Articles

Correction to: Nationwide system to centralize decisions around ECMO use for severe COVID-19 pneumonia in Japan (Special Correspondence)

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

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Neuromuscular blockade management in the critically Ill patient

Neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) can be an effective modality to address challenges that arise daily in the intensive care unit (ICU). These medications are often used to optimize mechanical ventilation, ...

Authors: J. Ross Renew, Robert Ratzlaff, Vivian Hernandez-Torres, Sorin J. Brull and Richard C. Prielipp

Lymphopenia in severe coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19): systematic review and meta-analysis

Clinical and laboratory biomarkers to predict the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are essential in this pandemic situation of which resource allocation must be urgently prepared especially in t...

Authors: Ian Huang and Raymond Pranata

The advent of medical artificial intelligence: lessons from the Japanese approach

Artificial intelligence or AI has been heralded as the most transformative technology in healthcare, including critical care medicine. Globally, healthcare specialists and health ministries are being pressured...

Authors: Euma Ishii, Daniel K. Ebner, Satoshi Kimura, Louis Agha-Mir-Salim, Ryo Uchimido and Leo A. Celi

Association between low pH and unfavorable neurological outcome among out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients treated by extracorporeal CPR: a prospective observational cohort study in Japan

We aimed to identify the association of pH value in blood gas assessment with neurological outcome among out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients treated by extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (...

Authors: Yohei Okada, Takeyuki Kiguchi, Taro Irisawa, Kazuhisa Yoshiya, Tomoki Yamada, Koichi Hayakawa, Kazuo Noguchi, Tetsuro Nishimura, Takuya Ishibe, Yoshiki Yagi, Masafumi Kishimoto, Hiroshi Shintani, Yasuyuki Hayashi, Taku Sogabe, Takaya Morooka, Haruko Sakamoto…

Monocyte distribution width enhances early sepsis detection in the emergency department beyond SIRS and qSOFA

The initial presentation of sepsis in the emergency department (ED) is difficult to distinguish from other acute illnesses based upon similar clinical presentations. A new blood parameter, a measurement of inc...

Authors: Elliott D. Crouser, Joseph E. Parrillo, Greg S. Martin, David T. Huang, Pierre Hausfater, Ilya Grigorov, Diana Careaga, Tiffany Osborn, Mohamad Hasan and Liliana Tejidor

Low-chloride- versus high-chloride-containing hypertonic solution for the treatment of subarachnoid hemorrhage–related complications: The ACETatE (A low ChloriE hyperTonic solution for brain Edema) randomized trial

Recent reports have demonstrated that among patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) treated with hypertonic NaCl, resultant hyperchloremia has been associated with the development of acute kidney injury (A...

Authors: Ofer Sadan, Kai Singbartl, Jacqueline Kraft, Joao McONeil Plancher, Alexander C. M. Greven, Prem Kandiah, Cederic Pimentel, C. L. Hall, Alexander Papangelou, William H. Asbury, John J. Hanfelt and Owen Samuels

Leptospirosis as an important differential of pulmonary haemorrhage on the intensive care unit: a case managed with VV-ECMO

Leptospirosis is a potentially fatal zoonosis. It can cause a wide range of symptoms, including diffuse alveolar haemorrhage which occurs in a minority of cases but carries a mortality of over 70%. These patie...

Authors: James Barnacle, Stefan Gurney, Stephane Ledot and Suveer Singh

Impact of host- and early treatment-related factors on mortality in ICU patients with candidemia: a bicentric retrospective observational study

Candidemia is one of the most life-threatening infections among critically ill patients in the intensive care unit. However, the number of studies on the impact of host- and early treatment-related factors on ...

Authors: Shingo Ohki, Nobuaki Shime, Tadashi Kosaka and Naohisa Fujita

Nationwide system to centralize decisions around ECMO use for severe COVID-19 pneumonia in Japan (Special Correspondence)

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is spreading in Japan. We have collected a total of 26 patients with COVID-19 who required extracorporeal membranous oxygenation (ECMO). The available data from th...

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Antimicrobials administration time in patients with suspected sepsis: is faster better? An analysis by propensity score

Early use of antimicrobials is a critical intervention in the treatment of patients with sepsis. The exact time of initiation is controversial and its early administration may be a difficult task in crowded em...

