Articles: intensive-care-units.
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Swiss medical weekly · Nov 1979
[Continuous monitoring of intracranial pressure and new aspects of neurologic intensive care for children].
A new concept of neurointensive care is presented which is based on earily measured parameters such as intracranial pressure (ICP), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) (CPP = MAP - ICP). ICP should preferably be measured by a subarachnoid hollow screw (Richmond screw). Of chief importance in neurointensive care (after adequate neurodiagnosis) is the avoidance or treatment of cerebral edema and maintenance of sufficient CPP, which should be above 50 mm Hg in older children. ⋯ To obtain the indication for ICP monitoring, the depth of the disturbance of consciousness is measured by the Glasgow Coma Scale. Children with the aforementioned affections and a Glasgow Coma Scale below 6 to 8 should be treated as outlined above. The data published in the literature and our own experience point very much in this direction, especially for severe head injury, Reye's syndrome and near drowning.
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Swiss medical weekly · Oct 1979
[The respiratory intensive unit. Requirements for the treatment of patients with acute respiratory insufficiency].
Patients with acute severe respiratory insufficiency can only be correctly monitored, treated and nursed in a well-equipped intensive care unit staffed with well-trained personnel. Qualified doctors and nursing staff are more important for the monitoring and assessment of the patient's symptoms than highly sophisticated electronic monitoring systems. ⋯ Treatment calls, above all, for the use of efficient and reliable respirators capable of adjustment to suit the impaired breathing. The quality of nursing and the success of intensive medical care measures are best ensured by well-designed layouts, strict adherence to sensible and appropriate hygienic techniques, continuous and practice-related further education for personnel, and unrestricted communication inside and outside the intensive care unit.