Respirator Therapy Research Articles

50 Years Ago in TheJournal ofPediatrics: Intermittent Mask and Bag therapy: An Alternative Approach to Respirator Therapy for Infants with Severe Respiratory Distress

50 Years Ago in TheJournal ofPediatrics: Intermittent Mask and Bag therapy: An Alternative Approach to Respirator Therapy for Infants with Severe Respiratory Distress

MRSA colonisation in patients with proximal femur fractures in a German trauma centre: incidence, infection rates and outcomes

The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonisation in patients admitted into a level 1 German trauma centre with proximal femur fractures, to correlate this incidence with defined risk factors for MRSA colonisation and to determine its influence on morbidity and mortality. Between August and November 2006, 65 patients were included in the study. Cotton-tipped swab samples were taken from the nose, throat, groin and any skin defects in the emergency room. The following factors were recorded: age, gender, any concomitant diseases, the fracture type and treatment device, skin lesions, hospitalisation within the last year, any urinary or vascular catheters, a nasogastric or gastrostomy tube, an ileal stoma, the use of a respirator and antibiotic therapy within the last year. During follow-up, data concerning any surgical site infections; any chest, urinary or vascular catheter infections; the success of decontamination and death within 1year after surgery were collected. The risk factors for MRSA colonisation were positive in 40 patients. The incidence of MRSA colonisation was 17%, which is higher than in most comparable studies but consistent with some very recent publications. The nosocomial infection rates, surgical site infection rates and mortality within the 1-year follow-up period were significantly higher in the MRSA-colonised patients. The high incidence of MRSA in this study supports the need for systematic detection of MRSA-colonised patients. In our hospital, any patient with positive risk factors for MRSA colonisation is swabbed in the emergency room and treated as MRSA positive until proven otherwise.

Intra-alveolar IL-6 levels following burn and inhalation injury

Burn combined with inhalation injury is a major challenge and requires further study. Using a small-animal model, excretion of IL-6 was investigated during the first 6 h after exposure of rats to wood/polyvinyl chloride smoke, with and without concomitant skin burn. In controls, respirator therapy alone was found to release IL-6 into the serum and the alveolar space. These levels of IL-6 were reduced when associated with either inhalation injury or burn, but were increased when the traumas were combined. Thus, during the first 6 h of mechanical respiration the presence of burn or of inhalation injury seems to decrease IL-6 excretion, but a combination of these traumas reverses this effect.

Clinic research of Iloprost in patients with congenital heart disease associated with pulmonary hypertension

Objective To explore the effect of inhaled iloprost (Ventavis) for patients with congenital heart disease associated with pulmonary hypertension.Methods Twenty-two patients with congenital heart disease associated with pulmonary hypertension were selected to inhale Ventsvis by atomizer before surgery ,the required dosage is 25-30ng/(kg.min),aerosolization of iloprest was inhaled by PARI Junior BOY N after diluted with 2ml physiological saline at 3-hour intervals .The change of hemodynamic effects was measured by Doppler ultrasonography after 60min,120min,and 180min.Results The left and fight vemfieular cardiac output at 60min,120min and 180rain after therapy were markedly higher than that before inhaled iloprost ,respirator therapy time was shorter in patients inhaled iloprost.Conclusion inhaled iloprost can increase cardiac output and improve patients cardiac function.Thus,the therapy with inhaled iloprost is effective and feasible. Key words: Iloprost; Heart defects,congenital; Hypertension,pulmonary; Child

