Continuous positive airway pressure vs. proportional assist ventilation for noninvasive ventilation in acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema.

Objective: To compare continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and proportional assist ventilation (PAV) as modes of noninvasive ventilatory support in patients with severe cardiogenic pulmonary edema.

Design And Setting: A prospective multicenter randomized study in the medical ICUs of three teaching hospitals.

Patients: Thirty-six adult patients with cardiogenic pulmonary edema (CPA) with unresolving dyspnea, respiratory rate above 30/min and/or SpO2 above 90% with O2 higher than 10 l/min despite conventional therapy with furosemide and nitrates.

Risk factors of relative adrenocortical deficiency in intensive care patients needing mechanical ventilation.

Objective: To study the factors associated with relative adrenocortical deficiency in mechanically ventilated, critically ill patients.

Design And Setting: Prospective observational study in a multidisciplinary ICU of a university-affiliated teaching hospital.

Patients: Sixty-two consecutive, acutely ill patients needing mechanical ventilation for more than 24 h.