World journal of critical care medicine
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World J Crit Care Med · Nov 2019
Assessment of quadriceps muscle thickness using bedside ultrasonography by nurses and physicians in the intensive care unit: Intra- and inter-operator agreement.
Data regarding the agreement among multiple operators for measurement of quadriceps muscle thickness by bedside ultrasonography (USG) are sparse. ⋯ USG measurement of quadriceps muscle thickness was not dependent on clinical experience, supporting training for nurses in it.
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World J Crit Care Med · Sep 2019
Case ReportsSuccessfully non-surgical management of flail chest as first manifestation of multiple myeloma: A case report.
Multiple myeloma is a malignant neoplasm of the bone marrow characterized by neoplastic proliferation of monoclonal plasma cells with a high relationship with destructive bone disease. We present a case of a patient diagnosed with multiple myeloma and sternal fracture in association with multiple bilateral rib fractures and thoracic kyphosis, who developed a severe acute respiratory failure, thus complicating the initial presentation of multiple myeloma. We discuss the therapeutic implications of this uncommon presentation. ⋯ This case highlights the importance of combination between bortezomib and dexamethasone to induce remission of multiple myeloma and the initiation of positive airway pressure with mechanical ventilation to stabilize chest wall to solve the respiratory failure. This combined approach allowed to obtain a quick and complete resolution of the clinical situation.
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World J Crit Care Med · Jan 2019
EditorialExpiratory flow-limitation in mechanically ventilated patients: A risk for ventilator-induced lung injury?
Expiratory flow limitation (EFL), that is the inability of expiratory flow to increase in spite of an increase of the driving pressure, is a common and unrecognized occurrence during mechanical ventilation in a variety of intensive care unit conditions. Recent evidence suggests that the presence of EFL is associated with an increase in mortality, at least in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients, and in pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery. EFL is a major cause of intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEPi), which in ARDS patients is heterogeneously distributed, with a consequent increase of ventilation/perfusion mismatch and reduction of arterial oxygenation. ⋯ Finally, the high stresses and airway distortion generated downstream the choke points may contribute to parenchymal injury, but this possibility is still unproven. PEEP application can abolish EFL, decrease PEEPi heterogeneity, and limit recruitment/derecruitment. Whether increasing PEEP up to EFL disappearance is a useful criterion for PEEP titration can only be determined by future studies.
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World J Crit Care Med · Sep 2018
Clinical characteristics and outcomes associated with nasal intermittent mandatory ventilation in acute pediatric respiratory failure.
To characterize the clinical course and outcomes of nasal intermittent mandatory ventilation (NIMV) use in acute pediatric respiratory failure. ⋯ Most of our patients responded to NIMV. NIMV failure is not associated with differences in hospital LOS, PICU LOS, or duration of respiratory support.
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World J Crit Care Med · Aug 2017
ReviewGeneralizable items and modular structure for computerised physician staffing calculation on intensive care units.
Intensive care medicine remains one of the most cost-driving areas within hospitals with high personnel costs. Under the scope of limited budgets and reimbursement, realistic needs are essential to justify personnel staffing. Unfortunately, all existing staffing models are top-down calculations with a high variability in results. ⋯ This model was introduced and described first by the German Board of Anesthesiologists and the German Society of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine in 2008 and since has been implemented and updated 2012 in Germany. The modular, flexible nature of the Excel-based calculation tool should allow adaption to the respective legal and organizational demands of different countries. After 8 years of experience with this calculation, we report the generalizable key aspects which may help physicians all around the world to justify realistic workload-oriented personnel staffing needs.