Chest
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To evaluate RBC transfusion practice in the ICU. ⋯ The long-term ICU population receive a large number of blood transfusions. Phlebotomy contributes significantly to these transfusions. There is no clear indication for a large number of the blood transfusions given. Many blood transfusions appear to be administered because of an arbitrary "transfusion trigger" rather than a physiologic need for blood. Blood conservation and adherence to transfusion guidelines could significantly reduce RBC transfusion in the ICU.
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Comparative Study
Acute lung injury complicating imported Plasmodium falciparum malaria.
To characterize adult patients with acute lung injury complicating severe imported Plasmodium falciparum malaria. ⋯ Acute lung injury is more likely to occur in patients with extremely severe, multisystemic P falciparum malaria. In patients with acute lung injury and septic shock, bacterial coinfection should be suspected and treated empirically since it contributes substantially to early mortality.
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Comparative Study
Emphysema in silica- and asbestos-exposed workers seeking compensation. A CT scan study.
It has been established that coal pneumoconiosis and confluent silicosis are associated with emphysematous changes in the lungs. In the present study, we addressed the concept of emphysema in simple silicosis and asbestosis and in workers exposed to these minerals without the pneumoconiosis. The study was done on 207 consecutive workers evaluated for possible pneumoconiosis at Québec Workman Compensation Board, who had a radiographic reading of pneumoconiosis in the category 0 or 1 of the ILO scale, and in 5 control subjects. ⋯ We conclude that, in our population, there was a significant excess of CT scan emphysema, associated with lung dysfunction, in those with pneumoconioses and in smokers with silica exposure. In the absence of smoking, it took a patient with pneumoconiosis to have emphysema. These changes contributed to the lung function impairment of these subjects with ILO category 0 or 1 pneumoconioses.
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To describe the epidemiology, microbiology, and outcome of nosocomial pneumonia with secondary bloodstream infection. ⋯ Pneumonia is an important cause of nosocomial bloodstream infection, but it is not increasing in frequency or changing in etiology in our institution. The ICUs are a major contributor to this problem but have the same case short-term mortality rate and microbial etiology as non-ICU cases. Cases associated with Pseudomonas have a much higher mortality rate.