A multi-centre, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of liposomal prostaglandin E1 (TLC C-53) in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Objective: To evaluate the safety of liposomal PGE1 (TLC C-53) in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and determine its efficacy in improving oxygenation and reducing ventilator dependency.

Design: A multi-centre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study.

Setting: Thirty-one hospitals in six European countries.

Determinants of psychotropic drug usage in a general intensive care unit.

During a 3-month period, determinants of psychotropic drug utilization (sex, age, length of stay, reason for admission, disease severity) and data on psychotropic consumption (type of medication--antidepressants, benzodiazepines and antipsychotics--dosage and length of treatment) were retrospectively collected in a general intensive care unit of a Dutch university hospital. Daily exposure to psychotropics was standardized in number of Defined Daily Doses (DDD). Benzodiazepines were used by 35.

Postcardiac surgery low cardiac output syndrome: dopexamine or dopamine?

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of dopexamine with dopamine in the treatment of low cardiac output syndrome after cardiac surgery.

Design: This was a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, parallel-group study conducted in intensive care units at centres in Holland and Belgium. Patients were randomised to receive dopexamine (up to 2.

Rapid diagnosis of acute meningococcal infections by needle aspiration or biopsy of skin lesions.

Objectives: To evaluate the usefulness of Gram staining and culture of skin lesions in patients with acute meningococcal infections.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Community hospital and intensive care unit of a teaching hospital.