Recognizing Complications:
Pulmonary Intensive Care
The most common causes of sudden deterioration and death during pulmonary intensive care can be prevented or reversed if recognized in time, Kenneth M. Moser, MD, told a general session of the American College of Physicians.Speaking at the College's 48th annual meeting in San Francisco, Dr. Moser, associate professor of medicine, reported clinical experience with 52 patients treated in the pulmonary intensive care (PIC) unit at Georgetown University Hospital during the past year.
Six Units
Although there are just six such units in the country, he said, "It is apparent that experience with these pilot facilities can serve many other physicians, especially those responsible for the patients with pulmonary problems who make up almost one-half of the patients in a hospital's general intensive care units."The five leading complications encountered by the Georgetown team are: