Immediate and 5-year cumulative outcome after paediatric intensive care in Sweden.

Background: Little has been reported about intensive care of children in Sweden. The aims of this study are to (I) assess the number of admissions, types of diagnoses and length-of-stay (LOS) for all Swedish children admitted to intensive care during the years 1998-2001, and compare paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) with other intensive care units (adult ICUs) (II) assess immediate (ICU) and cumulative 5-year mortality and (III) determine the actual consumption of paediatric intensive care for the defined age group in Sweden.

Methods: Children between 6 months and 16 years of age admitted to intensive care in Sweden were included in a national multicentre, ambidirectional cohort study.

Serum concentrations and effects of gabapentin and vigabatrin: observations from a dose titration study.

To explore possible concentration-effect relationships, gabapentin (GBP) and vigabatrin (VGB) serum concentrations were obtained from patients participating in an add-on dose-titration trial comparing GBP and VGB in partial epilepsy. Patients randomized to GBP started on 1800 mg/d and could have their dosage increased stepwise to 2400 and 3600 mg/d if seizures persisted. Those randomised to VGB started on 1000 mg/d, and the dose could be increased to 2000 and 4000 mg/d.

The impact of respiratory variables on mortality in non-ARDS and ARDS patients requiring mechanical ventilation.

Objectives: Primarily, to determine if respiratory variables, assessed on a daily basis on days 1-6 after ICU admission, were associated with mortality in non-ARDS and ARDS patients with respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. Secondarily, to determine non-respiratory factors associated with mortality in ARDS and non-ARDS patients.

Design: Prospective multicentre clinical study.

Incidence and mortality after acute respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome in Sweden, Denmark, and Iceland. The ARF Study Group.

To determine the incidence and 90-d mortality of acute respiratory failure (ARF), acute lung injury (ALI), and the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), we carried out an 8-wk prospective cohort study in Sweden, Denmark, and Iceland. All intensive care unit (ICU) admissions (n = 13,346) >/= 15 yr of age were assessed between October 6th and November 30th, 1997 in 132 of 150 ICUs with resources to treat patients with intubation and mechanical ventilation (I + MV) >/= 24 h. ARF was defined as I + MV >/= 24 h.

Induction of chromosome aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes after short time inhalation of nitric oxide.

Introduction: inhalation of nitric oxide (INO) leads to vasodilation of pulmonary vasculature in ventilated regions of the lung. The clinical use of INO, although not formally approved as a drug, is widespread. NO may rapidly form nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in an oxygen containing gas mixture.