Physiological effects of different interfaces during noninvasive ventilation for acute respiratory failure.

Objective: To test the short-term physiologic effects (indexes of respiratory effort, ventilation, and gas exchange), leaks, patient-ventilator asynchrony, and comfort of four noninvasive ventilation (NIV) facial, oronasal, or oral interfaces with major differences in internal volume.

Design: Prospective, short-term, crossover randomized physiologic study.

Setting: Medical intensive care unit in a university hospital.

Milrinone for the treatment of cerebral vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Background And Purpose: Attempts to reverse cerebral vasospasm (CVS) after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) rely on a limited number of treatments. Calcium channel blockers have proven a benefit but their vasodilating effect on spastic cerebral arteries is relatively modest. Milrinone, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, combines vasodilating and inotropic properties, but limited data exist to support its use for the treatment of CVS.