Biomedical subjects

Silvia Nunes

Publications and source records attributed to Silvia Nunes.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Estimation of pulmonary capillary pressure: different methods for different pathophysiological processes?

In the absence of a direct method with which to measure pulmonary capillary pressure in humans, various methods for analyzing the pulmonary artery pressure decay following balloon occlusion have been described. In this issue of Critical Care, Souza and coworkers investigate the adequacy of these methods for assessing various pathophysiological processes. They studied patients presenting with pathologies characterized by different distributions of pulmonary vascular resistance. Their findings suggest that no single method for estimating pulmonary capillary pressure is adequate for all disease processes.

Balloon Occlusion↗

PubMed2004

The effect of interruption to propofol sedation on auditory event-related potentials and electroencephalogram in intensive care patients.

INTRODUCTION: In this observational pilot study we evaluated the electroencephalogram (EEG) and auditory event-related potentials (ERPs) before and after discontinuation of propofol sedation in neurologically intact intensive care patients. METHODS: Nineteen intensive care unit patients received a propofol infusion in accordance with a sedation protocol. The EEG signal and the ERPs were measured at the frontal region (Fz) and central region (Cz), both during propofol sedation and after cessation of infusion when the sedative effects had subsided. The EEG signal was subjected to power spectral estimation, and the total root mean squared power and spectral edge frequency 95% were computed. For ERPs, we used an oddball paradigm to obtain the N100 and the mismatch negativity components. RESULTS: Despite considerable individual variability, the root mean squared power at Cz and Fz (P = 0.004 and P = 0.005, respectively) and the amplitude of the N100 component in response to the standard stimulus at Fz (P = 0.022) increased significantly after interruption to sedation. The amplitude of the N100 component (at Cz and Fz) was the only parameter that differed between sedation levels during propofol sedation (deep versus moderate versus light sedation: P = 0.016 and P = 0.008 for Cz and Fz, respectively). None of the computed parameters correlated with duration of propofol infusion. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that use of ERPs, especially the N100 potential, may help to differentiate between levels of sedation. Thus, they may represent a useful complement to clinical sedation scales in the monitoring of sedation status over time in a heterogeneous group of neurologically intact intensive care patients.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

Changes in splanchnic circulation during an alveolar recruitment maneuver in healthy porcine lungs.

UNLABELLED: Recruitment maneuvers (RM) are advocated as a complement to mechanical ventilation during anesthesia and in acute lung injury. However, they produce high intrathoracic pressures and volumes that may compromise hemodynamics. Our aim was to analyze the effect of a RM on hemodynamics in 10 anesthetized pigs. We assessed carotid, pulmonary, femoral, and hepatic arterial pressures, hepatic and portal venous pressures, total splanchnic (celiac trunk + superior mesenteric artery), hepatic, splenic, renal, and carotid arterial flows, and portal venous flow. We recorded hemodynamics, respiratory mechanics and blood gases before and at 8 min after RM (sustained inflation to 40 cm H(2)O of airway pressure lasting 20 s). Hemodynamics were also measured during RM, and at 1, 3, and 5 min after RM. All flows (P = 0.030) and arterial pressures (P < or = 0.048) decreased during RM, whereas venous pressures increased (P = 0.030). Flows and pressures returned to 75%-109% of baseline immediately after RM. Total splanchnic, renal and portal flows remained decreased at 8 min after RM (P < or = 0.042). Oxygenation did not change, and respiratory mechanics improved after the RM. RM produced a marked, though transitory, impairment of blood flow in all studied vessels. Despite prompt partial recovery, total splanchnic circulation remained reduced at 8 min after RM. This residual decrease may present a risk in conditions with markedly compromised circulatory reserves. IMPLICATIONS: Recruitment maneuvers (RM) produce high intrathoracic pressures and volumes that may compromise hemodynamics. We found a marked transient impairment of hemodynamics during a RM in 10 anesthetized pigs. At 8 min after RM, blood flow remained reduced in the celiac trunk, superior mesenteric, and renal arteries, as well as in the portal vein. This residual decrease may present a risk in conditions with markedly compromised circulatory reserves.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Pulmonary capillary pressures during the acute respiratory distress syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: (1). To describe the evolution of pulmonary capillary pressure (Pcap) and of the pressure drop across the pulmonary venous bed from early to established acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), (2). to assess Pcap under different levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and (3). to compare the visual method and a mathematical model to determine Pcap. DESIGN: Prospective, intervention study. SETTING: Intensive care unit in a teaching institution. PATIENTS: Nine ARDS patients, according to the ARDS Consensus Conference criteria. INTERVENTIONS: Pulmonary arterial pressures were measured during routine respiratory mechanics measurements throughout ARDS. Four PEEP levels (6, 9, 12 and 15 cmH(2)O) were studied. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Pulmonary artery occlusions were made in triplicate at each PEEP level. Pcap was determined for every occlusion trace by three observers (visual method) and a mathematical model. Diastolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAPd) and pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP) were measured. The visually determined Pcap showed a bias of 2.5+/-2.1 mmHg as compared to the mathematical estimation. PAPd, Pcap and PAOP tended to decrease from early to late ARDS ( p=0.128, 0.265, 0.121). Pcap-PAOP (6.3+/-2.7 mmHg) did not change throughout ARDS. Higher PEEP levels were associated with increased PAPd, Pcap and PAOP, as well as with larger Pcap-PAOP throughout ARDS. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary capillary pressure cannot be predicted from PAOP during early and established ARDS. The high variability in Pcap-PAOP increases the risk for underestimation of filtration pressures and consequently the risk for lung edema. Pcap can be estimated at the bedside by either the visual or mathematical methods.

Adolescent↗