[Influence of the combination of antiplatelet agents on the occurrence of early left ventricular insufficiency in patients with acute coronary syndromes without persistent ST-segment elevation].

Background And Objective: The frequency of left ventricular failure (LVF) in the early stages of non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE ACS) has not been described so far. The objective of this study is to describe for the first time the frequency of LVF in the early course of NSTE ACS and to assess its association with other interventions.

Patients And Method: Observational prospective cohort multicenter study in intensive and coronary care units (ICCU).

[Utility of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in severe focal traumatic brain injuries].

Objective: To describe the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in a series of severe traumatic brain injuries, their clinical and outcome features, and possible implications.

Design: A descriptive, observational case-series study was carried out.

Patients And Interventions: Patients with severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) admitted to the ICU were subjected to MRI study using a 1.

[Is the permanent pacemaker implant more efficient in level 1 hospital?].

Objective: To determine if permanent pacemaker implants (PPM) interventions and change of generator are more efficient in small hospitals.

Design: A cost-effective analysis and retrospective, cross-sectional and observational study of diagnostic related groups (DRG).

Setting: The data was obtained from the national Minimum Basic Data Set (MBDS) for the year 2007 provided by the Health Ministry.

[Prevalence of processes and pathologies in emergency hospital care].

Objectives: To study the behavioural differences between scheduled and emergency admissions in the processes most prevalent in Spanish hospitals and their relationship with the age of patients, comparing 2002 and 2007.

Methods: Observational and descriptive design for those years. Diagnostic related groups (DRGs) were classified into high prevalence (the 25 most frequent) and the rest; four subgroups were prepared according to this (high or low) and admission (elective or not).

[The evaluation of autopsy in the pediatric intensive unit].

Objective: Because of concerns about the declining autopsy rate, an attempt was made to evaluate the contributions from the postmortem examination in children.

Patients And Methods: We carried out a retrospective comparison analysis between clinical and pathological diagnosis of 56 consecutive autopsies performed on children who died in the PICU during the period 1983-1995.

Results: The autopsy rate was 60%.

[Recurrent ARDS in varicella pneumonia complicated by disseminated candidiasis in a pregnant woman].

Adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) seems to be the common way from different etiologies. We describe the clinical evolution of an ARDS in a pregnant woman, initially due to Varicella Pneumonia which was complicated with Disseminated Candidiasis and recurrent ARDS. We review the nosocomial infection with Candida in ICU patients: the growing incidence, the diagnostic problems and the new standards for treatment.

[Definitions of sepsis in severe juvenile meningococcal infection. A review of 80 cases].

Objective: To describe the definitions for sepsis proposed by ACCP/SCCM Consensus Conference and to evaluate its capacity to classify children with severe meningococcal infection in homogeneous risk groups.

Methods: Eighty children with acute meningococcal infection and severe sepsis or septic shock, admitted to the pediatric ICU during a ten years period were reviewed. Mean age: 38 months (1,3 mo-14 yrs).