Long-term outcome of critically ill elderly patients requiring intensive care

Article Abstract:

Age by itself does not appear to predict long-term survival and quality of life among elderly patients who are critically ill. As the population continues to age and the use of technology to care for critically-ill, elderly patients increases, it is important to determine the effectiveness of intensive care intervention on patient outcome. Of 97 critically ill patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU), 54 were 75 years old or older and 43 were 65 to 74. There were no significant differences in long-term survival and quality of life between the two age groups. Overall 38 patients (39%) lived at least one year after discharge from the hospital. None of the patients admitted to the ICU following cardiac arrest survived one year. Overall, 19 patients stayed on the ICU for more than seven days, and their hospital costs accounted for 51% of the total hospital costs for all 97 patients. Ten of these 19 patients did not survive one year, and their hospital costs accounted for 28% of the total costs.

Health aspects, Aged, Elderly, Patient outcomes, Mortality, Critically ill, Age, Age (Biology)

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Leukocyte activation in the peripheral blood of patients with cirrhosis of the liver and SIRS: correlation with serum interleukin-6 levels and organ dysfunction

Article Abstract:

An increased production of the adhesion molecule CD11b on polymorphonuclear neutrophil leukocytes (PMNs) may be a measure of multiple organ dysfunction from systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Researcher studied 22 patients for one to seven days in a liver transplantation intensive care unit at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Sixteen patients developed SIRS and multiple organ dysfunction. Seven patients served as controls. Patients were evaluated by Goris scores and assigned to one of three groups according to organ dysfunction: mild, moderate or severe. Patients in the severe organ dysfunction category developed multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and died within several days. The severely ill patients consistently had higher levels of CD11b expression compared to those less ill, which indicated a greater degree of systemic inflammation.

Physiological aspects, Cell adhesion molecules, Multiple organ failure, Liver cirrhosis, Leukocytes, White blood cells

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Approach to management of the heartbeating 'brain dead' organ donor

Article Abstract:

About 98 percent of all actual organ donations originate from intensive-care units (ICUs). Proper management of potential donors in the ICUs would increase the donor pool, which is vitally important, because the donor pool needs to reach 10,000 to 15,000 a year in order to meet transplantation needs. Due in part to improper patient management in the ICU, only 15 to 20 percent of potential donors become actual donors. Organ supply is the most important factor that limits organ transplantation today. Factors controlled by the ICU that would increase the size of the donor pool include early donor recognition, fast and accurate declaration of brain death, proper physiological maintenance, and good coordination with an organ agency.

Analysis, Evaluation, Laws, regulations and rules, Transplantation of organs, tissues, etc., Organ transplantation, Tissue transplantation, Transplantation, Medical protocols, Organ donors, Tissue donors, Brain death, column

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