Albumin Enhances Microvascular Reactivity in Sepsis: Insights from Near-Infrared Spectroscopy and Vascular Occlusion Testing.

: In septic shock, microcirculatory dysfunction contributes to organ failure and mortality. While sidestream dark-field (SDF) imaging is the reference method for assessing microvascular perfusion, its complexity limits routine use. This study evaluates near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) with vascular occlusion testing (VOT) as a potential bedside tool for monitoring microcirculatory changes following fluid resuscitation.

Changes in End-of-Life Practices in European Intensive Care Units From 1999 to 2016.

Importance: End-of-life decisions occur daily in intensive care units (ICUs) around the world, and these practices could change over time.

Objective: To determine the changes in end-of-life practices in European ICUs after 16 years.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Ethicus-2 was a prospective observational study of 22 European ICUs previously included in the Ethicus-1 study (1999-2000).