Development of a Lung Rescue Team to Improve Care of Subjects With Refractory Acute Respiratory Failure.

Background: A lung-protective mechanical ventilation strategy has become the hallmark of ventilation management for patients with acute respiratory failure. However, some patients progress to more severe forms of acute respiratory failure with refractory hypoxemia. In such circumstances, individualized titration of mechanical ventilation according to the patient's specific respiratory and cardiovascular pathophysiology is desirable.

Outcomes of Abdominal Surgery in Patients With Mechanical Ventricular Assist Devices: A Multi-institutional Study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the outcomes of elective and emergent abdominal operations performed in end-stage heart failure patients supported with ventricular assist devices (VADs).

Summary Of Background Data: With the growing volume of end-stage heart failure patients receiving VADs, an increasing number of these patients require surgery for noncardiac pathology. There is a paucity of studies on the safety of abdominal operations in this population.