Intensive care medicine
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There are widespread disturbances in hepatic and peripheral metabolism in sepsis. Prominent effects include elevated plasma concentrations of aromatic and sulfur-containing amino acids during sepsis, while BCAA are normal or reduced. These alterations probably in part reflect accelerated muscle protein breakdown and hepatic dysfunction. ⋯ Although the main objective in the treatment of septic patients, of course, is to remove or drain the septic focus, recent studies have shown that administration of BCAA-enriched solutions may be beneficial in the improvement of metabolic derangements and septic encephalopathy. It should be emphasized that not a great deal of work has been done in this area, and the above results are preliminary and fragmentary. However, they do at least provide a working hypothesis for testing of another form of metabolic encephalopathy.
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Intensive care medicine · Jan 1986
An index to predict outcome in adult respiratory distress syndrome.
Thirty patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome required intermittent positive pressure ventilation; 15 survived. In 25 the syndrome followed bacterial infection or multiple injuries. From the peak upper airway pressure, the oxygen gradient and the age of the patient, an index was obtained which discriminated between the survivors and those who died from the pulmonary lesion of the syndrome.
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Intensive care medicine · Jan 1986
Case ReportsRupture of the normal stomach after therapeutic oxygen administration.
The case is reported of an 87-year-old woman with a spontaneous rupture of the normal stomach during nasal oxygen administration. The clinical picture and treatment are discussed.
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Intensive care medicine · Jan 1986
Clinical applications of independent lung ventilation with unilateral high-frequency jet ventilation (ILV-UHFJV).
Six patients with unilateral acute lung injury (ALI) were treated with a new form of ventilatory support: independent lung ventilation with unilateral high-frequency jet ventilation (ILV-UHFJV). The first three patients suffered from unilateral ALI complicated by a bronchopleural fistula (BPF); they were at first ventilated with HFJV, but remained unresponsive to treatment, showing a progressive impairment of the ventilation/perfusion ratio with a deterioration in clinical condition. ⋯ Subsequently, three more patients were treated; their respiratory failure was due to a unilateral ALI without BPF, unresponsive to either HFJV or CPPV. Once again, ILV-UHFJV was followed by a dramatic improvement in respiratory function; the haemodynamics remained unchanged and it was also possible to demonstrate a rapid improvement in individual and overall lung function.
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Intensive care medicine · Jan 1986
Case ReportsProlonged high-frequency jet ventilation in a patient with bronchopleural fistula. An alternative mode of ventilation.
We report a case of bronchopleural fistula (BPF) in a patient submitted to conventional mechanical ventilation in which high frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) was applied during five consecutive days. Gas exchange was adequate, the bronchial secretions could easily be cleared and the patient adapted comfortably to HFJV. In spite of PEEP levels between 4 and 8 mm Hg, the leak through the BPF ceased completely.