Intensive care medicine
-
Intensive care medicine · Feb 1998
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialEffects of human recombinant growth hormone (rhGH) on inflammatory responses in patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.
Human recombinant growth hormone (rhGH) has been shown to increase skeletal muscle protein synthesis and improve nitrogen balance in critically ill patients and those undergoing surgery. rhGH effects on hepatic protein turnover in critically ill patients are less clearly understood. ⋯ These results indicate that pre-operative administration of rhGH does not alter acute phase protein or inflammatory cytokine release in response to major surgery.
-
Intensive care medicine · Feb 1998
Clinical TrialAdrenocortical function in patients with ruptured aneurysm of the abdominal aorta.
To investigate adrenocortical function in patients with ruptured aneurysm of the abdominal aorta. ⋯ In the patients studied with ruptured aneurysm of the abdominal aorta, adrenocortical response was comparable to that in other groups of critically ill patients with similar severity of illness. High cortisol levels were associated with mortality. One patient did not meet the criteria for normal adrenocortical function but survival without steroid treatment.
-
To demonstrate that oxygen consumption (VO2) can be dependent on oxygen delivery (DO2) during hemodynamic instability and independent of DO2 following stabilization. ⋯ Oxygen supply independency and dependency can be found at different times in the same critically ill patient. Our findings are consistent with the concept that VO2/DO2 dependency is a marker of septic shock. Interventions to increase DO2 are probably justified when this phenomenon is present.
-
Intensive care medicine · Feb 1998
A normal platelet count at admission in acute meningococcal disease does not exclude a fulminant course.
To determine the value of the platelet count at admission for the assessment of the severity of disease in acute meningococcal infections. ⋯ As platelets drop after admission, the use of the platelet count at admission for the assessment of the prognosis in acute meningococcal disease may be misleading. Frequently repeated platelet counts are a better tool for evaluating the severity of disease.