Critical care medicine
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Critical care medicine · Jul 1983
Comparative Study Clinical TrialPhysiologic implications of high frequency jet ventilation techniques.
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Critical care medicine · Jul 1983
Comparative StudyResuscitation in hypovolemia and shock: a prospective study of hydroxyethyl starch and albumin.
In a prospective study comprising 50 patients, we evaluated the hemodynamic, pulmonary, renal and coagulation changes after resuscitation with 2 colloidal fluids, 6% hydroxyethyl starch (HES) and 5% albumin (ALB). Twenty-five patients studied in each group were well matched for age, clinical presentation, presence of shock and type of surgical procedures. A standard fluid challenge with 500 ml of either solution significantly (p less than 0.01) increased pulmonary artery wedge pressure (WP), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and left ventricular stroke work index (LVSWI) and decreased systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI). ⋯ Increased O2 delivery and reduced O2 extraction without significant deterioration of PaO2 or alveolar-arterial O2 gradient were observed with stabilization of circulation. Clinical bleeding due to colloid resuscitation was not documented and renal function was not affected significantly by either fluid. It seems that HES may offer a cost-effective alternative to ALB for patients requiring colloid resuscitation.
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Critical care medicine · Jul 1983
Comparative StudyPhysiologic requirements during rewarming: suppression of the shivering response.
Intraoperative hypothermia has become a common occurrence. Postoperative rewarming often is accompanied by shivering and results in increased metabolic and circulatory demands. We examined the metabolic, hemodynamic, and biochemical variables in 2 groups of hypothermic (greater than 35.8 degrees C) patients requiring mechanical ventilation after a major operation. ⋯ Suppression of the shivering by metocurine increased rewarming time significantly and decreased VCO2, VO2, HR, rate pressure product, mean arterial pressure (MAP), and the O2 cost of rewarming. Thus, the elimination of shivering during postoperative rewarming is associated with a decrease in caloric, metabolic demands and myocardial work (as assessed by the rate pressure product) while rewarming time is prolonged. In the postoperative, hypothermic, critically ill patient, suppression of the shivering response in selected patients may be indicated.
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Critical care medicine · Jul 1983
Inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone in a postsurgical pediatric population.
Twenty-four pediatric patients undergoing corrective posterior spinal fusion surgery for idiopathic scoliosis were studied to determine the frequency with which the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) developed. We measured arterial blood gases, serum and urine electrolytes and osmolalities, CVP, and urine output during and after surgery. ⋯ No patient developed hyponatremia (serum Na+ less than 130 mEq/L) and the decrease in serum sodium (3.0 +/- 0.8 mEq/L) was not statistically significant. We conclude that SIADH occurs commonly in patients undergoing corrective vertebral surgery and that vigilant attention must be paid to their fluid and electrolyte management in the postoperative period.
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Critical care medicine · Jun 1983
Prolonged mechanical ventilation for respiratory failure: a cost-benefit analysis.
To define the costs and benefits associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation, we studied retrospectively the records of 137 consecutive patients who required at least 48 h of ventilator support. The patients were physiologically unstable and required intensive care. Causes of respiratory failure included pulmonary diseases, post-operative complications, neuromuscular diseases, cardiac dysfunction, and GI disease. ⋯ These costs varied from +460/yr of extended life for patients with respiratory failure complicating asthma to +8026/yr for patients with cardiac dysfunction. The cost-benefit ratio increased sharply for men older than 56 yr and for women older than 75 yr. These data document the importance of the basic disease process and the patient's age in the cost-benefit relationship.