Intensive care medicine
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Intensive care medicine · Jan 1992
Comparative StudyContinuous positive airway pressure by face mask or mechanical ventilation in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection and severe Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.
We reviewed the records of 44 patients with AIDS who had 45 episodes of severe Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP). While 9 patients required intubation and mechanical ventilation (MV) on admission, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) by face mask was the initial measure in 36 episodes. There were 25 patients managed with CPAP alone, 23 of whom survived. ⋯ The in-hospital mortality for severe PCP in this study was 33% overall, and reached 65% for mechanically ventilated patients. The 1-year survival was 43% (95% confidence interval, 28%-58%). These data confirm the improved prognosis for patients with AIDS and severe PCP, and suggest that mask CPAP may be an adequate mean of ventilatory support in this setting.
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Intensive care medicine · Jan 1992
Case ReportsBronchopulmonary distress associated with toxic epidermal necrolysis.
We describe here a patient with severe TEN and respiratory distress and we review the subject of bronchopulmonary symptoms in TEN. Even if pseudostratified ciliated involvement is uncommon, bronchial lesions in the absence of other known causes, should be specifically related to TEN. The mechanisms of pulmonary involvement and ARDS associated with TEN are discussed.
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Intensive care medicine · Jan 1992
Increase in lung volume originated by extrinsic PEEP in patients with auto-PEEP. The role of static lung compliance.
The use of extrinsic positive end expiratory pressure (PEEPe) in patients with auto-PEEP (AP) can reduce the respiratory work during weaning from mechanical ventilation. However, the application of PEEPe can produce a certain level of hyperinflation, an undesirable effect which can limit the efficacy of the reduction of respiratory work. The objective of the present study has been to determine if the increase in end expiratory lung volume (EELV) originated by the PEEPe is related to static lung compliance (SLC). ⋯ When PEEPe equal to the AP was applied, the EELV increased by 178 +/- 110 ml (range 45-375 ml, p less than 0.05), and there was a significant correlation with SLC (r = 0.659, p less than 0.05). In conclusion, the application of PEEPe equal to the AP causes a moderate increase in EELV. However, in patients with high pulmonary compliance this increase can be more important and must be taken into account when considering the use of PEEPe during weaning.
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Intensive care medicine · Jan 1992
Case ReportsMediastinitis due to Nocardia asteroides after cardiac transplantation.
Nocardia infection classically occurs in immuno-compromized patients. Only a few cases of mediastinal infection due to this pathogen have been described in the literature. ⋯ The emergence of a severe acute renal failure possibly induced by drug interaction between Cyclosporin, cyclines and aminoglycosides, led us to modify the antimicrobial treatment. The intravenous use of Imipenem 2 g per day and Ciprofloxacin 400 mg per day for four weeks and then oral Ciprofloxacin 1.5 g per day for 1 year, was effective and allowed a good outcome, without any drug interaction with Cyclosporin, adverse effect, graft rejection episode or infection relapse.