The Integrative Weaning Index in Elderly ICU Subjects.

Background: With increasing life expectancy and ICU admission of elderly patients, mechanical ventilation, and weaning trials have increased worldwide.

Methods: We evaluated a cohort with 479 subjects in the ICU. Patients younger than 18 y, tracheostomized, or with neurologic diseases were excluded, resulting in 331 subjects.

Effects of positive end-expiratory pressure on brain tissue oxygen pressure of severe traumatic brain injury patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome: A pilot study.

Purpose: To verify whether high positive end-expiratory pressure levels can increase brain tissue oxygen pressure, and also their effects on pulse oxygen saturation, intracranial pressure, and cerebral perfusion pressure.

Material And Methods: Twenty traumatic brain injury patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome were submitted to positive end-expiratory pressure levels of 5, 10, and 15 cm H2O progressively. The 3 positive end-expiratory pressure levels were used during 20 minutes for each one, whereas brain tissue oxygen pressure, oxygen saturation, intracranial pressure, and cerebral perfusion pressure were recorded.

Arterial blood gas analysis in two different intra-hospital transport methods for postoperative cardiac surgery patients.

Objective: To evaluate the effects on blood gases by two methods of ventilation (with transport ventilation or self-inflating manual resuscitator) during intra-hospital transport of patients after cardiac surgery.

Methods: Observational, longitudinal, prospective, randomized study. Two samples of arterial blood were collected at the end of the surgery and another at the end of patient transport.

Alveolar recruitment maneuver in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage and acute respiratory distress syndrome: a comparison of 2 approaches.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to compare 2 alveolar recruitment maneuvers (ARMs) approaches in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Material And Methods: Sixteen SAH patients with ARDS were randomized in 2 similar groups. One received ARM with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) of 35 cm H(2)O for 40 seconds (CPAP recruitment), whereas the other received pressure control ventilation with positive-end expiratory pressure of 15 cm H(2)O and pressure control above positive end-expiratory pressure of 35 cm H(2)O for 2 minutes (pressure control recruitment maneuver [PCRM]).

A new integrative weaning index of discontinuation from mechanical ventilation.

Introduction: Indexes predicting weaning outcome are frequently inaccurate. We developed a new integrative weaning index aimed at improving the accuracy of the traditional indexes.

Methods: Three hundred and thirty-one patients mechanically-ventilated for more than 24 hours were evaluated.

Evaluation of maximal inspiratory pressure, tracheal airway occlusion pressure, and its ratio in the weaning outcome.

Purpose: The objective of this study is to evaluate the predictive performance of maximal inspiratory pressure (Pimax), airway occlusion pressure (P 0.1), and its ratio (P 0.1/Pimax) in the weaning outcome.