Intensive care medicine
-
Intensive care medicine · Sep 2000
Procalcitonin: a valuable indicator of infection in a medical ICU?
To assess the use of procalcitonin (PCT) for the diagnosis of infection in a medical ICU. ⋯ In this study, PCT and CRP had poor sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of infection. PCT did not clearly discriminate SIRS from sepsis or severe sepsis.
-
Intensive care medicine · Sep 2000
Ultrasound-guided percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy: a safe method to avoid cranial misplacement of the tracheostomy tube.
The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the role of ultrasonography in avoiding cranial misplacement of the tracheostomy tube and tracheal ring fractures during percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT). The tracheas of 26 consecutive ICU patients who had undergone PDT but who later died were removed en bloc at autopsy. The tracheas were opened along the membranous portion and the condition of tracheal rings and the site of tracheostomy macroscopically evaluated. ⋯ In five (33%) patients from group A, autopsy revealed that the tracheostomy tube was placed between the cricoid cartilage and the first tracheal ring (cranial misplacement) and in six (43%) patients a fracture of one tracheal ring was found. Cranial misplacement of the tracheostomy tube in patients from group B was not found (P < 0.05) and four (36%) patients had a broken tracheal ring (P = NS). The authors maintain that by using ultrasound-guided PDT cranial misplacement of the tracheostomy tube may be entirely avoided.
-
Intensive care medicine · Sep 2000
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialAssessment of hemodynamic and gastric mucosal acidosis with modified fluid versus 6% hydroxyethyl starch: a prospective, randomized study.
To investigate the effect of 4 % succinylated modified fluid gelatin (MFG) versus mean weight, highly substituted 6% hydroxyethyl starch (HES) on hemodynamic and gastric mucosal acidosis variables, in septic hypovolemic patients. ⋯ Although MFG and 6% HES have the same hemodynamic effects, their physicochemical properties induce different responses on gastric mucosal acidosis in septic, hypovolemic and ventilated patients. These effects of MFG and HES on gastric mucosa need to be considered in patient management.
-
Intensive care medicine · Sep 2000
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialEffects of dental plaque antiseptic decontamination on bacterial colonization and nosocomial infections in critically ill patients.
To document in intensive care unit (ICU) patients the effect of dental plaque antiseptic decontamination on the occurrence of plaque colonization by aerobic nosocomial pathogens and nosocomial infections. ⋯ An antiseptic decontamination of dental plaque with a 0.2% chlorhexidine gel decreases dental bacterial colonization, and may reduce the incidence of nosocomial infections in ICU patients submitted to mechanical ventilation.
-
Intensive care medicine · Sep 2000
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialPre-operative tonometry is predictive for mortality and morbidity in high-risk surgical patients.
To determine whether a) pre-operative measurement of gastric intramucosal pHi is predictive for mortality and morbidity in high-risk surgical patients and b) peri-operative improvement of global oxygen delivery (DO2) with fluids and dopexamine leads to increased gastric pHi and c) either improved global perfusion or improved splanchnic perfusion is related to the prevention of multiple organ failure (MOF). ⋯ In high-risk surgical patients pre-operative measurement of pHi was predictive for mortality. The peri-operative response of pHi to dopexamine seemed to be dependent on pre-operative gastric pHi.