Effect of pressure support ventilation and positive end expiratory pressure on the rapid shallow breathing index in intensive care unit patients.

Objective: We compared rapid shallow breathing index (RSBI) values under various ventilatory support settings prior to extubation.

Design And Setting: Prospective study in the intensive care unit at a university hospital.

Patients: Thirty six patients ready for extubation.

Use of heparinized versus non-heparinized syringes for measurements of the pleural fluid pH.

Background: Pleural fluid (PF) pH measurement is important for establishing a diagnosis and for guiding clinical management. The current standard practice is to collect PF samples for pH measurement in heparinized syringes at room temperature and to instantaneously process these samples.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of collecting PF in heparinized versus non-heparinized syringes at room temperature on PF pH measurements when processed at various time intervals.

Extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of MALT involving the lungs, the stomach, and the colon.

Extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of MALT, previously known as MALT lymphoma, is a low grade B-cell Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Its most frequent locations are the gastrointestinal tract and the lungs while that of the colon is rare. Involvement of multiple mucosal sites is not a frequent finding but it does occur.

A new oxygenation index for reflecting intrapulmonary shunting in patients undergoing open-heart surgery.

Study Objectives: To assess the reliability of new and traditional oxygenation measurements in reflecting intrapulmonary shunt.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Cardiac surgery unit at a university hospital.

Buspirone treatment for apneustic breathing in brain stem infarct.

We report a case of brainstem infarction resulting in apneustic breathing, which was alleviated with buspirone. We discuss apneusis, review the literature, and speculate about the benefit of serotonin 1A receptor agonists in the treatment of apneusis and other respiratory disorders.

Effect of continuous positive airway pressure on the rapid shallow breathing index in patients following cardiac surgery.

Objectives: To compare the rapid shallow breathing index (RSBI) under different ventilatory support settings prior to extubation trials.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Cardiac surgery unit at a university hospital.