Massive Cerebral Air Embolism Causing Stroke Secondary to Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

Cerebral air embolism due to pulmonary tuberculosis is an extremely rare cause of stroke. We report an unusual case of a presentation of cerebral air embolism likely due to pulmonary tuberculosis lesions during a severe cough. We discuss the relationship between the pulmonary tuberculosis and the occurrence of the cerebral air embolism.

[Acute renal failure in intensive care unit: risk and prognostic factors].

The purpose of this study is to specify the incidence, the risk and prognostic factors of the ARF. Transverse study about all the patients hospitalized in our department during one year. The incidence of the ARF was 18%.

Early tracheostomy versus prolonged endotracheal intubation in severe head injury.

Background: To see if early tracheostomy (fifth day) reduces duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU stay, incidence of pneumonia and mortality in comparison with prolonged intubation (PI) in patients with head injury.

Methods: Patients were prospectively included in this study if they met the following criteria: isolated head injury, Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score < or =8 on first and fifth day, with cerebral contusion on CT scan. On the fifth day, randomization was done in two groups: early tracheostomy group (T group, n = 31) and prolonged endotracheal intubation group (I group, n = 31).

Prediction of difficult tracheal intubation in thyroid surgery.

The incidence of difficult endotracheal intubation (DEI) for patients undergoing thyroidectomy has rarely been studied, and evaluation of factors linked to DEI is limited to a few studies. We undertook this prospective study to investigate the incidence of DEI in the presence of goiter (an enlargement of the thyroid gland) and to evaluate factors linked to DEI. We studied 320 consecutive patients scheduled for thyroidectomy.