Comparison of mannitol and hypertonic saline in the treatment of severe brain injuries.

Object: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of mannitol and hypertonic saline in doses of similar osmotic burden for the treatment of intracranial hypertension in patients with severe traumatic brain injury.

Methods: The authors used an alternating treatment protocol to compare the effect of hypertonic saline with that of mannitol given for episodes of increased intracranial pressure in patients treated for severe head injury at their hospital during 2006-2008. Standard guidelines for the management of severe traumatic brain injury were followed.

Severity of illness and outcome in adult patients with primary varicella pneumonia.

Background: Varicella pneumonia is a serious complication of primary varicella infection in adults that often results in respiratory failure and death.

Objective: To analyze the clinical and laboratory manifestations of primary varicella pneumonia in patients admitted to our intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods: Retrospective study on patients treated in our ICU with a diagnosis of primary varicella pneumonia during a period of 15 years.