Intensive care medicine
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Intensive care medicine · Jan 2003
Effects of prolonged mechanical ventilation on respiratory muscle ultrastructure and mitochondrial respiration in rabbits.
To investigate in rabbits whether prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) leads to ultrastructural changes in respiratory muscles and alters diaphragm mitochondrial respiration. ⋯ PMV leads to respiratory muscle cell degeneration and minor changes in oxidative phosphorylation coupling in diaphragmatic mitochondria. These phenomena may mediate part of damage of respiratory muscles after inactivity related to PMV.
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Intensive care medicine · Jan 2003
Multicenter StudyDecision-making in the ICU: perspectives of the substitute decision-maker.
To describe the substitute decision-makers' perspectives related to decision-making in the intensive care unit (ICU) and to determine those variables associated with their overall satisfaction with decision-making. ⋯ In this multicenter observational study, we found that most substitute decision-makers for ICU patients wanted to share decision-making responsibility with physicians and that, overall, they were satisfied with their decision-making experience. Adequate communication, feeling supported, and achieving the appropriate level of care for their family member were key determinants of satisfaction with decision-making in the ICU.
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Intensive care medicine · Jan 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialThyroid hormone response to moderate hypothermia in severe brain injury.
To examine the effect of controlled moderate hypothermia on thyroid response in head-injured patients. ⋯ Thyroid hormone patterns during moderate hypothermia in head-injured patients did not differ from the well known "low T3 state" which is observed in other forms of severe illness.
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Intensive care medicine · Jan 2003
Comparative Study Clinical TrialEnd-expiratory lung impedance change enables bedside monitoring of end-expiratory lung volume change.
The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of lung volume changes on end-expiratory lung impedance change (ELIC) in mechanically ventilated patients, since we hypothesized that ELIC may be a suitable parameter to monitor lung volume change at the bedside. ⋯ EIT is a simple bedside technique which enables monitor lung volume changes during ventilatory manoeuvres such as PEEP changes.
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Intensive care medicine · Jan 2003
Early identification of sepsis and mortality risks through simple, rapid clot-waveform analysis. Implications of lipoprotein-complexed C reactive protein formation.
To determine if the rapid waveform profile of the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) assay, which detects lipoprotein-complexed C reactive protein (LCCRP) formation, predicts sepsis and mortality in critically ill patients. ⋯ Waveform analysis within the first hour of ITU admission is a single, simple and rapid method of identifying the risks of mortality and sepsis. Its measure of LCCRP formation shows superior prediction over CRP alone and it warrants further assessment as a tool to triage and target prompt, appropriate treatment in the ITU.