Outcome of patients treated with molecular adsorbent recirculating system albumin dialysis: A national multicenter study.

Background And Aim: The molecular adsorbent recirculating system (MARS) is the most widely used device to treat liver failure. Nevertheless, data from widespread real-life use are lacking.

Methods: This was a retrospective multicenter study conducted in all French adult care centers that used MARS between 2004 and 2009.

Is Inappropriate Response to Cosyntropin Stimulation Test an Indication of Corticosteroid Resistance in Septic Shock?

We recently published a comparison of two hydrocortisone dosage regimens in patients with septic shock. We compare the results conferred by the two regimens as a function of the response to cosyntropin stimulation test (CST). Patients with septic shock were treated by one of two hydrocortisone regimens: either a 50-mg intravenous bolus every 6 h during 7 days (200 mg group; n = 49), or a 100-mg initial bolus followed by a continuous infusion of 300 mg daily for 5 days (300 mg group; n = 50).

Effects of Increasing Hydrocortisone to 300 mg Per Day in the Treatment of Septic Shock: a Pilot Study.

Purpose: The Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines recommend hydrocortisone in septic shock only when fluid resuscitation and vasopressors fail to restore hemodynamic stability. Hydrocortisone administration modalities are supported only by low-grade recommendations. Our main objective here was to determine differences in 28-day mortality between two low-dose hydrocortisone regimens for the treatment of septic shock.

[Intestinal transplantation].

Even though surgical techniques for isolated intestine, liver-intestine, and multivisceral transplantations were developed in the 1960's, very few patients were transplanted before 1990 because initial immunosuppression regimens were insufficient, making intestine transplantation impossible. Intestine transplantation resulted in death in most patients within days or months. The discouraging results of the first clinical trials were due to technical complications, sepsis, and the failure of conventional immunosuppression to control rejection.

Performance of target-controlled sufentanil infusion in obese patients.

Background: Because obesity might affect pharmacokinetic parameters, the authors evaluated the accuracy of target-controlled sufentanil infusion in morbidly obese patients using a pharmacokinetic model usually applied to a normal-weight population.

Methods: Target-controlled propofol and sufentanil coinfusions were administered to 11 morbidly obese patients (body mass index: 45.0 +/- 6.