Artificial organs
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Vecuronium is a curaric agent, largely used in anesthesia. Indications as to its employ in uremic patients appear to be debated because of partial renal elimination of the drug. A 52-year-old hemodialyzed woman required transplantectomy for rejection. ⋯ Cautious use of this drug in renal failure is mandatory. Low dosage must be employed and repeated administration avoided. Neuromuscular blockade seems to be rapidly reversible with dialytic treatment.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Combined effects of inhaled nitric oxide and positive end-expiratory pressure during mechanical ventilation in acute respiratory distress syndrome.
We studied the combined effects of inhaled nitric oxide (INO) and positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) during mechanical ventilation in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Eleven patients received 0 and 4 parts per million of INO in random order for 30 min at PEEP levels of 0, 5, and 10 cm H2O. Respiratory and cardiovascular parameters were measured. ⋯ The combined effect of INO and PEEP on arterial oxygenation was remarkable during 10 cm H2O PEEP. There was synergistic effect on arterial oxygenation by combining INO and 10 cm H2O PEEP. The present study showed that the combination of INO and 10 cm H2O PEEP enhanced arterial oxygenation in patients with ARDS.