Authors: Johana Ascuntar, Deibie Mendoza and Fabián Jaimes

Spinal cord autoregulation using near-infrared spectroscopy under normal, hypovolemic, and post-fluid resuscitation conditions in a swine model: a comparison with cerebral autoregulation

Few studies have investigated spinal cord autoregulation using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Here, we assessed spinal cord autoregulation under normal, hypovolemic, and post-fluid resuscitation conditions...

Authors: Tadayoshi Kurita, Shingo Kawashima, Koji Morita and Yoshiki Nakajima

Clinical outcomes of empirical high-dose meropenem in critically ill patients with sepsis and septic shock: a randomized controlled trial

Appropriate antimicrobial dosing is challenging because of changes in pharmacokinetics (PK) parameters and an increase in multidrug-resistant (MDR) organisms in critically ill patients. This study aimed to eva...

Authors: Tospon Lertwattanachai, Preecha Montakantikul, Viratch Tangsujaritvijit, Pitsucha Sanguanwit, Jetjamnong Sueajai, Saranya Auparakkitanon and Pitchaya Dilokpattanamongkol

Serial change of neutrophil extracellular traps in tracheal aspirate of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome: report of three cases

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are fibrous structures released from activated neutrophils. NET formation has been reported to be associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, ther...

Authors: Masahiro Ojima, Norihisa Yamamoto, Tomoya Hirose, Shigeto Hamaguchi, Osamu Tasaki, Takashi Kojima, Kazunori Tomono, Hiroshi Ogura and Takeshi Shimazu

Japan ECMOnet for COVID-19: telephone consultations for cases with severe respiratory failure caused by COVID-19

Recently, the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) started spreading in Japan. Therefore, the number of patients with severe COVID-19 requiring extracorporeal membranous oxygenation (ECMO) is expected to ...

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Management of life-threatening hemoptysis

It is estimated that 5–14% of patients presenting with hemoptysis will have life-threatening hemoptysis, with a reported mortality rate between 9 and 38%. This manuscript provides a comprehensive literature re...

Authors: Hasmeena Kathuria, Helen M. Hollingsworth, Rajendran Vilvendhan and Christine Reardon

Reply to the comment

Authors: Yohei Okada, Takeshi Unoki, Yujiro Matsuishi, Yuko Egawa, Kei Hayashida and Shigeaki Inoue

Comment on Early versus delayed mobilization for in-hospital mortality and health-related quality of life among critically ill patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis (Okada et al., Journal of Intensive Care 2019)

Critical comment on the review by Okada et al. on the effect of early versus delayed mobilization because of their definition of early mobilization as mobilization within a week of ICU admission in contrast to...

Authors: K. Friedrich Kuhn and Stefan J. Schaller

Thoracic fluid content: a novel parameter for predicting failed weaning from mechanical ventilation

Weaning of patients from the mechanical ventilation remains one of the critical decisions in intensive care unit. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of thoracic fluid content (TFC) as a predictor of wea...

Authors: Shymaa Fathy, Ahmed M. Hasanin, Mohamed Raafat, Maha M. A. Mostafa, Ahmed M. Fetouh, Mohamed Elsayed, Esraa M. Badr, Hanan M. Kamal and Ahmed Z. Fouad

Variables predicting weaning outcome in prolonged mechanically ventilated tracheotomized patients: a retrospective study

Several studies have assessed predictors of weaning and extubation outcome in short-term mechanically ventilated patients, but there are only few studies on predictors of weaning from prolonged mechanical vent...

Authors: Alessandro Ghiani, Joanna Paderewska, Alexandros Sainis, Alexander Crispin, Swenja Walcher and Claus Neurohr

Should we treat sepsis-induced DIC with anticoagulants?

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a common complication in sepsis because of crosstalk between the immune system and the coagulation system. Several anticoagulant agents have been tested in an at...

Authors: Yu Inata

A question is “what are the optimal targets for anticoagulant therapies?”

A high mortality rate is found among septic patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Anticoagulants have been used for treating septic DIC especially in Japanese clinical settings; however, ...

