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Biomedical subjects

M D Dias

Publications and source records attributed to M D Dias.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Tracheostomy in children: there is a place for acceptable risk.

BACKGROUND: Tracheostomy in children remains controversial regarding the risk of complications. METHODS: Forty-six trauma patients (35 male and 11 female, mean age = 6.8 years) were admitted to the intensive care unit between 1987 and 1991 with severe head injury plus coma. Tracheostomy was performed with standard technique after 5.9 days (range, 2-12 days) of intubation. RESULTS: There were no deaths from tracheostomy, but six deaths resulted from severe head injury. One child was discharged with tracheostomy. The 39 survivors remained with tracheostomy 16.14 days (range, 4-71 days) in the intensive care unit. After cannula removal, 31 remained asymptomatic; 8 had respiratory distress: 2 were normal, 5 had endoscopic treatment for subglottic granulomas/stenosis from intubation, and 1 had tracheomalacia from tracheostomy. In 1997, the 18 patients located for follow-up were asymptomatic. At endoscopy, 8 were normal, 9 had subglottal granulomas from intubation, and 1 had 20% tracheal stenosis from tracheostomy. CONCLUSION: Most complications after tracheostomy result from intubation. Tracheostomy has an acceptable risk in children with severe head injury who need prolonged ventilatory support.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[Epilepsy and public education].

The social problems experienced by persons with epilepsy become increasingly apparent to those who work closely with group associations. The objective of our study was to obtain information on personal attitudes and knowledge about epilepsies. Primary and high-school teachers and professors (medical and non-medical areas) were submitted to a questionnaire which was designed to obtain this information. We concluded that most professors (including those of medical areas) do not know enough about epilepsies. We believe that problems which are perceived by epileptics regarding social aspects may be softened through improved education of the community in general. Continued education of medical practitioners, professors, teachers, patients and their families leads to a positive attitude towards epilepsies, which are essential and may help to improve life quality and the patient's medical treatment.

Epilepsy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of hyperbaric oxygen on the regeneration of experimental crush injuries of nerves.

Hyperbaric oxygen has been successfully used on treatment of acute ischemic injuries involving soft tissues and chronic injuries. In nerve crush injuries, the mechanisms involved are very similar to those found in ischemic injuries. Consequently, it is logical to hypothesize that hyperbaric oxygen should improve nerve repair, which is a critical step on functional recovery. In the present study, we created standard nerve crush injuries on sciatic nerves of rats, which underwent treatment with hyperbaric oxygen. Results were assessed by functional evaluation using walking-track analysis. The functional recovery indexes observed did not differ from control group. We concluded that hyperbaric oxygen therapy, in the schedule used, had no influence on functional recovery after nerve crush injuries.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The new system of gaseous mixture humidification and heating of respirators: comparative study].

A comparative study was done using Bear 5 conventional nebulizing cascade system or HCH in the mechanical ventilator circuit. The humidification capacity was nearly the same in both systems although the conventional one originated significantly more "plugs" than the HCH. The circuit contamination was highly more significant in the nebulizer group (63.6%) than in HCH' (8%) (p = 0.0011). The cost of HCH use is less than half of the nebulizing one (US $ 221.64 versus US $ 537.30 per each month.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Bacterial aerosol generated by mechanical ventilators: comparative study].

UNLABELLED: Mechanical ventilators generate aerosol which may be bacterially colonized. PURPOSE: To determine the environmental contamination generated by ventilators with two different humidification techniques. METHODS: The study was done comparing the generation of bacterial colonized aerosol by the expiratory valve of mechanical respirators with conventional water nebulization or with hygroscopic condensator as the humidifier source during 15 minutes of observation. RESULTS: The aerosol got positive cultures in 32.2% of the conventional system and in 5% of the condensator system (p = 0.0340). CONCLUSION: We concluded that the humidification by the hygroscopic condensator may be an efficient way to reduce environmental bacteria contamination.

Aerosols↗