AJCC -- Table of Contents (January 1 2006, 15 [1])

Editorials:

Christopher W. Bryan-Brown and Kathleen Dracup: Disentangling The Web
Am J Crit Care 2006 15(1): 7-9. [Full Text] [PDF]

Elizabeth Zink, Sondra Vazirani, Ron D. Hays, Martin F. Shapiro, and Marie Cowan: LETTERS TO THE EDITORS
Am J Crit Care 2006 15(1): 11. [Full Text] [PDF]

Pennye B. Arehart: LETTERS TO THE EDITORS
Am J Crit Care 2006 15(1): 11-12. [Full Text] [PDF]

Debra Topham: LETTERS TO THE EDITORS
Am J Crit Care 2006 15(1): 12. [Full Text] [PDF]

Karin T. Kirchhoff and Nancy Dahl: American Association Of Critical-Care Nurses’ National Survey of Facilities and Units Providing Critical Care
Little information is available nationally about critical care units and nurses. The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses conducted a survey of randomly selected facilities with critical care units in the United States. In this article, the authors summarize the results of the survey. The survey results offer important information on critical care practices that can be used for benchmarking purposes.
Am J Crit Care 2006 15(1): 13-28. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Linda D. Scott, Ann E. Rogers, Wei-Ting Hwang, and Yawei Zhang: Effects of Critical Care Nurses’ Work Hours on Vigilance and Patients’ Safety
Little is known about the effects of nurses' work hours on vigilance and patients' safety. In this study, the authors obtained data from a random sample of 502 critical care nurses to describe the work patterns of the nurses, compare the occurrence of errors with the hours worked by the nurses, and explore whether these work hours have adverse effects on the nurses' vigilance.
Am J Crit Care 2006 15(1): 30-37. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [CE Test]

Renea L. Beckstrand, Lynn Clark Callister, and Karin T. Kirchhoff: Providing a "Good Death": Critical Care Nurses’ Suggestions for Improving End-of-Life Care
Providing appropriate end-of-life care has become a primary concern of nurses and the public. The authors collected suggestions for improving end-of-life care in intensive care units from 861 critical care nurses who completed a 72-item survey on perceptions of end-of life care.
Am J Crit Care 2006 15(1): 38-45. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [CE Test]

Lilu Chang, Cheng-Fang Horng, Yuh-Chin T. Huang, and Yen-Yau Hsieh: Prognostic Accuracy of Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II Scores in Critically Ill Cancer Patients
The predictive accuracy of scores on the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) for in-hospital mortality among critically ill cancer patients varies. These authors collected data prospectively from 1263 cancer patients admitted to an intensive care unit during a 5-year period in a cancer center in Taiwan. Actual hospital mortality rates were compared with predicted rates, and clinical predictors associated with increased mortality were sought.
Am J Crit Care 2006 15(1): 47-53. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Carol Diane Epstein and Joel R. Peerless: Weaning Readiness and Fluid Balance in Older Critically Ill Surgical Patients
The objective of this study was to develop a clinical profile of older patients who are successfully weaned from long-term mechanical ventilation. Forty patients in a trauma and surgical intensive care unit who were at least 60 years old were enrolled in the study after 3 days of active weaning and were monitored daily until successfully weaned or until the end of the 14-day study. Hemodynamic and gas exchange variables, fluid balance, oxygen cost of breathing, and scores on the Burns Weaning Assessment Program were analyzed.
Am J Crit Care 2006 15(1): 54-64. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Kathleen Guentner, Leslie A. Hoffman, Mary Beth Happ, Yookyung Kim, Annette DeVito Dabbs, Aaron B. Mendelsohn, and Lakshmipathi Chelluri: Preferences for Mechanical Ventilation Among Survivors of Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation and Tracheostomy
The authors recruited 30 survivors of prolonged mechanical ventilation (7 days) from intensive care units in a tertiary care hospital and from long-term care facilities. Subjects were asked to reflect on the decision to use mechanical ventilation; to rate current health, pain/discomfort in the intensive care unit and from mechanical ventilation, perceived family financial burden, and emotional/ physical stress related to mechanical ventilation; to identify changes that would influence preference for mechanical ventilation; and to answer questions about quality of life, functional status, depressive symptoms, and communication.
Am J Crit Care 2006 15(1): 65-77. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Laura A. Pagano and Sandra Lookinland: Nursing Morbidity and Mortality Conferences: Promoting Clinical Excellence
To err is human, but it is also wise to do our best to prevent the same mistake from occurring a second time. These authors describe how morbidity and mortality conferences can be used to substantially improve the quality of care patients receive, patients' outcomes, satisfaction among staff members, and most importantly, patients' safety.
Am J Crit Care 2006 15(1): 78-85. [Full Text] [PDF]

Nancy Ballard, Lois Robley, Darcy Barrett, Danielle Fraser, and Inocencia Mendoza: Patients’ Recollections of Therapeutic Paralysis in the Intensive Care Unit
Little information is available on awareness of patients during therapeutic paralysis. After in-depth interviews, the authors describe the remembered experiences of 11 critical care patients who were given neuromuscular blocking agents and sedatives and/or analgesics to facilitate mechanical ventilation, improve hemodynamic stability, and improve oxygenation.
Am J Crit Care 2006 15(1): 86-94. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [CE Test]

Lisa Day: Distributive Justice and Personal Responsibility for Choices About Health
Am J Crit Care 2006 15(1): 96-98. [Full Text] [PDF]

Laurie G. Futterman and Louis Lemberg: Regular Physical Exercise Reduces Cardiovascular Risks
Am J Crit Care 2006 15(1): 99-102. [Full Text] [PDF]

Mary G. Carey and Michele M. Pelter: Resynchronization Therapy
Am J Crit Care 2006 15(1): 103-104. [Full Text] [PDF]