Chest
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To determine the effectiveness of oronasal masks for positive pressure therapy in alleviating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). ⋯ Oronasal masks are a viable alternative interface for alleviating OSA with positive pressure therapy in those patients who are unwilling or unable to tolerate conventional nasal interfaces. Although there were no adverse consequences associated with the use of oronasal masks in our patients, appropriate safety precautions should be taken to minimize the possibility of aspiration of gastric contents and avoid untoward sequelae due to positive pressure device failure.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Hemodynamic and renal effects of dopexamine and dobutamine in patients with reduced cardiac output following coronary artery bypass grafting.
Dopexamine hydrochloride is a novel synthetic adrenergic agonist that combines the renal effects of dopamine with the hemodynamic effects of dobutatmine. Our study is designed to compare the hemodynamic, diuretic, and natriuretic effects of dopexamine and dobutamine in patients with reduced cardiac index following heart surgery. ⋯ Our study demonstrates that dopexamine produces hemodynamic, diuretic, and natriuretic effects similar to dobutamine in patients with reduced cardiac index following CABG.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Effect of injectate temperature and thermistor position on reproducibility of thermodilution cardiac output determinations.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of thermistor position with varying injectate temperatures on the reproducibility of thermodilution cardiac output determination. The key hypothesis to be tested was that the positioning of the proximal thermistor at the right atrial port would improve the reproducibility of thermodilution cardiac output determination, independent of injectate temperature. ⋯ Reproducibility of thermodilution cardiac output determinations is improved when injectate temperature is measured internally, at the RA, as opposed to externally in the reservoir. This has clinical implications for determining significant changes in serial cardiac output determinations.
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Comment Comparative Study
Two trials of reduced bolus alteplase in the treatment of pulmonary embolism. An overview.
The Bolus Alteplase Pulmonary Embolism (BAPE) Group and a consortium of French investigators utilized essentially the same investigational protocol to test reduced dose bolus alteplase vs full dose 100 mg/2 h alteplase in the treatment of pulmonary embolism (PE). The principal hypothesis was that reduced dose bolus alteplase (n = 96) would result in fewer bleeding complications than full dose 100 mg of 2 h alteplase (n = 44) administered as a continuous infusion to hemodynamically stable patients with PE. To provide data on bolus alteplase's safety profile in a larger sample size than would have been feasible in either trial alone, we present an overview of the BAPE and French trials. ⋯ Efficacy was similar in the two treatment groups. Interpretation of the results will vary because the increased convenience and cost savings from using a reduced dose of bolus alteplase may be offset by a higher mortality rate. However, a trial that compared the mortality rates of the two treatment regimens would have required more than 800 patients.