1,720,993 research outputs found
Is my patient ready for a safe transfer to a lower-intensity care setting? Nursing complexity as an independent predictor of adverse events risk after ICU discharge
Full text linkBackground: Patients discharged from intensive care units (ICUs) are at risk for adverse events (AEs). Establishing safe discharge criteria is challenging. No available criteria consider nursing complexity among risk factors. Objectives: To investigate whether nursing complexity upon ICU discharge is an independent predictor for AEs. Methods: Prospective observational study. The Patient Acuity and Complexity Score (PACS) was developed to measure nursing complexity. Its predictive power for AEs was tested using multivariate regression analysis. Results: The final regression model showed a very-good discrimination power (AUC 0.881; p<0.001) for identifying patients who experienced AEs. Age, ICU admission reason, PACS, cough strength, PaCO2, serum creatinine and sodium, and transfer to Internal Medicine showed to be predictive of AEs. Exceeding the identified PACS threshold increased by 3.3 times the AEs risk. Conclusions: The level of nursing complexity independently predicts AEs risk and should be considered in establishing patient's eligibility for a safe ICU discharge
Pressure-flow breath representation eases asynchrony identification in mechanically ventilated patients
Full text linkBreathing asynchronies are mismatches between the requests of mechanically ventilated subjects and the support provided by mechanical ventilators. The most widespread technique in identifying these pathological conditions is the visual analysis of the intra-tracheal pressure and flow time-trends. This work considers a recently introduced pressure-flow representation technique and investigates whether it can help nurses in the early detection of anomalies that can represent asynchronies. Twenty subjects—ten Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurses and ten persons inexperienced in medical practice—were asked to find asynchronies in 200 breaths pre-labeled by three experts. The new representation increases significantly the detection capability of the subjects—average sensitivity soared from 0.622 to 0.905—while decreasing the classification time—from 1107.0 to 567.1 s on average—at the price of a not statistically significant rise in the number of wrong identifications—specificity average descended from 0.589 to 0.52. Moreover, the differences in experience between the nurse group and the inexperienced group do not affect the sensitivity, specificity, or classification times. The pressure-flow diagram significantly increases sensitivity and decreases the response time of early asynchrony detection performed by nurses. Moreover, the data suggest that operator experience does not affect the identification results. This outcome leads us to believe that, in emergency contexts with a shortage of nurses, intensive care nurses can be supplemented, for the sole identification of possible respiratory asynchronies, by inexperienced staff
Protective ventilation for lung transplantation
Full text linkPurpose of review
Lung transplantation has been one of the great medical advances as the last option for the treatment of end-stage pulmonary disease. Optimal pulmonary care of potential donors and recipients can definitely increase the number of successful lung retrievals and reduce the incidence of complications.
Recent findings
The use of a lung-protective ventilatory strategy, associated with recruitment maneuvers, has a profound clinical impact, doubling the number of lungs available for transplant. Postoperatively, it is important to use a lung-protective ventilation strategy, whereas for patients with life-threatening reperfusion injury, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation can ensure a survival rate between 50 and 80%. Pumpless extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal system allows the maintenance of normal gas exchange and can be maintained in the perioperative period.
