Bench-to-bedside review: brain-lung interaction in the critically ill--a pending issue revisited.

Brain and/or lung injury is the most frequent cause of admission to critical care units and patients in this setting frequently develop multiple organ dysfunction with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Mechanical ventilation is commonly used in the management of these critically ill patients and the consequent inflammatory response, together with other physiological factors, is also thought to be involved in distal organ dysfunction. This peripheral imbalance is based on a multiple-pathway cross-talk between the lungs and other organs, including the brain.

Safety and efficacy of colistin in Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas infections: a prospective cohort study.

Objective: To assess renal dysfunction and outcome in patients treated exclusively with colistin vs. other antibiotics.

Design And Setting: Prospective cohort study in a mixed ICU in a university-affiliated hospital.