Journal of critical care
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Journal of critical care · Aug 2012
Comparative StudySerum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in ballistic injuries: a comparison between blast injuries and gunshot wounds.
Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is part of a functionally diverse family of proteins that generally bind small, hydrophobic ligands. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin is expressed in a number of human tissues including gastrointestinal, respiratory, and urinary tracts and tends to rise in response to inflammation. For this reason, we hypothesized that levels of NGAL might be expressed at higher levels after blast injury compared with other ballistic injury. ⋯ Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin is not a specific marker of blast injury but is predictive of both renal failure and poor outcome.
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Journal of critical care · Aug 2012
Factors associated with acute lung injury in combat casualties receiving massive blood transfusions: a retrospective analysis.
We sought to determine if use of warm fresh whole blood (WFWB), rather than blood component therapy, alters rates of acute lung injury (ALI) in patients with trauma. ⋯ Warm fresh whole blood may be associated with an increased risk of ALI, but this is confounded by increased injury and crystalloid use in patients receiving WFWB.
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Journal of critical care · Aug 2012
The flow-time waveform predicts respiratory system resistance and compliance.
Knowledge of patients' lung compliance and resistance aids clinical management. We investigated whether these values, readily measured during volume assist-control ventilation (VACV), could also be estimated during pressure assist-control ventilation (PACV). ⋯ During PACV, the inspiratory flow waveform is linear, and its slope contains information regarding inspiratory resistance and compliance. Calculated values correlate with those during VACV.