Authors: Nobuyuki Yokoyama, Shunsuke Takaki, Masashi Yokose, Kaori Kuwabara, Akiko Anzai, Takako Hamada, Shizuka Kashiwagi, Kenta Okamura, Yoh Sugawara and Takahisa Goto

Validity of an under-mattress sensor for objective sleep measurement in critically ill patients: a prospective observational study

Considering the adverse effects of sleep disturbance in critical care settings, accurate assessment could aid therapy; however, methodological inadequacies mean that no viable option is currently available. Re...

Authors: Kanae Nagatomo, Tomoyuki Masuyama, Yusuke Iizuka, Jun Makino, Junji Shiotsuka and Masamitsu Sanui

Vitamin C may reduce the duration of mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients: a meta-regression analysis

Our recent meta-analysis indicated that vitamin C may shorten the length of ICU stay and the duration of mechanical ventilation. Here we analyze modification of the vitamin C effect on ventilation time, by the...

Authors: Harri Hemilä and Elizabeth Chalker

Hemodynamic effects of intravenous paracetamol in critically ill children with septic shock on inotropic support

Treatment with intravenous paracetamol may impair hemodynamics in critically ill adults. Few data are available in children. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency, extent, and risk factors of ...

Authors: Elhanan Nahum, Avichai Weissbach, Eytan Kaplan and Gili Kadmon

Molecular diversity of extended-spectrum β-lactamases and carbapenemases, and antimicrobial resistance

Along with the recent spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria, outbreaks of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and carbapenemase-producing bacteria present a serious challenge to clinicians. β-lactam antibiot...

Authors: Teiji Sawa, Kunihiko Kooguchi and Kiyoshi Moriyama

Neuromuscular blockade in acute respiratory distress syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Neuromuscular blocking agent (NMBA) has been proposed by medical guidelines for early severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) because of its survival benefits. However, new studies have provided evid...

Authors: An Thi Nhat Ho, Setu Patolia and Christophe Guervilly

Correlation between urinary biomarker and organ failure in patients with sepsis and patients after esophagectomy: a prospective observational study

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a diagnostic marker for acute kidney injury (AKI). NGAL expression is highly induced not only in kidney injury but also in bacterial infection, inflammation...

Authors: Chieko Mitaka, Chika Ishibashi, Izumi Kawagoe, Takashi Hashimoto, Makoto Takahashi, Daizoh Satoh and Eiichi Inada

Impact of the stress ulcer prophylactic protocol on reducing the unnecessary administration of stress ulcer medications and gastrointestinal bleeding: a single-center, retrospective pre-post study

Clinically significant gastrointestinal bleeding from stress ulcers increases patient mortality in intensive care, and histamine type 2 receptor blockers and proton pump inhibitors as stress ulcer prophylaxes ...

Authors: Osamu Ogasawara, Taiki Kojima, Mitsunori Miyazu and Kazuya Sobue

Correction to: To develop a regional ICU mortality prediction model during the first 24 h of ICU admission utilizing MODS and NEMS with six other independent variables from the critical care information system (CCIS) Ontario, Canada

In the original publication of this article [1], there were several transcription errors in the logistic regression equation model as below

Authors: Raymond Kao, Fran Priestap and Allan Donner

The effect of antithrombin added to recombinant human-soluble thrombomodulin for severe community-acquired pneumonia-associated disseminated intravascular coagulation: a retrospective cohort study using a nationwide inpatient database

Studies showed potential benefits of recombinant human-soluble thrombomodulin (rhTM) and antithrombin for treating sepsis associated disseminated intravascular coagulation. However, benefits of their combinati...

Authors: Jun Suzuki, Yusuke Sasabuchi, Shuji Hatakeyama, Hiroki Matsui, Teppei Sasahara, Yuji Morisawa, Toshiyuki Yamada and Hideo Yasunaga

Risk modifiers of acute respiratory distress syndrome in patients with non-pulmonary sepsis: a retrospective analysis of the FORECAST study

Predisposing conditions and risk modifiers instead of causes and risk factors have recently been used as alternatives to identify patients at a risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, data...

