Editorials:

Christopher W. Bryan-Brown and Kathleen Dracup

Dying By Irreconcilable Numbers
Am J Crit Care 2003 12(1): 6-8. [Full Text] [PDF]  

Cardiology Critical Care:

Mary G. Adams-Hamoda, Mary A. Caldwell, Nancy A. Stotts, and Barbara J. Drew

Factors to Consider When Analyzing 12-Lead Electrocardiograms for Evidence of Acute Myocardial Ischemia
ECG waveforms are influenced by normal physiological and technical factors as well as by pathophysiological factors. The authors explore factors that alter ECG findings and discuss alterations that interfere with ECG-based diagnosis of myocardial ischemia.
Am J Crit Care 2003 12(1): 9-16. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [CE Test]  

Critical Care Psychology:

Susan K. Frazier, Debra K. Moser, Linda K. Daley, Sharon McKinley, Barbara Riegel, Bonnie J. Garvin, and Kyungeh An

Critical Care Nurses’ Beliefs About and Reported Management of Anxiety
Anxiety is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. These authors explore 783 critical care nurses' beliefs about the importance of anxiety management and describe nurses' strategies to manage anxiety in their patients.
Am J Crit Care 2003 12(1): 19-27. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]  

Respiratory Critical Care:

Jeffrey M. Haynes, Ronald J. Sargent, and Elizabeth L. Sweeney

Use of Heliox to Avoid Intubation in a Child With Acute Severe Asthma and Hypercapnia
The authors report rapid, marked improvement in the blood gases of a 12-year-old girl with acute severe asthma and hypercapnia who breathed heliox (a unique therapy for acute asthma that decreases airway resistance without changing the diameter of the airway) during preparations for intubation.
Am J Crit Care 2003 12(1): 28-30. [Full Text] [PDF]  

Leslie A. Hoffman, Frederick J. Tasota, Edgar Delgado, Thomas G. Zullo, and Michael R. Pinsky

Effect of Tracheal Gas Insufflation During Weaning From Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation: A Preliminary Study
These authors determine if TGI, an adjunctive ventilatory technique that involves inserting a small catheter through an endotracheal or tracheostomy tube to a level just above the carina, can reduce ventilatory demand during weaning trials in patients who require prolonged mechanical ventilation.
Am J Crit Care 2003 12(1): 31-39. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]  

Critical Care Education:

Jean C. Toth

Comparing Basic Knowledge in Critical Care Nursing Between Nurses From the United States and Nurses From Other Countries
In this study, the author compares basic knowledge in critical care nursing between nurses from the United States and nurses from other countries and measures the reliability of the Basic Knowledge Assessment Tool. Data were collected from 682 critical care nurses.
Am J Crit Care 2003 12(1): 41-46. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]  

Patricia Davidson, Kate Introna, John Daly, Glenn Paull, Robyn Jarvis, Janet Angus, Tony Wilds, Jill Cockburn, Mary Dunford, and Kathleen Dracup

Cardiorespiratory Nurses’ Perceptions of Palliative Care in Nonmalignant Disease: Data for the Development of Clinical Practice
Current knowledge and practice reveal that nurses in many instances are not well prepared to deal with death and dying. In this exploratory study, focus groups were used to examine the perceptions of palliative care among 35 cardiorespiratory nurses. Four major themes were identified.
Am J Crit Care 2003 12(1): 47-53. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [CE Test]  

Neonatal Critical Care:

Sandra Lee Smith

Heart Period Variability of Intubated Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infants During Incubator Care and Maternal Holding
Measurement of heart period variability is a novel method that can be used to evaluate the maturity of the autonomic nervous system in premature infants. Heart rate has been used to measure infants' physiological stability during skin-to skin holding; variability in heart period (interbeat interval), a more sensitive measure of autonomic nervous system tone, has not. The author describes heart period variability in 14 intubated very-low-birth-weight infants during incubator care and during maternal skin-to-skin holding.
Am J Crit Care 2003 12(1): 54-64. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [CE Test]  

Emergency Care:

Robert Swor, Scott Compton, Lynn Farr, Sue Kokko, Fern Vining, Rebecca Pascual, and Raymond E. Jackson

Perceived Self-Efficacy in Performing and Willingness to Learn Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in an Elderly Population in a Suburban Community
In this study, the authors characterize the knowledge about, attitudes toward, and perceived self-efficacy of older persons in learning and providing CPR using surveys from 631 respondents who provided information on medical history, training in and willingness to provide CPR, and concerns about providing this intervention.
Am J Crit Care 2003 12(1): 65-70. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]  

Current Controversies in Critical Care:

Patricia Benner

Avoiding Ethical Emergencies
Am J Crit Care 2003 12(1): 71-72. [Full Text] [PDF]  

Cardiology Casebook:

Laurie G. Futterman and Louis Lemberg

Seminal Changes in the Management of the Acute Coronary Event: Current Concepts
Am J Crit Care 2003 12(1): 73-76. [Full Text] [PDF]  

ECG Puzzler:

Mary G. Adams-Hamoda and Michele M. Pelter

Heart Blocks
Am J Crit Care 2003 12(1): 77-78. [Full Text] [PDF]  

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