engleski

Mechanical ventilation in patients with purulent meningitis

A significant number of patients with CNS infections require mehcanical ventilation. The indications for mechanical ventilation in cases of purulent meningitis are acure respiratory insufficiency and hyperventilation in patients with incereased intracranial pressure. The aim of mechanical ventilation is to achieve optimal pO2 and pCO2 in order to improve the perfusion and lower the intracranial pressure. We conducted a retrospective study with included 330 patients with purulent meningitis of which 115 (35.7%) were mechanically ventilated. The patients were treated in the Intensive Care Unit in the period between 1990-1998. Compared to previously studied periods we noticed a significantly higher number of intubated and artificially ventilated patients with purulent meningitides. Thacheotomy was performed in 45 (39.1%) of artificially ventilated patients. In spite of a more agressive approach and the use of sophisticated equipement, the lethality of purulent meningitis has not changed.

mechanical ventilation; purulent meningitis

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