Biomaterial Database

Combined lung injury, meningitis and cerebral edema: how permissive can hypercapnia be? 1998

R C Tasker, and M J Peters

Department of Paediatric Intensive Care, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK.

We describe a patient with combined meningococcal septicemia and meningitis, cerebral edema and acute respiratory distress syndrome, in whom we balanced the conflicting carbon dioxide strategies for optimal pulmonary and neurological management using jugular oxygen saturation (SjvO2) monitoring to identify the upper limit of "tolerable" hypercapnia. Our observations suggest that significant acidosis was not well tolerated; however, cautious induction of pH down to 7.32 and an arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) < 5.9 kPa was tolerated acutely without significant cerebral hyperemia. Moreover, with the development of metabolic compensation and normal pH, higher levels of PaCO2 could be permitted. In similar cerebro-pulmonary circumstances we suggest that these findings warrant consideration. Alternatively, invasive monitoring of SjvO2 could be undertaken so that patient-specific criteria for permissive hypercapnia can be determined.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008581	Meningitis	Inflammation of the coverings of the brain and/or spinal cord, which consist of the PIA MATER; ARACHNOID; and DURA MATER. Infections (viral, bacterial, and fungal) are the most common causes of this condition, but subarachnoid hemorrhage (HEMORRHAGES, SUBARACHNOID), chemical irritation (chemical MENINGITIS), granulomatous conditions, neoplastic conditions (CARCINOMATOUS MENINGITIS), and other inflammatory conditions may produce this syndrome. (From Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1994, Ch24, p6)	Pachymeningitis,Meningitides,Pachymeningitides
D008991	Monitoring, Physiologic	The continuous measurement of physiological processes, blood pressure, heart rate, renal output, reflexes, respiration, etc., in a patient or experimental animal; includes pharmacologic monitoring, the measurement of administered drugs or their metabolites in the blood, tissues, or urine.	Patient Monitoring,Monitoring, Physiological,Physiologic Monitoring,Monitoring, Patient,Physiological Monitoring
D011175	Positive-Pressure Respiration	A method of mechanical ventilation in which pressure is maintained to increase the volume of gas remaining in the lungs at the end of expiration, thus reducing the shunting of blood through the lungs and improving gas exchange.	Positive End-Expiratory Pressure,Positive-Pressure Ventilation,End-Expiratory Pressure, Positive,End-Expiratory Pressures, Positive,Positive End Expiratory Pressure,Positive End-Expiratory Pressures,Positive Pressure Respiration,Positive Pressure Ventilation,Positive-Pressure Respirations,Positive-Pressure Ventilations,Pressure, Positive End-Expiratory,Pressures, Positive End-Expiratory,Respiration, Positive-Pressure,Respirations, Positive-Pressure,Ventilation, Positive-Pressure,Ventilations, Positive-Pressure
D011654	Pulmonary Edema	Excessive accumulation of extravascular fluid in the lung, an indication of a serious underlying disease or disorder. Pulmonary edema prevents efficient PULMONARY GAS EXCHANGE in the PULMONARY ALVEOLI, and can be life-threatening.	Wet Lung,Edema, Pulmonary,Edemas, Pulmonary,Pulmonary Edemas,Lung, Wet,Lungs, Wet,Wet Lungs
D012128	Respiratory Distress Syndrome	A syndrome characterized by progressive life-threatening RESPIRATORY INSUFFICIENCY in the absence of known LUNG DISEASES, usually following a systemic insult such as surgery or major TRAUMA.	ARDS, Human,Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome,Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome,Pediatric Respiratory Distress Syndrome,Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Acute,Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult,Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Pediatric,Shock Lung,Distress Syndrome, Respiratory,Distress Syndromes, Respiratory,Human ARDS,Lung, Shock,Respiratory Distress Syndromes,Syndrome, Respiratory Distress
D001929	Brain Edema	Increased intracellular or extracellular fluid in brain tissue. Cytotoxic brain edema (swelling due to increased intracellular fluid) is indicative of a disturbance in cell metabolism, and is commonly associated with hypoxic or ischemic injuries (see HYPOXIA, BRAIN). An increase in extracellular fluid may be caused by increased brain capillary permeability (vasogenic edema), an osmotic gradient, local blockages in interstitial fluid pathways, or by obstruction of CSF flow (e.g., obstructive HYDROCEPHALUS). (From Childs Nerv Syst 1992 Sep; 8(6):301-6)	Brain Swelling,Cerebral Edema,Cytotoxic Brain Edema,Intracranial Edema,Vasogenic Cerebral Edema,Cerebral Edema, Cytotoxic,Cerebral Edema, Vasogenic,Cytotoxic Cerebral Edema,Vasogenic Brain Edema,Brain Edema, Cytotoxic,Brain Edema, Vasogenic,Brain Swellings,Cerebral Edemas, Vasogenic,Edema, Brain,Edema, Cerebral,Edema, Cytotoxic Brain,Edema, Cytotoxic Cerebral,Edema, Intracranial,Edema, Vasogenic Brain,Edema, Vasogenic Cerebral,Swelling, Brain
D002248	Carbon Monoxide	Carbon monoxide (CO). A poisonous colorless, odorless, tasteless gas. It combines with hemoglobin to form carboxyhemoglobin, which has no oxygen carrying capacity. The resultant oxygen deprivation causes headache, dizziness, decreased pulse and respiratory rates, unconsciousness, and death. (From Merck Index, 11th ed)	Monoxide, Carbon
D002560	Cerebrovascular Circulation	The circulation of blood through the BLOOD VESSELS of the BRAIN.	Brain Blood Flow,Regional Cerebral Blood Flow,Cerebral Blood Flow,Cerebral Circulation,Cerebral Perfusion Pressure,Circulation, Cerebrovascular,Blood Flow, Brain,Blood Flow, Cerebral,Brain Blood Flows,Cerebral Blood Flows,Cerebral Circulations,Cerebral Perfusion Pressures,Circulation, Cerebral,Flow, Brain Blood,Flow, Cerebral Blood,Perfusion Pressure, Cerebral,Pressure, Cerebral Perfusion
D003422	Critical Care	Health care provided to a critically ill patient during a medical emergency or crisis.	Intensive Care,Intensive Care, Surgical,Surgical Intensive Care,Care, Critical,Care, Intensive,Care, Surgical Intensive