Editorials:

Christopher W. Bryan-Brown and Kathleen Dracup

The Fallibility of Certainty
Am J Crit Care 2005 14(1): 9-11. [Full Text] [PDF]  

Letters to the Editor:

Mary Beverly Gallagher

LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Am J Crit Care 2005 14(1): 14. [Full Text] [PDF]  

Ethics in Critical Care:

Jennifer L. McAdam, Nancy A. Stotts, Geraldine Padilla, and Kathleen Puntillo

Attitudes of Critically Ill Filipino Patients and Their Families Toward Advance Directives
Healthcare professionals' understanding of how culture influences attitudes toward advance directives can improve knowledge and completion of these documents. With this study, the authors set out to understand the attitudes of critically ill Filipino American patients and their families toward advance directives. Participants were interviewed with the Advance Directive Attitude Survey and A Short Acculturation Scale for Filipino Americans.
Am J Crit Care 2005 14(1): 17-25. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]  

Critical Care Technology:

Karen K. Giuliano and Thomas L. Higgins

New-Generation Pulse Oximetry in the Care of Critically Ill Patients
The authors reviewed peer-reviewed studies to date on use of the new-generation pulse oximeters, which are manufactured with algorithms to filter out patients' body motions, and describe the application of new-generation pulse oximetry in clinical practice in critical care. The data are organized into a table.
Am J Crit Care 2005 14(1): 26-37. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [CE Test]  

Milo Engoren and Daniel Barbee

Comparison of Cardiac Output Determined by Bioimpedance, Thermodilution, and the Fick Method
The authors determined the precision and bias between 3 methods for determining cardiac output: bioimpedance, thermodilution, and the Fick method. Cardiac output was determined by using bioimpedance via neck and thorax patches and thermodilution via pulmonary artery catheter in 46 patients in the intensive care unit. A subset of 15 patients also had cardiac output determined by using the Fick method.
Am J Crit Care 2005 14(1): 40-45. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]  

Transplant Critical Care:

Carole C. Ballew and James D. Bergin

Management of Patients With Preformed Reactive Antibodies Who Are Awaiting Cardiac Transplantation
A variety of treatments--each has accompanying complications and considerations for the transplant teams--are used in cardiac transplantation programs in attempts to reduce the concentration of preformed reactive antibodies. Each treatment must also be assessed for therapeutic response. The authors present a case report and discuss options for managing patients with preformed antibodies.
Am J Crit Care 2005 14(1): 46-51. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]  

Sedation in Critical Care:

Mary Jo Grap, C. Todd Borchers, Cindy L. Munro, R. K. Elswick, Jr, and Curtis N. Sessler

Actigraphy in the Critically Ill: Correlation With Activity, Agitation, and Sedation
The authors determined the feasibility of continuous measurement of limb movement via wrist and ankle actigraphy (an activity measure) in critically ill patients and compared actigraphy measurements with patients' observed activity, scores on sedation-agitation scales (RASS and Comfort Scale), and heart rate and blood pressure. This evaluation of actigraphy provides beneficial information for further use of the actigraph as a research tool.
Am J Crit Care 2005 14(1): 52-60. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]  

Guest Editorial:

Karen J. Lafleur

Will Adequate Sedation Assessment Include the Use of Actigraphy in the Future?
Am J Crit Care 2005 14(1): 61-63. [Full Text] [PDF]  

End-of-Life-Care:

Dena Schulman-Green, Ruth McCorkle, Emily Cherlin, R. Johnson-Hurzeler, and Elizabeth H. Bradley

Nurses’ Communication of Prognosis and Implications for Hospice Referral: A Study of Nurses Caring for Terminally Ill Hospitalized Patients
In this article, the authors offer preliminary evidence that may help explain why nurses, who are ideally situated to facilitate communication about prognosis and hospice referral among patients, patients' family members, and hospital staff, do not always assume this task. The investigation was an analysis of data collected in a previous cross-sectional study in which 174 hospital-based nurses completed a self-administered, anonymous survey.
Am J Crit Care 2005 14(1): 64-70. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [CE Test]  

Critical Care Team:

Sondra Vazirani, Ron D. Hays, Martin F. Shapiro, and Marie Cowan

Effect of a Multidisciplinary Intervention on Communication and Collaboration Among Physicians and Nurses
During a 2-year period, an intervention unit was created that differed from the control unit by the addition of a nurse practitioner to each inpatient medical team, the appointment of a hospitalist medical director, and the institution of daily multidisciplinary rounds. Surveys about communication and collaboration were administered to personnel in both units.
Am J Crit Care 2005 14(1): 71-77. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [CE Test]  

Current Controversies in Critical Care:

William Sullivan and Patricia Benner

Challenges to Professionalism: Work Integrity and the Call to Renew and Strengthen the Social Contract of the Professions
Am J Crit Care 2005 14(1): 78-84. [Full Text] [PDF]  

Cardiology Casebook:

Laurie G. Futterman and Louis Lemberg

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Review: Critical Role of Chest Compressions
Am J Crit Care 2005 14(1): 81-84. [Full Text] [PDF]  

ECG Puzzler:

Mary G. Adams and Michele M. Pelter

Bedside Monitoring of Spinal Cord Injuries
Am J Crit Care 2005 14(1): 85-86. [Full Text] [PDF]  

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