Intensive care medicine
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Intensive care medicine · May 2002
Iatrogenic cerebral air embolism: importance of an early hyperbaric oxygenation.
To assess the relationship between the time period before hyperbaric oxygenation therapy (HBO) and clinical outcome in patients with iatrogenic cerebral air embolism. ⋯ We stress the beneficial effect of an early HBO in air embolism, the importance of an increased awareness of physicians concerned with this severe complication, and the need to develop techniques to detect air emboli in the cerebral circulation.
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Intensive care medicine · May 2002
Comparative StudyQuality of data collected for severity of illness scores in the Dutch National Intensive Care Evaluation (NICE) registry.
To analyse the quality of data used to measure severity of illness in the Dutch National Intensive Care Evaluation (NICE) registry, after implementation of quality improving procedures. ⋯ The current data quality of the NICE registry is good and justifies evaluative research. These positive results might be explained by the implementation of several quality assurance procedures in the NICE registry, such as training and automatic data checks. Electronic supplementary material to this paper can be obtained by using the Springer LINK server located at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00134-002-1272-z
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Intensive care medicine · May 2002
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialShort-term effects of expiration under positive pressure in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and mild acidosis requiring non-invasive positive pressure ventilation.
To investigate the feasibility and the efficacy of expiration under positive pressure (PEP mask) as a chest physiotherapy in patients with exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and acute hypercapnic respiratory failure (AHRF) requiring non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV). ⋯ Expiration under positive pressure was effective in acutely removing secretions in patients with exacerbation of COPD and mild acidosis requiring NIPPV. In conclusion, we suggest that this chest physiotherapy technique represents a useful therapeutic option for such patients and it should often be performed in addition to NIPPV.
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Intensive care medicine · May 2002
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialPre-operative optimisation employing dopexamine or adrenaline for patients undergoing major elective surgery: a cost-effectiveness analysis.
To compare the cost and cost-effectiveness of a policy of pre-operative optimisation of oxygen delivery (using either adrenaline or dopexamine) to reduce the risk associated with major elective surgery, in high-risk patients. ⋯ Based on resource use and effectiveness data collected in the trial, pre-operative optimisation of high-risk surgical patients undergoing major elective surgery is cost-effective compared with standard treatment.