Intensive care medicine
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To determine the time to onset of the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in patients with thermal injury requiring mechanical ventilation. Secondarily, to consider the burn-related risk factors, demographics, incidence, and mortality for ARDS in this population. ⋯ According to the American-European Consensus Conference and the Lung Injury Severity Score definitions, ARDS is common in the adult burn population and has a delayed onset compared to most critical care populations. We found age to be a major predisposing factor for ARDS.
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Intensive care medicine · Nov 1999
Clinical TrialIntravenous nicardipine for severe hypertension in pre-eclampsia--effects of an acute treatment on mother and foetus.
To assess the efficacy in lowering blood pressure, and the safety for mother and foetus of an acute nicardipine therapy in severe pre-eclampsia. ⋯ Acute nicardipine therapy can induce severe maternal tachycardia. No severe foetal or neonatal adverse effects occurred. This dose scheme requires comparison with alternative therapeutic options.
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Intensive care medicine · Nov 1999
Clinical TrialDoes indocyanine green accurately measure plasma volume independently of its disappearance rate from plasma in critically ill patients?
To determine whether plasma volume determined by the indocyanine green (ICG) dilution method (PV-ICG) is equally accurate independently of its disappearance rate from plasma in the critically ill. ⋯ The results suggest that the measurement of the PV-ICG can be equally accurate independently of its disappearance rate from plasma unless there is generalized protein capillary leakage.
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Intensive care medicine · Nov 1999
Case ReportsAcute neuromuscular respiratory failure after ICU discharge. Report of five patients.
To describe a syndrome of acute neuromuscular respiratory failure (NM-ARF) caused by ICU-acquired acute myopathy and neuropathy. ⋯ Critically ill patients with prolonged ICU stay, sepsis and MOF are at great risk of developing CRIMYNE, which in turn may be responsible for NM-ARF. This latter complication may arise after resolution of the respiratory and cardiac dysfunctions and successful weaning from the ventilator. As NM-ARF may cause unplanned ICU readmission or even unexpected death, strict clinical surveillance and monitoring of respiratory muscle function is recommended after discharge to the general ward of patients with proven NM-ARF. Early intensive chest physiotherapy can resolve the condition.