Intensive care medicine
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Intensive care medicine · Aug 2000
Early translaryngeal tracheostomy in patients with severe brain damage.
To describe the effects of early translaryngeal tracheostomy on intracranial pressure (ICP), cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), and jugular bulb saturation (SjO2); to identify the main mechanisms affecting ICP during tracheostomy; and to evaluate the long-term effects of tracheostomy on tracheal anatomy and function. ⋯ Translaryngeal tracheostomy, performed in selected patients when the risk of intracranial hypertension was reduced to the minimum, was well tolerated in the majority of cases and did not induce persistent intracranial disorders. However, ICP is affected by tracheostomy, and careful monitoring and patient selection is necessary. At follow-up no severe anatomical or functional damage was detected.
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Intensive care medicine · Jul 2000
Multicenter Study Clinical TrialDiastolic function in neonates after the arterial switch operation: effects of positive pressure ventilation and inspiratory time.
To determine the effects positive pressure ventilation have on left ventricular diastolic function in neonates after the arterial switch operation. ⋯ In neonates with transposition of the great arteries (TGA) after the arterial switch operation, positive pressure ventilation augments left ventricular filling during the early phase of inspiration. Prolonging the inspiratory time over three cardiac cycles results in a reduction in left ventricular filling during the third diastolic period. There were no changes in the other diastolic indexes that reflect changes in ventricular compliance or relaxation.
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Intensive care medicine · Jul 2000
Multicenter StudyA profile of European intensive care unit physiotherapists. European Society of Intensive Care Medicine.
To determine the profile and role of the physiotherapist in European intensive care units (ICUs). ⋯ Even though the response rate was limited, variations in the role and profile of the ICU physiotherapist are apparent across Europe. The involvement of physiotherapists in more specialized techniques is also a function of the number of physiotherapists working exclusively in an ICU.
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Intensive care medicine · Jul 2000
Association of PEEP with two different inflation volumes in ARDS patients: effects on passive lung deflation and alveolar recruitment.
To assess the effects of the association of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) with different inflation volumes (V(T)'s) on passive lung deflation and alveolar recruitment in ARDS patients. ⋯ In mechanically ventilated ARDS patients: (a) the behavior of airway resistance seems to depend on the degree of the prevailing lung distension; (b) alveolar recruitment appears to be more important when higher tidal volumes are used during mechanical ventilation on PEEP; (c) PEEP changes the mechanical properties of the respiratory system fast-emptying compartment.