Medicina intensiva
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The clinical case of a 19-year old woman with the clinical criteria of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) viral associated with Hemophagocytic syndrome (VAHS) is presented. The clinical outcome was poor and rapidly progressive, ending in exitus letalis. The principal concepts and characteristics of the Hemophagocytic syndrome are discussed, stressing the current consensus rules and the variations in management according to international guidelines.
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The tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is a life-threatening complication caused by the massive release of nucleic acids, potassium and phosphate into the blood. This complication is the result of tumor cell lysis, which may occur due to treatment of drug sensitive and is characterized by rapid capacity of proliferation, that is often hematological origin. Moreover, the TLS can be observed before starting the treatment due to spontaneous tumor cell death, and frequently worsens when chemotherapy is initiated. ⋯ In the intensive care unit (ICU), physicians should be aware of the clinical characteristics of TLS, which results in severe electrolyte metabolism disorders, especially hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatemia and hypocalcemia, and acute kidney injury which is a major cause of ICU mortality. An adequate strategy for the management of the TLS, combining hydration, urate oxidase, and an early admission to ICU can control this complication in most patients. The aim of this review is to provide diagnostic tools that allow to the ICU physician to recognize the population at high risk for developing the TLS, and outline a proper strategy for treating and preventing this serious complication.
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Comparative Study
[Study of post-ICU mortality during 4 years (2006-2009). Analysis of the factors related to death in the ward after discharge from the ICU].
To detect possible reasons for mortality of critical patients transferred from the ICU to the hospital wards and to analyze the possible attributable causes for such mortality. ⋯ Some mortality after ICU discharge is to be expected. Our data do not allow us to attribute this mortality rate to care deficiencies (inappropriate ICU discharges or deceased care in the wards). The reasons for this mortality have a varied and variable explanation. It mostly corresponds to an evolution of the patients differing from that expected when they were discharged from ICU.
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Viruses play a significant role in serious infections in adults and sometimes lead to the need for hospitalization and admission to intensive care units, especially in cases of severe respiratory distress or encephalopathy. Influenza and parainfluenza viruses, syncytial respiratory virus, herpes viruses and adenovirures are the most frequent causes of these severe infections. ⋯ It is mainly a bacterial disease, although the potential role of viruses as pathogens or copathogens in VAP is under discussion. Therefore, a brief review of the potential pathogenic role of viruses in VAP has also been performed.
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Second level therapeutic maneuvres for controlling intracranial hypertension (ICH) proposed by the European Brain Injury Consortium and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons include barbiturates, moderate hypothermia and more recently the decompressive craniectomy (DC). In most patients, ICP can be maintained below 25 mmHg after a DC. However, the exact effect of DC on brain oxygenation (PtiO2) still unclear. From our point of view the ptIo2 monitoring with the probe located in the healthy area of the most severely damaged cerebral hemisphere is not only a important tool for timing craniectomy in the future but also for evaluating the therapeutic effectivity of DC.