Intensive care medicine
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Intensive care medicine · Apr 1997
Quantitative estimation of errors in the indicator dilution measurement of extravascular lung water.
To assess the accuracy of the diffusible indicators heavy water and thermal indicator in the measurement of extravascular lung water (EVLW). ⋯ The results obtained for heavy water confirmed the theoretical basis of the indicator dilution method. The mean transit time for the thermal indicator was not proportionate to its distribution volume. The magnitude of this error prevents the calculation of an anatomically defined EVLW using a catheter-mounted thermistor in the aorta.
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Intensive care medicine · Apr 1997
Summary of round table conference: gut dysfunction in critical illness.
There is recent evidence that intestinal function is an important determinant in the outcome of critically ill patients. The barrier function is an important characteristic of the gut. ⋯ A practical bedside measure of gut dysfunction is intolerance to enteral feedings. Potential therapies for gut dysfunction include the use of vasoactive drugs to enhance perfusion, selective decontamination to decrease bacteria and endotoxin, and the early and frequent administration of enteral nutrients.
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Intensive care medicine · Mar 1997
Multicenter StudyQuality of life 6 months after intensive care: results of a prospective multicenter study using a generic health status scale and a satisfaction scale.
To assess the quality of life of intensive care survivors 6 months after discharge. ⋯ Quality of life measured with a health-related quality of life scale and a satisfaction scale 6 months after an ICU stay depended on the admission diagnosis. Different dimensions of quality of life were variably affected.
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Intensive care medicine · Mar 1997
Multicenter StudyEpidemiology of invasive mycosis in ICU patients: a prospective multicenter study in 435 non-neutropenic patients. Paul-Ehrlich Society for Chemotherapy, Divisions of Mycology and Pneumonia Research.
To determine the epidemiological and clinical significance of invasive fungal infections in non-neutropenic patients in intensive care who stay longer than 10 days on the intensive care unit (ICU). ⋯ Invasive mycoses are rare in non-neutropenic ICU patients, even after a longer stay in the intensive care unit; fungal colonization, on the other hand, is frequently detectable. The mortality of invasive mycosis--even with systemic antimycotic therapy--was high; the mortality in patients with fungal colonization was not significantly increased compared to that in noncolonized patients. The serological test procedures, Candida HAT, Candida IFT, and the Candida Ramco Antigen Test, had a low specificity and were not helpful in diagnosing relevant invasive mycosis.