Introduction-Adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) can be a common problem associated with the treatment of acute brain injury. High frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) is a developing therapy for the treatment of ARDS in adult patients that can be life saving. However, often patients with acute, severe brain injury demonstrate intracranial hypertension (hICP) due to a variety of injuries (e.g., traumatic brain injury, mass lesion, acute hydrocephalus). There is concern over the use of HFOV due to its effects on intracranial pressure in patients with hICP.

Introduction Management of intracranial hypertension is pivotal in the care of brain-injured patients. Summary of Case We report the case of a patient with both a closed head injury and anoxic encephalopathy, who subsequently experienced episodes of refractory intracranial hypertension. The patient's care was complicated by the development of a pneumonia, which required frequent turning of the patient and chest physiotherapy. Conventional wisdom suggests that these interventions may stimulate the patient and worsen intracranial pressure, and therefore should be avoided. Results Our observations on this patient, however, contradict this belief. This single-subject study presents data to support the use of chest physiotherapy in patients at risk for intracranial hypertension. Conclusions Further, the evidence is compelling that a randomized-controlled trial is indicated to test the hypothesis that chest physiotherapy may actually result in short-term resolution of high intracranial pressure, and thus provide one more clinical tool in the management of elevated intracranial pressure.

Commercial aluminosilicate fibers of the nominal composition 45 wt% Al2O3, 54 wt% SiO2 have similar bulk properties but different surface chemistries, depending on whether they were formed with (WL) or without (NL) the aid of a mineral‐oil lubricant. Both fiber samples are X‐ray amorphous as formed; they have similar crystallization temperatures and have activation energies for crystallization of 751 and 854 kJ/mol for samples NL and WL, respectively. Fiber surface properties differ markedly, as indicated by diffuse reflectance infrared transmission spectroscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. These techniques show that carbon from the lubricant degradation and/or combustion is incorporated into the melt, whereupon it reacts with nonbonding oxygens in the Al‐O network to form network carbonates.