Journal of critical care
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Journal of critical care · Sep 1998
Optimal pressure support level for beginning weaning in patients with COPD: measurement of diaphragmatic activity with step-by-step decreasing pressure support level.
The study objective was to determine an "optimal" individual pressure support (PS) level for beginning weaning with PS ventilation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). ⋯ Optimal PS level established with diEMG monitoring seems to be a useful index for beginning weaning in the PS ventilation mode in COPD patients. The hypothesis of beginning weaning with a PS level equal to 70% of PIP needs to be tested.
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Journal of critical care · Sep 1998
Cerebral blood flow is proportional to cardiac index in patients with septic shock.
In patients with septic shock, the cardiac index is often increased. Maldistribution of blood flow and regional hypoperfusion has been implicated as a key factor in the pathogenesis of organ dysfunction in these patients. We have investigated the relationship between cerebral blood flow and cardiac index in patients with septic shock. ⋯ These data are consistent with a loss of autoregulation of cerebral blood flow and a change in the control of limb blood flow in humans with septic shock.
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Journal of critical care · Sep 1998
Partial liquid ventilation decreases albumin leak in the setting of acute lung injury.
This study evaluated the ability of partial liquid ventilation (PLV, gas ventilation of the perfluorocarbon-filled lungs) to reduce the amount of lung albumin leak present in the setting of acute lung injury. ⋯ These data suggest that intratracheal instillation of perfluorocarbon before or after induction of lung injury results in a reduction in pulmonary albumin leak.