CHEST 2007 ABSTRACT BRIEFS
EMBARGO: Each Abstract is Embargoed Until the Day/Time Listed Below Title
CRITICAL CARE
#5096
IMPACT OF OBESITY ON ICU MORTALITY
(Monday, October 22, 3:30 PM EST)
A new study of more than 15,000 obese patients, evaluated the impact of obesity on intensive care unit (ICU) mortality, ICU length of stay (LOS), and length of mechanical ventilation. After analyzing data, researchers from the University of Buffalo found that obesity in critically ill patients was not associated with excessive mortality, but was
significantly related to an increased duration of ventilation and ICU LOS.
#5946
REMOTE ICU CARE IS BENEFICIAL FOR PATIENTS
(Monday, October 22, 1:30 PM EST)
The shortage of intensivist around the country makes it difficult for intensive care unit (ICU) patients to receive the ‘gold standard' of care. However, researchers from Saint Luke's Health System in Missouri found that the implementation the eICU® tele-
intensivist program in their hospitals provided multiple positive outcomes. To assess the program, researchers evaluated the changes in ICU outcomes over a period of 5 quarters. At the end of the study period, the ICU program correlated with a decrease in mortality and ICU and hospital length of stays. Researchers also reported an improvement in operation performance.
#5260
TELE-INTENSIVISTS SAVE RURAL HOSPITALS MONEY
(Monday, October 22, 1:30 PM EST)
A new study suggests that one of the best ways for rural health systems to save money is by decreasing a patients' hospital length of stay (LOS) by use of a tele-intensivist program. Researchers from Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center and
Avera Health Plans, in South Dakota, gathered and compared LOS data from three regional hospitals, 1 year before and 2 years after the implementation of the tele-intensivist program. They found substantial LOS reductions in both the number of ICU
days and hospital days across the system. Researchers suggest the LOS reduction demonstrates a financial benefit.
#4744
TIME DISTORTION DURING CPR
(Monday, October 22, 3:30 PM EST)
A new study reveals that during CPR, internal medicine residents often believe more time has passed, than what actually has. Researchers from Beth Israel Medical Center in New York tested time distortion on residents during scenarios using patient simulators. After completion of each scenario, all participants were asked how much time they believed had elapsed. Researchers found on average, residents believed more time had elapsed than what actually had. They also found that men were more likely to overestimate and women were more likely to underestimate the scenario time. |
