Intensive care medicine
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Intensive care medicine · Jan 1994
Risk factors for infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia.
to investigate the epidemiology of infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). ⋯ patients with VAP and these factors have a greater risk of infection by Ps. aeruginosa and empirical therapy for these episodes should include anti-pseudomonal activity until etiologic diagnosis is established.
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Intensive care medicine · Jan 1994
Case ReportsRespiratory syncytial virus triggered adult respiratory distress syndrome in infants: a report of two cases.
Two infants with severe respiratory syncytial virus infection which resulted eventually in classical adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are presented. Both infants had severe apneic spells, necessitating intubation and mechanical ventilation (MV). ⋯ Assessment of respiratory system mechanics (single breath occlusion technique) revealed severe restrictive disease in both cases. The first patient recovered with residual restrictive changes determined during a follow-up 2.5 months later, whereas the second infant died because of ARDS, pulmonary interstitial emphysema and hypoxemic hypoxia.
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Intensive care medicine · Jan 1994
Comparative StudyA new therapy of post-trauma brain oedema based on haemodynamic principles for brain volume regulation.
To evaluate a new therapy of posttraumatic brain oedema, with the main concept that opening of the blood-brain barrier upsets the normal brain volume regulation, inducing oedema formation. This means that transcapillary fluid fluxes will be controlled by hydrostatic capillary and colloid osmotic pressures, rather than by crystalloid osmotic pressure. If so, brain oedema therapy should include reduction of hydrostatic capillary pressure and preservation of normal colloid osmotic pressure. ⋯ The results indicate that the therapy should focus on extracellular rather than intracellular oedema and that ischemia is not the main triggering mechanism behind oedema formation. We suggest that our therapy is superior to conventional therapy by preventing herniation during the healing period of the blood-brain barrier.
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Intensive care medicine · Jan 1994
Comparative StudyThe effect of hydroxyethyl starch and other plasma volume substitutes on endothelial cell activation; an in vitro study.
To study the effect of medium molecular weight hydroxyethyl starches on endothelial cell and neutrophil activation in vitro. ⋯ these results suggest a possible beneficial role of hydroxyethyl starches in the inhibition of endothelial activation thus preventing neutrophil adhesion during sepsis syndrome.