Intensive care medicine
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As a result of the previous shortage of tools to assess objectively the overall physiological status of the respiratory system in infants and young children, it has been difficult to measure the degree of physiological disorder or the response to therapy in respiratory diseases such as BPD, the pediatric version of ARDS, bronchiolitis, pneumonia, asthma and croup in this patient population. The newborn- four-year old child is particularly difficult to study because of their lack of cooperation and size. The recent progress in computer technology made pulmonary function testing available for this age range and opened up new possibilities for monitoring changes in disease processes affecting the respiratory system. ⋯ Not all of these techniques need to be applied to all infants in the ICU. Not all the assumptions upon which some of the techniques we have described are based will prove true. Any such methods which do not withstand solid scientific testing must be quickly discarded and replaced with better and (hopefully) easier methods.
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Intensive care medicine · Sep 1995
Comparative Study Clinical TrialThe evaluation of percutaneous central venous catheters--a convenient technique in pediatric patients.
To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of 3 different types of silastic catheters that were used for percutaneous central venous catheterization (PCVC) through peripheral veins. ⋯ This study indicates that the use of three different calibers of silastic catheter is feasible and effective for PCVC in pediatric practice.
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Intensive care medicine · Sep 1995
Neuromuscular disorders associated with failure to wean from the ventilator.
To determine, by retrospective chart analysis, the frequency, type and significance of neuromuscular disorders in patients whose clinical features suggested a neuromuscular cause of failure to wean. ⋯ Electrophysiological studies of limbs and the respiratory system are together valuable in confirming the presence, and identifying the specific type of neuromuscular cause for difficulty in weaning from the ventilator. This information is important in patient management and prognosis.
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Intensive care medicine · Sep 1995
Epidemiologic aspects and results of applying the TRISS methodology in a Spanish trauma intensive care unit (TICU).
Analysis of epidemiologic aspects in a trauma intensive care unit (TICU) and assessment of predicted outcomes. ⋯ We found a 19.6% mortality in the TICU. Cranial and abdominal/pelvic injury and age over 65 were the main risk factors on admittance. Clinically, we finally agreed with the majority of TRISS outcome predictions. However, we could not statistically validate the apparent clinical goodness of the TRISS methodology.