Authors: Hiroki Iriyama, Toshikazu Abe, Shigeki Kushimoto, Seitaro Fujishima, Hiroshi Ogura, Atsushi Shiraishi, Daizoh Saitoh, Toshihiko Mayumi, Toshio Naito, Akira Komori, Toru Hifumi, Yasukazu Shiino, Taka-aki Nakada, Takehiko Tarui, Yasuhiro Otomo, Kohji Okamoto…

Patients suffering from psychological impairments following critical illness are in need of information

Because critical illness survivors frequently experience several long-term psychological impairments altering quality of life after ICU, there is a trend towards increasing follow-up care, mainly via ICU follo...

Authors: Johan H. Vlake, Michel E. van Genderen, Anna Schut, Martijn Verkade, Evert-Jan Wils, Diederik Gommers and Jasper van Bommel

Health economic evaluations of sepsis interventions in critically ill adult patients: a systematic review

Sepsis is a global health priority. Interventions to reduce the burden of sepsis need to be both effective and cost-effective. We performed a systematic review of the literature on health economic evaluations ...

Authors: Alisa M. Higgins, Joanne E. Brooker, Michael Mackie, D. Jamie Cooper and Anthony H. Harris

Circadian disruption of core body temperature in trauma patients: a single-center retrospective observational study

Circadian clock alterations were poorly reported in trauma patients, although they have a critical role in human physiology. Core body temperature is a clinical variable regulated by the circadian clock. Our o...

Authors: Aurélien Culver, Benjamin Coiffard, François Antonini, Gary Duclos, Emmanuelle Hammad, Coralie Vigne, Jean-Louis Mege, Karine Baumstarck, Mohamed Boucekine, Laurent Zieleskiewicz and Marc Leone

Epidemiology and outcomes of sepsis among hospitalizations with systemic lupus erythematosus admitted to the ICU: a population-based cohort study

Sepsis is the most common cause of premature death among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) aged ≤ 50 years in the United States, and infection is the most common cause of admission to the ICU am...

Authors: Lavi Oud

Correction to: Predictors of intracranial hemorrhage in adult patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: an observational cohort study

In the original publication of this article [1], the first author’s name should be changed from Alexander Fletcher Sandersjöö to Alexander Fletcher-Sandersjöö. The family name of the author is Fletcher-Sanders...

Authors: Alexander Fletcher-Sandersjöö, Jiri Bartek Jr, Eric Peter Thelin, Anders Eriksson, Adrian Elmi-Terander, Mikael Broman and Bo-Michael Bellander

Dexmedetomidine improved renal function in patients with severe sepsis: an exploratory analysis of a randomized controlled trial

Dexmedetomidine has been reported to improve organ dysfunction in critically ill patients. In a recent randomized controlled trial (Dexmedetomidine for Sepsis in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Randomized Evolution ...

Authors: Tsuyoshi Nakashima, Kyohei Miyamoto, Nozomu Shima, Seiya Kato, Yu Kawazoe, Yoshinori Ohta, Takeshi Morimoto and Hitoshi Yamamura

Serum histone H3 levels and platelet counts are potential markers for coagulopathy with high risk of death in septic patients: a single-center observational study

Recent studies have suggested that anticoagulant therapy does not confer a survival benefit overall in sepsis, but might be beneficial in sepsis-associated disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). In part...

Authors: Takashi Ito, Takaaki Totoki, Yayoi Yokoyama, Tomotsugu Yasuda, Hiroaki Furubeppu, Shingo Yamada, Ikuro Maruyama and Yasuyuki Kakihana

Non-convulsive seizures in the encephalopathic critically ill cancer patient does not necessarily portend a poor prognosis

Non-convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) is present in 10–30% of ICU patients with altered mental status (AMS) and is associated to poor outcomes. To our knowledge, there is no data describing the prevalence a...

Authors: Cristina Gutierrez, Merry Chen, Lei Feng and Sudhakar Tummala

Monitoring of muscle mass in critically ill patients: comparison of ultrasound and two bioelectrical impedance analysis devices

Skeletal muscle atrophy commonly occurs in critically ill patients, and decreased muscle mass is associated with worse clinical outcomes. Muscle mass can be assessed using various tools, including ultrasound a...

Authors: Nobuto Nakanishi, Rie Tsutsumi, Yoshihiro Okayama, Takuya Takashima, Yoshitoyo Ueno, Taiga Itagaki, Yasuo Tsutsumi, Hiroshi Sakaue and Jun Oto

Parental opinions regarding consent for observational research of no or minimal risk in the pediatric intensive care unit

The aim of the study was to determine opinions and knowledge regarding the process of obtaining informed consent to participate in observational research in pediatric intensive care.

