Editorials:

Christopher W. Bryan-Brown and Kathleen Dracup

Procrastination Is the Thief of Time: Surviving Guidelines
Am J Crit Care 2004 13(4): 287-289. [Full Text] [PDF]  

Letters to the Editor:

Charles T. Van Buren

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Am J Crit Care 2004 13(4): 290. [Full Text] [PDF]  

Corrections:

CORRECTION
Am J Crit Care 2004 13(4): 290. [Full Text] [PDF]  

CORRECTION
Am J Crit Care 2004 13(4): 358. [Full Text] [PDF]  

Pain Relief in Critical Care:

Kathleen Puntillo and S. Jill Ley

Appropriately Timed Analgesics Control Pain Due to Chest Tube Removal
The authors tested pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions to alleviate pain during chest tube removal in 74 cardiac surgery patients. Four interventions were tested: (1) 4 mg intravenous morphine and procedural information, (2) 30 mg intravenous ketorolac and procedural information, (3) 4 mg intravenous morphine plus procedural and sensory information, and (4) 30 mg intravenous ketorolac plus procedural and sensory information.
Am J Crit Care 2004 13(4): 292-302. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [CE Test]  

Psychological Issues in Critical Care:

Sara Paul and Nancee V. Sneed

Strategies for Behavior Change in Patients With Heart Failure
Appropriate management of chronic heart failure and its signs and symptoms requires a considerable amount of participation by patients. The Transtheoretical Model is a framework for assessing and addressing the concept of readiness for behavior change, which occurs in a 6-step process. The authors discuss the stages of change, interventions to assist patients with heart failure in progressing through those stages toward maintenance of changed lifestyle behaviors, and methods for measuring the level of patients' readiness for change.
Am J Crit Care 2004 13(4): 305-313. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]  

Guest Editorials:

Evan C. Lipsitz

Cannulation Injuries of the Radial Artery
Am J Crit Care 2004 13(4): 314-315. [Full Text] [PDF]  

Critical Care Techniques:

Steven G. Wallach

Cannulation Injury of the Radial Artery: Diagnosis and Treatment Algorithm
Cannulation of the radial artery can result in complications ranging from arterial thrombosis, arterial aneurysm, compartment syndrome, infection, nerve injury, and skin necrosis to possible thumb or even hand necrosis if not recognized and treated early. In this case report, the author presents the anatomy of the radial artery, the diagnosis of injury, and a treatment algorithm so that potential devastating hand complications can be avoided.
Am J Crit Care 2004 13(4): 315-319. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]  

2004 AACN Distinguished Research Lecture:

Cathie E. Guzzetta

Critical Care Research: Weaving a Body-Mind-Spirit Tapestry
Tapestries are created by the collective efforts of many and are configured by the weavers' consciousness and spirit. A holistic framework used to weave a body-mind-spirit tapestry for guiding holistic clinical practice and research is described. Various research studies that document the effects of holistic interventions on patients' outcomes are examined. Implications for clinical practice are explored.
Am J Crit Care 2004 13(4): 320-327. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [CE Test]  

End-of-Life Care:

Karin T. Kirchhoff, Prashanth Reddy Anumandla, Kristine Therese Foth, Shea Nicole Lues, and Stephanie Ho Gilbertson-White

Documentation on Withdrawal of Life Support in Adult Patients in the Intensive Care Unit
Patients' charts have been a source of data for retrospective studies of the quality of end-of-life care. These authors reviewed the charts of 50 adult patients and assessed the completeness and comprehensiveness of documentation by care providers in the ICU of end-of-life care of patients and their families.
Am J Crit Care 2004 13(4): 328-334. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [CE Test]  

Critical Care Management:

Ruth M. Kleinpell

Randomized Trial of an Intensive Care Unit–Based Early Discharge Planning Intervention for Critically Ill Elderly Patients
In a randomized clinical trial, the author pilot tested an ICU-based nursing screening intervention to assist in determining the discharge needs and outcomes of 100 critically ill elderly patients. In-hospital and mailed questionnaires were used. Patients 65 years and older who were hospitalized in 1 of 2 ICUs at 2 midwestern university-affiliated medical centers were recruited for the study.
Am J Crit Care 2004 13(4): 335-345. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]  

Current Controversies in Critical Care:

Patricia Benner

Relational Ethics of Comfort, Touch, and Solace—Endangered Arts?
Am J Crit Care 2004 13(4): 346-349. [Full Text] [PDF]  

Cardiology Casebook:

Kathryn Buchanan Keller and Louis Lemberg

Prinzmetal’s Angina
Am J Crit Care 2004 13(4): 350-354. [Full Text] [PDF]  

ECG Puzzler:

Michele M. Pelter and Mary G. Adams

Wide QRS Duration
Am J Crit Care 2004 13(4): 355-356. [Full Text] [PDF]  

2004 Research Poster Abstracts:

2004 Research Poster Abstracts
Am J Crit Care 2004 13(4): 357-358. [Full Text] [PDF]  

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