Paediatric ICU burns in Finland 1994–2004

Introduction The paediatric burn population requiring intensive care in Finland has never been examined before. The aim of this study was firstly to determine the aetiology, incidence and prognosis of paediatric burns requiring intensive care in Finland and secondly to compare the possible differences between the two national burn centres. Methods All burn patients’ charts were retrospectively reviewed in two national burn centres from an 11-year-period. Patients whose ICU stay was more than 48 h, were included. Results Forty-five children who were hospitalized in the two burn centres during the study period met the inclusion criteria. They represent 2.4% (45/1898) of all burns victims hospitalized in these burn centres during that time giving an incidence of 0.1/100,000 per year in Finland. The median age was 5 years, every third patient was 0–2 years old and 75.6% were male. Most burns were scalds (42.2%), which caused all burns (100%) in age group 0–2 years. Flame burns were most frequent (83%) in the age group 6–10 years. In the 11–16 years old patients, high voltage/electric burns caused 50% of all burns and flame the other 50%. The overall median TBSA in all burns was 26%. The median (range) hospital stay was 12 days (2–193) (0.88 days/% burned) and the median (range) ICU days was 7 (2–64) (0.29 days/%). Intubation and respirator therapy was needed in 31 (46%) patients. There were no patients who needed haemofiltration or haemodialysis and no mortality. Only six patients (13%) were treated conservatively and 39 (87%) surgically. Dressing changes under general anaesthesia were preferred in Helsinki (37 times) and especially in the paediatric hospital (32 times) compared to Kuopio (7 times). Allografts were used only in Helsinki in 4 patients whereas artificial skin was used only in Kuopio in 15 patients. The overall cost of care was very similar in both centres being 1292–1425 euros per hospital day. Conclusions There were some small differences between the two burn centres in treatment policies. Most patients were male and most common aetiology was scald. The prognosis of these patients was excellent with no mortality.

Airway management and anesthesia in neonates, infants and children during endolaryngotracheal surgery

Endolaryngotracheal surgery in neonates, infants and children poses a big challenge for both anesthesiologist and surgeon. The narrowness of the airways and the great variability of the pathological lesions necessitate close collaboration between the surgical and the anesthesia team to provide optimal operating conditions and ensure adequate ventilation and oxygenation. Sixty-two anesthetic records of endolaryngotracheal surgical procedures in neonates, infants and children with ASA physical status 1-3 were analyzed retrospectively. Anesthesia was administered as total intravenous anesthesia; propofol supplemented with remifentanil. Ventilation was performed as supraglottic, superimposed high-frequency jet ventilation via jet laryngoscope with integrated jet nozzles. Age was 58.93 (SD 35.40) months, range 3 weeks to 14 years; body weight 17.83 (SD 8.79) kg, range 2.4-50 kg. The capillary pCO(2) 5 min after the start of the surgical procedure (n = 62) was 40.01 (SD 7.71) mmHg and after 20 min (n = 24) 41.77 (SD 7.12) mmHg. No hypoxemia (oxygen saturation <90%) developed. All patients were hemodynamically stable during jet ventilation. Barotrauma or gas insufflation in the stomach did not occur. No perioperative tracheostomy was necessary. Laryngospasm occurred in one child during emergence from anesthesia. Four infants received postoperative conventional respirator therapy in the ICU overnight. Supraglottic superimposed high-/low-frequency jet ventilation via jet laryngoscopes with integrated jet nozzles is a minimally invasive ventilation technique for neonates, infants and children in endolaryngotracheal surgery, which allows an unimpaired operating field for the surgeon especially in LASER surgery.

Nonoperative Management of Tracheobronchial Injuries in Severely Injured Patients

A rupture of the airway due to blunt chest trauma is rare, and treatment can prove challenging. Many surgeons suggest operative management for these kinds of injuries. Nonoperative therapy is reported only in exceptional cases. But there is still a lack of evidence from which to recommend surgical repair of these injuries as the first choice procedure. We retrospectively analyzed the records of 92 multiple injured patients admitted to our trauma department between July 2002 and July 2003 for the incidence and management of tracheobronchial rupture (TBR). Five (5.4%) of 92 patients suffered from tracheobronchial injuries. The mean injury severity score was 38. There were three male and two female patients, with a mean age of 23 years. All patients had lesions <2 cm in size and were treated nonoperatively. One patient died from multiorgan failure, but the others recovered from TBR uneventfully. One patient developed acute pneumonia as a result of respirator therapy, but none of the patients had mediastinitis or tracheal stenosis within 3 months after injury. We believe that surgical treatment is not mandatory in patients with small to moderate ruptures, and such aggressive treatment may even have adverse effects, especially in patients with multiple injuries.

