Intensive care medicine
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Intensive care medicine · Jan 1989
ReviewInfluence of architectural design on nosocomial infections in intensive care units--a prospective 2-year analysis.
Nosocomial infection rates in an old intensive care ward constructed in 1924 were compared with those in a new one constructed in 1986. The nosocomial infection rate in the old unit was 34.2% and that in the new unit 31.9%, with an average of 33%. ⋯ After transfer of the intensive care unit (ICU) the incidence and profile of nosocomial infections remained the same. These findings suggest that the influence of architectural design has little impact on the incidence of nosocomial infections.
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Several immunological factors affect the outcome of human kidney transplants. HLA-A, -B and -DR matching improves kidney graft survival rate, especially matching for HLA-DR antigens. The beneficial effect of pretransplant blood transfusion has been confirmed although the mechanisms of the beneficial effect are not clear. ⋯ Major improvements in the results of organ transplantation have been achieved during the past few years with the use of new immunosuppressive agents, namely cyclosporin and monoclonal antibodies reacting with T lymphocytes. Both agents act selectively on T lymphocytes. However, nephrotoxicity of cyclosporin may limit its use.
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A minitracheotomy tube was inadvertently placed in the oesophagus of a 22-year-old woman with cystic fibrosis. The authors discuss how this may have occurred and ways of avoiding this complication.
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Intensive care medicine · Jan 1989
Intensive care for children after orthotopic liver transplantation.
We report our experience in the management of children after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). From 03/84 to 04/87 50 patients (pts) were transplanted. Mean age was 4 3/12 years (8/12 to 13 2/12) and mean body weight 14.7 kg (5.8 to 40). ⋯ Problems related to the functioning of the graft included: Primary non-function of the graft (4 pts), hepatic artery thrombosis (8 pts) and severe acute rejection unresponsive to therapy (1 pt); these situations needed to be recognised early in order to organize a second OLT. Other causes of hepatic dysfunction were: portal vein thrombosis (1 pt), biliary tract obstruction (2 pts), angiocholitis (3 pts), right hepatic lobe necrosis (2 pts). Acute hepatic insufficiency in 7 children.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Intensive care medicine · Jan 1989
Comparative StudyHigh-frequency jet ventilation during oleic-acid induced pulmonary oedema.
In oleic acid-induced pulmonary oedema (OAPO) sequential intrapulmonary fluid accumulation occurs leading to different expiratory flow pattern in dependent lung regions. The potential effects on efficacy of high-frequency jet ventilation (HFJV, f = 3 Hz, I: E = 0.43, FiO2 = 0.4) were studied and compared with continuous positive pressure ventilation (CPPV, f = 12-18/min, I:E = 0.5, TV = 12 ml/kg, PEEP = 0.5 kPa, FiO2 = 0.4) in a dog model of OAPO. In the control state (lung-healthy dogs), 15 min after oleic acid lung injury (interstitial oedema, period I) and 60 min after onset of OAPO (alveolar oedema, period II), gas exchange, lung volumes, compliance, resistance and haemodynamics were measured. ⋯ Onset of phase IV of the alveolar plateau (closing volume CV) occurred significantly earlier (p less than 0.05) in all animals. Impaired ventilation of dependent lung regions, increased maldistribution of intrapulmonary gas and VA/Q-mismatching may be the underlying mechanisms for lower efficacy of HFJV during interstitial lung oedema. In period II, pulmonary and cardiocirculatory parameters had changed significantly in both groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)