Medicina intensiva
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BD was diagnosed by clinical examination, electroencephalogram (EEG), Transcranial Doppler (TCD) and multislice CT of 64 detectors. Initially, a brain perfusion study was performed. This was followed by supra-aortic trunk and brain artery angiography with acquisition of images using 0.5 mm slices, from the origin of the aortic root to the vertex. ⋯ These findings demonstrate that the study of brain perfusion and brain angiography by multislice CT scan is a rapid and minimally invasive technique, that is easily available and that shows the absence of brain blood flow through the four vascular trunks. This technique makes it possible to made the diagnosis of BD with high diagnostic safety. Its use has special interest in patients with clinical diagnostic difficulty due to treatment with sedative drugs and serious metabolic alterations.
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Recombinant activated factor VII is a drug that should be considered when there is massive bleeding. Its activation after it is bond to the tissue factor expressed triggers the coagulation cascade by action sequence of the different factors. ⋯ Although the adverse effects are well characterized, it is still a newly used drug. Thus, the potential risks of its use in each patient must be weighed.
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To assess the incidence, clinical profile and influence on outcome of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) treated with primary angioplasty (PA). ⋯ Systemic inflammatory response syndrome may be present in AMI patients treated with PA and its presence is associated to a worse outcome and longer in-hospital stay.
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Practice Guideline
[GEIPC-SEIMC and GTEI-SEMICYUC recommendations for antibiotic treatment of gram positive coccal infections in the critical patient].
In recent years, an increment of infections caused by gram-positive cocci has been documented in nosocomial and hospital-acquired infections. In diverse countries, a rapid development of resistance to common antibiotics against gram-positive cocci has been observed. This situation is exceptional in Spain but our country might be affected in the near future. ⋯ It is essential to improve our current knowledge about pharmacokinetic properties of traditional and new antimicrobials to maximize its effectiveness and to minimize toxicity. These issues are even more important in critically ill patients because inadequate empirical therapy is associated with therapeutic failure and a poor outcome. Experts representing two scientific societies (Grupo de estudio de Infecciones en el Paciente Critico de la SEIMC and Grupo de trabajo de Enfermedades Infecciosas de la SEMICYUC) have elaborated a consensus document based on the current scientific evidence to summarize recommendations for the treatment of serious infections caused by gram-positive cocci in critically ill patients.
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To determine whether the usual mortality prediction systems (APACHE and SAPS) can be complemented by cranial computed tomography (CT) brain herniation findings in patients with structural neurological involvement. ⋯ In critical care patients with structural neurological involvement, cranial CT signs of subfalcial herniation complement the prognostic information given by the usual severity indexes.