Summary
Perioperative ventilatory care of the transplanted patient still represents a challenge for the ICU clinician. The lung-protective strategy and the early application of carbon dioxide removal systems can increase the number of lung donor eligibility. Further studies are needed to increase the viability of other organs and to develop new strategies that reduce the risk of ischemia-reperfusion injury, which still represents the most common complication in the postoperative period
On some factors determining the pressure drop across tracheal tubes during high-frequency percussive ventilation: a flow-independent model
No full textTo provide an in vitro estimation of the pressure drop across tracheal tubes (ΔPTT) in the face of given pulsatile frequencies and peak pressures (Pwork) delivered by a high-frequency percussive ventilator (HFPV) applied to a lung model. Tracheal tubes (TT) 6.5, 7.5 and 8.0 were connected to a test lung simulating the respiratory system resistive (R = 5, 20, 50 cmH2O/L/s) and elastic (C = 10, 20, and 50 mL/cmH2O) loads. The model was ventilated by HFPV with a pulse inspiratory peak pressure (work pressure Pwork) augmented in 5-cmH2O steps from 20 to 45 cmH2O, yielding 6 diverse airflows. The percussive frequency (f) was set to 300, 500 and 700 cycles/min, respectively. Pressure (Paw and Ptr) and flow (V’) measurements were performed for all 162 possible combinations of loads, frequencies, and work pressures for each TT size, thus yielding 486 determinations. For each respiratory cycle ΔPTT was calculated by subtracting each peak Ptr from its corresponding peak Paw. A non-linear model was constructed to assess the relationships between single parameters. Performance of the produced model was measured in terms of root mean square error (RMSE) and the coefficient of determination (r2). ΔPTT was predicted by Pwork (exponential Gaussian relationship), resistance (quadratic and linear terms), frequency (quadratic and linear terms) and tube diameter (linear term), but not by compliance. RMSE of the model on the testing dataset was 1.17 cmH2O, r2 was 0.79 and estimation error was lower than 1 cmH2O in 68% of cases. As a result, even without a flow value, the physician would be able to evaluate ΔPTT pressure. If the present results of our bench study could be clinically confirmed, the use of a nonconventional ventilatory strategy as HFPV, would be safer and easier
Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in trauma patients with acute respiratory failure.
No full textThe effectiveness of noninvasive pressure support ventilation (NIPSV) in treating trauma patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF) was evaluated in a retrospective clinical study. Forty-six conscious patients with ARF admitted to the general intensive care units (ICUs) of three hospitals between July 1988 and July 1991 were surveyed. Patients received NIPSV after a period of spontaneous breathing with supplemental oxygen. Blood gas levels and respiratory parameters were measured before the application of the mask and after 1, 6 and 12 h of NIPSV. Thirty-three (72%) patients were successfully weaned to spontaneous breathing (success group). Nine patients with hypercapnia and four with hypoxaemic respiratory failure failed to respond to prolonged mask ventilation and were intubated (failure group). Of the 13 patients who failed NIPSV, nine died after switching to invasive ventilation after a mean time of 10 +/- 3 days. No deaths occurred during NIPSV. A mean pressure support ventilation (PSV) of 11.7 +/- 4.2 cmH2O and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) of 4.5 +/- 2.7 cmH2O were required to significantly increase arterial oxygen tension (Pa,O2)/inspiratory oxygen fraction (Fi,O2) from 152.4 +/- 41.7 (spontaneous breathing) to 277.9 +/- 108.7 (NIPSV) (p < 0.01) within the first hour. The expiratory tidal volume (VT) increased from 356.1 +/- 103.7 (spontaneous breathing) to 648.1 +/- 77.1 mL (NIPSV) (p < 0.01) with a concomitant reduction in the respiratory frequency (fR) from 31.4 +/- 5.2 (spontaneous breathing) to 20.4 +/- 4.3 (NIPSV) without significant differences between the success and failure group. In the 22 patients who were hypercapnic at the point of entering the study, the arterial carbon dioxide tension (Pa,CO2) decreased from 73.0 +/- 1.0 kPa (52.5 +/- 7.8 mmHg) (spontaneous breathing) to 5.5 +/- 1.0 kPa (41.5 +/- 7.5 mmHg) (NIPSV) (p < 0.01) and pH increased from 7.29 +/- 0.05 to 7.33 +/- 0.04 (p < 0.05). The median length of time of use of NIPSV was 55.5 h (range 6-144). In conclusion, noninvasive pressure support ventilation might effectively be used in a selected group of trauma patients as a means of treating respiratory failure
Physiologic evaluation of non-invasive pressure support ventilation in trauma patients with acute respiratory failure
No full textOBJECTIVE:
To investigate the effectiveness of noninvasive (face mask) versus invasive (endotracheal tube) equal pressure values on blood gases and respiratory pattern and to evaluate the feasibility of using mask ventilation after the short term physiologic study.
DESIGN:
Open, prospective, physiologic study and uncontrolled clinical study.
SETTING:
Intensive care unit of a trauma center.
PATIENTS:
22 intubated trauma patients were studied.
