Critical care medicine
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Critical care medicine · Jun 1998
Comparative StudyMechanical performance of clinically available, neonatal, high-frequency, oscillatory-type ventilators.
To perform a functional evaluation of five different high-frequency, oscillatory-type ventilators that are currently being marketed for neonatal high-frequency oscillation. ⋯ The findings demonstrate large variations in machine performance. The ventilators also differed profoundly in complexity of operation and versatility as neonatal ventilators.
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Critical care medicine · Jun 1998
Prognostic value of gastric intramucosal pH in critically ill children.
To determine the association of tonometrically measured gastric intramucosal pH (pHi) to the occurrence of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and death in critically ill children. ⋯ Our results show that pHi is an independent predictor of mortality in patients admitted to a pediatric ICU. Although no relationship was observed between the risk of MODS and gastric pHi, the univariate difference of 21% vs. 41% is highly suggestive. The pHi determination is a minimally invasive procedure and well tolerated in children of all ages.
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Critical care medicine · Jun 1998
Comparative StudyAccuracy of two pulse oximeters at low arterial hemoglobin-oxygen saturation.
To evaluate the performance of two pulse oximeters in the measurement of arterial hemoglobin saturation in hypoxemic children. ⋯ The performance of the Ohmeda pulse oximeter deteriorated below an SpO2 of 75%. The Hewlett-Packard pulse oximeter performed consistently above and below an SpO2 of 75%. The ability of both pulse oximeters to reliably predict change in SaO2 based on change in pulse oximetry was limited. We recommend measurement of PaO2 or SaO2 for important clinical decisions.
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Critical care medicine · Jun 1998
Extracorporeal heparin adsorption following cardiopulmonary bypass with a heparin removal device--an alternative to protamine.
To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and applicability of a heparin removal device (HRD) based on plasma separation and poly-L-lysine (PLL) affinity adsorption as an alternative to protamine in reversing systemic heparinization following cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). ⋯ The HRD is capable of reversal of anticoagulation following CPB without significant blood cell damage or changes in hemodynamics. The HRD, therefore, can serve as an alternative to achieve heparin clearance in clinical situations where use of protamine may be contraindicated.