Stress ulcer prophylaxis and risk of developing ventilator-associated pneumonia To the Editor: Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding has long been recognized as a potential life-threatening complication of stress-induced ulceration in critically ill patients. Stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP) using pharmacologic agents is considered by many clinicians to be an important care component of patients ...

We report the case of a 72-year-old man with occlusion of the left main bronchus due to squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. He required tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation because of the aggravation of atelectasis and obstructive pneumonia. Electrocautery using hot biopsy forceps was performed during mechanical ventilation with a 40% fraction of inspired oxygen. He was extubated fol...

OBJECTIVE Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) has an imperative place amongst nosocomial infections leading to increase morbidity and mortality rates. The present study aimed to determine risk factors for acquisition of ventilator- associated pneumonia in an intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS A nested case-control study was carried out from September 2007 to June 2008. All 183 patients hosp...

BACKGROUND To determine the rate and risk factors of three operative complications (renal failure, pneumonia, and sternal wound infection) within 30 days after isolated coronary artery bypass surgery. METHODS Medical records of 1,046 consecutive patients between the years 2005 and 2009 were reviewed. Demographic data and peri-operative information were collected and analyzed. Univariate and m...

This study aimed to evaluate the quality of health care delivered in an Intensive Care Unit, concerning the use of pneumonia prevention and control measures in high-risk patients on mechanical ventilation. In this descriptive and exploratory research, 839 observations of patients under invasive ventilation care were carried out, between November 2009 and January 2010, using the Indicator of Eva...

Obesity is an increasing problem in the USA, and research into the association between obesity and pneumonia has yielded conflicting results. Using Department of Veterans Affairs administrative data from fiscal years 2002-2006, we examined a cohort of patients hospitalised with a discharge diagnosis of pneumonia. Body mass index was categorised as underweight (<18.5 kg · m(-2)), normal (18.5-24...

BACKGROUND A tracheostomy is often performed when patients cannot be weaned from mechanical ventilation. Respiratory infections (ventilator-associated pneumonia and infection of the lower respiratory tract) complicate the course of hospitalization in patients receiving mechanical ventilation. OBJECTIVES To evaluate respiratory infections before and after a percutaneous tracheostomy and to des...

Background: Mechanical ventilation is often required in 10-20% critically ill patients, may be because of respiratory or any other indication. There is always a risk of developing pneumonia in such patients. Any pneumonia developing after 48 hours of commencing mechanical ventilation in a patient with previously non infected lungs is labeled as ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP).It occurs in...

Objective Myasthenic crisis (MC) is considered the most severe adverse event in patients with myasthenia gravis. The present retrospective study was performed to evaluate the predictors of clinical outcomes in patients with MC. Methods The medical charts of 33 patients (19 women, 14 men) with 76 MC attacks from 2002 to 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Early extubation (≤7 days) and prolonged...

Introduction Is There a Role for Screening Spirometry? Are Corticosteroids Useful in Late-Stage Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome? Should Patients Be Able to Follow Commands Prior to Extubation? Are Sleep Studies Appropriately Done in the Home? Should Tracheostomy Be Performed as Early as 72 Hours in Patients Requiring Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation? Should Prone Positioning Be Routinely Us...