Web site designed and maintained by Chris Cairns  © SICS EBM Group 2004                                  

Random CATs

A collection of CATs that will, hopefully, grow with time. Aimed at appraising interesting, new or historic studies that are not covered in the topic reviews.

NKJ Adhikari, KEA Burns, JO Friedrich, JT Granton, Cook DJ, MO Meade.  Effect of nitric oxide on oxygenation and mortality in acute lung injury: systematic review and meta-analysis BMJ, doi: 10.1136/bmj.39139.716794.55 CAT by Katrina Bramley.

The SAFE study investigators.  Effect of baseline serum albumin concentration on outcome of resuscitation with albumin or saline in patients in intensive care units: analysis of data from the saline versus albumin fluid evaluation (SAFE) study.  BMJ 2006; 333: 1044-49 CAT by Erin Innes and Brian Cuthbertson.

Chan EY, Ruest A, O’Meade M, Cook DJ. Oral decontamination for prevention of pneumonia in mechanically ventilated adults: review and meta-analysis. BMJ 2007; 334:889-893 CAT by Rachel Kearns

A Randomised Trial of Diagnostic Techniques for Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia. The Canadian Critical Care Trials Group; NEJM 2006, 355: 2619 – 2630 CAT by Srikanth Chukkambotla and Imelda Galvin.

Gao F, Melody T et al. The impact of compliance with 6-hour and 24-hour sepsis bundles on hospital mortality in patients with severe sepsis: a prospective observational study. Critical Care 2005, 9:R764-R770 (DOI 10.1186/cc3909) CAT by Rachel Kearns.

Vinsonneau C, Camus C, Combes A, et al, on behalf of the Hemodiafe Study Group. Continuous venovenous haemodiafiltration versus intermittent haemodialysis for acute renal failure in patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome: a multicentre randomised trial. Lancet 2006; 368: 379-85. CAT by Chris Cairns & Rachel Kearns.

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) Clinical Trials Network. Comparison of Two Fluid-Management Strategies in Acute Lung Injury. NEJM 2006; 354:2564-2575 CAT by Peter Hersey

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) Clinical Trials Network. Pulmonary-Artery versus Central Venous Catheter to Guide Treatment of Acute Lung Injury. NEJM 2006; 354:2213-2224 CAT by Peter Hersey.

Hochman JS, Sleeper LA, Webb JG et al for the SHOCK Trial Investigators. Early Revascularisation and Long-Term Survival in Cardiogenic Shock Complicating Acute Myocardial Infarction. JAMA 2006; 295: 2511-15. CAT by Stephen Harris.

Ranucci M, et al. Impact of oligon central venous catheters on catheter colonization and catheter-related bloodstream infection. Crit Care Med 2003; 31: 52-9 CAT by David Swann.

Solanki P. Chawla A. Garg R. Gupta R. Jain M. Sarin SK. Beneficial effects of terlipressin in hepatorenal syndrome: a prospective, randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial. Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology. 18(2):152-6, 2003 CAT by Ewan Jack.

De Gans J, et al. Dexamethasone in Adults with Bacterial Meningitis. NEngl J Med 2002; 347: 1549-56 CAT by Celia Bygrave and Chris Cairns.

Rhodes A, et al. A Randomised controlled trial of the pulmonary artery catheter in critically ill patients. Intensive Care Med. 2002;28:256-264 CAT by Nityanand Lanka.

Ronco C, et al. Effects of different doses in continuous veno-venous haemofiltration on outcomes of acute renal failure: a prospective randomised trial. Lancet 2000 Vol 356 (9223) 26-30 CAT by Ewan Jack.

Van den Berghe G, et al. Intensive Insulin Therapy in The Medical ICU. N Engl J Med 2006;354:449-61. CAT by Chris Cairns

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) Clinical Trials Network. Efficacy and Safety of Corticosteroids for Persistent Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. NEJM 2006; 354: 1671-1684. CAT by Brian Cuthbertson.

John V. Peter, et al. Effect of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation ( NIPPV) on mortality in patients with acute cardiogenic pulmonary oedema: a meta-analysis. Lancet 2006; 367: 1155-63 CAT by Brian Digby.

Verheij J, et al. Effect of fluid loading with saline or colloids on pulmonary permeability, oedema and lung injury score after cardiac and major vascular surgery. Br J Anaesth 2006; 96 (1):21-30. CAT by Rebecca Appelboam.

Kruger P et al. Statin therapy is associated with fewer deaths in patients with bacteraemia. Intensive Care Med 2006; 32:75-79 CAT by Niraj Niranjan

Pearse et al. Early goal-directed therapy after major surgery reduces complications and duration of hospital stay. A randomised, controlled trial. Critical Care 2005, 9:R687-R693. CAT. by David Elliot

Martin GS, Moss M, Wheeler A, Mealer M, Morris J, Bernard G: A randomised, controlled trial of furosemide with or without albumin in hypoproteinaemic patients with acute lung injury. Crit Care Med. 2005; 33:1681-7. CAT by David MacNair & Brian Cuthbertson

Gershlick AH, Stephens-Lloyd A, Hughes S et al for the REACT Trial Investigators. Rescue angioplasty after failed thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction. N Engl J Med 2005; 353: 2758-68. CAT by Stephen Harris

Harvey S, Harrison DA, Singer M et al. Assessment of the clinical effectiveness of the pulmonary artery catheter; a randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2005; 366: 472- 477. CAT by Brian Cuthbertson.