Authors: Jessica Hodson, Christiana Garros, Jodie Jensen, Jonathan P. Duff, Gonzalo Garcia Guerra and Ari R. Joffe

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation in critically ill traumatic brain injury patients attenuates muscle atrophy, neurophysiological disorders, and weakness: a randomized controlled trial

Critically ill traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients experience extensive muscle damage during their stay in the intensive care unit. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) has been considered a promising...

Authors: Paulo Eugênio Silva, Rita de Cássia Marqueti, Karina Livino-de-Carvalho, Amaro Eduardo Tavares de Araujo, Joana Castro, Vinicius Maldaner da Silva, Luciana Vieira, Vinicius Carolino Souza, Lucas Ogura Dantas, Gerson Cipriano Jr, Otávio Tolêdo Nóbrega, Nicolas Babault and Joao Luiz Quagliotti Durigan

Role of serial lactate measurement to predict 28-day mortality in patients undergoing emergency laparotomy for perforation peritonitis: prospective observational study

Serial lactate measurement is found to predict mortality in septic shock. Majority of patients with perforation peritonitis for emergency laparotomy are in sepsis and mortality rate is substantial. However, la...

Authors: S. P. Jobin, Souvik Maitra, Dalim Kumar Baidya, Rajeshwari Subramaniam, Ganga Prasad and Vathulru Seenu

Early versus delayed mobilization for in-hospital mortality and health-related quality of life among critically ill patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials aimed to investigate the efficacy of early mobilization among critically ill adult patients.

Authors: Yohei Okada, Takeshi Unoki, Yujiro Matsuishi, Yuko Egawa, Kei Hayashida and Shigeaki Inoue

Change in diaphragm and intercostal muscle thickness in mechanically ventilated patients: a prospective observational ultrasonography study

Diaphragm atrophy is observed in mechanically ventilated patients. However, the atrophy is not investigated in other respiratory muscles. Therefore, we conducted a two-center prospective observational study to...

Authors: Nobuto Nakanishi, Jun Oto, Yoshitoyo Ueno, Emiko Nakataki, Taiga Itagaki and Masaji Nishimura

Early management of sepsis in medical patients in rural Thailand: a single-center prospective observational study

The burden of sepsis is highest in low- and middle-income countries, though the management of sepsis in these settings is poorly characterized. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the early ma...

Authors: Kristina E. Rudd, Viriya Hantrakun, Ranjani Somayaji, Suchart Booraphun, Chaiyaporn Boonsri, Annette L. Fitzpatrick, Nicholas P. J. Day, Prapit Teparrukkul, Direk Limmathurotsakul and T. Eoin West

Influence of lung aeration on diaphragmatic contractility during a spontaneous breathing trial: an ultrasound study

A spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) is a major diagnostic tool to predict successfully extubation in patients. Several factors may lead to weaning failure, including the degree of lung aeration loss and diaphr...

Authors: Jing Xia, Chuan-Yun Qian, Li Yang, Mei-Ju Li, Xiao-Xue Liu, Ting Yang and Qin Lu

Determinants of gait independence after mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit: a Japanese multicenter retrospective exploratory cohort study

Gait independence is one of the most important factors related to returning home from the hospital for patients treated in the intensive care unit (ICU), but the factors affecting gait independence have not be...

Authors: Shinichi Watanabe, Toru Kotani, Shunsuke Taito, Kohei Ota, Kenzo Ishii, Mika Ono, Hajime Katsukawa, Ryo Kozu, Yasunari Morita, Ritsuro Arakawa and Shuichi Suzuki

Comparison of point-of-care peripheral perfusion assessment using pulse oximetry sensor with manual capillary refill time: clinical pilot study in the emergency department

Traditional capillary refill time (CRT) is a manual measurement that is commonly used by clinicians to identify deterioration in peripheral perfusion status. Our study compared a novel method of measuring peri...

Authors: Koichiro Shinozaki, Lee S. Jacobson, Kota Saeki, Hideaki Hirahara, Naoki Kobayashi, Steve Weisner, Julianne M. Falotico, Timmy Li, Junhwan Kim and Lance B. Becker