Editorials:

Kathleen Dracup and Christopher W. Bryan-Brown

Navigating the Future of Critical Care
Am J Crit Care 2004 13(3): 187-188. [Full Text] [PDF]  

Letters to the Editor:

Albert Santos

LETTER TO THE EDITORS
Am J Crit Care 2004 13(3): 190. [Full Text] [PDF]  

AACN 2004 Distinguished Research Lecture:

Cathie E. Guzzetta

CRITICAL CARE RESEARCH: WEAVING A BODY-MIND-SPIRIT TAPESTRY
Am J Crit Care 2004 13(3): 192. [Full Text] [PDF]  

Psychological Issues in Critical Care:

Colleen E. Gonzalez, Diane L. Carroll, Jeanne S. Elliott, Patricia A. Fitzgerald, and Heather J. Vallent

VISITING PREFERENCES OF PATIENTS IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AND IN A COMPLEX CARE MEDICAL UNIT
Current nursing literature clearly indicates that family visiting practices in acute care settings vary widely. In this study, 62 patients participated in a structured interview that assessed patients' preferences for visiting, stressors and benefits of visiting, and patients' perceived satisfaction with hospital guidelines for visiting.
Am J Crit Care 2004 13(3): 194-198. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [CE Test]  

Case Study in Critical Care:

Mehrdad M. Behnia and Oscar W. Cummings

DESQUAMATIVE INTERSTITIAL PNEUMONIA MASQUERADING AS ACUTE LIFE-THREATENING PULMONARY EMBOLISM
The authors report the case of a 44-year-old man with clinical and echocardiographic features of massive pulmonary embolism. However, a pulmonary angiogram did not reveal any large embolus. Desquamative interstitial pneumonia and bronchopneumonia were found at autopsy.
Am J Crit Care 2004 13(3): 199-201. [Full Text] [PDF]  

End-of-Life Care in the ICU:

Lilia Susana Meltzer and Loucine Missak Huckabay

CRITICAL CARE NURSES’ PERCEPTIONS OF FUTILE CARE AND ITS EFFECT ON BURNOUT
The authors set out to determine the relationship between critical care nurses' perceptions of futile care and the effect of futile care on burnout. The following research question was tackled: Is there a relationship between frequency of moral distress situations involving futile care and emotional exhaustion?
Am J Crit Care 2004 13(3): 202-208. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [CE Test]  

Mary Beth Happ, Patricia Tuite, Kathy Dobbin, Dana DiVirgilio-Thomas, and Julius Kitutu

COMMUNICATION ABILITY, METHOD, AND CONTENT AMONG NONSPEAKING NONSURVIVING PATIENTS TREATED WITH MECHANICAL VENTILATION IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT
During a 12-month period, data were collected on 50 ICU patients who received mechanical ventilation and died during hospitalization. Data on communication method, use of sedation/analgesia, and use of physical restraints were recorded. The authors describe the communication ability, methods, and content among this group of patients.
Am J Crit Care 2004 13(3): 210-218. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [CE Test]  

Techniques in Critical Care:

Ellen H. Elpern, Luminita Stutz, Sarah Peterson, David P. Gurka, and Annalynn Skipper

OUTCOMES ASSOCIATED WITH ENTERAL TUBE FEEDINGS IN A MEDICAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT
Underfeeding of patients who rely on enteral tube feedings most likely is due primarily to interruptions in the infusions. Strategies to improve energy intake require an understanding of such interruptions and associated outcomes. These authors 1) compare daily energy intake with goal energy intake, 2) ascertain frequency, duration, and reasons for interruptions in feedings, and 3) determine occurrences of feeding intolerance in 39 patients studied for 276 feeding days.
Am J Crit Care 2004 13(3): 221-227. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]  

Annika Welinder, Leif Sörnmo, Dirk Q. Feild, Charles L. Feldman, Jonas Pettersson, Galen S. Wagner, and Olle Pahlm

COMPARISON OF SIGNAL QUALITY BETWEEN EASI AND MASON-LIKAR 12-LEAD ELECTROCARDIOGRAMS DURING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Studies suggest that the EASI system is less susceptible to artifacts than is the standard 12-lead ECG. To test this hypothesis, the authors systematically compared baseline wander and myoelectric noise amplitudes in controlled situations between simultaneously recorded EASI-derived 12-lead ECGs and ML 12-lead ECGs.
Am J Crit Care 2004 13(3): 228-234. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]  

Elaine L. Larson, Theresa Ciliberti, Christopher Chantler, Jolly Abraham, Editha M. Lazaro, Majella Venturanza, and Preeti Pancholi

COMPARISON OF TRADITIONAL AND DISPOSABLE BED BATHS IN CRITICALLY ILL PATIENTS
For bedridden patients unable to perform personal hygiene measures because of acute illness, the bed bath, with either the traditional basin or, more recently, disposable baths, has long been a measure for improving hygiene and comfort. In this study, the authors compared the traditional basin bed bath with a prepackaged disposable bed bath in 40 patients in terms of 4 outcomes: time and quality of bath, microbial counts on the skin, nurses' satisfaction, and costs.
Am J Crit Care 2004 13(3): 235-241. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]  

Cardiology Casebook:

Laurie G. Futterman and Louis Lemberg

STATIN PLEIOTROPY: FACT OR FICTION?
Am J Crit Care 2004 13(3): 244-249. [Full Text] [PDF]  

ECG Puzzler:

Mary G. Adams and Michele M. Pelter

Retrograde Atrial Conduction
Am J Crit Care 2004 13(3): 251-252. [Full Text] [PDF]  

2004 National Teaching Institute Research Abstracts:

RESEARCH ORAL PRESENTATIONS
Am J Crit Care 2004 13(3): 253-276. [Full Text] [PDF]  

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