Bioavailability of oral fluconazole in critically ill abdominal trauma patients with and without abdominal wall closure: a randomized crossover clinical trial.

Background: Patients with non-apposed fascial edges, known as laparostomy patients, have traditionally been given intravenous medications, because enteral absorption of medications was thought to be unpredictable. We hypothesized that critically ill patients with "open abdomens" would have bioavailability similar to that of matched patients with closed fascial edges.

Methods: Fluconazole, a commonly prescribed anti-fungal with good bioavailability was used as a marker of absorption.

Early injection of high-dose recombinant factor VIIa decreases blood loss and prolongs time from injury to death in experimental liver injury.

Background: Recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) is used for treatment of bleeding episodes in hemophilia patients who develop inhibitors to factors VIII and IX. We tested the hypothesis that administration of rFVIIa early after injury would decrease bleeding and prolong the time from injury to death after experimental hepatic trauma.

Methods: Anesthetized swine were cannulated for blood sampling and hemodynamic monitoring.