Intensive care medicine
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The study was undertaken to determine if sepsis alters the pattern of vasomotion and reactive hyperaemia in the skin. ⋯ The laser Doppler flowmeter allows local rather than global haemodynamics to be studied. Abnormalities of skin blood flow control are found in sepsis, and this technique may prove useful to monitor the effects of treatment, especially if the use of laser Doppler flowmetry can be extended to other organs at risk of damage during sepsis such as gastro-intestinal mucosa.
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Changes of endothelial-related coagulation was studied in intensive care patients. ⋯ Besides plasmatic and platelet-related coagulation, endothelium-associated coagulation appears to be also important for maintenance of hemostasis. TM plasma concentrations were elevated in all our critically ill patients, particularly when sepsis was evident. This appears to be most likely due to endothelial membrane damage with increased release of membrane-bound TM into the circulating blood in these patients. The importance of the elevated plasma levels of circulating soluble TM on hemostasis in these patients is an ongoing debate and warrants further studies.
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Intensive care medicine · Jul 1995
Review Case ReportsLow blood flow extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal (ECCO2R): a review of the concept and a case report.
Despite advances in respiratory and critical care medicine, the mortality from ARDS remains unchanged. Recent research suggests current ventilatory therapy may produce additional lung injury, retarding the recovery process of the lung. ⋯ Low flow ECCO2R may offer advantages of less invasiveness and be suitable for early institution before ARDS becomes irreversible. We describe a patient with ARDS and severe macroscopic barotrauma supported with low flow ECCO2R resulting in significant CO2 clearance, reduction of peak, mean airway pressures and minute ventilation.
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Intensive care medicine · Jul 1995
Comparative StudyThe abbreviated injury scale as a predictor of outcome of severe head injury.
This study examined the correlation between the worst abbreviated injury scale 1990 (AIS) intracranial severity score and outcome following severe head injury. ⋯ The AIS, based on initial CT scan, provides useful prognostic information in patients with severe head injury.