Critical care medicine
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Critical care medicine · Sep 1995
Association of myocardial ischemia with failure to wean from mechanical ventilation.
To determine if myocardial ischemia, as detected by continuous electrocardiographic monitoring, is correlated with continued ventilator dependence in patients who have had difficulties weaning from mechanical ventilation. ⋯ Myocardial ischemia (as detected by a 24-hr, continuous Holter monitor) occurs frequently in ventilator-dependent patients. The occurrence of ischemia was associated with failure to wean from mechanical ventilation in this patient population.
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Critical care medicine · Aug 1995
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyA comparison of intensive care unit utilization in Alberta and western Massachusetts.
To analyze differences in intensive care unit (ICU) utilization between a Canadian province and a U.S. area. ⋯ Western Massachusetts hospitalized patients are more likely to be treated in an ICU than are similar patients in Alberta. There is no evidence that the greater ICU utilization in western Massachusetts led to a lower hospital mortality rate.
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Critical care medicine · Aug 1995
Cerebral hemodynamics and distribution of left ventricular output during inhalation of nitric oxide.
Inhaled nitric oxide is being utilized as a selective pulmonary vasodilator in the treatment of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn. However, the effects of inhaled nitric oxide on cerebral hemodynamics and distribution of left ventricular output in newborn subjects have not been studied. This study was designed to measure quantitatively the effect of inhaled nitric oxide on the distribution of left ventricular output and on cerebral hemodynamics in a perinatal animal model. ⋯ Acute pulmonary vasodilation caused by inhalation of nitric oxide does not change left ventricular output, cerebral blood flow, or cerebral oxygen consumption, despite an increased systemic-to-pulmonary shunt across the ductus arteriosus.
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Critical care medicine · Aug 1995
Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical TrialA comparison of severity of illness scoring systems for intensive care unit patients: results of a multicenter, multinational study. The European/North American Severity Study Group.
To compare the performance of three severity of illness scoring systems used commonly for intensive care unit (ICU) patients in a large international data set. The systems analyzed were versions II and III of the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) system, versions I and II of the Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS), and versions I and II of the Mortality Probability Model (MPM), computed at admission and after 24 hrs in the ICU. ⋯ The new versions of the severity systems analyzed (APACHE III, SAPS II, MPM II) perform better than their older counterparts (APACHE II, SAPS I, and MPM I). APACHE II, SAPS II, and MPM II show good discrimination and calibration in this international database.