PMID: 2098883Nov 1, 1990Paper

Tetanus in a drug addict and HIV carrier patient

Revista española de anestesiología y reanimación
P JustoR Montero Benzo

Abstract

We report the resuscitation of a woman with a severe tetanic process, dependence on drugs and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. During her course, the patient presented high hemodynamic lability and supraventricular and ventricular ectopic beats. Impairment of oxygenation and ventilation led to tracheotomy and controlled ventilation for 25 days. Then, intermittent mandatory ventilation was initiated and maintained for 15 days. The patient was extubated. Partial pressure of oxygen in the arterial blood was 73 mmHg and PaO2/FIO2 was 183; she had a sepsis of pulmonary origin. High doses of sedative and analgesic agents (diazepam, 40 mg/hour and morphine, 2.5 mg/hour) were required. We believe the acme of the process was on days 13 and 15 during her stay at the resuscitation unit. We conclude that neither the symptomatology nor her course nor the treatment differed from other severe forms of tetanus treated by us. The infective process did not fit into what would be expected in an immunodeficient background.

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Addiction

This feed focuses mechanisms underlying addiction and addictive behaviour including heroin and opium dependence, alcohol intoxication, gambling, and tobacco addiction.