Medicina intensiva
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To study if the utility of acridine orange (AO) staining method on blood extracted through intravenous device (ID) is a reliable method to diagnose catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRB). ⋯ Although the number of events does not allow for the estimation of the efficacy of AO to diagnose CRB, its high negative predictive value would make it possible to rule out this infectious complication with some degree of safety.
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In the last century, humankind has faced 3 major pandemics of influenza virus infections. The first one occurred in 1918 and caused a significant amount of deaths. It was also capable of crossing over species barrier and affecting mammals, and most worrisome, humans. ⋯ Since the virus lacks regulatory control of genetic division it undergoes constant mutations leading to new subtypes and, sometimes, new strains. The only drugs that have shown some protection are oseltamivir and zanamivir. It is crucial to develop effective and non-expensive vaccines to prevent the virus spread and infection not only in humans but in birds too.
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To describe the characteristics and prognostic factors of elderly patients hospitalized for > or = 30 days in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). ⋯ ICU mortality rates in elderly patients with a stay < or > or = 30 days in the ICU were comparable. Survival at one year of the > or = 70 year-old patients whose long-term intensive care unit stay was > or = 30 days was high. These results are sufficient in our unit to justify prolonged ICU care for elderly patients.
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Thoracic aorta traumatism is a lesion associated to high morbidity-mortality at the site of the accident. In the 90's, treatment by placement of an endovascular stent was generalized with good results. In this work, we present a series of 5 clinical cases of patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of our hospital during the year 2006. ⋯ Three received endovascular treatment within the first 36 hours and the fourth on day 28 of admission. The fifth patient had a lesion of the intima and was not operated on. Posterior evolution was good in all the cases.
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To assess the incidence and prognostic value of acute renal function deterioration (ARFD) in patients with acute heart disease. ⋯ Acute renal function deterioration is frequent in patients with acute heart disease and its presence is linked with higher mortality.