[Severity factors of aluminium phosphide poisoning (Phostoxin)].

Objectives: To determine characteristics of acute aluminum phosphide poisoning (AAlPP) and to evaluate its severity factors.

Design Study: Retrospective cohort study.

Patients And Methods: Consecutive cases of AAlPP admitted in medical ICU (Hospital Avicenne, Rabat, Morocco) between January 1992 and December 2002 were studied.

[Left ventricular thrombus and myocarditis induced by paraphenylenediamine poisoning].

We showed that the paraphenylenediamine (PPD) poisoning caused myocarditis but there is no data on the echocardiographic features. We report a case of myocarditis induced by PPD poisoning with echographic data. After ingestion of 5 g of PPD, a 18-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital with asphyxia and rhabdomyolysis.

[Incidence, causes and prognostic factors of hyponatremia in intensive care].

Purpose: The incidence of hyponatremia is unknown, their causes are multiple. The higher mortality, especially in intensive care units, is currently unexplained. The objective of this article is to evaluate the incidence of hyponatremia, to assess their causes and to identify predictors of prognosis in intensive care units.

[Comparative efficiency of nebulized adrenaline and salbutamol in severe acute asthma. A randomized, controlled prospective study].

Objective: To compare nebulized salbutamol and nebulized adrenaline in acute severe asthma (ASA).

Study Design: Prospective controlled study.

Patients And Methods: October 1998 at May 99, 44 patients (31 women and 13 men, 35 +/- 11 yrs) with ASA (defined as peak expiratory flow rate (PEF) < 150 l min-1 and normo- or hypercapnia) were randomized to receive either nebulized salbutamol (n = 22), 10 mg/h-1 during 2 h then 5 mg every 4 h or nebulized adrenaline (n = 22), 6 mg/h-1 during 2 h then 3 mg every 4 h.

Weaning from mechanical ventilation: a model for extubation.

Objective: To develop a model able to determine the right time for extubation and to validate its performance. paragraph sign

Design: A prospective clinical study.

Setting: 14-bed medical intensive care unit in a university hospital.