Intensive care medicine
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Intensive care medicine · Jan 1988
Comparative StudyToe temperature versus transcutaneous oxygen tension monitoring during acute circulatory failure.
Measurements of toe temperature and transcutaneous PO2 (PtcO2) have been both suggested for non-invasive assessment of peripheral blood flow in acute circulatory failure. The underlying principle of the two methods is that cutaneous vasoconstriction occurs early when tissue perfusion is altered. In 15 patients, we compared the two measurements during cardiogenic shock (27 measurements) or septic shock (29 measurements). ⋯ Since measurement of PtcO2 is technically more complicated, correlates less well with standard hemodynamic parameters and later reflects cardiovascular improvement, it has no advantage over measurement of toe temperature in circulatory shock. In cardiogenic shock, measurements of toe temperature can reliably track cardiac output changes. In septic states, however, non-invasive assessment of skin perfusion is of limited interest.
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Intensive care medicine · Jan 1988
Mortality and quality of life after intensive care for critical illness.
Early and late mortality of 313 ICU patients and the quality of life of 118 long term ICU survivors was studied to assess the effectiveness of intensive care for critically ill patients. The survival rate at discharge from the ICU was 76%, falling to 61% at 6 months and to 58% at 1 year. A simplified acute physiology score (SAPS) was recorded on ICU admission, as well as age, length of ICU-stay and the number of complications during intensive care. ⋯ In 21% of the patients a deteriorated physical condition was found, 77% remained unchanged and 2% were improved 2 years after ICU discharge, compared to their condition prior to the acute illness. Major functional impairment was found in 38% of the patients. Although the longterm physical condition and functional status correlated with SAPS and age on ICU admission, the best indicator for quality of life after intensive care proved to be the health status prior to the acute illness.
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Intensive care medicine · Jan 1988
Extracorporeal CO2-removal with a heparin coated artificial lung.
Treatment of severe acute respiratory failure with extracorporeal gas exchange necessitating near complete systemic anticoagulation requires a delicate balance to be maintained between disseminated intravascular coagulation and hemorrhagic complications. The present study describes our first experience using a heparin coated extracorporeal artificial lung and circuitry during clinical extracorporeal CO2 removal. ⋯ Scanning electron microscopy of the heparin coated hollow fiber gas exchanger demonstrated only minor deposits on the surface. Use of a heparin coated artificial lung may enhance the margin of safety of extracorporeal gas exchange and ultimately broaden its indications.
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A continuous high flow CPAP system incorporating a turbine blower is described. The system achieves inspiratory flow rates of 150 l/min or more by means of reticulated gas flow and inspired oxygen fractions of 0.21-0.95. ⋯ The mobility of the system also enables its use as an intermittent physiotherapy aid. Work of breathing of the system, as assessed by total pressure fluctuations is at a minimum.
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Intensive care medicine · Jan 1988
The microbiologic risk of invasive haemodynamic monitoring in open-heart patients requiring prolonged ICU treatment.
The microbiologic risk of invasive haemodynamic monitoring and support was prospectively studied in 48 patients undergoing open-heart surgery under antibiotic prophylaxis and requiring intensive care for longer than 4 days. A total of 420 catheter tips were cultured of which 12 (2.9%) were positive. The incidence of positive catheter tip cultures was as follows: intravenous 1.8%, central venous 1.2%, arterial 1.8%, pulmonary arterial 5.9%, direct right atrial 2.4%, direct left atrial 0% and intra-aortic balloon pump catheters 7.7%. ⋯ Complicated surgical procedures, a cardiopulmonary bypass time longer than 3.5 h, mechanical ventilation for more than 7 days, intensive care stay longer than 10 days, positive blood cultures and the use of more than 20 catheters were all individually associated with a significantly higher incidence of patients with positive tip cultures. Nevertheless, no patient developed endocarditis nor major morbidity related to the positive catheter tip cultures. Invasive haemodynamic monitoring does not seem to be an important microbiologic risk in open-heart patients requiring intensive care for longer than 4 days.