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J C Chevrolet

Publications and source records attributed to J C Chevrolet.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Influence of the quality of nursing on the duration of weaning from mechanical ventilation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of nursing on the duration of weaning from mechanical ventilation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. DESIGN: Data were collected prospectively over a 1-yr period (study year) and compared with previously collected prospective data recorded in our chronic obstructive pulmonary disease database during a 5-yr period. SETTING: The medical intensive care unit (ICU) of a university hospital. PATIENTS: Eighty-seven patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Fifteen patients had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that required mechanical ventilation for acute exacerbation of their disease (study year), and 72 were patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease from the previously collected data. INTERVENTIONS: The ICU course (duration of mechanical ventilation, mortality) was recorded, as well as several respiratory parameters (pulmonary function tests and arterial blood gases in stable conditions, and nutritional status), and they were compared with an "index of nursing." MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We developed an "index of nursing", comparing the effective workforce of the nurses (number and qualifications) with the ideal workforce required by the number of patients and the severity of their diseases. A value of 1.0 represented a perfect match between the needed and the effectively present nurses, whereas a lesser value signified a diminished available workforce. This index was compared with the complications and duration of weaning from mechanical ventilation. During the first 5 yrs, the duration of mechanical ventilation increased progressively from 7.3 +/- 8.0 to 38.2 +/- 25.8 days (p = .006). A significant inverse correlation between the duration of mechanical ventilation and the nursing index (p = .025) was found. In the sixth comparative year, the number of nurses increased (nursing index = 1.05) and the duration of mechanical ventilation decreased to 9.9 +/- 13 days (p < .001, yr 5 vs. yr 6). CONCLUSIONS: The quality of nursing appears to be a measurable and critical factor in the weaning from mechanical ventilation of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Below a threshold in the available workforce of ICU nurses, the weaning duration of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease increases dramatically. Therefore, very close attention should be given to the education and number of ICU nurses.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

[Cytokine inhibitors in intensive care].

OBJECTIVE: To examine three typical disease states seen in intensive care, sepsis, Fulminant purpura and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) to assess the implication of cytokines in their pathogenesis and particularly in the clinical applications of possible cytokine inhibitors. SOURCE OF DATA: The data bank of MedLine and the Index Medicus 1985-1993 and the first part of 1994. These sources have enabled us to consult publications in French and English and to include information on both animals and humans. The publications issued from Intensive Care Congresses have also been scrutinised; the Société de Réanimation de Langue Française, The American Thoracic Society and the 13th and 14th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine, Brussels. SELECTION OF DATA: This review emphasizes certain areas of work including recognised work which has been published on the immunotherapy of sepsis in man, on those papers which have been published as a preliminary communication in the from of a summary and on certain papers relating to animal work which are regularly cited in Intensive Care literature. DISCUSSION: The relationship between cytokines and the three selected disease states have been briefly described. The greater part of those papers which have either been published or are in the process of being published present pharmacotherapeutic data in phase 2 or phase 3 in relationship to anticytokines and sepsis. As for the treatment of Fulminant purpura and ARDS, using anticytokine antibodies in 1994 we are still in the stage of hypothesis and speculation. CONCLUSIONS: Future clinical strategies designed to combat. Future clinical strategies designed to fight against the most critical diseases in intensive care medicine require some use of any kind of immunotherapy. In animal studies, convincing data are available showing that immunotherapy improves the prognosis of sepsis, whereas in humans, to date, the results appear to be deceiving. Future research in this direction is mandatory, in sepsis and in other disease states, like ARDS, because no other hope for treating these patients seems to appear in a near future.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Non occlusive mesenteric ischemia: a late complication of cardiogenic shock].

The case of a diabetic 62-year-old man with a past history of myocardial infarction, developing a cardial arrest followed by successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is reported. In the late clinical course, the patient displayed abdominal signs related to mesenteric ischaemia. The pathophysiology of non-occlusive mesenteric ischaemia is discussed. Risk factors such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hemodialysis, the use of digoxine or alpha-adrenergic drugs are listed. Non-occlusive mesenteric ischaemia is not an infrequent complication of cardiac failure in high risk patients.

Diabetic Ketoacidosis↗
PubMed1992

[Measurement of pulmonary artery occlusion (wedge) pressure using the Swan-Ganz catheter: various pitfalls].

The Swan Ganz pulmonary artery catheter is widely used in the intensive care unit. It allows the determination of important hemodynamic parameters. Among these, pulmonary artery occlusion pressure ("wedge" pressure) is often considered to reflect accurately left ventricular preload and pulmonary capillary hydrostatic pressure. However, many interferences may render data interpretation difficult, especially in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation. This article reviews some of these pitfalls.

Capillaries↗
PubMed1992

Bronchoscopy in the intensive care unit.

The development of the flexible, fiberoptic bronchoscope has made bronchoscopic examinations possible in ICU patients undergoing mechanical ventilation. Over the years, the number of such procedures has greatly increased, with both diagnostic and therapeutic objectives, such as performing difficult intubation, management of atelectasis and hemoptysis, diagnosis of nosocomial pneumonia in ventilated patients, and early detection of airway lesions in selected situations, such as high-frequency ventilation. The complication rate can be kept low if the endoscopist has a precise knowledge of the many pathophysiological and technical facets particular to bronchoscopy under these difficult conditions. This article reviews some of these aspects, in the light of our personal experience.

Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid↗
PubMed1992

Severe acute myocardial infarction during a staphylococcal septicemia with meningoencephalitis. A possible contraindication to thrombolytic treatment.

We report the first case of lethal intracranial haemorrhage complicating a treatment by rt-PA in a patient presenting with a simultaneous staphylococcal septicemia with meningoencephalitis and an acute myocardial infarction with cardiogenic shock. The presence of microvascular lesions in the central nervous system seems to be important risk factor for intracranial haemorrhage and we recommend extreme caution in the use of thrombolytic treatment in septicemic patients with acute myocardial infarction, particularly when neurological symptoms are present.

Cerebral Hemorrhage↗
PubMed1992

Serum TNF in patients with severe malaria treated by exchange transfusion.

The authors report on three cases of severe P. falciparum malaria successfully treated by iv quinine and exchange transfusion. Serum concentrations of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) were determined before and during treatment. After an initial decrease, serum levels of TNF remained markedly elevated during the first 48 hours despite exchange transfusion. Though exchange transfusion accelerates the elimination of parasites from the blood, it seems to have no immediate effects on reducing serum levels of cytokines such as TNF.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Indications for intubation and mechanical ventilation in aspecific chronic obstructive bronchopneumopathy].

COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is characterized by recurrent exacerbations of respiratory failure, and mechanical ventilation appears often to be the only therapeutic tool available to avoid an imminent fatal outcome. However, when these patients are candidates for mechanical ventilation they are in the terminal phase of a very severe and chronic debilitating illness, and it is important to select patients with reasonable survival expectancy and an acceptable quality of life before initiating mechanical ventilation. We strongly advocate a non-dogmatic attitude based on the scientific data at present available in the literature.

Humans↗
PubMed1991

[Mechanical ventilation and weaning of patients with obstructive bronchopneumopathy].

Mechanical ventilation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with acute respiratory failure poses certain problems specific to the pathophysiology of this condition. These difficulties arise during the mechanical ventilation phase as well as during weaning. A thorough knowledge of the mechanisms involved and of the means of minimizing complications allows the vast majority of these patients to be weaned successfully. This article reviews some of these problems and possible solutions.

Alkalosis, Respiratory↗
PubMed1991

[The role of thrombolysis in the treatment of pulmonary embolism: indications and results].

