Multiple indicators model of long-term mortality in traumatic brain injury.

Objective: To examine the prognostic ability of protein S100B, neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) for prediction of 1-year mortality in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in relation to clinical and radiological characteristics of TBI.

Methods: Brain injury was quantified in 84 patients (Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] ≤ 12) using clinical (GCS, pupils), radiological (computed tomography [CT] classification and individual CT characteristics) and biochemical (S100B, NSE and GFAP) data at admission and in the acute post-injury period.

Results: Initial and peak S100B, NSE and GFAP concentrations were higher in non-survivors (n = 26) than in survivors (p-value range: <0.

A prospective, randomized, double-blinded comparison between multimodal thoracic paravertebral bupivacaine and levobupivacaine analgesia in patients undergoing lung surgery.

Objectives: To compare the effects of paravertebral analgesia with levobupivacaine or bupivacaine on intra- and postoperative pain for thoracic surgery.

Design: A prospective, randomized, and double-blinded study.

Setting: A university hospital.

Intracranial pressure and biochemical indicators of brain damage: follow-up study.

Aim: To investigate the relation between metabolic parameters of the brain tissue, as direct indicators of real metabolic conditions within the brain, and intracranial pressure, as the consequence of pathophysiological changes.

Methods: Twelve patients with closed head injuries were followed up for 24 hours after injury. A Codman parenchymal intracranial pressure and a Neurotrend electrode were inserted within 3 hours after injury to monitor parenchymal intracranial pressure, brain tissue partial oxygen pressure (P(br)O2), brain tissue partial carbon dioxide pressure (P(br)CO2), pH, and brain tissue temperature.

Relationship between injury severity and lactate levels in severely injured patients.

Objective: To determine the correlation of blood concentration of lactate and severity of injury and survival in severely injured patients.

Design And Setting: A prospective study of severely injured patients admitted directly from an emergency surgical unit to a surgical intensive care unit with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) of 16 points or more. The study was conducted over 30 months.

Normal values of SvO2 as therapeutic goal in patients with multiple injuries.

Objective: To determine whether maintaining normal levels of mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO2) in patients with multiple injuries is more relevant to survival than maintaining above-normal levels of oxygen transport.

Design: Non-randomised, retrospective control study over a 38-month period.

Setting: Multidisciplinary intensive care unit in a university hospital.

Oxygen delivery-consumption relationship in adult respiratory distress syndrome patients: the effects of sepsis.

The oxygen consumption-delivery relationship (VO2/DO2) was studied in 15 sedated paralyzed patients with the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to multiple trauma and in whom sepsis was absent. Different levels (0 to 15 cm H2O) of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) were applied. Oxygen delivery was calculated from cardiac index (thermodilution technique) and arterial oxygen content measurements.

[Importance of measurement of systemic oxygen transport and tissue oxygenation in the treatment of acute respiratory insufficiency].

The patients with acute respiratory failure of different etiology are presented. The results of hemodynamic measurements together with those of oxygen transport and tissue oxygenation are given. The results reveal that in hypovolemic shock the transport system of oxygen and tissue oxygenation have been soon normalized by adequate therapy.