1/91. Right-to-left interatrial shunt in ARDS: dramatic improvement in prone position.The mechanisms leading to shunting through a patent foramen ovale include high right-sided cardiac pressures and respiratory factors due to mechanical ventilation and also anatomical changes in the right atrium as described in the platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome. We report a patient with the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) who had a right-to-left atrial shunt which decreased in the prone position, after which oxygenation improved. The patient was admitted to the intensive care unit because of ARDS due to an invasive fungal infection. He had a history of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and paradoxical embolisms through a patent foramen ovale. Despite mechanical ventilation and antifungal treatment he developed severe ARDS. He was therefore turned to the prone position. Blood gas values improved dramatically (arterial oxygen tension/fractional inspired oxygen ratio increasing from 59 to 278 torr). Transcranial Doppler sonography was performed with bubble study, which confirmed a massive right-to-left shunt in the supine position and which instantaneously decreased in the prone position. This case suggests that a decrease in right-to-left shunt in patients who have a patent foramen ovale could partly explain the improvement in hypoxemia in the prone position.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = gas (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/91. calcinosis cutis and intestinal pseudoobstruction in a patient with adult onset Still's disease associated with recurrent relapses of disordered coagulopathy.adult onset Still's disease (AOSD) is a systemic inflammatory disorder of unknown origin, characterized by a typical spiking fever, evanescent salmon-colored rash, polyarthralgia, and myalgia. calcinosis cutis and gastrointestinal involvement have rarely been noted in AOSD. We herein describe a 54-year-old woman who demonstrated repeated disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), and adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), associated with AOSD. The patient also revealed a remarkable degree of digital calcinosis cutis and intestinal pseudoobstruction. A connective tissue disease, such as systemic sclerosis, might have been the underlying factor in the latter two symptoms.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = gas (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/91. Combination of inhaled nitric oxide and intravenous prostacyclin for successful treatment of severe pulmonary hypertension in a patient with acute respiratory distress syndrome.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the combination of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) and intravenously administered prostacyclin (i.v. PGI2) in a patient with severe pulmonary hypertension and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). DESIGN: Single case study. SETTING: intensive care unit of a university hospital. methods: In an ARDS patient with severe pulmonary hypertension, gas exchange and hemodynamics were measured during combined treatment with iNO and i.v. PGI2. On two subsequent days, a protocol consisting of four 20-min periods was performed: baseline, 10 ppm iNO, 10 ppm iNO plus 4 ng kg-1 min-1, and 4 ng kg-1 min-1 PGI2 alone. At the end of each period hemodynamic and gas exchange data were obtained. RESULTS: The combination of iNO and i.v. PGI2 resulted in a marked decrease in pulmonary artery pressure and a concomitant increase in cardiac output which was more pronounced than the effect of either drug alone. During iNO, as well as during the combination of iNO and i.v. PGI2, oxygenation was improved, whereas during i.v. PGI2 alone oxygenation was worse than baseline. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the combination of iNO and i.v. PGI2 might be more useful than either drug alone when severe pulmonary hypertension leading to impaired right ventricular function is present in ARDS. A systematic study of this observation is warranted.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = gas (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/91. Successful treatment of a patient with ARDS after pneumonectomy using high-frequency oscillatory ventilation.High frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) was used in a patient who developed the acute respiratory distress syndrome 5 days following a right pneumonectomy for bronchogenic carcinoma. When conventional pressure-controlled ventilation failed to maintain adequate oxygenation, HFOV dramatically improved oxygenation within the first few hours of therapy. Pulmonary function and gas exchange recovered during a 10-day period of HFOV. No negative side effects were observed. Early use of HFOV may be a beneficial ventilation strategy for adults with acute pulmonary failure, even in the postoperative period after lung resection.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = gas (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/91. Acute respiratory distress syndrome following cutaneous exposure to Lysol: a case report.Lysol (mixed cresols) is a brand of popular detergent commonly used to disinfect toilets and floors in taiwan. We report a patient with acute respiratory failure immediately following chemical burns caused by skin contact with Lysol solution. On admission, chest radiography showed bilateral diffuse pulmonary infiltrates and an arterial blood gas analysis disclosed hypoxemia refractory to a high concentration of oxygen by inhalation. Under the impression of acute respiratory distress syndrome, our patient was admitted to the intensive care unit for respiratory care. Poor clinical improvement was noted, despite aggressive respiratory therapy. High-dose steroid therapy (hydrocortisone 30 mg/kg/day) was administered from the seventh day after mechanical ventilation began and the ratio of arterial partial pressure of oxygen to fractional concentration of oxygen in inspired gas improved thereafter. The amount of steroid was gradually tapered to the maintenance dose and the patient was successfully weaned from the ventilator after a 93-day course of mechanical ventilation.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = gas (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/91. diagnosis and treatment of an unusual cause of metabolic acidosis: ethylene glycol poisoning.ethylene glycol intoxication is a rare but dangerous type of poisoning. It causes a severe acidosis with high anion and osmolal gaps. Clinical manifestations of the ethylene glycol intoxication can be divided in three phases: a neurologic stage, with hallucinations, stupor and coma; the second stage is cardiovascular with cardiac failure. Renal failure characterizes the third stage, due to acute tubular necrosis. After aggressive gastric emptying, the main treatment is ethanol or 4-methypyrazole, which can be given either orally or intravenous, with supportive measures for all symptoms or diseased organ.