Critical care medicine
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Critical care medicine · May 1993
Longitudinal analysis of neutrophil superoxide anion generation in patients with septic shock.
To examine polymorphonuclear leukocyte respiratory burst function serially in patients with septic shock. ⋯ In vitro neutrophil respiratory burst function is significantly depressed during early septic shock. As patients improve clinically, as quantitated by decreasing APACHE II scores, neutrophil respiratory burst function recovers, approaching normal values.
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Critical care medicine · May 1993
Functional responses to extremely high plasma epinephrine concentrations in cardiac arrest.
To evaluate the action of high-dose epinephrine by measuring simultaneously its vasopressor and norepinephrine releasing effects in humans during cardiac arrest. ⋯ Despite the very high prevailing plasma epinephrine concentrations during cardiac arrest, further epinephrine increases still elicit biological responses. The present work provides physiologic support for the use of large doses of epinephrine during the course of CPR.
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Critical care medicine · May 1993
Verification of the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation scoring system in a Hong Kong intensive care unit.
To validate the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) severity of illness scoring system in Chinese patients in a multidisciplinary intensive care unit (ICU) in Hong Kong. To audit the service and utilization of an ICU with a low ICU to hospital bed ratio. ⋯ The APACHE II scoring system was an accurate predictor of group outcome in a Chinese population, making it suitable for comparisons between countries. Application of the APACHE II scoring system in a clinical audit facilitates critical appraisal of an ICU service. Problems identified by the study were a shortage of ICU beds and delayed referrals of patients.
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To study the role of nitric oxide in the hemodynamic changes of sepsis. ⋯ These data support the view that nitric oxide plays a significant role in modulating systemic and pulmonary vasomotor tone in normal and septic sheep. L-arginine produced systemic vasodilation in normal sheep, whereas both systemic and pulmonary vasodilation were observed in septic animals. The impaired response to an endothelium-dependent vasodilator in sepsis was improved by the previous administration of L-arginine.
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To determine the effects of fat emboli on cardiopulmonary function in critically ill patients. ⋯ Cardiopulmonary dysfunction commonly attributed to fat emboli is likely due to other causes.