Recently published papers: therapies failed, disputed, and beneficent.

A recent meta-analysis puts another nail in the coffin of a therapy that held great promise for management of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Two papers further highlight the growing controversy surrounding the safety profile of drotrecogin alpha (activated) and increase the clamour for a new independent trial. Also covered are steroids and their role in preventing postoperative atrial fibrillation, and success in instituting hypothermia after cardiac arrest. Finally, which form of renal replacement therapy should we be using in the intensive care unit?