Recently published papers: Tracheostomy: why rather than when? Obesity: does it matter? And stroke: diagnosis, thrombosis and prognosis
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* Corresponding author: Richard Venn richard.venn@wash.nhs.uk
Worthing Hospital, Lyndhurst Road, Worthing BN11 2DH, UK
Critical Care 2007, 11:127 doi:10.1186/cc5725
Published: 27 April 2007Abstract
Three studies explore the case for tracheostomies in the intensive care unit (ICU). Tracheostomies appear to have no effect on ICU survival, according to a prospective observational cohort study that used a propensity score. In obese patients, surgical tracheostomies were associated with an increased risk of complications, although these patients appeared to have a lower mortality in the ICU. A third study failed to show that tracheostomies reduced sedation requirements. MRI appears to be the investigation of choice for the diagnosis of acute stroke and thrombolysis is a safe and effective treatment for acute ischaemic strokes. Virtually all patients with a stroke may benefit from ongoing care in a stroke unit.