The indications, contraindications, results and complications of thrombolytic treatment in pulmonary embolism are reviewed. The natural history of this condition and recent developments in the field of thrombolysis are particularly emphasized. If hemodynamic breakdown is present, thrombolysis is clearly indicated. On the other hand, the place of thrombolytic treatment in the presence of non-massive pulmonary embolism remains to be established. In practice the authors' policy includes intravenous administration of a rather high dose of rt-PA (alteplase) (50 mg) over a short period of time (2 hours), possibly followed by a second 5-hours infusion of 10 mg/h. However, other treatment schemes are also well established.

Contraindications↗
PubMed1991

[ The intestine-liver-lung axis in septic syndrome].

Abacteremic sepsis is frequent in intensive care units, and is closely associated with the development of adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multiple systems organ failure (MSOF). It carries a high mortality. The gut is thought to be the "motor" of such septic states and the first step of a "gut-liver-lung axis". Shock of any type or sepsis can by themselves lead to increased permeability of the intestinal mucosal barrier. This, in turn, may promote bacterial translocation, i.e. the passage of bacteria or bacterial products such as endotoxin from the lumen of the gut into the portal bloodstream. When such products reach the liver, activation of Küpffer cells occurs, resulting in the secretion of pro-inflammatory and hypotensive mediators. The latter are mainly the tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukins-1 and -6. These substances trigger many biologic cascades, and may explain the development of abacteremic septic states and MSOF. The mediators cause binding of polymorphonuclear neutrophils to pulmonary endothelial cells, and their degranulation. In addition, they activate local and systemic coagulation mechanisms. This explains the morphological changes observed in early sepsis-induced ARDS, i.e. pulmonary edema, vascular thrombosis and hemorrhages. Studies are currently in progress in an attempt to limit bacterial and endotoxin translocation and the action of the mediators.

Bacterial Physiological Phenomena↗
PubMed1991

[Barbiturate coma in the treatment of refractory status epilepticus in adults. Usefulness of continuous electroencephalography in intensive care].

Status epilepticus represents one of the most frequent neurological reasons for admission to the intensive care ward. If it resists well-managed treatment, more aggressive measures must be taken. We report 3 such situations in which patients were treated by barbiturate coma under continuous electroencephalographic monitoring. On the basis of this experience we attempt to elaborate guidelines for the use of this technique.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Home mechanical ventilation in Switzerland in 1990. Future developments].

Home mechanical ventilation (HMV) was initiated in polio centers in the mid-50s (iron lung). Ten years ago, chronic respiratory insufficiency patients began to be treated with positive pressure ventilation via tracheostomy tube. Survival of kyphoscoliotic and myopathic patients was impressive in uncontrolled studies. Today it appears that similar results may be obtained with a new non-invasive technique, nasal mechanical ventilation. The present situation of HMV in Switzerland (number of patients and their location) and the results of this treatment are described. In addition, we report on a short series of 24 Swiss patients collected in 4 centers. We show that HMV is possible in Switzerland and that the results in survival and quality of life are excellent, provided that the indications for this technique are consistent with the recommendations in the literature.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Repeated vital capacity measurements as predictive parameters for mechanical ventilation need and weaning success in the Guillain-Barré syndrome.

In Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), respiratory failure is a life-threatening complication, and its occurrence may be difficult to predict. We studied prospectively 10 patients with GBS by serial measurements of pulmonary function and arterial blood gases from the the time they were admitted to hospital. Five patients developed respiratory failure and had to be intubated, whereas the other five developed no ventilatory impairment. VC measurements were very useful in predicting respiratory failure several days before intubation. In patients who were eventually intubated, VC decreased during the 48 h preceding the occurrence of respiratory failure and intubation, which was required when VC was 15.2 +/- 3.7 ml/kg body weight (BW). In nonintubated patients, VC was stable and greater than 40 ml/kg BW. In addition, VC measurements allowed us to determine the beginning of the weaning procedure (no weaning trial could be performed successfully when VC was less than 7 ml/kg BW), to rationally follow its course, and to choose the time for extubation, i.e., when VC was greater than 15 ml/kg BW.

Carbon Dioxide↗