Arch Intern Med
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Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), also known as Osler-Weber-Rendu disease, is a hereditary disorder leading to easily bleeding telangiectases on skin and mucosal surfaces, and it is associated with the presence of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in multiple organ systems. These AVMs may cause serious complications when they are located in the lungs, liver, or brain. The prevalence of AVMs in patients with HHT might be higher than previously estimated. ⋯ Genetic heterogeneity has been demonstrated, suggesting involvement of other transforming growth factor receptors. This might explain the variable clinical expression of the disease. In view of the high prevalence of pulmonary and cerebral AVMs, all patients with HHT should be screened for their presence, and relatives of patients with HHT should be investigated for presence of the disease.
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The field of ventilatory support has changed dramatically with the introduction of improvements in technology and new ventilatory modes. The most recent ventilators are characterized by microprocessor technology, making the interaction between patient and ventilator more sophisticated than ever before. ⋯ Pressure support ventilation is different from controlled mechanical ventilation or intermittent mandatory ventilation; pressure support ventilation is characterized by a unique combination of simultaneous spontaneous and mechanical breathing, so that the ventilatory and flow rates and tidal volume depend on the patient's breathing pattern and the set level of pressure support. Pressure support ventilation can be used as a stand-alone ventilatory support mode and alternative to volume-controlled ventilation, and it can be used in weaning patients from mechanical ventilation.
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The adult respiratory distress syndrome is an acute clinical illness characterized by noncardiogenic pulmonary edema and refractory hypoxemia. Injury to the alveolar-capillary barrier and lung inflammation lead to intrapulmonary shunting of blood, surfactant depletion, and pulmonary vascular obstruction. Numerous mediators contribute to the pathologic response. ⋯ Novel therapeutic interventions have included extracorporeal support techniques, use of compounds designed to neutralize proinflammatory cytokines, and administration of surfactants, but these efforts have not definitely affected mortality in randomized trials. Potent antioxidant agents have shown promise in animal models of acute lung injury, but human studies are lacking. Inhaled nitric oxide appears to have temporary effects on pulmonary artery pressure and on ventilation or perfusion relationships, but longer-term efficacy and safety in patients suffering from adult respiratory distress syndrome is unknown and awaits results of ongoing clinical trials.
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The literature on outcomes of intensive care for the elderly with regard to intensive care unit utilization, mortality, hospital costs and charges, and quality of life after intensive care were reviewed. Publications in the English literature, which evaluated intensive care and included elderly populations, were obtained from review of Index Medicus and MEDLINE. ⋯ A therapeutic trial and appropriately discontinuing life support may lead to better utilization of intensive care. Additional data are needed on long-term mortality and quality of life after hospital discharge.
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We conducted an on-line search and manual searches for 1966 through 1992 to determine the incidence, diagnosis, risk factors, and treatment of postoperative delirium. Of the 374 citations found, 277 articles were excluded after criteria of relevance were applied. After methodologic criteria for validity were applied to the remaining 80 articles, 26 studies were retained for the final information synthesis. ⋯ Although age, preoperative cognitive impairment, and the use of anticholinergic drugs were significantly associated with postoperative delirium, gender, type and route of anesthesia, and sleep deprivation were not. Two studies demonstrated a decreased incidence of postoperative delirium when patients underwent preoperative psychiatric counseling or participated in a structured perioperative program. These findings indicate a need for (1) accurate incidence data with further definition of risk factors and (2) studies that address the diagnosis and treatment of this common postoperative problem.