Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) significantly reduces quality of life and is one of the main causes of chronic morbidity and mortality worldwide. Acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) is a life-threatening condition that causes rapid deterioration of respiratory symptoms (worsening of dyspnea, cough and/or abundant sputum production) requiring urgent treatment. This review article examines the evidence underlying supplemental oxygen therapy and ventilator support during exacerbations of COPD. In the introduction, we discuss the epidemiology and pathophysiology of hypercapnic respiratory failure, and then we explain that the key to achieving appropriate levels of oxygenation is using controlled low-flow oxygen therapy. In patients with risk of hypercapnia a target oxygen saturation (SaO ) range of 88%–92% 2 is now generally accepted unless hypercapnia is disproved by gas analysis of arterial blood. However, if the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood (PaCO ) is normal, oxygen therapy may target the usual saturation range of 94%–98%. 2 Many COPD patients may have a lower stable SaO , such that chasing this target (94%-98%) is not usually necessary unless 2 the patient is unwell. Further, we review current recommendations for ventilatory support in patients with AEHOBP. Noninvasive ventilation has assumed an important role in managing patients with acute respiratory failure. The use of invasive ventilation is the last remaining option, associated with a poor outcome.

The aim of this study was to perform a comparative analysis applied conventional (traditional) and protective mechanical lung ventilation in clinical conditions with regard to intraoperative parameters changes of oxygenation, ventilation and acid-base status. This was a prospective study that included 240 patients. All patients underwent the same elective surgery (classic cholecystectomy). Patients were divided into two groups of 120 patients, A and B. In group A during the operation had received conventional lung ventilation with tidal volume of 10-15 ml/kg body weight, respiratory rate 12/min. and a PEEP zero. In group B was applied protective lung ventilation with a tidal volume of 6-8 ml/kg body weight, respiratory rate 12/min. and a PEEP of 7 mbar. Monitoring of oxygenation included the monitoring SaO2 and PaO2. Monitoring of ventilation included the determination of the value of tidal volume and minute volume ventilation, peak inspiratory pressure (Ppeak), medium pressure in the airway (Paw.mean), PEEP, PaCO2 and EtCO2. Monitoring of acid-base status was performed via determination of the pH values of arterial blood. Monitoring was carried out in four intervals: T1 - 5-10 minutes after the establishment of the airway, T2 - after opening peritoneum, T3 - after removal of the gallbladder, T4 - after the closure of the abdominal wall. All monitoring results are presented as mean. The statistical significance of differences in mean values was tested by t - test mean values in the case of two independent samples. As a statistical significance test taken as standard values p <0.01 and p <0.001. Comparative analysis of the value of SaO2, PaO2, Ppeak did not reach statistical significance. Statistical significance there is in the analysis of values of tidal volume and Paw.mean (p <0.001). Analysis of PaCO2 and pH of arterial blood showed no statistical significance in the first interval measurements but did interval T2-T4 (p <0.001). Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that the applied types of mechanical ventilation of lungs during the performance of surgical procedures of medium duration, have not led to significant changes in terms of maintaining the parameters of oxygenation, ventilation and acid-base status, and they stayed in normal, physiological range.

Cilj ove studije je bio da definišemo faktore koji bi mogli da poboljšaju ishod reanimacije pacijenata koji su doživeli vanbolnički akutni zastoj srca poštujući "Utstein" model sakupljanja podataka. U dvogodišnjoj prospektivnoj studiji ispitano je 200 pacijenata koji su doživeli vanbolnički akutni zastoj srca i faktori koji su povezani sa preživljavanjem. 78% pacijenata je doživelo akutni zastoj srca kardijalne etiologije, 65% u kućnim uslovima, 3,7% je reanimirano od strane spasilaca, 36% je zatečeno u ventrikularnoj fibrilaciji (VF) ili ventrikularnoj tahikardiji (VT) bez pulsa, 64% u asistoliji/električnoj aktivnosti bez pulsa (PEA), 52% pacijenata je intubirano na mestu nastanka akutnog zastoja srca i preživljavanje do otpusta iz bolnice je bilo značajno veće u ovoj grupi pacijenata. Prosečno vreme stizanja do pacijenata bilo je 6,6 minuta. 66,7% pacijenata je defibrilirano nakon 4 i više minuta. 131 (65,5%) pacijent je proglašen mrtvim na terenu, 69 pacijenata je transportovano u bolnicu. 53 (76,8%) pacijenta iz grupe transportovanih je umrlo za vreme transporta ili na odeljenju reanimacije, 7 je umrlo nakon prijema u bolncu a 9 je preživelo do otpusta iz bolnice. Multivarijantnom logističkom regresijom je utvrđeno da su varijable značajno povezane sa preživljavanjem: starosno doba, endotrahealna intbacija na terenu i vreme stizanja do pacijenta. Uspeh reanimacije bio je značajno veći kod mlađih pacijenata, kod onih intubiranih na terenu i kod onih kod kojih je ekipa hitne medicinske pomoći stigla u kraćem vremenskom intervalu.

