Anaesthesia and intensive care
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Aug 2007
Multicenter StudyAirway management equipment in a metropolitan region: an audit.
Difficult airway equipment containers are commonly found in operating rooms, but the availability of airway equipment beyond that environment is unknown. Using the Difficult Airway Society (U. K.) and American Society of Anesthesiologists' guidelines, we conducted an inspection audit of airway equipment at all anaesthetic sites in our region. ⋯ One third of the items with an expiry date were expired. Quality control and implementation of airway guidelines could rectify these deficiencies. Anaesthesia organisations should be encouraged to publish detailed equipment guidelines.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Aug 2007
Case ReportsSildenafil may facilitate weaning in mechanically ventilated COPD patients: a report of three cases.
We report three cases of mechanically ventilated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients who were intubated due to an exacerbation of their disease and who presented with repeated spontaneous breathing trial failures. Patients were given 50 mg of sildenafil through the nasogastric tube, under close monitoring of haemodynamic and ventilatory parameters. ⋯ Cardiac output increased in two of the patients, while all of them were successfully extubated. This is the first report of successful extubation after sildenafil use.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Aug 2007
Continuous venovenous haemofiltration using a citrate buffered substitution fluid.
Different methods of regional anticoagulation using citrate in continuous renal replacement therapy have been described in the past. However, these procedures were usually very complex or did not reach modem requirements for effective continuous renal replacement therapy. Furthermore, little is known about long-term acid-base stability and citrate levels during the treatment. ⋯ Predilution, citrate-based substitution fluid provides both anticoagulation within the extracorporeal circuit and control of acid-base balance in critically ill patients at risk of bleeding in acute renal failure. It is easy to apply and safe. Clearance can be varied as long as a constant ratio between blood and substitution flow is maintained.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Aug 2007
Comment Letter Case ReportsAnother cause of leak during propofol target controlled infusion.