Critical care medicine
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Critical care medicine · Jun 1999
Comparative StudyAccuracy of methemoglobin measurements: comparison of six different commercial devices and one manual method.
During nitric oxide inhalation, methemoglobinemia needs to be monitored. We compared six commercially available instruments and one manual method for methemoglobin measurements. In addition, we studied whether and to what degree methylene blue interferes with methemoglobin measurements. ⋯ With some limitations, all commercial instruments that were tested performed adequately for the monitoring of methemoglobinemia. Methylene blue interferes with the methemoglobin measurements in a dose-dependent manner.
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To assess the subjective health status, quality of life, and functional ability of patients whose intensive care stay was prolonged and to compare their quality of life with that of the general population. ⋯ The quality of life of survivors after a prolonged intensive care stay is fairly good, although not comparable with that of the general population. The psychosocial aspects of the quality of life are restored more rapidly than physical performance.
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Critical care medicine · Jun 1999
Comparative StudyOptimizing liquid ventilation as a lung protection strategy for neonatal cardiopulmonary bypass: full functional residual capacity dosing is more effective than half functional residual capacity dosing.
To evaluate and compare the protective effects of two different perflubron doses on hemodynamics and lung function in a neonatal animal model of cardiopulmonary bypass-induced lung injury. ⋯ These data suggest that liquid lung ventilation dosing at full functional residual capacity before bypass is more effective than half functional residual capacity in minimizing the lung injury associated with neonatal cardiopulmonary bypass. Full functional residual capacity dosing may optimize alveolar distention and lung volume, as well as improve oxygen delivery compared with half functional residual capacity dosing.
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Critical care medicine · Jun 1999
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialFluconazole prophylaxis prevents intra-abdominal candidiasis in high-risk surgical patients.
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravenous fluconazole for the prevention of intra-abdominal Candida infections in high-risk surgical patients. ⋯ Fluconazole prophylaxis prevents colonization and invasive intra-abdominal Candida infections in high-risk surgical patients.
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Critical care medicine · Jun 1999
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialThe ex vivo antimicrobial activity and colonization rate of two antimicrobial-bonded central venous catheters.
Catheter-related sepsis is an important complication associated with the use of central venous catheters. Recent studies have suggested that antimicrobial-bonded catheters may reduce catheter colonization and catheter-related sepsis. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the antimicrobial activity and the colonization rate of two commercially available antimicrobial-bonded central venous catheters. ⋯ The Bio-Guard central venous catheter had greater ex vivo antimicrobial activity against MRSA, S. epidermidis, and E. faecalis compared with the ARROWgard catheter, and this was associated with a significantly lower rate of catheter colonization.