ABSTRACT Data collection for clinical research can be difficult, and electronic health record systems can facilitate this process. The aim of this study was to describe and evaluate the secondary use of electronic health records in data collection for an observational clinical study. We used Cerner Millennium®, an electronic health record software, following these steps: (1) data crossing between the study’s case report forms and the electronic health record; (2) development of a manual collection method for data not recorded […]

ABSTRACT Objective To describe the clinical and epidemiological features of patients with and without sepsis at critical care units of a public hospital. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out from May 2012 to April 2013. Clinical and laboratory data of patients with and without sepsis in the intensive care units were reviewed of medical records. Results We evaluated 466 patients, 58% were men, median age was 40 years, and 146 (31%) of them were diagnosed with sepsis. The overall […]

ABSTRACT Objective To investigate the impacts of continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration on the microcirculation in patients with acute kidney injury. Methods A prospective observational pilot study conducted in a 40-bed, open clinical-surgical intensive care unit of a private tertiary care hospital located in the city of São Paulo (SP), Brazil. Microcirculation was assessed using near-infrared spectroscopy by means of a 15mm probe placed over the thenar eminence. Vascular occlusion test was performed on the forearm to be submitted to near-infrared spectroscopy […]

ABSTRACT Objective To describe indications, clinical outcomes and complications of flexible bronchoscopy. Methods A descriptive observational study of bronchoscopies performed at the endoscopy service of Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein . Demographic (age, gender and origin) and medical (indications and results of endoscopy and diagnostic tests, such as biopsy collection, lavage, cytology and culture) data were analyzed. Electronic medical records with incomplete data or reporting interventional procedures were excluded. Results Over a three-year period (2013 to 2016), a total of 1,949 […]

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe and evaluate the pharmacotherapeutic follow-up by a clinical pharmacist in an intensive care unit. Methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional study carried out from August to October 2016. The data were collected through a form, and pharmacotherapeutic follow-up conducted by a clinical pharmacist at the respiratory intensive care unit of a tertiary hospital. The problems recorded in the prescriptions were quantified, classified and evaluated according to severity; the recommendations made by the pharmacist were analyzed considering the […]

ABSTRACT Objective To discuss the role of the clinical pharmacist in hospital care of critical elderly patients. Methods Critical patients aged 60 years and over admitted by the clinical staff to an Intermediate Care Unit were followed-up for 4 months regarding their drug therapies. Medical prescriptions were reviewed daily on the basis of patients’ clinical conditions, with the view to identify opportunities for optimization of drug therapies, contributing to safer prescribing, reduced discomfort and correct and rational use of drugs. […]

ABSTRACT Objective To analyze predictive demographic and perioperative variables of postoperative atrial fibrillation in patients who underwent exclusively coronary artery bypass grafting. Methods This was a retrospective cohort. We randomly selected 105 medical records of patients who underwent exclusively coronary artery bypass grafting in 2014. Demographic, clinical (preoperative and immediate postoperative) data and related with surgical procedure were collected from medical records. The occurrence of postoperative atrial fibrillation was considered until the third day after the surgery. Variables were analyzed […]

Fever is a nonspecific response to various types of infectious or non-infectious insult and its significance in disease remains an enigma. Our aim was to summarize the current evidence for the use of antipyretic therapy in critically ill patients. We performed systematic review and meta-analysis of publications from 1966 to 2013. The MEDLINE and CENTRAL databases were searched for studies on antipyresis in critically ill patients. The meta-analysis was limited to: randomized controlled trials; adult human critically ill patients; treatment […]