Tracman said no, but others have shown benefit. Siempos’ meta-analysis of 13 trials suggests thinking again. Depending on which statistical model you use, it appears that early tracheostomy may reduce 30 day mortality, particularly, or exclusively in patients with high baseline risk of death. Less pneumonia and, unsurprisingly, shorter ICU stay is also suggested. However longer …
Recent articles on statins for ARDS treatment, VAP treatment and COPD excerbation prevention have all been disappointing. In the lab they are anti-inflammatory, protect coagulation pathways, and inhibit micro-organisms. On the unit there have been suggestions that they prevent the onset of, and reduce mortality in, severe infections and sepsis, but this has been difficult to replicate in …
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Which co-morbidities really matter (at least in Scotland!)?
July 30, 2014
For over 1000 Scottish teaching hospital admissions, using univariate logistic regression: IHD, ALD, COPD, obesity, rheumatological disease, functional status and, just barely, age all impact upon unit or hospital death. Surprisingly many conditions such as DM, malignancy, tromboembolic disease, CVA and several others did not.