Among all ALS procedures, effective airway management is vital in the treatment of critically ill patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of pre-hospital endotracheal intubation and early defibrillation on outcome of cardiac arrest (CA) patients. We examined 200 patients suffering from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in a prospective cohort study in a two years period. We determined survival from CA to discharge from hospital and the factors associated with survival. We calculated the time intervals until shock decisions were made. Shock decisions were verified according to EKG downloads. 52% of patients were intubated in the field, survival to discharge from hospital was significantly higher among patients who were intubated in the field. Survival rates in patients with VF/VT was 9.7% compared to patients with asystole/PEA (1.6%). 66.7% of patients were given the shock after 4 minutes. Low survival to hospital discharge may be due to low number of CA patients who were intubated in the field and long "interval to shock delivery" (there are no AED). Existing literature shows that the first minutes are a critical time frame for successful resuscitation and this is an argument towards the introduction of AEDs used by bystanders.

We treated 15 subfertile men with varicocele with combination of subinguinal ligature of spermatic vein or plexus pampiniformis and medicaments. In a five-year period , we registered 5 pregnancies (30%) in female partners of our patients. We consider subinguinal ligature of spermatic vein as minimally invasive and cost-effective initial treatment of "infertile couples".

Quick, proper and efficient transport is an integral part of all measures taken in treatment and effective care of polytraumatized patients. Before or during the transport, without regard to the transportation means, such patients often need their airways to be protected, connection to mechanical ventilation, applying of oxygen, infusion solution, painkillers or some other drugs. Continual monitoring of vital functions is required part of treatment during transport of critically ill or injured patients. Their transport, beside adequate equipment, demands theoretically and practically well trained stuff. In most European countries anesthesiologists have primary role especially in interhospital transport (for example in transport of neurosurgical patient from local to university hospital). Unfotunatelly, in our conditions transport is often carried out by unsufficiently skilled medical stuff without adequate equipment and experience what may have an effect on treatment success and surviva.

The Early Warning Score is a simple physiological scoring system that can be calculated at the patient's bedside, using parameters which are mesured in the majority of unwell patients. Patients suffering in-hospital cardiac arrest often have abnormal clinical observations documented prior to the arrest. Study objestives:This study assesses wheather these patients have less favourable outcome following in-hospital cardiac arrest. Matherials and the methods:For the present study, the patients' hospital charts were reviewed to identify possible abnormal observations within 8 h prior to the arrest. Results: From the total of 100 patients who sufferd in-hospital cardiac arrest, 64 patients had documentation of vital signs and 9 patients had no documentation of vital signs. Of the patients with documented vital signs 27 (29,7%) had normal vital signs and 64 (70,3%) had abnormal observations. Among these 64 patients the distribution was as follows: 17 patients (13,1%) had respiatory rate below 8 or over 20 per min, 40 (30,8%) had puls rate below 40 or over 140 beats per min, 20 patients (15,4%) had systolic arterial blood pressure below 90 or over 200 mmHg, 5 (3,7%) had temperature (˚C) below 36,1 or over 37,9 ˚C, 20 (15,4%) had oxygen saturation below 90%, 14 (10,8%) had decrease in consciousness and 14 (10,8%) had urine output below 50 ml/2hours). Compared with patients whose EWS were 0-2 (ОR 1,2; 95% CI: 0,935-1,507) patients with EWS 3 or more were 6,5 times more likely to die in first 24 hours (OR: 7,8; 95% CI: 1,205-50,205). Conclusions:Patients with documented clinically abnormal observations prior to in-hospital cardiac arrest have a worse outcome than those without. The main implication of these is that these patients need to be identified in time thereby possibly avoiding arrest. This can also be used when assessing the prognosis of in-hospital patients after achieved ROSC.

Important facts about recombinant human factor VIIa have been mentioned, also about the renal cell carcinoma. Case report: Male, aged 69, with infiltrative renal cell carcinoma, underwent radical nephrectomy using Hasagawa`s approach. Extirpated tumor had 35 cm in diameter. During the surgery, patient suffered a cardiac arrest with 3500 ml blood loss. After operation, he lost 2100 ml more blood. Despite of active blood supstitutions with intensive surgical attempts in order of haemostasis, bleeding did not stop untill the application of rFVIIa (300 I. U.). Patient survives and recovers completelly. Conclusion: RFVIIa is very succesful in controling of massive surgical bleeding, possibly associated with paraneoplastic syndrome.