Comparison of 8 vs 15 days of antibiotic therapy for ventilator-associated pneumonia in adults: a randomized trial.

Context: The optimal duration of antimicrobial treatment for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is unknown. Shortening the length of treatment may help to contain the emergence of multiresistant bacteria in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Objective: To determine whether 8 days is as effective as 15 days of antibiotic treatment of patients with microbiologically proven VAP.

Bronchoalveolar lavage for diagnosing bacterial pneumonia in mechanically ventilated patients.

To assess the usefulness of BAL in diagnosing bacterial pneumonia in mechanically ventilated patients, 80 BAL fluid samples obtained from 72 patients with lung infiltrates were studied using the following parameters: infected cell count (polymorphonuclear leukocytes or macrophages with intracellular organisms), microscopic examination of stained smears, and quantitative culture with the determination of the simplified bacterial index (SBI) and the predominant species index (PSI). Of the 80 BAL samples studied, 56 were performed under antibiotic therapy. Bacterial pneumonia was the final diagnosis in 28 cases.

Comparison of hydrophobic heat and moisture exchangers with heated humidifier during prolonged mechanical ventilation.

Inspired gases must be warmed and humidified during mechanical ventilation. In a prospective randomized study we compared the performance of a heated humidifier (HH) (Draegger Aquaport) and a heat and moisture exchanger (HME) (Pall Filter BB 2215). A total of 116 patients requiring mechanical ventilation (Servo 900 C Siemens) were enrolled into the study and were randomly assigned to 2 groups.

[Incidence and etiology of cardiac arrest occurring during the peroperative period and in the recovery room. Apropos of 102,468 anesthesia cases].

This study reviewed retrospectively 186 cardiac arrests (CA) observed in a series of 102,468 anaesthetics, carried out in a University Hospital between 1983 and 1987. Among them 29 were partly or totally related to anaesthesia and 11 had a fatal outcome. On the other hand, 157 CA (144 deaths) were not related to anaesthesia.