BACKGROUND Volume targeted pressure support ventilation (VT-PSV) is a hybrid mode increasingly used to maintain a minimal tidal volume (VT) by automatically adjusting the level of inspiratory pressure. The objective of the study was to determine the ability of home ventilators to maintain the preset minimal VT during unintentional leaks in a VT-PSV mode. METHODS Seven ventilators were tested ...

Resectional lung volume reduction has proven to be superior to medical treatment in reducing dyspnoea and in increasing lung function, survival and quality of life in a very well selected, low risk group of hyperinflated patients with heterogeneous emphysema predominantly in the upper lobe. Nevertheless, this intervention is hampered by an important pulmonary (30%) and cardiovascular (20%) morb...

Mitochondrial proton and electron leak have a major impact on mitochondrial coupling efficiency and production of reactive oxygen species. In the first part of this chapter, we address the molecular nature of the basal and inducible proton leak pathways, and their physiological importance. The basal leak is unregulated, and a major proportion can be attributed to mitochondrial anion carriers, w...

Magnetic resonance imaging was used to measure the effect of inhalation of 7% CO2 and hyperventilation with 60% O2 on human cranial cerebrospinal fluid volume. During CO2 inhalation there was a reduction in the cranial CSF volume ranging from 0.7-23.7 ml (mean 9.36 ml). The degree of reduction in cranial CSF volume was independent of the individual subject's increase in end-expiratory pCO2 or m...

OBJECTIVE To determine the value of anastomotic leak testing of left-sided colorectal anastomoses. DESIGN Cohort analysis. SETTING Subspecialty practice at a tertiary care facility. PATIENTS Consecutive subjects were selected from a prospective colorectal database of 2627 patients treated between January l, 2001, and December 31, 2007. INTERVENTION Creation of left-sided colorectal anas...

STUDY OBJECTIVE To compare the frequency of airway seal and sore throat with the LMA-ProSeal (PLMA) and the standard Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA) during laparoscopic surgery. DESIGN Prospective, controlled, randomized, nonblinded clinical study. SETTING University-affiliated hospital. PATIENTS 60 adult, ASA physical status I, II, and III patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery with genera...

OBJECTIVES Manual techniques of intravascular fluid administration are commonly used during paediatric resuscitation, although it is unclear which technique is most efficient in the hands of typical healthcare providers. We compared the rate of fluid administration achieved with the disconnect-reconnect and push-pull manual syringe techniques for paediatric fluid resuscitation in a simulated se...