Laryngoscope plastic blades in scheduled general anesthesia patients: a comparative randomized study.

Study Objective: To compare two brands of disposable plastic laryngoscope blades, Vital View plastic blades and Heine XP plastic blades, with the reusable Heine Classic+ Macintosh metal blades.

Design: Prospective randomized, controlled, single-blinded study.

Setting: Operating room of a university-affiliated hospital.

Medical pre-hospital management reduces mortality in severe blunt trauma: a prospective epidemiological study.

Introduction: Severe blunt trauma is a leading cause of premature death and handicap. However, the benefit for the patient of pre-hospital management by emergency physicians remains controversial because it may delay admission to hospital. This study aimed to compare the impact of medical pre-hospital management performed by SMUR (Service Mobile d'Urgences et de Réanimation) with non-medical pre-hospital management provided by fire brigades (non-SMUR) on 30-day mortality.

A tamponade leading to death after radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma.

A case of hemorrhagic cardiac tamponade after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) leading to death is presented. The complication occurred during a procedure performed under general anesthesia with an expandable needle system for a 2-cm HCC sited in the second segment of the liver close to the diaphragm. Thermal damage to the organs surrounding the liver are major complications of liver tumor RFA.

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of sequential intravenous and subcutaneous teicoplanin in critically ill patients without vasopressors.

Objective: To compare the pharmacokinetic parameters of sequential intravenous and subcutaneous teicoplanin in the plasma of surgical intensive care unit patients.

Design And Setting: Prospective, randomized, crossover study in the surgical ICU of a university hospital.

Patients: Twelve patients with a suspected nosocomial infection, a serum albumin level higher than 10 g/l, body mass index less than 28 kg/m(2), and estimated creatinine clearance higher than 70 ml/min.

Complication profiles of adult asthmatics requiring paralysis during mechanical ventilation.

Objective: To assess the characteristics and the incidence of morbidity of intubated asthmatic patients who received long-term paralysis.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Five intensive care units (ICUs) in Paris and the surrounding suburbs.