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = gas (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/91. Varicella pneumonia complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome in an adult.Primary varicella infection is uncommon in adults, but carries a higher rate of morbidity and mortality than in children. pneumonia is the most common complication of primary varicella infection in adults. However, varicella pneumonia complicated with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is very rare. We report a case of ARDS secondary to varicella pneumonia in a 26-year-old man with primary varicella. The patient was otherwise healthy and had no evidence of human immunodeficiency virus infection. The initial chest radiograph showed bilateral reticulonodular infiltrates, which quickly evolved to diffuse alveolar consolidations. Arterial blood gas analysis revealed a ratio of arterial partial pressure to fraction of inspired oxygen of 87. Abnormal liver function and thrombocytopenia were also noted. Treatment consisted of mechanical ventilatory support and intravenous administration of acyclovir. His pulmonary condition gradually improved and he was successfully weaned from the ventilator 1 week later. He was discharged on the 15th hospital day with a favorable outcome. His pulmonary function improved progressively, with normal spirometry and lung volumes, but persistent mild impairment of diffusing capacity, 6 months after discharge.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = gas (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/91. Pressure limited ventilation with permissive hypoxia and nitric oxide in the treatment of adult respiratory distress syndrome.In the management of adult respiratory distress syndrome pressure limited mechanical ventilation may protect the lungs from overdistention injury. Unacceptable hypoxia may be avoided by adding nitric oxide to the inspiratory gas, and thus make pressure limited ventilation easier to perform. There exists no consensus about an acceptable lower limit of SaO2, and in the present case we gave preference to pressure limitation at the cost of oxygenation. A young woman with severe adult respiratory distress syndrome was set on pressure limited mechanical ventilation with peak pressures of 35-38 cm H2O, PEEP of 10-12 cm H2O, and FiO2 of 0.95 with 20 ppm nitric oxide. SaO2 varied between 75 and 85%, and cardiac output ranged between 5.2 and 7.5 L min-1. oxygen consumption was in the upper normal range, and she did not became acidotic. After 3 days, she started to improve. In conclusion, it seems that hypoxia might be well tolerated as long as the circulation is not compromised. It might prove beneficial to accept some hypoxia to avoid ventilator induced lung damage.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = gas (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/91. Extracorporeal support in an adult with severe carbon monoxide poisoning and shock following smoke inhalation: a case report.The objective of this study was to discuss the case of a patient with severe smoke inhalation-related respiratory failure treated with extracorporeal support. The study was set in a 12-bed multi-trauma intensive care unit at a level one trauma center and hyperbaric medicine center. The patient under investigation had carbon monoxide poisoning, and developed acute respiratory distress syndrome and cardiovascular collapse following smoke inhalation. Rapid initiation of extracorporeal support, extreme inverse-ratio ventilation and intermittent prone positioning therapy were carried out. Admission and serial carboxyhemoglobin levels, blood gases, and computerized tomography of the chest were obtained. The patient developed severe hypoxia and progressed to cardiovascular collapse resistant to resuscitation and vasoactive infusions. Veno-venous extracorporeal support was initiated. Cardiovascular parameters of blood pressure, cardiac output, and oxygen delivery were maximized; oxygenation and ventilation were supported via the extracorporeal circuit. Airway pressure release ventilation and intermittent prone positioning therapy were instituted. Following 7 days of extracorporeal support, the patient was decannulated and subsequently discharged to a transitional care facility,neurologically intact. smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning may lead to life-threatening hypoxemia associated with resultant cardiovascular instability. When oxygenation and ventilation cannot be achieved via maximal ventilatory management, extracorporeal support may prevent death if initiated rapidly.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = gas (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/91. Use of recruitment maneuvers and high-positive end-expiratory pressure in a patient with acute respiratory distress syndrome.OBJECTIVE: To present the use of a novel high-pressure recruitment maneuver followed by high levels of positive end-expiratory pressure in a patient with the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). DESIGN: Observations in one patient. SETTING: The medical intensive care unit at a tertiary care university teaching hospital. PATIENT: A 32-yr-old woman with severe ARDS secondary to streptococcal sepsis. INTERVENTIONS: The patient had severe gas exchange abnormalities because of acute lung injury and marked lung collapse. Attempts to optimize recruitment based on the inflation pressure-volume (PV) curve were not sufficient to avoid dependent lung collapse. We used a recruitment maneuver using 40 cm H2O of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and 20 cm H2O of pressure controlled ventilation above PEEP for 2 mins to successfully recruit the lung. The recruitment was maintained with 25 cm H2O of PEEP, which was much higher than the PEEP predicted by the lower inflection point (P(Flex)) of the PV curve. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Recruitment was assessed by improvements in oxygenation and by computed tomography of the chest. With the recruitment maneuvers, the patient had a dramatic improvement in gas exchange and we were able to demonstrate nearly complete recruitment of the lung by computed tomography. A PV curve was measured that demonstrated a P(Flex) of 16-18 cm H2O. CONCLUSION: Accumulating data suggest that the maximization and maintenance of lung recruitment may reduce lung parenchymal injury from positive pressure ventilation in ARDS. We demonstrate that in this case PEEP alone was not adequate to recruit the injured lung and that a high-pressure recruitment maneuver was required. After recruitment, high-level PEEP was needed to prevent derecruitment and this level of PEEP was not adequately predicted by the P(Flex) of the PV curve.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = gas (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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