Comparison of Two Predictive Models for Short-Term Mortality in Patients after Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and the Abbreviated Injury Score of the head region (HAIS) are validated prognostic factors in traumatic brain injury (TBI). The aim of this study was to compare the prognostic performance of an alternative predictive model including motor GCS, pupillary reactivity, age, HAIS, and presence of multi-trauma for short-term mortality with a reference predictive model including motor GCS, pupil reaction, and age (IMPACT core model). A secondary analysis of a prospective epidemiological cohort study in Switzerland including patients after severe TBI (HAIS >3) with the outcome death at 14 days was performed.

Extreme Procalcitonin Elevation without Proven Bacterial Infection Related to Amphetamine Abuse.

Systemic inflammatory response with rhabdomyolysis and consequent multiorgan failure is a known sequela of psychotropic drug abuse. However, in cases with uncertain past medical history the initial diagnosis can be challenging. Here we report the case of a 21-year-old male who was admitted to the intensive care unit with severe neurological impairment caused by amphetamine intoxication.

Changes in airway and respiratory tissue mechanics after cardiac surgery.

Background: Because of the critical importance of the first postoperative week in the development of respiratory complications after cardiac surgery, the mechanical properties of the respiratory system in this period were followed up systematically.

Methods: The input impedance of the respiratory system (Zrs) was measured during spontaneous breathing in patients (n=35) undergoing cardiac surgery on the day before surgery to establish the baseline, and for six days thereafter. The airway resistance was inferred from the average of the resistive component of Zrs, while the changes in respiratory elastance were assessed from the imaginary part of Zrs by model fitting.