Articles: ninos.
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Since identification of the first cases in December 2019, COVID-19, caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2) has spread across the world, giving rise to a global pandemic. ⋯ The principal treatment measures are maintenance of adequate oxygenation, pharmacological prevention of thrombosis, and, in severe cases, administration of dexamethasone.
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Death is a medical occurrence that has social, legal, religious and cultural consequences requiring common clinical standards for its diagnosis and legal regulation. This document compiled by the Critical Care Society of Southern Africa outlines the core standards for determination of death in the hospital context. It aligns with the latest evidence-based research and international guidelines and is applicable to the South African context and legal system. ⋯ Checklists and advice sheets were created to assist with application of these guidelines in the clinical environment (https://criticalcare.org.za/resource/death-determination-checklists/). Key points • Brain death and circulatory death are the accepted terms for defining death in the hospital context. • Death determination is a clinical diagnosis which can be made with complete certainty provided that all preconditions are met. • The determination of death in children is held to the same standard as in adults but cannot be diagnosed in children <36 weeks' corrected gestation. • Brain-death testing while on extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation is outlined. • Recommendations are given on handling family requests for accommodation and on consideration of the potential for organ donation. • The use of a checklist combined with a rigorous testing process, comprehensive documentation and adequate counselling of the family are core tenets of death determination. This is a standard of practice to which all clinicians should adhere in end-of-life care.
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On page 36, in the fifth sentence of right-side column, where it reads: "Direct thrombin inhibitors (DTI) (argatroban, bivalirrubin) are used in COVID-19 infected patients with significantly lower antithrombin levels,24 or if heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) occurs."It should read: "Direct thrombin inhibitors (DTI) (argatroban, bivalirudin) are used in COVID-19 infected patients with significantly lower antithrombin levels,24 or if heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) occurs."Article published with errors: https://www.actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/14784.