INTERVENTIONS:
Patients were intubated and ventilated in a pressure support mode (IPSV) of 13.5 +/- 1.5 cmH2O and a post end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) of 5.8 +/- 2.57 cmH2O. After a T-piece trial to assess patient's ability to breath spontaneously, patients were switched over to noninvasive pressure support (NIPSV). The pressure levels were set as during IPSV. Blood gases and respiratory parameters were measured during IPSV, during the T-piece trial, and after 1 h of NIPSV. After the physiologic study, all patients were asked if they wished to continue on NIPSV. The patient's subjective compliance with IPSV and NIPSV was measured by means of an arbitrary score. A successful outcome was defined as no need for reintubation.
MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS:
IPSVand NIPSV showed no statistical differences for blood gas and respiratory parameters by using the same values of PSV (13 +/- 5 vs 12.8 +/- 1.7 cmH2O, NS) and PEEP (5.8 +/- 2.5 and 5.2 +/- 2.2 cmH2O NS). The median length of time on NIPSV was 47 h (range 6 to 144). All patients wished to continue on NIPSV, but 9 patients (40.9%) were reintubated after 54 +/- 54 h. Six of them died after 36 +/- 13 days while still on mechanical ventilation. There was no statistically significant difference in compliance score between IPSVand NIPSV.
CONCLUSIONS:
NIPSV is comparable to IPSV in terms of blood gases and respiratory pattern. The clinical uncontrolled study indicates that NIPSV could be used in selected trauma patients
Acute esophageal necrosis following cardiac arrest: A rare and lethal syndrome with diagnostic challenges
Full text linkIntroduction and clinical relevance: Acute esophageal necrosis (AEN) is a condition characterized by the necrosis of the distal portion of the esophageal mucosa. Risk factors predisposing to this condition are associated to compromised vascular perfusion (e.g. diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, advanced age, and hypertension, shock states). Complications of AEN can be severe including UGI stricture, perforation and overall increased mortality. The true incidence of AEN remains uncertain due to potential subclincal presentations and early resolution. Case presentation: The case outlined involves a 66-years-old obese male with history of alcoholism and lymph-edema of the left leg who presented to the emergency department with hematemesis, haemodynamic instability and impaired consciousness. Shortly after initial assessment, the patient went into cardiac arrest with pulse-less electrical activity (PEA). Return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) was achieved following instigation of ALS protocol, fluid resuscitation and the administration of a total of 5 mg of adrenaline. Following stabilization, a CT scan was performed which reported a moderately enlarged esophagus with a thickened wall, liquid hypodense material within the esophagus and stomach, and liver cirrhosis. The emergent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGDS) revealed extensive mucosal findings indicative of diffuse necrosis with initial scarring, which was later diagnosed as AEN. The patient unfortunately deceased in ICU after developing progression of the AEN, post-cardiac arrest syndrome and liver failure. Clinical discussion: The presented case highlights several crucial clinical issues and management problems related to AEN. To diagnose AEN, EGDS is still the gold-standard since it allows direct inspection of the esophageal mucosal layer. The management of AEN necessitates a multidisciplinary approach that includes aggressive resuscitation, treatment of underlying comorbidities, and supportive care (e.g. proton pump inhibitors). The mortality rate for AEN remains high despite improvements in diagnosis and treatment highlighting the need to recognize this condition early and intervene promptly in the patients affected. Moreover, long-term sequelae like stricture formation of the esophagus and impaired esophageal motility may contribute to morbidity requiring continuos monitoring. Therefore, to optimize outcomes while reducing complications among affected patients, prompt identification associated with appropriate medical measures are essential. More research needs to be done aiming to better understand the pathophysiology of AEN thereby identifying strategies for its prevention or cure. Conclusions: AEN is a rare syndrome characterized by upper gastrointestinal bleeding and hypoxic damage of the esophageal mucosa, often associated with ischemia, gastric outlet obstruction, and compromised protective barriers. Treatment involves aggressive resuscitation, proton pump inhibitors, and monitoring for infection or perforation. However, despite intensive efforts, the mortality rate for AEN remains high at 32 %
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
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