Critical care : the official journal of the Critical Care Forum
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Classic laryngotrachoebronchitis (LTB) is an inflammatory process, with oedema and secretions that involve the entire laryngotracheobronchial tree. The severity of lower airway disease in African children with LTB has previously been documented. The aim of the present study was to determine whether steroids prevent reintubation in African children with classic LTB. ⋯ The present results suggest that steroids should not be recommended at any stage in treatment of intubated patients with classic LTB. Prospective studies should evaluate the major risk factors for reintubation: duration of intubation, trauma to the airway at intubation and during ICU stay, and dose and timing of steroids. They should also evaluate whether upper airway disease is present alone or in association with lower airway disease.
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To determine the clinical usefulness of immediate (stat) chest radiographs after endotracheal intubation when performed by experienced critical care personnel. ⋯ The incidence of endotracheal tube malposition after intubation was underestimated. However, when performed by experienced critical care personnel, acutely significant malpositions were rare (one out of 101 intubations). We conclude that, in the absence of specific pulmonary complications, endotracheal intubations performed by experienced operators may be followed by routine, rather than 'stat' chest radiographs.
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Recent advances suggest that toll-like receptors, various cytokines, cicosanoids, free radicals and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) play an important role in the pathobiology of septicemia and septic shock. Anti-MIF antibodies can decrease the plasma concentrations of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), lower bacterial circulating counts and enhance survival of animals with septicemia and septic shock. ⋯ Thus, biological variations in the response of an individual to a given stimulus, appears to determine his/her ability or inability to develop and also recover from sepsis and septic shock. This suggests that it may be possible to predict the development of septicemia and septic shock in a given individual and take appropriate action both to prevent and treat them adequately.
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Comparative Study
Heat stress is associated with decreased lactic acidemia in rat sepsis.
Elevated plasma lactate has been shown to correlate with mortality in patients with septic shock. Heat stress prior to sepsis has resulted in reduction in acute lung injury and mortality. We investigated whether heat stress resulted in decreased plasma lactate concentration and protected the lung by decreasing the inflammatory response to sepsis. ⋯ Prior heat stress ameliorates lactic acidemia in rat sepsis. Heat stress did not attenuate the pulmonary inflammatory process. The mechanism of heat-induced protection from lactic acidemia in sepsis needs to be further explored.