Einfluss von aktiver und passiver Befeuchtung auf die beatmungsassoziierte nosokomiale Pneumonie

Airway humidification of ventilated patients in an intensive care unit may be established by heated humidifying systems (active) or by the means of a (passive) heat and moisture exchange filter (HMEF). There is a controversial discussion about the influence of the type of humidification on the rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Among 3,585 patients both methods were tested over a period of 21 months in an open, non-randomized cohort study. The aim of the investigation was to compare the incidence of VAP caused by a change of humidification strategy. All patients in a 16-bed surgical intensive care unit who required mechanical ventilation, were included. In the first period (period AB) 1,887 cases were handled with a heated humidifier. During the second period (period PB) 1,698 patients were treated using a HMEF. Infection control was established according to the national Infection Surveillance Program (KISS) based on the CDC criteria for VAP. During the period of 42 months, 99 cases of VAP were reported. The incidence for VAP was found to be 13.5 (AB) and 9.6 (PB) per 1,000 ventilator days, a rate of 32.3 and 22.4 VAP per 1,000 patients, respectively. The rate of VAP among the groups ( p=0.068) and the incidence of VAP per 1,000 ventilator days ( p=0.089) only just failed to reach a significant level, but in the group of patients requiring mechanical ventilation for more than 2 days, the difference did reach statistical significance ( p=0.012). Our results showed that the rate of VAP could be significantly reduced by changing the strategy from active to passive humidification devices, especially concerning patients requiring long-term respirator therapy. A more physiological humidification and a reduced number of airway manipulations are discussed as a possible explanation.

Successful jejunal nutrition therapy in a pregnant patient with apallic syndrome

A 41-year-old woman was admitted in the 8th pregnancy week as a consequence of a left-sided media infarction. After alloprothetic aortic valve replacement, she had discontinued deliberately the mandatory anticoagulation treatment. Following an initial clinical stabilisation, a second insult with right-sided media total infarction occurred 3 weeks after admission. In the further course, she developed an apallic syndrome and required respirator therapy. The initial enteral nutrition therapy via naso-gastric tube, was continued via percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG). Due to recurrent vomiting from the 24th pregnancy week, the PEG was changed into a PEG with jejunal position of the tube (JET-PEG). Via this access and simultaneous body impedance analysis (BIA) control, the further nutrition therapy could be continued uneventfully. In the 27th pregnancy week, the patient gave birth to a female newborn (birth weight: 820 g) by Caesarean section in pre-eclampsia. The foetal development was in accordance with the gestational period and uncomplicated in the further course. The mother could be released into ambulatory care where the above nutrition therapy was continued. Reports on a successful nutrition therapy of pregnant comatose patients are rare. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case where JET-PEG and monitoring by repeated BIA measurement were used for the control of the enteral nutrition.

PREDICTION OF CLINICAL OUTCOME AFTER CARDIAC SURGERY: THE ROLE OF CYTOKINES, ENDOTOXIN, AND ANTI-ENDOTOXIN CORE ANTIBODIES

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) can lead to a systemic inflammatory response syndrome with organ failure and increased morbidity and mortality. The mechanisms of these findings are still under discussion. We investigated whether anti-endotoxin core antibodies, endotoxin, and proinflammatory cytokines influence the clinical course after cardiac surgery. Seventy-eight patients undergoing CABG using CPB were investigated. Anti-endotoxin core antibodies, endotoxin, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-1beta, and TNF-alpha were measured 24 h preoperatively and up to 72 h postoperatively. Patients with a postoperative mechanical ventilation time below 24 h (n = 65; Group A) were compared to patients with prolonged respirator therapy (>24 h; n = 13; Group B). Preoperative antibody levels were significantly lower in Group B (P < 0.001). In this group, antibody levels remained decreased during the observation period (P < 0.001). Endotoxin significantly increased 30' postoperatively in both groups (P < 0.002). The increase in Group B was 3-fold higher (P< 0.001). IL-8 increased postoperatively in both groups, peaking 3 h after surgery (P < 0.001). In Group B, the IL-8 release was significantly higher than in Group A (P < 0.001). IL-6 significantly increased in both groups, reaching its maximum 24 h postoperatively (P < 0.001). No differences between groups were observed. No significant changes of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha were observed. We conclude that anti-endotoxin core antibodies may be predictive of adverse outcome after cardiac surgery. The imbalance between antibodies and endotoxin results in an exaggerated increase in endotoxin and IL-8 with an impact on clinical outcome.

Infection control in long-term care facilities.

