Anesthesiology
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Ventilator-associated pneumonia is the leading nosocomial infection in critically ill patients. The frequency of ventilator-associated pneumonia caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria has increased in recent years, and these pathogens cause most of the deaths attributable to pneumonia. The authors, therefore, evaluated factors associated with selected multidrug-resistant ventilator-associated pneumonia in critical care patients. ⋯ The authors recommend that patients undergoing emergency intubation or aspiration or who have a Glasgow coma score of 9 or less be monitored especially closely for early-onset multidrug-resistant pneumonia. The occurrence of aspiration and a Glasgow coma score of 9 or less are especially associated with pneumonia caused by A. baumanii.
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Comparative Study
Diagnosing sensory abnormalities with either normal values or values from contralateral skin: comparison of two approaches in complex regional pain syndrome I.
To diagnose sensory abnormalities, patient values can be compared with values of the general population (absolute approach) or to values measured at contralateral homologous skin (relative approach). The current study gives normal values for both approaches and compares the advantages of each method by applying the technique to patients with complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS I). ⋯ To divide sensory characteristics into a binary classification of "normal" and "abnormal," the relative approach is the best choice, with the exception of cases in which the contralateral homologous side is absent or affected by disease. The authors recommend the relative approach for both research and clinical purposes.
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Left ventricular dysfunction is often reversed after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery; however, this change is not easily predicted. The authors hypothesized that functional changes after a low dose of dobutamine (5 microgram. kg-1. min-1) intraoperatively would predict functional changes when complete revascularization was achieved. ⋯ Intraoperative low-dose dobutamine is a reliable method to predict myocardial functional reserve and to determine functional recovery expected after coronary revascularization.
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Comparative Study
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of inhaled versus intravenous morphine in healthy volunteers.
A new pulmonary drug delivery system produces aerosols from disposable packets of medication. This study compared the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of morphine delivered by an AERx prototype with intravenous morphine. ⋯ The onset and duration of the effects of morphine are similar after intravenous administration or inhalation via this new pulmonary drug delivery system. Morphine bioavailability after such administration is 59% of the dose loaded into the dosage form.