Inhaled nitric oxide fraction is influenced by both the site and the mode of administration.

Objective: Inhaled nitric oxide (NO) can be delivered continuously or sequentially (= during inspiration) at different locations of the ventilation circuit. We have tested the influence of locations, modes of NO administration and the ratio of the inspiratory time over the respiratory cycle time (I/I + E ratio) on the accuracy of NO fractions, delivered by 2 devices: Opti-NO and Flowmeter.

Methods: We used a simplified lung model consisting of a ventilation circuit with a Y piece, a tracheal tube, a 150 ml dead-space volume and a 5 liter balloon.

A prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial of enteral immunonutrition in the critically ill. Guy's Hospital Intensive Care Group.

Objective: To assess the effects of enteral immunonutrition (IMN) on hospital mortality and length of stay in a heterogeneous group of critically ill patients.

Design: Prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial with an a priori subgroup analysis according to the volume of feed delivered in the first 72 hrs of intensive care unit (ICU) admission.

Setting: A 13-bed adult general ICU in a London teaching hospital.