A compendium of critical appraisals in Intensive Care Medicine research and related specialties
In low and moderate risk patients presenting to the Emergency Department with symptoms suggestive of pulmonary embolism (PE), can a higher d-dimer threshold be used to safely exclude pulmonary embolism without the need for imaging?
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Is 5-day oral lefamulin non-inferior to 7-day oral moxifloxacin in the management of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia?
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Prevention of Early Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia after Cardiac Arrest Francois et al. N Engl J Med 2019;381:1831-42. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1812379 Clinical Question In post out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients treated with targeted temperature management, does the use of empirical antibiotics prevent early ventilator-associated pneumonia? Background Rates of survival to hospital discharge and good neurological outcomes post out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OOHCA) remain poor Despite […]
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In patients with breast cancer having potentially curative surgery, does a strategy of paravertebral block and propofol anaesthesia, compared to a strategy of opioid and sevoflurane anaesthesia, reduce local or metastatic recurrence?
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In patients post myocardial infarction, does low dose colchicine compared with placebo, reduce ischaemic cardiovascular events?
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In patients undergoing major surgery who are at high risk of complications, does light anaesthesia (BIS 50) compared with deep anaesthesia (BIS 35) improve survival at 1-year?
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Effects of tranexamic acid on death, disability, vascular occlusive events and other morbidities in patients with acute traumatic brain injury (CRASH – 3): a randomised, placebo-controlled trial The CRASH-3 trial collaborators. The Lancet, 2019; doi.org/10.1016/S1040-6736(19)32233-0 Clinical Question In patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), does the administration of tranexamic acid (TXA) under 3 hours from injury, compared with placebo, reduce […]
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In mechanically ventilated ICU patients does a conservative use of oxygen therapy compared to usual oxygen therapy affect the number of ventilator-free-days?
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Effect of Vitamin C Infusion on Organ Failure and Biomarkers of Inflammation and Vascular Injury in Patients With Sepsis and Severe Acute Respiratory Failure: The CITRIS-ALI Randomized Clinical Trial Fowler AA. JAMA; 2019;322(13):1261-1270 Clinical Question In patients with sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome, can intravenous administration of vitamin C, compared to placebo, reduce organ failure scores and biomarkers of inflammation and vascular injury? […]
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In patients weaning from mechanical ventilation, does a spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) with pressure support (PS) for 30 minutes vs a SBT with T-piece for 2 hours differ in the rate of successful liberation from mechanical ventilation (MV)?
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