Critical care medicine
-
Critical care medicine · Feb 1996
Comparative StudyTotal liquid ventilation with perfluorocarbons increases pulmonary end-expiratory volume and compliance in the setting of lung atelectasis.
To compare compliance and end-expiratory lung volume during reexpansion of normal and surfactant-deficient ex vivo atelectatic lungs with either gas or total liquid ventilation. ⋯ End-expiratory lung volume and static compliance are increased significantly following attempted reexpansion with total liquid ventilation when compared with gas ventilation in normal and surfactant-deficient, atelectatic lungs. The ability of total liquid ventilation to enhance recruitment of atelectatic lung regions may be an important means by which gas exchange is improved during total liquid ventilation when compared with gas ventilation in the setting of respiratory failure.
-
Critical care medicine · Feb 1996
ReviewCerebral resuscitation from cardiac arrest: pathophysiologic mechanisms.
Both the period of total circulatory arrest to the brain and postischemic-anoxic encephalopathy (cerebral postresuscitation syndrome or disease), after normothermic cardiac arrests of between 5 and 20 mins (no-flow), contribute to complex physiologic and chemical derangements. The best documented derangements include the delayed protracted inhomogeneous cerebral hypoperfusion (despite controlled normotension), excitotoxicity as an explanation for selectively vulnerable brain regions and neurons, and free radical-triggered chemical cascades to lipid peroxidation of membranes. ⋯ Disagreements exist between experienced investigative groups on the most informative method for quantitative evaluation of morphologic brain damage. There is agreement on the desirability of using not only functional deficit and chemical changes, but also morphologic damage as end points.
-
Resuscitative (postinsult) hypothermia is less well studied than protective-preservative (pre- and intra-arrest) hypothermia. The latter is in wide clinical use, particularly for protecting the brain during cardiac surgery. Resuscitative hypothermia was explored in the 1950s and then lay dormant until the 1980s when it was revived. ⋯ Among many clinically feasible rapid cooling methods, carotid cold flush and peritoneal cooling look promising. After traumatic brain injury or focal brain ischemia, which seem to still benefit from even later cooling, surface cooling methods may be adequate. Resuscitative hypothermia after cardiac arrest, traumatic brain injury, or focal brain ischemia should be considered for clinical trials.
-
Critical care medicine · Feb 1996
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical TrialUse of flumazenil in the treatment of drug overdose: a double-blind and open clinical study in 110 patients.
To assess the efficacy, usefulness, safety, and dosages of flumazenil required when flumazenil is used in the diagnosis of benzodiazepine-induced coma (vs. other drug-induced coma), and to reverse or prevent the recurrence of unconsciousness. ⋯ Flumazenil is a valid diagnostic tool for distinguishing pure benzodiazepine from mixed-drug intoxication or nondrug-induced coma. Flumazenil is effective in preventing recurrence of benzodiazepine-induced coma. Respiratory insufficiency is reversed after its administration. Flumazenil is safe when administered cautiously, even in patients with coma caused by a mixed overdose of benzodiazepine plus tricyclic antidepressants.