Elevated PaCO levels increase pulmonary artery pressure.

Permissive hypercapnia is commonly used in mechanically ventilated patients to avoid lung injury but its effect on pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) is still unclear, particularly in combination with tidal volume (Vt). Therefore, an study was performed on adult rabbits ventilated with low (9 ml/Kg, LVt group) or high (15 ml/Kg, HVt group) tidal volume (Vt) and alterations in PAP were estimated. Both groups of animals initially were ventilated with FiO 0.

Nebulised colistin for ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention.

We evaluated whether prophylactic nebulised colistin could reduce ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) rates in an intensive care unit (ICU) setting with prevalent multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria.We used a single-centre, two-arm, randomised, open-label, controlled trial in a 12-bed ICU in the University Hospital of Larissa, Greece. Patient inclusion criteria included mechanical ventilation of >48 h.

Ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis increases the length of intensive care unit stay.

Objective: To investigate prospectively the clinical course and risk factors for ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis (VAT) and the impact of VAT on intensive care unit (ICU) morbidity and mortality.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: University Hospital Larissa, Larissa, Greece.

Inhaled antibiotics for nosocomial pneumonia.

Pneumonia, especially the more severe forms, is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Systemic use of antibiotics is the cornerstone of the management of pneumonia in all patients, including critical care patients. Several adjunctive strategies have been suggested to improve management.

Vibration response imaging: evaluation of rater agreement in healthy subjects and subjects with pneumonia.

Background: We evaluated pulmonologists variability in the interpretation of Vibration response imaging (VRI) obtained from healthy subjects and patients hospitalized for community acquired pneumonia.

Methods: The present is a prospective study conducted in a tertiary university hospital. Twenty healthy subjects and twenty three pneumonia cases were included in this study.