We read with interest the article regarding right heart thrombus by Crowell et al (Chest 88; 94:1236-39). In the discussion, the presence of a central venous catheter is not mentioned as a cause of right heart thrombus, although in the literature the incidence is up to 29 percent. In the following case report, we would [...]

The ICU mortality rate and the 28-day mortality rate in the present study were higher than those reported in the PROWESS study. This difference may be due in part to the higher severity of illness among patients in the current study. The 28-day mortality rate was also higher than the hospital—ICU mortality rate of 45% [...]

This drug-use evaluation was performed to evaluate the utilization and outcomes associated with DAA in a real-life clinical setting and to compare the results with those reported from clinical trials.

Twenty-seven patients received DAA in the study period. With reference to the institution’s criteria for utilization, 26 (96%) of the patients who received DAA were eligible for this type of therapy.

The health records of all patients in the ICU who received DAA from May 2003, when it was first used at this institution, until April 2007 were retrospectively evaluated. Patients who had received DAA were identified by searching the database of medication orders of the hospital’s information system. The health records of patients who had [...]

INTRODUCTION In the Recombinant Human Activated Protein C Worldwide Evaluation in Severe Sepsis (PROWESS) study, mortality at 28 days after initiation of treatment was lower among adult patients with severe sepsis (associated with acute organ dysfunction) who were treated with drotrecogin alfa (activated) (DAA) than among those treated with placebo (absolute risk reduction 6.1%). In [...]

Sepsis syndrome consists of a collection of clinical manifestations of sepsis with evidence of organ dysfunction. In the early phase of sepsis, the tissues that usually become damaged and develop organ failure are the lungs. Pulmonary disorder may be followed by disorder of the liver and then the kidneys.