European journal of anaesthesiology
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Observational Study
The base excess gap is not a valid tool for the quantification of unmeasured ions in cardiac surgical patients: A retrospective observational study.
The base excess gap (BE(gap)) method is commonly used for the quantification of unmeasured ions in critically ill patients. However, it has never been validated against the standard quantitative acid-base approach. ⋯ The BE gap method cannot reliably quantify the unmeasured ion excess in cardiac surgical patients. Clinicians should use the full Stewart-Figge model for quantitative acid-base assessments.
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Observational Study
Impact of haemoglobin concentration on cardiovascular outcome after vascular surgery: A retrospective observational cohort study.
Although low preoperative haemoglobin (Hb) concentration is a well known risk factor for adverse outcome, little is known about decreases in Hb and postoperative Hb concentrations. ⋯ Pre and postoperative Hb concentrations and Hb decrease are all related to 30-day cardiovascular events in elective vascular surgery patients. Postoperative Hb concentrations are the strongest predictor of 30-day cardiovascular events.