Critical care medicine
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Critical care medicine · Jul 2015
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyHypothermia for Traumatic Brain Injury in Children-A Phase II Randomized Controlled Trial.
To perform a pilot study to assess the feasibility of performing a phase III trial of therapeutic hypothermia started early and continued for at least 72 hours in children with severe traumatic brain injury. ⋯ Early therapeutic hypothermia in children with severe traumatic brain injury does not improve outcome and should not be used outside a clinical trial. Recruitment rates were lower and outcomes were better than expected. Conventional randomized controlled trials in children with severe traumatic brain injury are unlikely to be feasible. A large international trials group and alternative approaches to trial design will be required to further inform practice.
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Critical care medicine · Jul 2015
Clonidine Restores Pressor Responsiveness to Phenylephrine and Angiotensin II in Ovine Sepsis.
In sepsis, prolonged, sympathetic overstimulation may lead to vasopressor-refractory hypotension. We therefore examined the effects of the α2-adrenergic agonist clonidine on mean arterial pressure, renal sympathetic nerve activity, and pressor responsiveness to phenylephrine and angiotensin II during hypotensive sepsis in conscious sheep. ⋯ Administration of clonidine during hypotensive sepsis reduced renal sympathetic nerve activity, restored vascular sensitivity to both phenylephrine and angiotensin II, and resulted in better preservation of arterial pressure. Considering these findings, a clinical trial for the use of clonidine in the treatment of persistent vasopressor-refractory hypotension in patients with septic shock would be worthwhile.