Infections are common in long-term care facilities. The most frequent endemic infections are urinary infection, respiratory infection, and skin and soft tissue infections. Outbreaks also occur frequently, and some facilities have a high prevalence of colonization of residents with antimicrobial-resistant organisms. Our understanding of infections and the development of infection-control programs for long-term care facilities have progressed greatly over the past 15 years. Whereas the occurrence of infections has been described and specific guidelines for infection-control programs in long-term care facilities have been developed, there is still limited evaluation of the effectiveness of programs or specific interventions to support prioritization of infection-control resources. In addition, the spectrum of patients and care delivered in long-term care facilities continues to evolve. Increasingly, chronic care patients, including those requiring chronic respirator therapy, dialysis, or percutaneous feeding tubes, are cared for in these facilities. Our understanding of prevention of infection in these patients remains limited. Important questions include what interventions may prevent endemic infections, what are the most effective means to identify outbreaks early, and what interventions may minimize the prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant organisms. Programs to optimize antimicrobial use need to be developed. Thus, although progress in understanding and practice has been made, important questions remain.

Pumpless extracorporeal lung assist - experience with the first 20 cases.

Long-term extracorporeal lung assist is limited by a significant mechanical blood trauma resulting in bleeding and hemolysis. To reduce the drawbacks of extracorporeal lung assist a new technique has been developed, by which the driving force for the extracorporeal circuit derives from the patients arterio-venous pressure gradient (pumpless extracorporeal lung assist). The aim of this clinical study was to test the feasibilty and effectiveness of pumpless extracorporeal lung assist in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Twenty patients (41+/-16 years) with acute respiratory distress syndrome of various causes and failing respirator therapy were enrolled. The minimum hemodynamic requirements included a cardiac output (CO) >6 l/min and mean arterial pressure (MAP) >70 mmHg. Pumpless extracorporeal lung assist was established using a short circuit arterio-venous shunt including a special designed low-resistance membrane oxygenator which was placed between the patients legs. At the time of inclusion FiO(2) in all patients was 1.0 (paO(2) 45.9+/-7 mmHg, paCO(2) 58.9+/-17 mmHg). After 24 h of pumpless extracorporeal lung assist FiO(2) was reduced to 0.8+/-0.1. A significant improvement in oxygenation (paO(2) 84.1+/-21 mmHg, P<0.05) and CO(2) removal (paCO(2) 32.7+/-5 mmHg, P<0.05) was notable. The mean extracorporeal flow was 2.6+/-0.6 l/min, which represented approximately 25% of the patients mean CO (10.8+/-2 l/min). The median assist time was 12+/-8 (1-32) days. Fifteen out of twenty patients were weaned off pumpless extracorporeal lung assist. Five out of twenty patients died while on the system (four sepsis, one ventricular fibrillation). Three out of twenty patients died after successful weaning on day 8, 30, and 50, respectively. Twelve out of twenty patients were discharged in a healthy state (overall survival 60%). Technical problems included thrombosis of the venous cannula (n=5), thrombus formation within the membrane oxygenator (n=2), membrane oxygenator plasma leakage (n=2), and membrane oxygenator contamination with Candida albicans. No bleeding complication was observed. Pumpless extracorporeal lung assist is feasible and effective in a selected group of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome but preserved hemodynamic function. By eliminating the pump and reducing the tubing length blood trauma can be minimized. Being very simple the system entails fewer risks of technical complications and also facilitates nursing care.

Alveolar fibrin formation caused by enhanced procoagulant and depressed fibrinolytic capacities in severe pneumonia. Comparison with the acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Changes in the alveolar hemostatic balance in severe pneumonia were compared with those in the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Analysis was performed in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) of patients with ARDS triggered by nonpulmonary underlying events in the absence of lung infection (ARDS; n = 25), pneumonia demanding mechanical ventilation (PNEU-vent; n = 114), spontaneously breathing patients with pneumonia (PNEU-spon; n = 40), and ARDS in combination with lung infection (ARDS+PNEU; n = 43); comparison with healthy control subjects (n = 35) was performed. In all groups of patients, BALF total procoagulant activity was increased by nearly two orders of magnitude, being largely attributable to the tissue factor pathway of coagulation. Concomitantly, markedly reduced overall fibrinolytic capacity (fibrin plate assay) was noted in the lavage fluids of all patients. BALF levels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator were significantly reduced throughout, whereas the lavage concentrations of tissue-type plasminogen activator did not differ from those in control subjects. In addition, markedly enhanced levels of plasminogen activator- inhibitor I and alpha(2)-antiplasmin were noted in ARDS, ARDS+PNEU, and PNEU-vent, but not in PNEU-spon. In all groups of patients, the changes in the lavage enzymatic activities were paralleled by manifold increased BALF concentrations of fibrinopeptide A and D-dimer, reflecting in vivo coagulation processes. Within the overall number of patients with pneumonia, changes in the alveolar hemostatic balance were more prominent in alveolar and interstitial pneumonia than in bronchopneumonia. Acute inflammatory lung injury, whether triggered by nonpulmonary systemic events or primary lung infection, is thus consistently characterized by both enhanced procoagulant and depressed fibrinolytic activities in the alveolar lining layer, with the appearance of fibrin formation in this compartment. Profile and extent of changes in severe pneumonia demanding respirator therapy are virtually identical to those in ARDS, whereas somewhat less prominent alterations of the alveolar hemostatic balance are noted in spontaneously breathing patients with pneumonia.

