[Voluntary poisoning by intravenous injection of caustic soda].

A voluntary intoxication by injection in the left basilic vein of 10 ml of concentrated caustic soda is reported. The main effects were, besides local necrosis, haemolysis, acute renal failure with initial anuresis, intravascular coagulation and cyanosis with a normal Pao2 due to methaemalbuminaemia. This was confirmed by using the usual spectrophotometric methods as well as electrophoretic methods.

[Acute respiratory distress syndrome of tuberculous origin in an intensive care unit. Clinical presentation and course (author's transl)].

The authors have observed 6 cases of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) of tuberculous origin. The condition presented as pulmonary oedema in 4 cases and as extensive bilateral pneumonia in 2. Pulmonary oedema was treated by artificial ventilation with intermittent positive pressure in 2 patients who died, and by continuous positive airway pressure in 2 patients who survived.