Journal of critical care
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Journal of critical care · Sep 1994
ReviewSplanchnic tonometry: a review of physiology, methodology, and clinical applications.
The objective of this article is to review splanchnic tonometry. The English literature, involving both animal and human studies, was used for review, with emphasis on papers on physiological and methodological principles and clinical applications. Tonometry involves the measurement of intraluminal PCO2 as a measure of mucosal PCO2 in the gastrointestinal tract via a catheter in, for instance, stomach or sigmoid colon, and the calculation, with help of the blood bicarbonate content and the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation, of the mucosal pH (pHi). ⋯ Tonometry may be a useful monitoring technique to guide treatment and to improve survival. Splanchnic tonometry is a relatively simple, noninvasive, and thereby promising technique to monitor the critically ill. However, some aspects need further evaluation before the technique can be advocated for routine use.
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Journal of critical care · Sep 1994
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialEffects of human growth hormone on fuel utilization and mineral balance in critically ill patients on full intravenous nutritional support.
The effects of recombinant human growth hormone (GH) on fuel utilization, mineral and fluid balance in critically ill patients were studied. ⋯ GH administration in critically ill patients reduces nitrogen loss and improves phosphate retention but does not have an important effect on fuel utilization.
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Estimation and measurement of serum osmolality can be of value in the clinical management of certain forms of critical illness. Osmolality is a measure of the concentration of osmotically active particles, or solutes, in a solution. Only low-formula weight ions and uncharged molecules that are present in relatively high concentrations contribute significantly to serum osmolality. ⋯ An understanding of serum osmolality, its laboratory measurement, its bedside estimation, and the concept of the osmole gap, is crucial in making a preliminary diagnosis of methanol and ethylene glycol intoxication, as well as a few other related compounds. There are important caveats to this use of the osmole gap, because under certain circumstances both false-positive and false-negative interpretations may occur. The osmole gap may also be helpful for confirming pseudohyponatremia, as a gauge for dosing mannitol and glycerol when used to treat intracranial hypertension, and as a prognostic indicator in circulatory shock.
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Journal of critical care · Sep 1994
Effect of two tidal volumes on oxygenation and respiratory system mechanics during the early stage of adult respiratory distress syndrome.
To study the effect of two tidal volumes on gas exchange, lung mechanics, and hemodynamics in 12 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) within the first 72 hours of mechanical ventilation. ⋯ High-tidal ventilation in the early stage of ARDS improved gas exchange, suggesting recruitment during the inspiratory phase. However, the benefit of better oxygenation should be weighed against the potential risk of barotrauma induced at high VT.
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Journal of critical care · Sep 1994
A noninvasive method for monitoring cerebral perfusion during cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
This study evaluates the use of transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound in assessing the changes experienced by the cerebral circulation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and compares it with measurements of internal carotid artery (ICA) flow rates (ultrasonic flow-meter measurements) and cerebral blood flow (CBF) (radioactive-microsphere measurements) in a porcine cardiac arrest model undergoing closed chest CPR. ⋯ TCD can provide on-line information about cerebral perfusion during CPR.