khan J et al. Empiric combination antibiotic therapy is associated with improved outcome against sepsis due to Gram-negative bacteria: a retrospective analysis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2010;54:1742–1748.

Evidence Level: IV

ICM RECOMMENDED REVIEW PAPERS

Huffman JL, Schenker S. Acute acalculous cholecystitis: a review. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2010;8:15-22. 64 references.

Silvestri L, van Saene HKF, Zandstra DF, Marshall JC, Gregori D, Gullo A.. Impact of selective decontamination of the digestive tract on multiple organ dysfunction syndrome: Systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Crit Care Med 2010;38:1370-1376. 48 references.

TRAUMA

The following paper have been extracted and commented upon:

The United Kingdom EVAR Trial Investigators. Endovascular repair of aortic aneurysm in patients physically ineligible for open repair. N Engl J Med 2010;362:1872-80.

Could change clinical practice

Evidence Level: II