Intensive care medicine
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Intensive care medicine · Mar 2002
Clinical TrialA new simple method for percutaneous tracheostomy: controlled rotating dilation. A preliminary report.
To describe and introduce a new technique for percutaneous dilational tracheostomy. ⋯ The described new percutaneous dilational tracheostomy device (PercuTwist, Rüsch, Kernen, Germany) represents a single-step method with a high degree of control during dilation. So far, it appears to be a safe, quickly performed procedure with a strikingly low incidence of even small bleeding complications, thus offering an interesting new alternative for the performance of a percutaneous tracheostomy.
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Intensive care medicine · Mar 2002
Effects of price information on test ordering in an intensive care unit.
To determine if daily information on the price of common laboratory tests and chest X-ray could significantly influence test ordering by physicians and decrease the costs. ⋯ Providing price information to physicians was associated with a significant reduction for arterial blood gases and urinary electrolytes tests ordered and was significantly cost-saving.
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Intensive care medicine · Mar 2002
Effects of prolonged mechanical ventilation and inactivity on piglet diaphragm function.
Muscle weakness is associated with immobilization, prolonged mechanical ventilation, critical illness and various critical care therapies. This study used an animal model simulating the critical care environment to investigate the effects of 5 days' mechanical ventilation and inactivity on diaphragm contractility and neurophysiologic function. ⋯ In this in-vivo model of prolonged mechanical ventilation in an intensive caring setting, 5 days of mechanical ventilation with sedation and complete diaphragm inactivity resulted in disturbed diaphragm contractility and activation, while nerve conduction and neuromuscular transmission were not affected. Based on these findings, it is likely that the changes seen occur at the level of peripheral muscle.
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Intensive care medicine · Mar 2002
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical TrialEvaluation of patient skin breakdown and comfort with a new face mask for non-invasive ventilation: a multi-center study.
To evaluate patient comfort, skin breakdown and eye irritation when comparing a prototype face mask (PM) and conventional face masks (CMs) during non-invasive ventilation. ⋯ The PM significantly reduced skin breakdown while improving patient comfort, compared to the CMs.