Probiotics reduce infections for ICU patients

Prophylactic administration of probiotics appears to promote a return to a more normal Th1/Th2 balance in patients with severe traumatic brain injury, which may contribute to a decreased nosocomial infection rate.

A prognostic marker in SAH?

Plasma copeptin level is substantially higher in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) compared to healthy controls, and is an independent predictor of functional outcome and death.

suPAR levels in patients with burn injuries

Pulmonary levels of soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) may be useful for diagnosis of inhalation injury, while systemic suPAR levels may be prognostic for duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU-stay.

HFOV in neonates and infants

High-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) is associated with shorter length of mechanical ventilation and intensive care unit stay in neonates and infants with respiratory distress following congenital heart surgery.

Dynamic indices of lactate homeostasis

Measuring the magnitude, duration and trend of changes in blood lactate concentration over time may be more useful in predicting outcome in critically ill patients than a single measurement taken on admission.

Timing organ donation discussions

The time at which organ donation is discussed with relatives of patients with catastrophic brain injury in the Netherlands has changed over 20 years, maybe contributing to the high refusal rate.