Critical care medicine
-
Critical care medicine · Oct 1994
Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical TrialGlucose content of tracheal aspirates: implications for the detection of tube feeding aspiration.
To determine, using a sensitive glucose assay, whether monitoring of tracheal aspirate glucose concentration could serve as a marker of aspiration of enteral feedings. ⋯ Tracheal secretions contain high glucose concentrations, both in enterally fed patients without evidence of aspiration pneumonitis and in nonenterally fed patients. The concentration of glucose in tracheal secretions appears to be determined, in part, by ambient extracellular glucose concentrations. We conclude that measurement of glucose in tracheal secretions is unlikely to be useful in monitoring for tube feeding aspiration in tracheally intubated, enterally fed patients.
-
Critical care medicine · Oct 1994
Comparative StudySuppression of the thyrotropin response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone and its association with severity of critical illness.
To study whether the suppression of the thyrotropin (thyroid-stimulating hormone, TSH) response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) correlates with severity of illness and death in patients with nonthyroidal critical illness. ⋯ In critically ill patients with multiple organ failure, suppression of the TSH response to TRH frequently occurs and correlates with severity of illness and outcome. Our data indicate that measurement of the TSH response is helpful in evaluating the severity of illness and prognosis for critically ill patients.
-
Critical care medicine · Oct 1994
Comparative Study Clinical TrialQuantitated left ventricular systolic mechanics in children with septic shock utilizing noninvasive wall-stress analysis.
To quantitate ventricular systolic mechanics in septic children. ⋯ The frequency rate (40%) of reversible impaired ventricular contractility in children with septic shock is significant. Afterload is normal or increased in the majority of septic subjects, possibly due to acute ventricular dilation. Decreased preload contributes to altered ventricular performance in the majority of children with septic shock, persisting days after the initiation of therapy. Wall-stress analysis provided detailed information regarding ventricular mechanics that was not otherwise obtainable by standard ejection phase indices.
-
Critical care medicine · Oct 1994
Case ReportsIncreased resistance of hygroscopic condenser humidifiers when using a closed circuit suction system.
To examine a hygroscopic condenser after clinical use and to describe the interaction of a hygroscopic condenser and a closed circuit suction system used simultaneously. ⋯ Clinical use of a hygroscopic condenser alone is not associated with a significant increase in peak inflation pressure. We caution the use of a hygroscopic condenser and a closed circuit suction system simultaneously, as an increase in hygroscopic condenser resistance may develop and may be poorly tolerated in patients with marginal ventilatory reserve.
-
Critical care medicine · Oct 1994
Comparative StudyLow mortality rate in adult respiratory distress syndrome using low-volume, pressure-limited ventilation with permissive hypercapnia: a prospective study.
To evaluate the outcome in patients with severe adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) managed with limitation of peak inspiratory pressure to 30 to 40 cm H2O, low tidal volumes (4 to 7 mL/kg), spontaneous breathing using synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation from the start of ventilation, and permissive hypercapnia without the use of bicarbonate to buffer acidosis. Also, to compare hospital mortality rate with that predicted by the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II scoring system and the "ventilator score." ⋯ These results lend further support to the hypothesis that limitation of peak inspiratory pressure and reduction of regional lung overdistention by the use of low tidal volumes with permissive hypercapnia may reduce ventilator-induced lung injury and improve outcome in severe ARDS. This hypothesis is supported by a large body of experimental evidence, which also suggests that ventilator-induced lung injury may result in the release of inflammatory mediators, and thus may have the potential to augment the development of multiple organ dysfunction. However, the hypothesis requires testing in a randomized trial as acute hypercapnia could potentially have some adverse as well as beneficial effects.