Intensive care medicine
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Intensive care medicine · Feb 1998
Clinical TrialAdrenocortical function in patients with ruptured aneurysm of the abdominal aorta.
To investigate adrenocortical function in patients with ruptured aneurysm of the abdominal aorta. ⋯ In the patients studied with ruptured aneurysm of the abdominal aorta, adrenocortical response was comparable to that in other groups of critically ill patients with similar severity of illness. High cortisol levels were associated with mortality. One patient did not meet the criteria for normal adrenocortical function but survival without steroid treatment.
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Intensive care medicine · Feb 1998
Acute effects of continuous rotational therapy on ventilation-perfusion inequality in lung injury.
To investigate ventilation-perfusion (VA/Q) relationships, during continuous axial rotation and in the supine position, in patients with acute lung injury (ALI) using the multiple inert gas elimination technique. ⋯ Continuous axial rotation might be a method for an acute reduction of VA/Q mismatch in patients with mild to moderate ALI, but this technique is not effective in late or progressive ARDS. Further studies including a large data collection are needed.
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Intensive care medicine · Feb 1998
An evaluation of Patient Data Management Systems in Dutch intensive care.
To assess the agreement between the functions of seven configurations of Patient Data Management Systems (PDMS) and the Dutch specifications prepared by the users prior to use. ⋯ Today, none of the PDMSs tested satisfy the Dutch specifications. This can be explained by technical impossibilities of the systems and shortcomings in the actual configuration or in the unit organisation. The PDMS might become a valuable tool in improving the quality of ICU practice, but full implementation of these systems according to the specifications still has a long way to go.
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Intensive care medicine · Feb 1998
A normal platelet count at admission in acute meningococcal disease does not exclude a fulminant course.
To determine the value of the platelet count at admission for the assessment of the severity of disease in acute meningococcal infections. ⋯ As platelets drop after admission, the use of the platelet count at admission for the assessment of the prognosis in acute meningococcal disease may be misleading. Frequently repeated platelet counts are a better tool for evaluating the severity of disease.
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Intensive care medicine · Feb 1998
Procalcitonin and C-reactive protein during the early posttraumatic systemic inflammatory response syndrome.
To describe the initial evolution of serum procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in previously healthy adult trauma patients and to compare the relationship of the expression of these two proteins with indicators of trauma severity. ⋯ An early and transient release of PCT into the circulation was observed after severe trauma and the amount of circulating PCT seemed proportional to the severity of tissue injury and hypovolemia, yet unrelated to infection. The predictive value of both PCT and CRP for a forthcoming multiple organ failure still remains to be clarified.