Surgical management of tetraplegia

The traumatic lesion of the cervical cord implies one of the most serious sequale after accident with severe consequences for lifetime. In patients with a relevant injury of the cervical spine in 28% neurological deficits are seen with an even higher incidence of 44% in the lower cervical spine. The risk of traumatic cervical cord injury further increases with progressing stenosis of the spinal canal and therefore a second peak of occurrence has to be observed in the elderly. In the preclinical phase even suspicion of a cervical cord lesion should lead to effective stabilization of the cervical spine and should be removed only after imaged proof of integrity. A high dosage therapy of methylprednisolon should be started as early as possible in every case of spinal cord injury. Diagnostic procedures are including x-rays of the whole spine, CT-scans for clearance of suspicious findings and pre-operative planning, image intensifiing under controlled stress for hidden instabilities and MRI for spinal cord injuries without abnormal radiological findings. Aims of operative treatment are consisting of decompression, reduction and stabilization with the aims of protection of the neurogenic structures and to secure intensive care treatment. These objectives can be met sufficiently by a single ventral approach in most instances. Dorsal approaches should be avoided whenever possible leaving the important innervation of the paracervical muscles intact. The postacute phase is marked by loss of systemic control mechanis as a consequence of the spinal shock. The consecutive deficits can be mastered only by treatment under intensive care standards. Respirator therapy is advisable especially for higher plegic lesions. Typical complications are frequent and should be watched for carefully because of the absence of pain sensation. Patients with cervical cord injuries should transferred to specialized paraplegic units for early rehabilitation as soon as possible since the rate of specific complications like decubital ulcera increases with the days of stay in non-specialized units.

Prevention and therapy of the adult respiratory distress syndrome.

The complex pathophysiology of adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) makes preventive and therapeutic concepts difficult. Ample experimental evidence indicates that ARDS can be prevented by blocking systemic inflammatory agents. Clinically, only heparin, for inhibition of coagulation phenomena, is presently used among this array of approaches. Corticosteroids have not proven to be beneficial in ARDS. Alternative antiinflammatory agents are being proposed and are under current clinical investigation (e.g. indomethacin, acetylcysteine, alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor, antitumor necrosis factor, interleukin 1 receptor antagonist, platelet-activating factor antagonists). Symptomatic therapeutic strategies in early ARDS include selective pulmonary vasodilation (preferably by inhaled vasorelaxant agents) and optimal fluid balance. Transbronchial surfactant application, presently tested in pilot studies, may be available for ARDS patients in the near future and may have acute beneficial effects on gas exchange, pulmonary mechanics, and lung hemodynamics; its impact on survival cannot be predicted at the present time. Strong efforts should be taken to reduce secondary nosocomial pneumonia in ARDS patients and thus avoid the vicious circle of pneumonia, sepsis from lung infection, and perpetuation of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Optimal respirator therapy should be directed to ameliorate gas-exchange conditions acutely but at the same time should aim at minimizing potentially aggravating side effects of artificial ventilation (barotrauma, O2 toxicity). Several new techniques of mechanical ventilation and the concept of permissive hypercapnia address these aspects. Approaches with extracorporeal CO2 removal and oxygenation are being used in specialized centers.

