Cambios en la hemodinamia cerebral en consumidores crónicos de paco y cocaína: estudio de casos y controles / [Changes in cerebral hemodynamics in chronic users of \"PACO\" and cocaine: case-control study].

OBJECTIVE: To assess if there are changes in brain hemodynamics evaluated by means of transcranial doppler’s flow velocity, pulsatile index and cerebral perfusion pressure, between cocaine chronic abusers and healthy volunteers. METHOD: Prospective, case and control, observational study. Sex, age, user history, vital signs and transcranial doppler findings.Statistical analysis was performed by means of normality test, Wilcoxon’s test for non parametric samples and T Student test. RESULTS: Fifty-three abusers and 35 healthy volunteers were studied. Statistical differences were found for a diminish in age(p=0.008) and cerebral perfusion pressure in all cerebral arteries (p

Asistencia respiratoria mecánica: Influencia de la edad en la evolución / Mechanical ventilation: Influence of the age in the outcome

No existe un concepto definido sobre la influencia de la edad en la mortalidad de la asistencia respiratoria mecánica. Realizamos un trabajo prospectivo-observacional para determinar si la edad es un factor independiente de mortalidad de la asistencia respiratoria mecánica. Se incluyeron 200 pacientes internados en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos del Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires. Se registraron características y comorbilidades al ingreso, al inicio de la asistencia respiratoria mecánica, complicaciones y evolución en el Hospital y a los 6 meses. Los 200 pacientes incluidos fueron divididos en dos grupos: Grupo 1 (n = 164) menores de 80 años y Grupo 2 (n = 36) de 80 años o más. No hubo diferencias en la mortalidad en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos y en el Hospital entre los pacientes menores de 80 años y los de 80 años o más. (55.56% vs. 41.46% y 58.33% vs. 42.68%). La supervivencia a los 6 meses de los = 80 años fue significativamente menor (22.22% vs. 48.17%, p = 0.0051). En el análisis multivariado solamente un APACHE II > 20 (p = 0.0007) o la ausencia de vida autónoma (p = 0.0028) conservaron poder predictivo independiente. Los pacientes añosos que reciben asistencia respiratoria mecánica no presentan una mayor mortalidad por el sólo hecho de ser ancianos. La restricción de los cuidados terapéuticos invasivos no parece justificada por la edad avanzada.

There is not consensus about the true influence of age on mortality associated to mechanical ventilation (MV). We performed a prospective study in order to determine if age is an independent factor to predict mortality in patients under MV. Two hundred patients requiring MV at the intensive care unit were included and clinical variables at admission, co-morbidities, complications and outcome at the hospital and after 6 months were registered. Patients were divided in 2 groups: Group 1 (n = 164) under 80 year old and Group 2 (n = 36) 80 year or older. There were no differences in intensive care unit or hospital mortality between the two groups (55.56% vs. 41.46% and 58.33% vs. 42.68%). Six-month survival were significantly lower in patients over 80 year-old (22.22% vs. 48.17%, p = 0.0051). Multivariate analysis showed that only an APACHE II score > 20 (p = 0.0077) or the absence of an autonomous life (p = 0.0028) were independent predictive factors of mortality. Elderly patients under mechanical ventilation do not show a higher mortality because of the advance age in itself. Restriction of mechanical ventilation and invasive care does not seem to be justified based on the advanced age.