Low Incidence of Biphasic Allergic Reactions in Patients Admitted to Intensive Care after Anaphylaxis.

Background: Biphasic allergic reactions-recurrence of allergy symptoms after a symptom-free period-are reported to occur in 1 to 23% of allergic reactions. Patients admitted to an intensive care unit after anaphylaxis potentially have more severe reactions and a higher risk of biphasic allergic reactions. The purpose of this study was to examine incidence, triggers, symptoms, and treatment of biphasic allergic reactions, in patients admitted to an intensive care unit.

Selepressin, a novel selective vasopressin V agonist, is an effective substitute for norepinephrine in a phase IIa randomized, placebo-controlled trial in septic shock patients.

Background: Vasopressin is widely used for vasopressor support in septic shock patients, but experimental evidence suggests that selective V agonists are superior. The initial pharmacodynamic effects, pharmacokinetics, and safety of selepressin, a novel V-selective vasopressin analogue, was examined in a phase IIa trial in septic shock patients.

Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter trial in 53 patients in early septic shock (aged ≥18 years, fluid resuscitation, requiring vasopressor support) who received selepressin 1.

[Fatal succinylcholine-induced hyperkalemia in an intensive care unit].

Succinylcholine-induced hyperkalemia is reported, but is still used in rapid sequence induction. In our case a 44 year-old man with septic shock was mechanically ventilated for 13 days, extubated but because of respiratory insufficiency reintubated. During induction an increase in p-potassium (4.

[Survival following lightning strike and treatment of sequelae].

Lightning strike is an unpredictable weather phenomenon which can cause a variety of injuries to the human body. We present a case report with a 24-year-old male football player, who survived prolonged cardiac arrest after a lighting strike and then presented with multiple organ dysfunction due to cellular swelling, extreme rhabdomyolysis and global hypoperfusion. We describe the clinical observations, therapy and injuries which may be expected.

[Mild therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest through continuous dialysis].

Introduction: Mild therapeutic hypothermia (32-34 degrees C) after resuscitation from cardiac arrest to protect the brain against global ischaemia was first described in two independent randomized controlled studies in 2002. This manuscript describes a method to induce and maintain a target temperature of 32-33 degrees C after cardiac arrest for 24 hours with continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT).

Material And Methods: Intravenous infusion of 30 ml/kg of normal saline 4 degrees C over 30 minutes was immediately started if such treatment had not been initiated upon arrival to the unit.

The Procalcitonin And Survival Study (PASS) - a randomised multi-center investigator-initiated trial to investigate whether daily measurements biomarker Procalcitonin and pro-active diagnostic and therapeutic responses to abnormal Procalcitonin levels, can improve survival in intensive care unit patients. Calculated sample size (target population): 1000 patients.

Background: Sepsis and complications to sepsis are major causes of mortality in critically ill patients. Rapid treatment of sepsis is of crucial importance for survival of patients. The infectious status of the critically ill patient is often difficult to assess because symptoms cannot be expressed and signs may present atypically.

Pain treatment on outpatient basis utilizing extradural opiates. A Danish multicentre study comprising 105 patients.

Previous to October 1st, 1981, 8 major Danish anaesthesiological departments registered 105 patients treated with extradural opiates for a period of more than 7 days, partially or completely on outpatient basis. Ninety-four suffered from painful malignant diseases and 11 patients from various painful benign diseases. The mean period of treatment was 65 days (range: 7-283 days) and of these 49 days (2-266 days) as outpatients.