Respiratory care
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Ventilation with low tidal volume is recommended for patients with acute lung injury. Current guidelines suggest limiting plateau pressure (Pplat) to < 30 cm H2O for septic patients needing mechanical ventilation. The aim of this study was to determine whether Pplat within the first 24 h of ICU admission is predictive of outcome and whether Pplat < 30 cm H2O is associated with lower mortality rates. ⋯ Pplat within the first 24 h of ICU admission is predictive of outcome, with lower Pplat associated with lower mortality rates. There is no safety margin for Pplat. Limiting Pplat should be considered even at < 30 cm H2O in septic patients with acute respiratory failure.
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The impulse oscillometry system (IOS) is increasingly used to evaluate lung function, but individual results must be compared with appropriate reference values. We aimed to obtain such reference values in Mexican children and adolescents. ⋯ In this study, we generated reference equations for each IOS variable in healthy children and adolescents. Although these equations were generated in a Mexican population, they are probably also applicable in other Latin American populations with the same ethnic background.