Crit Care Resusc
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To discuss the clinical indications and complications of non-invasive ventilation. ⋯ Non-invasive ventilation using the modes of CPAP, PSV, BiPAP and NIPPV should be considered in patients with respiratory disorders who remain in acute respiratory failure despite conventional therapy, before considering invasive mechanical ventilation.
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To assess the effects of preoperative aspirin and/or intravenous heparin therapy on perioperative coagulation tests and postoperative blood loss for 24-hour after coronary artery bypass surgery. ⋯ There was no significant difference in either coagulation tests or postoperative blood loss (median of 860 mL with a range of 275 to 2800 mL, versus 833 ml with a range of 500-1380 mL) between the aspirin and no-aspirin patients. Preoperative heparin therapy affected most coagulation tests (e.g. international normalised ratio, activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin clotting time, prothrombin time, activated clotting time and coagulation time of thrombelastography) before anaesthesia. The effects disappeared following protamine administration and after skin closure. Post operative blood loss was not significantly increased for the heparin group compared with the no-heparin group (median of 850 mL with a range of 700-1400 mL, versus 856 mL with a range of 275-2800 mL, respectively). Similar results were seen in patients receiving preoperative co-administration of aspirin and heparin compared with patients receiving aspirin alone. There was no suppression of platelet activity in patients receiving preoperative heparin or co-administration of aspirin and heparin. However, such suppression was found in patients receiving aspirin only. Conclusion: This study suggests that preoperative aspirin ingestion and intravenous heparin therapy should be administered as indicated and that concerns about the risk of postoperative bleeding should not lead to modification or cessation of such therapy.
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To detail the history, modes, physiological effects, and circuit geometry of non-invasive ventilation. ⋯ Non-invasive ventilation using the modes of CPAP, PSV, BiPAP and NIPPV should be considered in patients with respiratory failure who are unresponsive to conventional therapy, before considering invasive mechanical ventilation.
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A case of hyponatraemia associated with subarachnoid haemorrhage is presented. The provisional diagnosis of an inappropriate antidiuresis was made and treatment with fluid restriction was instituted. However the patient continued to deteriorate as the diuresis continued and the hyponatraemia worsened, resulting in hypovolaema. ⋯ Cerebral salt wasting syndrome is an important and under-recognised cause of hyponatraemia in neurosurgical patients, particularly in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. It is essential to differentiate it from the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion to avoid complications of hypovolaemia and reduced cerebral perfusion as illustrated by this case. Brain natriuretic peptide may be responsible for this syndrome although this requires further investigation.