Journal of critical care
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Journal of critical care · Mar 1993
Effect of the pericardium on systolic ventricular interdependence in the dog.
Systolic ventricular interdependence, whereby changes in left ventricular (LV) ejection alter right ventricular (RV) ejection, has been described. It is unclear, however, whether this interaction is influenced by pericardial volume constraint or by myocardial mechanical coupling. We hypothesized that if mechanical coupling were the primary factor determining systolic ventricular interdependence then it should be unaltered by the presence or absence of an intact pericardium, but affected by changes in LV end-systolic volume. ⋯ However, PSPrv increased more when the pericardium was intact (P < .05). These data suggest that LV ejection can enhance SVrv and that this interaction is not appreciably altered by volume loading or the presence of an intact pericardium. Pericardial interactions may alter PSPrv but do not affect SVrv.
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Journal of critical care · Mar 1993
ReviewThe influence of gender on conflicts of interest in the allocation of limited critical care resources: justice versus care.
After noting that the principle of autonomy has been inadequate for the resolution of many of the complex and difficult moral dilemmas involving conflicts of interest in the allocation of limited critical care resources, this paper analyzes the concepts of justice and care as alternative solutions to moral problems and applies them to the issue of repeat organ transplants to a single recipient. These concepts are found to be the basis of the notions of moral reasoning and moral orientation, respectively, which serve in moral development theory as two fundamentally different ways to approach moral problem solving. Following an elaboration of moral reasoning as found in Kohlberg's cognitive moral development theory, the influence of gender on moral reasoning is investigated. ⋯ Following an elaboration of moral orientation as found in Gilligan's moral theory of the ethics of care, the influence of gender on moral orientation is investigated. The empirical data show that women use the concept of care significantly more often (P < or = .0139) than their male colleagues in resolving moral dilemmas. From these data it is concluded that men are more likely than women to use justice in the resolution of moral dilemmas, such as the conflicts of interest in the allocation of limited critical care resources, but that if women do use, or are required by the social system to use, justice in the resolution of moral dilemmas, they do a better job of it than men.
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Journal of critical care · Mar 1993
Comparative StudyOxygen delivery-consumption relationship in adult respiratory distress syndrome patients: the effects of sepsis.
The oxygen consumption-delivery relationship (VO2/DO2) was studied in 15 sedated paralyzed patients with the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to multiple trauma and in whom sepsis was absent. Different levels (0 to 15 cm H2O) of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) were applied. Oxygen delivery was calculated from cardiac index (thermodilution technique) and arterial oxygen content measurements. ⋯ All these patients developed MOSF and died. When DO2 on ZEEP ranged between 686 and 951 mL/min/m2 in septic ARDS patients, the supply dependency phenomenon was absent and only three patients developed MOSF and died (70% survivors). In almost all patients PEEP reduced DO2 and therefore worsened O2 balance by either increasing O2 extraction ratio and approaching the critical threshold for supply dependency or dismissing DO2 from the range of non-supply dependency.