Articles: sepsis.
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Pulmonary arterial hypertension, defined as a mean pulmonary artery pressure exceeding 20 mmHg has been observed both in experimental animal and human sepsis, even before development of the adult respiratory distress syndrome. In this article we review several mechanisms that have been invoked for the pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with sepsis (and the adult respiratory distress syndrome): obstruction of the pulmonary microcirculation with microthrombi composed of platelets and leukocytes, and active pulmonary vasoconstriction induced by the autonomous nervous system, hypoxia or vasoactive humoral factors ("mediators"). Some of these mediators, in particular serotonin and arachidonic acid metabolites have been the subject of substantial research and therapeutic manipulation. Since pulmonary arterial hypertension imposes an increased afterload to the right ventricle and because right ventricular dysfunction appears to be a major determinant of the outcome of sepsis, the study of the mechanisms involved in pulmonary arterial hypertension may lead to improved management of sepsis and septic shock.
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Intensive care medicine · Jan 1992
Fat emulsions containing medium chain triglycerides in patients with sepsis syndrome: effects on pulmonary hemodynamics and gas exchange.
Fat emulsions containing medium chain triglycerides (MCT) have recently been introduced into clinical practice as a component of total parenteral nutrition. Since several authors reported increased pulmonary artery pressure and impaired gas exchange during intravenous (i.v.) fat use, in particular in septic patients, we studied the pulmonary hemodynamic and gas exchange effects of i.v. fat containing MCT and long chain triglycerides (LCT) in patients with sepsis syndrome. ⋯ We conclude that fat emulsions containing MCT induce little alterations in pulmonary hemodynamics and gas exchange. This result is probably due to reduced prostaglandin formation because fat emulsions containing MCT provide less prostaglandin precursors than pure LCT emulsions.
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To define the EEG and associated clinical features of septic encephalopathy, we studied 62 patients with positive blood cultures. Patients were divided into three clinical groups: nonencephalopathic (NE), mildly encephalopathic (ME), and severely encephalopathic (SE); the latter two groups had diffuse cerebral dysfunction. ⋯ The EEG (1) was more sensitive than our clinical criteria for encephalopathy, (2) showed features that were, when considered with clinical and laboratory characteristics, compatible with a potentially reversible encephalopathy, and (3) had well-defined categories that correlated with percent mortality, even within a single clinical group. We conclude that the EEG is a sensitive index of brain function in septic encephalopathy and that it is especially useful in the intensive care monitoring of patients with sepsis.
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Rev Latinoam Microbiol · Jan 1992
Neonatal septicaemia due to K. pneumoniae. Septicaemia due to Klebsiella pneumoniae in newborn infants. Nosocomial outbreak in an intensive care unit.
The authors report a nosocomial infection outbreak by Klebsiella pneumoniae, observed in neonates at a gyneco-obstetrical hospital from Mexico City. Forty six newborns presented one or more infections due to K. pneumoniae during their stay in neonatal care units, between October 3 and November 12, 1988. Sepsis was documented in 41 cases by clinical picture and routine laboratory exams, including one positive, blood culture at least. ⋯ Treatment of cases was initiated with ampicillin-amikacin, however, therapeutic failure with a lethality rate of 50% (14/28) and results of antimicrobial susceptibility conducted to treatment with cefotaxime. Fifteen out of 19 patients receiving the cephalosporin survived. To prevent outbreaks like the one presented here, we concluded that appropriate measures dealing with hygiene and education of personnel plus monitoring of bacterial susceptibility to antimicrobials, should prove successful in our environment.