Articles: respiratory-distress-syndrome.
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Rev Esp Anestesiol Reanim · Dec 1997
Clinical Trial[Synchronized independent pulmonary ventilation in the treatment of adult respiratory distress syndrome].
Synchronized independent lung ventilation (SILV) is an effective mode of mechanical ventilation for treating both unilateral and bilateral pulmonary lesions. Oxygenation improves with an increase in the ventilation/perfusion ratio and also diminishes the risk of barotrauma. We describe our broad experience with this technique. Our main objective was to confirm whether SILV is able to improve the alveolar-arterial oxygen difference [P(A-a)O2] of patients with severe adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in whom conventional mechanical ventilation has not brought about improvement after being used for over 48 hours. ⋯ SILV is useful for providing ventilatory support when ARDS fails to improve with conventional mechanical ventilation. Clear improvement in respiratory function was observed, with significant decrease in PA-aO2 and no change in distensibility. SILV is a safe technique with few complications and can be managed by the intensive care unit nursing staff.
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Case Reports
Cross-resistance to both atracurium- and vecuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade in a critically ill patient.
A previously healthy 33-year-old woman received neuromuscular blocking agents during treatment of severe adult respiratory distress syndrome secondary to pneumococcal pneumonia and septic shock. Atracurium infusion rates were progressively increased, preceded by repeated loading doses up to a maximum of 3.57 mg/kg/hour, but produced inadequate neuromuscular blockade as assessed by clinical and ventilatory parameters as well as train-of-four (TOF) monitoring. Atracurium was discontinued and vecuronium infusions of 2.3 mg/kg/hour finally produced adequate paralysis for 7 days. ⋯ Atracurium was reinstituted 2 days later because of worsening pulmonary function. Infusion rates of 3.04 mg/kg/hour were again required, together with high-dose midazolam and fentanyl, to achieve adequate oxygenation with acceptable airway pressures; however, TOF monitoring showed an unacceptable level of paralysis. Cross-resistance among chemically dissimilar neuromuscular blocking agents poses a difficult patient management problem and supports a pharmacodynamic basis of resistance to these agents.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Nov 1997
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialTemporal hemodynamic effects of permissive hypercapnia associated with ideal PEEP in ARDS.
The associated use of permissive hypercapnia (PHY) and high PEEP levels (PEEP(IDEAL)) has been recently indicated as part of a lung-protective-approach (LPA) in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, the net hemodynamic effect produced by this association is not known. We analyzed the temporal hemodynamic effects of this combined strategy in 48 patients (mean age 34 +/- 13 yr) with ARDS, focusing on its immediate (after 1 h), early (first 36 h), and late (2nd-7th d) consequences. ⋯ A multivariate analysis suggested that these acute hyperdynamic effects were related to respiratory acidosis, with no depressant effects ascribed to high PEEP levels. In contrast, high plateau pressures were associated with cardiovascular depression. Thus, as long as sufficiently low distending pressures are concomitantly applied, the sudden installation of PHY plus PEEP(IDEAL) induces a transitory hyperdynamic state and pulmonary hypertension without harmful consequences to this young ARDS population.