Late mortality after cardiac interventions over 10-year period in two Cameroonian government-owned hospitals.

Background: Cardiac surgery is a growing activity in Sub-Saharan Africa, however, data related to long-term mortality are scarce. We aimed to analyze outcome data of cardiac interventions in two hospitals in Cameroon over 10 years' period.

Methods: we conducted a retrospective analytical and descriptive study at the Douala General Hospital and Yaoundé General Hospital.

Outcome of permanent vascular access for haemodialysis in patients with end-stage renal disease in Cameroon: results from the pilot experience of the Douala general hospital.

Background Chronic Kidney disease is a major health problem in the world. Native arteriovenous Fistula (AVF) is well established as the best vascular access for haemodialysis. Little is known about the outcome of AVF in sub-Saharan Africa.

Cerebral autoregulation is influenced by carbon dioxide levels in patients with septic shock.

Background: Altered brain perfusion may play an important role in the development of sepsis-associated encephalopathy. However, whether or not cerebral autoregulation (CA) is preserved in such condition has been debated. CA is dependent on cerebral vascular tone, the main determinant of which is the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2).

Placement of the nebulizer before the humidifier during mechanical ventilation: Effect on aerosol delivery.

Background: Therapeutic aerosols are commonly used in mechanically ventilated patients. The position of the nebulizer in the ventilator circuit and the humidification of inhaled gases can influence the efficiency of aerosol delivery. We evaluated the effect of nebulizer position on the pulmonary bioavailability of nebulized ipratropium in ventilated patients without known preexisting respiratory disease.

Albumin administration improves organ function in critically ill hypoalbuminemic patients: A prospective, randomized, controlled, pilot study.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that administration of albumin to correct hypoalbuminemia might have beneficial effects on organ function in a mixed population of critically ill patients.

Design: : Prospective, controlled, randomized study.

Setting: Thirty-one-bed, mixed medicosurgical department of intensive care.

The locked-in syndrome : what is it like to be conscious but paralyzed and voiceless?

The locked-in syndrome (pseudocoma) describes patients who are awake and conscious but selectively deefferented, i.e., have no means of producing speech, limb or facial movements.

Primer on medical management of severe brain injury.

Objective: To review the current understanding of the medical management of severe brain injury.

Data Source: The MEDLINE database, bibliographies of selected articles, and current English-language texts on the subject.

Study Selection: Studies related to management of intracranial hypertension, traumatic brain injury, and brain edema.

Post mortem examination in the intensive care unit: still useful?

Objective: Post mortem examination rates have decreased worldwide and their usefulness has been challenged. The aim of this study was to compare ante- versus post mortem findings in a multidisciplinary ICU.

Design: Retrospective study.

No effect of creatine supplementation on human myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic protein synthesis after resistance exercise.

Muscle hypertrophy during resistance training is reportedly increased by creatine supplementation. Having previously failed to find an anabolic effect on muscle protein turnover at rest, either fed or fasted, we have now examined the possibility of a stimulatory effect of creatine in conjunction with acute resistance exercise. Seven healthy men (body mass index, 23 +/- 2 kg/m2, 21 +/- 1 yr, means +/- SE) performed 20 x 10 repetitions of leg extension-flexion at 75% one-repetition maximum in one leg, on two occasions, 4 wk apart, before and after ingesting 21 g/day creatine for 5 days.

Brain function in the vegetative state.

Positron emission tomography (PET) techniques represent a useful tool to better understand the residual brain function in vegetative state patients. It has been shown that overall cerebral metabolic rates for glucose are massively reduced in this condition. However, the recovery of consciousness from vegetative state is not always associated with substantial changes in global metabolism.

Creatine supplementation has no effect on human muscle protein turnover at rest in the postabsorptive or fed states.

Dietary creatine supplementation is associated with increases in muscle mass, but the mechanism is unknown. We tested the hypothesis that creatine supplementation enhanced myofibrillar protein synthesis (MPS) and diminished muscle protein breakdown (MPB) in the fed state. Six healthy men (26 +/- 7 yr, body mass index 22 +/- 4 kg/m(2)) were studied twice, 2-4 wk apart, before and after ingestion of creatine (21 g/day, 5 days).

Barbiturate coma for intracranial hypertension: clinical observations.

Purpose: To determine the neurologic outcome of patients with intracranial hypertension treated with barbiturate-induced coma.

Materials And Methods: The records of 49 patients who were admitted to a 31-bed medicosurgical intensive care unit over a 5-year period in whom a barbiturate coma was induced to control intracranial hypertension were analyzed retrospectively. Analysis included assessment of the response to barbiturate coma and evaluation of the long-term neurologic outcome according to the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS).