Deep brain stimulation in five patients with severe disorders of consciousness.

Objective: The efficacy of deep brain stimulation in disorders of consciousness remains inconclusive. We investigated bilateral 30-Hz low-frequency stimulation designed to overdrive neuronal activity by dual pallido-thalamic targeting, using the Coma Recovery Scale Revised (CRS-R) to assess conscious behavior.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, single center, observational 11-month pilot study comprising four phases: baseline (2 months); surgery and titration (1 month); blind, random, crossover, 1.

Driving pressure and acute respiratory distress syndrome in critically ill patients.

Background And Objective: Elevated driving pressure (ΔP) may be associated with increased risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in patients admitted via the emergency department and with post-operative pulmonary complications in surgical patients. This study investigated the association of higher ΔP with the onset of ARDS in a high-risk, intensive care unit (ICU) population.

Methods: This is a secondary analysis of a prospective multicentre observational study.

Clinical and Biological Predictors of Plasma Levels of Soluble RAGE in Critically Ill Patients: Secondary Analysis of a Prospective Multicenter Observational Study.

Rationale: Although soluble forms of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) have been recently proposed as biomarkers in multiple acute or chronic diseases, few studies evaluated the influence of usual clinical and biological parameters, or of patient characteristics and comorbidities, on circulating levels of soluble RAGE in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting.

Objectives: To determine, among clinical and biological parameters that are usually recorded upon ICU admission, which variables, if any, could be associated with plasma levels of soluble RAGE.

Methods: Data for this ancillary study were prospectively obtained from adult patients with at least one ARDS risk factor upon ICU admission enrolled in a large multicenter observational study.

Receptor for advanced glycation end-products and ARDS prediction: a multicentre observational study.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) prediction remains challenging despite available clinical scores. To assess soluble receptor for advanced glycation end-products (sRAGE), a marker of lung epithelial injury, as a predictor of ARDS in a high-risk population, adult patients with at least one ARDS risk factor upon admission to participating intensive care units (ICUs) were enrolled in a multicentre, prospective study between June 2014 and January 2015. Plasma sRAGE and endogenous secretory RAGE (esRAGE) were measured at baseline (ICU admission) and 24 hours later (day one).

[Jugular venous and arterial concentrations of serum S100B protein in patients with severe head injury].

It is important for physicians in intensive care units to be able to predict the presence and severity of central nervous system injury in patients with severe head injury (SHI). The extent of S100B elevation has been found to be useful in predicting clinical outcome after brain injury. However, only two studies were realized with jugular venous blood samples.

Plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin is an early marker of acute kidney injury in adult critically ill patients: a prospective study.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the ability of plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (pNGAL) to predict acute kidney injury (AKI) in adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients.

Methods: All consecutives patients admitted to 3 ICUs were enrolled in this prospective-observational study. Plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin was analyzed at ICU admission.

Oral probiotic and prevention of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study in intensive care unit patients.

Introduction: Preventing carriage of potentially pathogenic micro-organisms from the aerodigestive tract is an infection control strategy used to reduce the occurrence of ventilator-associated pneumonia in intensive care units. However, antibiotic use in selective decontamination protocols is controversial. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of oral administration of a probiotic, namely Lactobacillus, on gastric and respiratory tract colonization/infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains.

Ophthalmic regional anaesthesia.

Purpose Of Review: To summarize recent knowledge concerning ophthalmic regional anaesthesia.

Recent Findings: Ophthalmic regional anaesthesia has changed considerably over the past few years. Alternatives to retrobulbar anaesthesia have been proposed to reduce the number of complications without detriment to efficiency.

A comparison of two depths of prolonged neuromuscular blockade induced by cisatracurium in mechanically ventilated critically ill patients.

Objectives: To compare two levels of continuous cisatracurium-induced curarization in hypoxemic, ventilated patients.

Design And Setting: An open-labeled, multicenter, prospective, randomized study.

Patients: Hundred two patients with a ratio between arterial oxygen tension and inspired oxygen tension (PaO(2)/FIO(2)) less than 200 despite optimization of sedation and ventilation were randomized into group 1 (n=52) with an end point of no response at orbicularis oculi to train-of-four (TOF) stimulation or group 2 (n=50) with an end point of two responses.