Erratum to: Intensive Care Med (2002) 28:1462–1469 DOI 10.1007/s00134-002-1435-y

This article has been retracted as the IRB approval for the research was misrepresented. The investigating committee at Klinikum Ludwigshafen found the lack of IRB approval and this is unethical. It does not mean that the research results per se are fraudulent. The investigating committee is systematically assessing the veracity of the findings presented in Dr. Boldt’s articles against patient and laboratory records. We will communicate to our readers any finding of data fabrication or misrepresentation identified by the investigating committee.