Articles: mechanical-ventilation.
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Journal of critical care · Jun 2016
Clinical impact of pulmonary sampling site in the diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia: A prospective study using bronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage.
It is unclear whether ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is actually a bilateral and multifocal process. In addition, the diagnostic role of chest x-ray is under debate. Assuming a low microbiologic concordance between the left and right lungs, the reliability of a single pulmonary sampling becomes questionable. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the choice of the pulmonary sampling area is clinically relevant in the management of VAP. ⋯ In patients with clinically suspected VAP (especially those without purulent secretions or without radiographically documented bilateral infiltrates), quantitative culture of a single BAL sample may provide an incomplete assessment of lung microbiology, without having a relevant impact on the appropriateness of antimicrobial treatment. These findings suggest that single sampling of respiratory secretions, regardless radiographic opacity, seems to be a reliable diagnostic method in the management of VAP.
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Comparative Study
Associations between different sedatives and ventilator-associated events, length-of-stay, and mortality in mechanically ventilated patients.
Current sedation guidelines recommend avoiding benzodiazepines but express no preference for propofol vs dexmedetomidine. In addition, few data exist on whether randomized controlled trials of sedatives can be successfully generalized to routine practice, in which conditions tend to be more varied and complex. ⋯ In this large, real-world cohort, propofol and dexmedetomidine were associated with less time to extubation compared with benzodiazepines, but dexmedetomidine was also associated with less time to extubation vs propofol. These possible differences merit further study.
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ICU-acquired weakness is a major complication of critical illness requiring mechanical ventilation. Early mobilization has been shown to decrease the negative consequences of ICU-acquired weakness. ⋯ Additional staffing needs might have a negative financial impact. This review examines whether early mobilization should be routinely performed in mechanically ventilated patients.
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Intermittent mandatory ventilation (IMV) was introduced nearly 50 years ago. Despite the initial fanfare and early adoption by many, the role of IMV continues to be questioned. ⋯ Spontaneous breathing, however, has a number of salutatory effects on gas exchange, the distribution of ventilation, and hemodynamics. These issues will be explored in light of a growing body of evidence.
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Journal of critical care · Jun 2016
Measurement of pulmonary artery to aorta ratio in computed tomography is correlated with pulmonary artery pressure in critically ill chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the leading chronic diseases and a common cause of death. Identification of COPD patients at high risk for complications and mortality is of utmost importance. Computed tomography (CT) can be used to measure the ratio of the diameter of the pulmonary artery (PA) to the diameter of the aorta (A), and PA/A ratio was shown to be correlated with PA pressure (PAP). However, the prognostic value of PA size remains unclear in patients with COPD. We hypothesized that PA enlargement, as shown by a PA/A ratio greater than 1, could be associated with a higher risk of mortality in COPD patients admitted to the intensive care unit. ⋯ The PA/A ratio is an easily measured method that can be performed on thorax CT scans. Although, we failed to demonstrate a statistically significant association between higher PA/A and increased mortality, PA/A can be used as a surrogate marker to predict the pulmonary hypertension.