PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S González Herrera

Publications and source records attributed to S González Herrera.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

[The administration of 20 ppm of inhaled nitric oxide produces a faster response than the inhalation of 5 ppm in adult respiratory distress syndrome].

OBJECTIVES: To compare the effects of 5 and 20 ppm of nitric oxide, evaluating time until response for each dose, in patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study was prospective, controlled and random. Fifteen patients assigned to two groups received either 5 ppm (8 patients) or 20 ppm (7 patients) from November 96 to July 97. The main variables analyzed were PaO2/FiO2 and pulmonary vascular resistance index. We also studied etiology, severity of pulmonary damage as reflected by the Lung Injury Score, age, sex, Apache II prognostic score and exitus. Outcome was considered good if PaO2/FiO2 increased and/or pulmonary vascular resistance index decreased by more than 30% from the initial level (before inhalation of nitric oxide). RESULTS: The mean lung injury score was 2.9 +/- 0.4 and the two groups were homogeneous. Time until response to nitric oxide was significantly less in the 20 ppm group. Both PaO2/FiO2 and pulmonary vascular resistance index improved significantly in both groups whereas Qs/Qt improved only in the 20 ppm group. We also found that cardiac index and oxygen transport increased, the latter significantly only in the 20 ppm group. NO2 formation was less than 2 ppm and methemoglobin levels did not rise above 2%. CONCLUSIONS: Inhaled nitric oxide significantly improves oxygenation and decreases pulmonary vascular resistance without altering systemic vascular resistance during treatment of ARDS. The final outcomes were similar for both doses, but the 20 ppm dose produced a significantly faster response as well as a significant decrease in Qs/Qt.

Administration, Inhalation↗

[Comparative study of percutaneous tracheotomy and conventional surgical tracheotomy in patients with prolonged intubation].

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous tracheotomy (PT) has become an alternative to conventional surgical tracheotomy (CST) in recent years. Our aim was to compare the advantages and disadvantages of the two techniques in our intensive care unit (ICU). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two patient groups were compared. Sixty underwent PT and 47 underwent CST, and all were admitted to the ICU between May 1995 and August 1997. PT was performed in 49 by way of progressive dilations, and 11 were performed by Griggs' method using a dilator. Variables studied were age, sex, reason for admission, APACHE II upon admission to the ICU, duration of technique, and immediate and late complications. Statistical analysis was provided by applying a Student t test to contrast quantitative variables and a chi-squared test to compare proportions. RESULTS: The following variables were significantly different. APACHE II upon admission was 18 +/- 5 in the PT group and 15 +/- 6 in the CST group (p < 0.002). Duration of the procedure was 15 +/- 4 minutes in the PT group and 36 +/- 11 in the CST group (p < 0.005). Complications after tracheotomy in PT group patients consisted of 1 false line during a change of cannula and 1 late tracheoesophageal fistula. Complications in the CST group included 16 episodes of slight bleeding, 9 stoma infections, 3 cases of pneumothorax, 2 of bad scarring of the stoma and 1 late fistula (p < 0.005). Time of follow-up was 41 to 76 days for PT patients and 32 to 51 days for CST patients. CONCLUSIONS: PT is a fast, simple procedure that is easy to manage and requires fewer resources (operating theater, personnel and equipment) and causes fewer medium-term complications than does CST.

Adult↗

[Traumatic bilateral chylothorax (author's transl)].

A case is presented of a bilateral chylothorax caused by rupture of the thoracic duct, secondary to a closed traumatism of the thorax in a polytraumatized patient, and produced by a mechanism of hyperextension of the dorsal segment of the vertebral column. Considerations are made with reference to the anatomy of the thoracic duct, the rupture mechanism, diagnosis, complications and treatment. The chylothorax could not be distinguished clinically and by simple radiology from the traumatic hemothorax. The preliminary diagnosis will be made according to the macroscopic appearance of the drained fluid, and the definite diagnosis by the analytical and histopathologic characteristics of the same fluid. The lymphographic examination reveals the exact point of the lesion. The immediate complications are related to the respiratory insufficiency due to the occupation of the pleural space, and under a long period of time undernutrition provoked by the loss of fats and proteins. The treatment of choice is based upon the early drainage of the chylothorax and on the absolute suppression of the oral intake, establishing a complete parenteral feeding during at least 15 days. Afterwards oral diet can be initiated with a gradual increase in its quantity and always without fat content, while at the same time the parenteral nutrition is reduced. Following this protocol a great number of ruptures of the thoracic duct can be corrected, achieving a spontaneous closure of the duct. In the cases in which this not occur, at the end of 15 days it would be advisable to perform a surgical operation according to the Lampson's ligature technique.

Accidents, Traffic↗