Minerva anestesiologica
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Adequate restoration of intravascular volume remains an important therapeutic manoeuvre in managing the surgical, medical and the critically ill intensive care patient. Definition of the ideal volume replacement strategy still remains one of the burning problems. The choice between colloid and crystalloid solutions continues to generate controversy. ⋯ New concepts about critical care such as organ perfusion and organ function, the role of inflammation, immunological aspects, and wound healing may change this point of view. Volume replacement has been hitherto often based on art, dogma and personal beliefs. Further well-performed studies in this area will help more to shed new light on the ideal volume replacement strategy of the hypovolemic patient than more meta-analyses that are pooling old-to-very old studies to solve this problem.
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Although systemic inflammation is the hallmark of sepsis, the use of glucocorticoids remained controversial during many years. Gluco-corticoids exert key actions during sepsis, interacting with metabolism, immune and cardiovascular systems. ⋯ Improvement in survival may result from reduced duration of shock, alleviation of the systemic inflammatory response, and reduction in the number and intensity of organs dysfunction. This article summarises why, when and how glucocorticoids should be used in the management of septic shock.