intensive care unit Archives
Review explores ICU-related cognitive impact scores
Feb. 23, 2023—A recent systematic review by Vanderbilt researchers has taken a close look at the cognitive instruments used in long-term outcome studies of survivors of adult critical illness and how those test scores are interpreted.
Skin pigment affects oxygen monitor
Oct. 11, 2022—Black patients in the ICU were more likely to have low or high blood oxygen levels than white patients, even when a pulse oximeter indicated 92-96% oxygen saturation, Vanderbilt researchers found.
Reduced exercise capacity in ICU survivors
Sep. 22, 2022—ICU survivors who have impaired exercise capacity months after discharge may have damaged muscle mitochondria — the energy powerhouses of the cell, Vanderbilt researchers propose.
Vanderbilt, Zambia researchers identify predictive factors of delirium in Sub-Saharan Africa
Apr. 22, 2021—Severity of illness, history of stroke, and being divorced or widowed were independently predictive of delirium in hospitalized patients in Zambia, according to a study published in PLOS ONE.
COVID-19 met with intensive teamwork
Apr. 1, 2021—Team members serving COVID-19 inpatients were more densely connected, interacting far more than their medical ICU counterparts.
Large study finds higher burden of acute brain dysfunction for COVID-19 ICU patients
Jan. 8, 2021—COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care in the early months of the pandemic were subject to a significantly higher burden of delirium and coma than is typically found in patients with acute respiratory failure. Choice of sedative medications and curbs on family visitation played a role in increasing acute brain dysfunction for these patients.
Caregivers discuss impacts of treating COVID-19 patients
Oct. 1, 2020—Taking care of patients critically ill with COVID-19 takes an emotional and physical toll on health care providers who say many of these patients are among the sickest they’ve ever encountered.
Study to explore how COVID affects cognition over time
Jul. 22, 2020—The Critical Illness, Brain Dysfunction and Survivorship Center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center is following patients who have been hospitalized for COVID-19 over time to see if they develop long-term cognitive impairment, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Music in the ICU
Mar. 5, 2020—Blair School of Music junior Javin Bose, left, recently played cello for visitor Angela Pursley and her mother, ICU patient Linda Saddler. The live performance was part of the Therapeutic Music in the ICU pilot project, which studies the effect of live music on ICU patients, staff and families.
Vaccine study seeks to halt flu’s most severe side effects
Oct. 9, 2019—Vanderbilt University Medical Center is leading a multicenter national study to evaluate the effectiveness of the influenza vaccine for preventing the flu’s most serious side effects — admission to an intensive care unit (ICU), organ failure and death.
Study: personalized decision support affects intensive care
Oct. 3, 2019—For patients in pediatric intensive care who are at high risk for acute kidney injury (AKI), giving clinicians automated decision support during the electronic order entry process increased the rate of blood testing for AKI by 9%.
Researchers explore music’s effect on ICU patients, staff
Sep. 25, 2019—A group of Vanderbilt researchers is launching a pilot study on the effect of live music on patients, families and staff in the adult intensive care unit and is inviting musical members of the Vanderbilt community to help.