Articles: intensive-care-units.
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The supplement on burns by the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) requires an evaluation of burn centers' and burn hospitals' capabilities for treating seriously burned victims. The American Burn Association (ABA) and its members, as experts in burn care, should take the lead in working with local, state, and federal disaster planners. ⋯ Periodically, the ABA should verify that the burn care facilities identified in the disaster plan meet its standards. Once the burn disaster system is developed, drills should be held locally on a regular basis and nationally on an annual basis.
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Previous health state and acute failure of six organ system (cardiovascular, respiratory, neurologic, hematologic, renal and digestive systems) at admission to a pediatric intensive care unit (ICU) were evaluated in 71 patients that died along one year in an ICU of a pediatric hospital at Santiago, Chile. Acute organic system failure (AOF) and chronic organic failure (COF) were defined on clinical, laboratory and therapeutic standards at hand in this country. COF was present in 56% of the cases, and was mainly due to congenital heart malformations. ⋯ Multiple organ failure was the most frequent cause of death (33%) affecting preferentially patients with COF secondary to lung infections (40%) and central nervous system diseases (20%). AOF of the central nervous system was the second global cause of death and the first among previously healthy children. Irreversible respiratory malfunction caused 21% of deaths.
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Anesteziol Reanimatol · Nov 1989
[Organization and volume of work in the department of anesthesiology and resuscitation in a central district hospital].
The experience accumulated during organization and functioning of an anesthesiology and intensive care unit in a central district hospital is described. The efficacy of anesthesiological aid and intensive care has been demonstrated in conditions of a rural region. The authors believe advisable the establishment of anesthesiology and intensive care units in large central district hospitals.
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Middle East J Anaesthesiol · Oct 1989
Comparative StudyMortality in the surgical intensive care unit--the role of sepsis and organ failure.
Study of admissions to the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) at King Khalid University Hospital in Riyadh was carried out from 1982 to 1987. There were 1149 surgical admissions, of whom 96 patients died (mortality rate 8.3%). Eighty-six patients died of multisystem and organ failure (MSOF). ⋯ Gram-negative bacilli and gram-positive cocci were the predominant organisms with only two positive anaerobic cultures. In this study the risk for developing sepsis starts at the age of 50, otherwise our data confirm previous studies on the influence of sepsis and MSOF on mortality in SICU. Recommendations for future improvement in patient's care and investment in antibiotic research are made.
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Three hundred and nineteen patients with different types of burns were studied at King Fahd Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia over a 2-year period (December, 1985 to December, 1987). Scalding was the most common cause (56.4 per cent) of burn injuries compared with 41.4 per cent of patients who sustained flame injury; 84.6 per cent of the thermal injuries occurred at home, with children (less than or equal to 18 years of age) being affected most frequently (61.8 per cent). The overall mortality was 9.4 per cent.