Intensive care medicine
-
Intensive care medicine · Jul 2005
Review Meta AnalysisImpact of selective decontamination of the digestive tract on fungal carriage and infection: systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
To determine the impact of the antifungal component of selective decontamination of the digestive tract on fungal carriage, infection and fungaemia. ⋯ Antifungals, as part of selective decontamination of the digestive tract, reduce fungal carriage and infection but not fungaemia in critically ill patients and may justify the inclusion of an antifungal component in the decontamination protocol.
-
Intensive care medicine · Jul 2005
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialErythromycin dose of 70 mg accelerates gastric emptying as effectively as 200 mg in the critically ill.
To compare the effectiveness of 70-mg and 200-mg doses of intravenous erythromycin in improving gastric emptying in critically ill patients. ⋯ Treatment with 70 and 200 mg intravenous erythromycin are equally effective in accelerating gastric emptying in the critically ill.
-
Intensive care medicine · Jul 2005
Case ReportsExtending the limits of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: lung rest for a child with non-specific interstitial pneumonia.
Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is an established therapy for the treatment of respiratory failure. Traditionally ECMO has been used to support patients with an acute, reversible disease process, with a predictable outcome. We report the successful use of veno-venous ECMO for an unusual indication. ⋯ ECMO was safely and successfully used to provide a period of lung rest and time for medical therapy to take effect in a child with an unusual indication for support: a rare disease with an uncertain outcome on the background of prolonged mechanical ventilation.
-
Intensive care medicine · Jul 2005
Facial side effects during noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in children.
The study quantified the side effects of nasal masks use for noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) in children. ⋯ The prevalence of facial side effects is clinically significant in children using NPPV. Systematic maxillofacial follow-up enables these effects to be identified. Remedial measures could include the change of the interface or reducing the daily use of NPPV.