Articles: function.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Feb 2015
Case ReportsRepeated early hemofiltration filters clotting and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in ICU.
Repeated early hemofiltration filter clotting are real thrombotic events. Diagnosis of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) in this setting in ICU remains difficult. ⋯ Despite a 4T's score of three for the two patients and persistent early hemofiltration clotting filters, functional tests for HIT antibodies (heparin induced platelet activation assay and serotonin release assay) were positive, permitting the diagnosis of HIT in both patients. We suggest that the occurrence of repeated, rapid (within 6 h) hemofiltration filter clotting should score as two points for "Thrombosis" in the 4T's scoring system, thereby increasing the pretest probability for HIT in this clinical situation.
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Feb 2015
Strength and function response to clinical interventions of older women categorized by weakness and low lean mass using classifications from the Foundation for the National Institute of Health sarcopenia project.
The Foundation for the National Institutes of Health Sarcopenia Project developed data-driven cut-points for clinically meaningful weakness and low lean body mass. This analysis describes strength and function response to interventions based on these classifications. ⋯ Older women with clinically meaningful muscle weakness increased grip strength and SPPB, regardless of the presence of low lean mass following treatment with interventions for frailty. Thus, results suggest that muscle weakness, as defined by the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health Sarcopenia Project, appears to be a treatable symptom.
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Critical care medicine · Feb 2015
Dysphagia-A Common, Transient Symptom in Critical Illness Polyneuropathy: A Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing Study.
Critical illness polyneuropathy is a common disorder in the neurological ICU. Dysphagia is well known to deteriorate outcome in the ICU. The prevalence of dysphagia in critical illness polyneuropathy is not known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of dysphagia in critical illness polyneuropathy using fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing. ⋯ Dysphagia is frequent among patients with critical illness polyneuropathy treated in the ICU. Old age, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the mode of mechanical ventilation, the prevalence of tracheal tubes, and behavioral "learned nonuse" may all be contributing factors for the development of dysphagia in critical illness polyneuropathy. Complete recovery occurs in a high percentage of affected individuals within 4 weeks.
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Journal of anesthesia · Feb 2015
Case ReportsRole of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography in detecting masked mitral regurgitation during left atrial myxoma surgery.
Myxomas are the most common type of cardiac tumor. Mobile or large left atrial (LA) myxomas frequently cause functional mitral stenosis, and can lead to mitral regurgitation (MR). ⋯ Repeated careful observations on TEE led to a confident diagnosis of MR and the selection of an additional appropriate procedure. This case study highlighted the importance of intraoperative TEE in supporting clinical decision-making for optimal mitral valve procedures during LA myxoma surgery.
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Respiratory complications occur in 20% to 65% of patients who have undergone esophagectomy. While noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) is associated with fewer complications than endotracheal intubation (ET), it is relatively contraindicated after esophagectomy due to potential injury to the anastomosis. We created ex vivo and in vivo pig models to determine the pressure tolerance of an esophagectomy anastomosis and compare it to esophageal pressure during NPPV. ⋯ Our pig model suggests that an esophagectomy anastomosis can tolerate a considerably higher pressure than is transmitted to the esophagus during NPPV. NPPV may be a safe alternative to ET after esophagectomy.