Lusorian artery lesion as rare cause of severe upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding

A patient in an intensive care unit experienced severe esophageal bleeding caused by erosion of a lusorian artery. The lusorian artery is a rare variant of the right subclavian artery. It originates in the descending aortic arch and crosses behind the esophagus to the right, sometimes generating esophageal compression. The patient's condition required respirator therapy and placement of a duodenal tube. At the point of crossing over of the lusorian artery and the esophagus, the duodenal tube caused esophageal necrosis, leading to erosion of the lusorian artery. This resulted in extensive esophageal bleeding, which at last required surgical intervention. To attain proper treatment and to avoid unnecessary diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, a lusorian artery lesion has to be included in the differential diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Clinical course, therapy, outcome and analytical data in amitriptyline and combined amitriptyline/chlordiazepoxide overdose.

A total of 103 cases of amitriptyline (AT) overdose (group 1) and 81 cases of overdose with a fixed combination of AT and chlordiazepoxide (CDE) (group 2), treated at our Intensive Care Unit or reported to our Poison Information Center between 1985-1990, were evaluated with respect to clinical course, symptoms and outcome, as well as efficacy of therapy. The mean amount of AT was considerably higher in group 1 compared to group 2 (13 mg kg-1 vs 7.7 mg kg-1). The most frequent symptoms in both groups were impaired consciousness, anticholinergic symptoms, seizures, arrhythmia and hypotension. Respiratory insufficiency necessitated respirator therapy in 63 of the patients. Two patients in group 1 and one patient in group 2 did not survive. Therapy included primary detoxification by gastric lavage and repeated administration of activated charcoal. In four of eight patients with cardiac conduction disturbances, hypertonic sodium bicarbonate led to a significant reduction in QRS duration and AV interval. Physostigmine was effective in eight of 14 patients with pronounced anticholinergic symptoms. No effect was observed in the other six patients. Haemoperfusion, which was performed in five patients, led to rapid improvement of coma after initiation of therapy in four patients. The clinical efficacy of haemoperfusion in AT overdose despite the high volume of distribution of AT deserves further investigation. The rather high average overdose of AT implies that large package sizes of AT were available to the patients. A major step towards prevention of serious AT overdose would be the prescription of package sizes containing a total of less than 500 mg AT.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of corticotropin-releasing hormone on the postoperative course of elderly patients under long-term artificial respiration.

In both human and animal studies a stimulatory effect of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) on respiration and on cognitive parameters has been demonstrated. Our own studies employing human CRH (hCRH) iv in healthy volunteers and different groups of patients have shown hCRH to be a safe drug. We prospectively studied the clinical effects of a standardized dose of 100 micrograms hCRH iv in 12 elderly patients following major abdominal surgery who remained comatose and were under prolonged respirator therapy over a mean period of 37 days. Cardio-respiratory parameters, blood gas values, plasma cortisol and catecholamines were evaluated before and 30 min following hCRH injection. Furthermore, vigilance was tested using a score system. Ventilation was markedly enhanced following hCRH injection while the cardiovascular parameters were only moderately affected. Vigilance was augmented in all subjects and improved impressively in five patients. The changes were of great benefit for the patients treated and supported their respirator weaning procedures and mobilization training.

Gram-negative bacterial pneumonia with secondary aspergillosis in an AIDS patient

SummaryA 40-year-old, HIV-infected female patient received antibiotic treatment for a urinary tract infection. After the initial success of therapy and a symptom-free period, she developed pneumonia with septic shock and adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In spite of intensive care and respirator therapy with positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), she died of infectious toxic shock. Autopsy findings showed relapsing, gramnegative, bacterial pneumonia (morphologically compatible with Klebsiella pneumonia) and secondary, invasive aspergillosis. The pathogenesis and epidemiology of these unusual complications of AIDS are discussed.

Indications for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure and Respirator Therapy

Continuous positive airway pressure was rediscovered and described by Gregory et al. (13) and has since been accepted as an aid in the treatment of newborn infants with pulmonary disease. A variety of technical solutions with beneficial effects for the newborn infant with respiratory distress has been described. Early treatment with continuous positive airway pressure is reported to reduce the length of time in which the demand for oxygen is increased and to make it possible, during a subsequent period on mechanical ventilation, to ventilate the infants at lower airway pressures than when continuous positive airway pressure is started late and the pulmonary disease is allowed to progress more rapidly (8;19).