Survival and predictive factors of clinical outcome in patients with severe acquired brain injury.

Background: Despite the many tools available to modern medicine, predicting the neurological and functional status of patients after severe brain injury remains difficult.

Aim: This analysis evaluates the outcomes of patients with the most severe degree of cerebral function impairment.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Cranial Electrode Belt Position Improves Diagnostic Possibilities of Electrical Impedance Tomography during Laparoscopic Surgery with Capnoperitoneum.

Laparoscopic surgery with capnoperitoneum brings many advantages to patients, but also emphasizes the negative impact of anesthesia and mechanical ventilation on the lungs. Even though many studies use electrical impedance tomography (EIT) for lung monitoring during these surgeries, it is not clear what the best position of the electrode belt on the patient's thorax is, considering the cranial shift of the diaphragm. We monitored 16 patients undergoing a laparoscopic surgery with capnoperitoneum using EIT with two independent electrode belts at different tomographic levels: in the standard position of the 4th-6th intercostal space, as recommended by the manufacturer, and in a more cranial position at the level of the axilla.

Multilocular infection caused by hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Hypervirulent strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKP) can cause atypical multilocular infections in otherwise healthy patients. Diagnosis of infection caused by hvKP is based mainly on clinical findings and laboratory results, including detection of virulence genes. It typically manifests as hepatic abscess with metastatic spread.

Temporary phrenic nerve stimulated patients: What is the role of ultrasound examination?

Background: Prolonged mechanical ventilation caused by ventilator-induced diaphragm dysfunction (VIDD) is a serious problem in critically ill patients. Identification of patients who will have difficulty weaning from ventilation along with attempts to reduce total time on mechanical ventilation is some of the aims of intensive care medicine.

Observations: This article briefly summarizes current options for temporary phrenic nerve stimulation therapy in an effort to keep the diaphragm active as direct prevention and treatment of ventilator-associated diaphragmatic dysfunction in patients on mechanical ventilation.

The Role of Ultrasound Examination in the Differential Diagnosis of Cardiac Arrest in Prehospital Care: A Case Report.

The survival rate of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest has improved in recent years; however, it remains low. One approach to improving outcomes in these cases is to implement point-of-care ultrasound as an integral part of advanced cardiac life support management. Due to its growing popularity among emergency physicians, several protocols for this examination have been developed; however, there are little data on its use in the prehospital setting.