Abraham E, et al. Drotrecogin Alfa (Activated) for adults with severe sepsis and a low risk of death. New Engl J Med 2005;353:1332-41. CAT. By P Harrison & C Cairns

Merit Study Investigators. Introduction of the medical emergency team (MET) system: a cluster randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2005. 365: 2091-7. CAT. By B Cuthbertson.

Busund R, et al. Plasmapheresis in severe sepsis and septic shock: prospective, randomised, controlled trial. Intensive Care Med (2002) 28:1434-1439. CAT by V Ramanathan.

Effect of an Intensive Glucose Management Protocol on the Mortality of Critically Ill Patients: Mayo Clin Proc. August 2004: 79(8): 992-1000. CAT by Paul McConnell.

Mayer SA, et al. Recombinant Activated Factor VII for Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage. NEJM 2005: 352(8); 777 – 785. CAT By Ewan Jack.

M Holzer et al.: Hypothermia for neuroprotection after cardiac arrest: Systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis, Critical Care Medicine 2005, Vol.33: 414-418. CAT By Anja Beilharz.

Effect of Glucose-Insulin-Potassium Infusion on Mortality in Patients With Acute ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction The CREATE-ECLA Randomized Controlled Trial. JAMA. 2005;293:437-446. CAT By Paul McConnell.  

Derek C Angus, et al. The effect of drotrecogin alfa (activated) on long-term survival after severe sepsis. Crit Care Med 2004;Vol 32; No 11: 2199-2206. CAT By Caroline Hawe.

Spragg RG, et al, Effect of Recombinant Surfactant Protein C- based Surfactant on the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Engl J Med 2004; 351:884-92. CAT By Basu Bhadrajkumar.

Van den Berghe, et al. Outcome benefit of intensive insulin therapy in the critically ill: Insulin dose versus glycemic control. Crit Care Med 2003; Vol 31(2): 359-366. CAT By Ryan Moffat.

Kress JP, et al. The long term psychological effects of daily sedative interruptions on critically ill patients. AJRCCM 2003; 168: 1457- 1461. CAT By Tim Geary.

Kress JP, et al. Daily interruption of sedative infusions in critically ill patients undergoing mechanical ventilation. NEJM 2000; 342: 1471-1477. CAT By Tim Geary.

CRASH group. Effect of intravenous corticosteroids on death within 14 days in 10,008 adults with clinically significant head injury (MRC CRASH Trial): randomised, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet 2004:364;1321-1328. CAT by C Wallace.

The SAFE study investigators, A comparison of albumin and saline for fluid resuscitation in the intensive care unit. N Engl J Med 2004;350:2247-56. CAT by C Cairns.

Rumbak MJ et al. A prospective, randomised study comparing early percutaneous dilational tracheotomy to prolonged translaryngeal intubation (delayed tracheotomy) in critically ill medical patients. Crit Care Med 2004; 32: 1689 - 1694. CAT by R Price.

Annane D, et al. Corticosteroids for severe sepsis and septic shock: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ 2004; 329: 480 - 488. CAT by M Daniel.

Minneci PC, et al. Meta-analysis: The Effect of Steroids on Survival and Shock during Sepsis Depends on the Dose. Ann Int Med. 2004;141:47-56. CAT by C Cairns.

Merten GJ. Burgess WP. Gray LV. Holleman JH. Roush TS. Kowalchuk GJ. Bersin RM. Van Moore A. Simonton CA 3rd. Rittase RA. Norton HJ. Kennedy TP. Prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy with sodium bicarbonate: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 291(19):2328-34, 2004. CAT by N Ledingham & D Swann.

Lopez A et al. Multiple-center, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor 546C88: Effect on survival in patients with septic shock. Crit Care Med 2004:32(1);21-30. CAT by C Cairns.

Baker CS. Wragg A. Kumar S. De Palma R. Baker LR. Knight CJ. A rapid protocol for the prevention of contrast-induced renal dysfunction: the RAPPID study. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 41(12):2114-8, 2003. CAT by N Ledingham & D Swann.

Sandham J D, Hull R D, Brant RF et al. A Randomised , Controlled Trial of the Use of Pulmonary-Artery Catheters in High Risk Surgical Patients. New Engl J Med 2003: 348(1); 5-14. CAT by M Geddes.

van Walraven C, et al. Vaildation of a clinical decision aid to discontinue in-hospital cardiac resuscitation. JAMA 2001; 285: 1602-6. CAT by M Daniel.

Zandbergen EGJ, et al.Systematic review of early prediction of poor outcome in anoxic-ischaemic coma. Lancet 1998; 352: 1808 - 12. CAT by M Daniel.