Anaesthesiology intensive therapy
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Anaesthesiol Intensive Ther · Jan 2015
The differences between two selected intensive care units located in central and northern Europe - preliminary observation.
The aim of this study was to evaluate possible differences in the functioning of two selected intensive care units in Poland and Finland. The activity of the units was analysed over a period of one year. ⋯ The collected data indicate huge differences in the utilisation of critical care resources. Treatment in Polish ICU is concentrated on much more severely ill patients which might be sometimes accompanied by futility of care. In order to verify and correctly interpret the presented phenomena, further studies are needed.
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Anaesthesiol Intensive Ther · Jan 2015
Observational StudyRenal injury during hip fracture surgery: an exploratory study.
The present observational study was undertaken to identify potential markers of poor outcome, such as renal failure and mortality, after hip fracture surgery. ⋯ Two different mechanisms seem to affect the kidneys during hip fracture surgery. The first elevates the serum creatinine concentration while the second increases the albuminuria. Only the second mechanism had a bearing on mortality.
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Anaesthesiol Intensive Ther · Jan 2015
ReviewHemodynamic monitoring: To calibrate or not to calibrate? Part 2--Non-calibrated techniques.
There is much evidence that fluid overload leads to adverse outcomes in perioperative and critically ill patients. Cardiac output monitoring can help us guiding initial and ongoing fluid resuscitation and can help us to assess whether a patient will be responsive to fluids when hypotensive. In recent years, many sophisticated devices that measure a variety of hemodynamic parameters have evolved on the market. ⋯ Further improvements and more validation data are needed before these techniques can be implemented in common day practice. Moreover, in severely shocked hemodynamic unstable patients, calibrated techniques are to be preferred over those which are uncalibrated. Hence, the new techniques not only need to be accurate, but also need to be precise in order to keep track of changes.
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Anaesthesiol Intensive Ther · Jan 2015
ReviewAn overview on fluid resuscitation and resuscitation endpoints in burns: Past, present and future. Part 1 - historical background, resuscitation fluid and adjunctive treatment.
An improved understanding of burn shock pathophysiology and subsequent development of fluid resuscitation strategies has led to dramatic outcome improvements in burn care during the 20th century. While organ hypoperfusion caused by inadequate resuscitation has become rare in clinical practice, there is growing concern that increased morbidity and mortality related to over-resuscitation is occurring more frequently in burn care. ⋯ In the second part, special reference will be made to the role of abdominal hypertension in burn care and the endpoints used to guide fluid resuscitation will be discussed. Finally, as urine output has been recognized as a poor resuscitation target, a resuscitation protocol is suggested in part two which includes new targets and endpoints that can be obtained with modern, less invasive hemodynamic monitoring devices.
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Anaesthesiol Intensive Ther · Jan 2015
ReviewUltrasound guided axillary brachial plexus plexus block. Part 1--basic sonoanatomy.
Axillary brachial plexus block is one of the most popular and widely used approaches for brachial plexus blocks. Its main advantages are its versatility and high safety. Brachial block facilitates analgesia for the distal arm, elbow, forearm and hand. ⋯ In the axillary area, there are no anatomical structures other than vessels, to which damage during block placement could pose a risk for the patient. For this reason, axillary block is one of the techniques that are recommended for learning ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia. This paper summarizes anatomical fundamentals and provides basic sonoanatomic knowledge that is essential for successful ultrasound-guided axillary block.