Critical care medicine
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Critical care medicine · Mar 1997
Resuscitation of pulmonary contusion: effects of a red cell substitute.
To determine the impact of a vasoactive red cell substitute, diaspirin cross-linked hemoglobin, on respiratory derangements after traumatic lung injury. ⋯ After pulmonary contusion, resuscitation with diaspirin cross-linked hemoglobin led to pulmonary hypertension, greater pulmonary contusion lesion size, and stiffer lungs in this porcine model.
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Critical care medicine · Mar 1997
Factors explaining variability among caregivers in the intent to restrict life-support interventions in a pediatric intensive care unit.
To explore patient-related factors which influence the decisions of pediatric intensive care unit (ICU) caregivers to restrict life-support interventions. ⋯ Critically ill children and their families could face markedly different attitudes about the restriction of life-support interventions, depending on which nurses and physicians are involved in their care.
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Critical care medicine · Mar 1997
Comparative StudyContinuous assessment of gastric intramucosal PCO2 and pH in hemorrhagic shock using capnometric recirculating gas tonometry.
To test a novel device for continuous monitoring of gut intramucosal PCO2 and pH and to compare its use with conventional intermittent saline balloon-tonometry in a model of hemorrhagic shock. ⋯ Capnometric recirculating gas tonometry allows continuous and automated assessment of gastrointestinal tract perfusion by providing on-line measurements of intramucosal PCO2, which can also be used to derive intramucosal pH. The technique is able to detect changes in intramucosal PCO2 in response to an induced insult over intervals as short as 5 mins.
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Critical care medicine · Mar 1997
Experimental study of double-lumen, two-stage endotracheal tube during conventional mechanical ventilation in rabbits.
To evaluate the effects of a double-lumen, two-stage endotracheal tube on gas exchanges (ventilatory efficiency) during conventional mechanical ventilation, using a ventilator in rabbits. ⋯ Compared with the conventional endotracheal tube, the new double-lumen, two-stage endotracheal tube reduced Paco2 by decreasing anatomical deadspace in rabbits with normal and injured lungs under pressure control ventilation, thus enhancing ventilatory efficiency and reducing ventilator-induced injury.
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Critical care medicine · Mar 1997
Effects of N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester on the endotoxin-induced disseminated intravascular coagulation in porcine septic shock.
Nitric oxide is known to prevent platelet aggregation and clot formation. Inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase might promote or enhance endotoxin disseminated intravascular coagulation. The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of the arginine analog, N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), on the endotoxin-induced disseminated intravascular coagulation in a porcine model of septic shock. ⋯ In this model of endotoxin septic shock, L-NAME administration resulted in histologic and coagulation changes consistent with an increased activation of intravascular coagulation.