The application of engineering control theory to biological systems is a challenge. Often, in initial engineering models or designs of systems to exert control over a certain aspect or part of a biological system, other control loops may be in operation within the biological system that are not accounted for. When the operation of such unconsidered hidden loops reveals themselves, this presents...

Editor,—We were interested to read the abstract by Martin, Quintin and Hinds concerning the prognosis of patients admitted to intensive care with life-threatening complications of haematological malignancy.1 We recently conducted an audit on our intensive care unit with similar results. We audited all patients admitted to the intensive care unit from the Regional Cancer Centre over a 5-yr perio...

INTRODUCTION Late preterm (LP) neonates (34 to 36 weeks gestation) are often managed like term neonates though current literature has identified them to have greater complications. The primary objective of our study was to evaluate and compare morbidity and resource utilisation in LPs especially in view of paucity of Asian studies in this regard. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective audit wa...

This is a study of the effect of nocturnal nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) on symptoms of chronic alveolar hypoventilation (CAH), sleep oxygen saturation (SaO2), and frequency of hospitalization of patients with progressive neuromuscular respiratory insufficiency or restrictive lung disease from thoracic wall deformity. The nocturnal use of NIPPV is explored in combinat...

Introduction Mediastinal masses can compress the major airways, so these patients should be carefully evaluated before subjecting them to anaesthesia.1 However, even large mediastinal masses can present without any clinical symptoms of airway compression.2 These large mediastinal tumours with apparently normal airways preoperatively may develop an obstructed airway after induction of general an...

The data of a corresponding animal experiment demonstrates that nebulized methacholine (MCh) induced severe bronchoconstriction and significant inhomogeneous ventilation and pulmonary perfusion (V̇A/Q̇) distribution in pigs, which is similar to findings in human asthma. The inhalation of MCh induced bronchoconstriction and delayed both uptake and elimination of desflurane (Kretzschmar et al., 201...

Case report A 2 weeks old male neonate, born following vaginal breech delivery at 36 weeks’ gestation with a birth weight of 2.13 kg, was admitted with history of apnoeal attacks and blue discoloration of the face and lips. In his short history he had a previous hospital admission when he was 3 days old for physiological jaundice which needed phototherapy. His parents had been in a steady relat...

50 mg and heparin 10 000 U are given 30 minutes before the expected time of removal. Mannitol acts synergistically with both these drugs and may be included in the regimen in future.'8 Phenoxybenzamine is supplied by the transplant surgeon since the drug is now available only under special licence. A single dose of 100 mg is given intravenously five minutes before removal. A long-acting muscle ...