Articles: respiratory-distress-syndrome.
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Ten years ago' endothelium derived relaxing factor' was identified as nitric oxide (NO.). This highly significant discovery revealed the importance of NO. in normal physiology and pathophysiology. ⋯ The effect of NO. in multi-system failure is not yet established. Formal evaluation in the form of clinical trials has yet to be undertaken, and further study of all the potential side effects and toxicity are required for conclusive evidence of the value of inhaled NO. in the treatment of ARDS.
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Pediatric pulmonology · Sep 1997
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialAerosol delivery to non-ventilated infants by metered dose inhaler: should a valved spacer be used?
In a randomized double-blind cross-over study on 20 spontaneously breathing, oxygen-dependent preterm infants who had received positive pressure ventilation for respiratory distress syndrome, we tested the hypothesis that the one-way non-rebreathing valves of aerosol spacer devices might impair rather than enhance the delivery of aerosols to small infants by metered dose inhalers (MDI). Ten infants were given 2 doses (200 micrograms/dose) of MDI albuterol through a neonatal Aerochamber 4 h apart. At random sequence, one dose was delivered with the non-rebreathing valve of the Aerochamber in place; for the other dose, the valve had been removed. ⋯ All infants showed a reduction in respiratory system resistance and an improvement in functional residual capacity following albuterol treatment. In both groups, maximum reduction in respiratory system resistance, recorded 30 min after aerosol delivery, was significantly greater following the use of the non-valved spacers (Aerochamber: 51.2 +/- 3.1% vs. 35.0 +/- 2.8%, P < 0.0001; Babyhaler: 38.8 +/- 2.3% vs. 19.2 +/- 1.4%, P < 0.0001) than following the use of the spacers with a valve. The findings provide indirect evidence supporting our hypothesis and suggest that when the MDI is used to deliver therapeutic aerosols to non-ventilated newborns or small infants, a spacer device without a non-rebreathing valve should be used.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Sep 1997
Comparative StudyA comparative study of the vasodilator effects of prostaglandin E1 in patients with pulmonary hypertension after mitral valve replacement and with adult respiratory distress syndrome.
To determine whether the vasodilator effects of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) differ according to the etiology and pathophysiology of pulmonary hypertension, we studied 30 patients with pulmonary hypertension after mitral valve replacement (MVR) (n = 16) or with the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (n = 14). PGE1 was administered to decrease the mean pulmonary artery pressure to below 30 mm Hg in both groups. Cardiac index and oxygen delivery tended to increase, whereas mean systemic artery pressure, mean pulmonary artery pressure, systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), and pulmonary vascular resistance index (PVRI) significantly decreased in both groups. A vasodilatory index was defined in this study to allow evaluation of vasodilation relative to PGE1 dose: systemic vasodilatory index (VIs) = SVRI change/PGE1 dose; and pulmonary vasodilatory index (VIp) = PVRI change/PGE1 dose. The VIp was similar in both groups, but the VIs was significantly greater in the ARDS group compared with the MVR group (13.3 +/- 7.8 vs 4.8 +/- 5.1, P < 0.01). A good correlation was found between the pretreatment intrapulmonary shunt fraction (Qs/Qt [%]) value and PGE1 extraction rate in the lung (r = 0.60), and between the pretreatment Qs/Qt value and PGE1 concentration in the radial artery (r = 0.65) in an additional 15 patients. We conclude that the vasodilator effects of PGE1 on the pulmonary circulation are similar in the two groups, whereas the vasodilator effects on the systemic circulation are significantly greater in the ARDS group and that significant reduction in VIs in the ARDS group was associated with decreased PGE1 extraction in the lung. ⋯ Pulmonary hypertension after mitral valve replacement, or with adult respiratory distress syndrome, is a major medical problem. The authors found that administration of prostaglandin E1 significantly dilated the pulmonary circulation with a concomitant decrease in pulmonary artery pressure. Because the systemic vasodilatory effect was greater in the adult respiratory distress syndrome group, the authors concluded that prostaglandin E1 concentrations in the systemic circulation depend on the severity of lung injury.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Sep 1997
Early detection of type III procollagen peptide in acute lung injury. Pathogenetic and prognostic significance.
The fibroproliferative reaction to acute lung injury may limit restoration of normal lung function and increase mortality in patients with acute lung injury. A biologic marker of collagen synthesis in the lung may be useful for studying the pathogenesis of acute lung injury and for identifying patients with acute lung injury who are at high risk for death and might benefit from new therapeutic modalities. Using an immunoassay, type III procollagen NH2 terminal peptide was measured in the pulmonary edema fluid of 44 patients with either acute lung injury or hydrostatic pulmonary edema (control group) within the first 24 h after endotracheal intubation for acute respiratory failure. ⋯ This evidence suggests that fibrosing alveolitis begins much earlier in the course of clinical acute lung injury than has previously been appreciated. In addition, the presence of an elevated level of procollagen III is an early predictor of poor outcome. Thus, elevation of procollagen III in pulmonary edema fluid may have both pathogenetic and prognostic significance in patients with acute lung injury.