Anaesthesia and intensive care
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Anaesth Intensive Care · May 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyEase of Proseal Laryngeal Mask Airway insertion and its fibreoptic view after placement using Gum Elastic Bougie: a comparison with conventional techniques.
The Proseal Laryngeal Mask Airway (PLMA) is routinely inserted by the digital and introducer tool techniques but a newer Gum Elastic Bougie (GEB) guided insertion technique has been described. The aims and objectives were to compare the ease of PLMA insertion and fibreoptic view of PLMA after placement using GEB and conventional techniques. Ninety-six ASA I or II patients of either gender aged 18 to 60 years, scheduled for elective surgery under general anaesthesia in the supine position were included in this study. ⋯ Time taken for successful placement was significantly shorter in the GEB-guided group after two attempts (G 22 +/- 2 seconds, I 31.9 +/- 18.8 seconds, D 29.5 +/- 18.6 seconds, P < 0.05). The fibreoptic view through the airway tube was significantly better in the GEB-guided group (P < 0.01). Incidence of trauma was significantly less in the GEB-guided group (P < 0.05).
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Anaesth Intensive Care · May 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudySore throat or hoarse voice with bronchial blockers or double-lumen tubes for lung isolation: a randomised, prospective trial.
Double-lumen endotracheal tubes and bronchial blockers allow lung isolation for one-lung ventilation. Few studies, however, directly compare these devices. Further, a new endobronchial blocker (Coopdech) is available in some countries. ⋯ Compared to the double-lumen tubes the bronchial blockers took about two minutes less to position but five minutes longer for lung deflation. Surgical exposure was uniformly good across the four groups. We conclude that clinical use of the Coopdech endobronchial blocker is similar to the Arndt and Univent blockers and that all three are associated with less sore throat or hoarse voice than double-lumen tubes.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · May 2009
Perioperative mortality risk score using pre- and postoperative risk factors in older patients.
We developed a risk score for 30-day postoperative mortality: the Perioperative Mortality risk score. We used a derivation cohort from a previous study of surgical patients aged 70 years or more at three large metropolitan teaching hospitals, using the significant risk factors for 30-day mortality from multivariate analysis. We summed the risk score for each of six factors creating an overall Perioperative Mortality score. ⋯ The Hosmer-Lemeshow test (P = 0.35) indicated good calibration in the validation cohort. The Perioperative Mortality score is straightforward and may assist progressive risk assessment and management during the perioperative period. Risk associated with surgical complexity and urgency could be added to this baseline patient factor Perioperative Mortality score.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · May 2009
Comparative StudyLaboratory validation of the M-COVX metabolic module in measurement of oxygen uptake.
A practical method of breath-by-breath monitoring of metabolic gas exchange has previously been developed by GE Healthcare and can now be easily incorporated into existing anaesthetic and critical care monitoring (M-COVX). Previous research using this device has shown good accuracy and precision between the M-COVX measurements and a traditional measurement of gas uptake at the mouth and also against the reverse Fick method during cardiac surgery and critical care, but its accuracy in the paediatric situation and across a range of ventilatory settings awaits validation. We tested the M-COVX metabolic monitor in the laboratory comparing its measurement to a traditional Haldane transformation across a wide range of oxygen consumption values, from 50 ml/minute to just under 300 ml/minute, typical of those expected in anaesthetised adults and children. ⋯ Excellent linearity was found, by y = 0.96x + 0.5 ml/minute, r = 0.99. The device showed acceptable robustness to ventilatory changes examined, including changes in respiratory rate, I:E ratio, FiO2 up to 75% and simulated spontaneous breathing. However any induced leak from around the simulated endotracheal tube caused a significant error in paediatric scenarios.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · May 2009
Comparative StudyA comparison of eosinopenia and C-reactive protein as a marker of bloodstream infections in critically ill patients: a case control study.
Diagnosis of bloodstream infections in critically ill patients is difficult. This case control study involved a total of 22 patients with confirmed bloodstream infections and 44 concurrent controls from an intensive care unit in Western Australia. We aimed to assess whether eosinopenia and C-reactive protein are useful markers of bloodstream infections in critically ill patients. ⋯ C-reactive protein concentration was, however the only significant predictor in the multivariate analysis (odds ratio 1.21 per 10 mg/l increment, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.39, P = 0.007). C-reactive protein concentration appears to be a better marker of bloodstream infections than eosinopenia in critically ill patients. A large prospective cohort study is needed to assess whether eosinopenia is useful in addition to C-reactive protein concentrations as a marker of bloodstream infections.