Clinical Course of Empyema and Complicated and Uncomplicated Parapneumonic Effusions Of the 161 charts reviewed, there were 62 cases included in the study (Fig 1). There was no significant difference in the duration of hospitalization or duration of elevated temperature in patients with complicated or uncomplicated parapneumonic eflusions; however, the group with empyema had a [...]

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Clinical Course of Empyema and Complicated and Uncomplicated Effusions We determined if the clinical course of complicated parapneu­monic effusions more closely followed the course of empyema, which required chest tube drainage, or of uncomplicated parapneu­monic effusions, which do not require drainage. The clinical course was determined by the duration of hospitalization due to the primary [...]

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Parapneumonic effusions are a common complica­tion of bacterial pneumonia. The treatment re­quired for parapneumonic effusions has been largely determined by the characteristics of the pleural fluid. Grossly purulent pleural fluid (ie, empyema) requires drainage and does not resolve with antibiotic therapy alone. Pleural fluid which neither is purulent, Gram- stain positive, or culture-positive, nor has [...]

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Acute renal failure has been described following electro-convulsive therapy, although injury due to lightning has been reported to cause myoglobinuria without renal com-plications. In the case presented herein, several factors may have contributed to the total renal burden of myoglobin, including repeated cardioversion, prolonged CPR, and extensive MI; however, the scan with Тс pyrophosphate demonstrated [...]

Continue reading " Rhabdomyolysis and Myoglobinuria Renal Failure following Cardioversion and CPR for Acute Ml: DISCUSSION "

Rhabdomyolysis is implicated as the cause of acute renal failure in 5 percent to 7 percent of all cases. In addition to numerous traumatic etiologies, nontraumatic causes of rhabdomyolysis with myoglobinuria have been increasingly recognized, including alcohol and drug over­doses, hypothermia, sepsis, and limb ischemia, among others. Myocardial infarction and cardioversion may pro­duce myoglobinuria, although, [...]

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This prospective, randomized, controlled study clearly demonstrates the increased risk of TT occlu­sion in ICU patients submitted to prolonged CMV with a PUBCF. Clinical reports on the potential benefits or hazards associated with the use of HMEs in ICU patients are limited. Most studies included only intraoperative or stable postoperative patients. Since these patients did [...]

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The study was interrupted after the death of a patient in the PUBCF group from a total obstruction of his TT. Replacement of the TT was unsuccessful despite the combined efforts of three critical care physicians. Results of the 31 patients included in the PUBCF group and the 42 patients included in the HHWS group [...]

Continue reading " Heat and Moisture Exchangers and Vaporizing Humidifiers in the Intensive Care Unit: RESULTS "