Anaesthesia and intensive care
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Nov 2015
The effects of haemodilution with hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4 solution on coagulation as assessed by thromboelastography and platelet receptor function studies in vitro.
This study evaluated the effects of haemodilution with either 6% hydroxyethyl starch (HES) 130/0.4 (Voluven(®)) or 0.9% normal saline (NS) on blood coagulation in vitro. Haemodilution with 6% HES 130/0.4 impaired coagulation, as indicated by the changes in thromboelastographic parameters k-time, α-angle and maximum amplitude. ⋯ The thromboelastographic functional fibrinogen assay showed that the fibrinogen component of clot strength was significantly impaired with haemodilution with HES 130/0.4 compared with haemodilution with NS (whole blood [14.4 ± 4.6 mm] versus 40% HES dilution [3.7 ± 1.9], [P=0.001]; versus 40% NS dilution [10.4 ± 4.6], [P=0.129]). These findings suggest that there is little difference between HES or NS in relation to coagulation or platelet function during minor or moderate haemodilution, but at high levels of haemodilution with HES, fibrinogen activity is more impaired compared with NS.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Nov 2015
Case ReportsAnaphylaxis following intravenous paracetamol: the problem is the solution.
Paracetamol is a ubiquitous analgesic and antipyretic that is widely administered, including by anaesthetists. Immediate hypersensitivity reactions to intravenous paracetamol are particularly rare. ⋯ The allergological investigations are described, during which it became evident that both patients were allergic to an excipient (mannitol) present in the formulation and that neither was allergic to the principal agent (paracetamol). The importance of referral and investigation of perioperative drug reactions is underscored by these two cases.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Nov 2015
Deviation from accepted drug administration guidelines during anaesthesia in twenty highly realistic simulated cases.
Deviations from accepted practice guidelines and protocols are poorly understood, yet some deviations are likely to be deliberate and carry potential for patient harm. Anaesthetic teams practice in a complex work environment and anaesthetists are unusual in that they both prescribe and administer the drugs they use, allowing scope for idiosyncratic practise. We aimed to better understand the intentions underlying deviation from accepted guidelines during drug administration in simulated cases. ⋯ Underlying reasons for deviations included a strong sense of clinical autonomy, poor clinical relevance and a lack of evidence for guidelines, ingrained habits learnt in early training, and the influence of peers. Guidelines are important in clinical practice, yet self-identified deviation from accepted guidelines was common in our results, and all but one of these events was judged to carry potential for patient harm. A better understanding of the reasons underlying deviation from accepted guidelines is essential to the design of more effective guidelines and to achieving compliance.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Nov 2015
Characteristics and expectations of fluid bolus therapy: a bi-national survey of acute care physicians.
There is little consensus on the definition or optimal constituents of fluid bolus therapy (FBT), and there is uncertainty regarding its physiological effects. The aims of this study were to determine clinician-reported definitions of FBT and to explore the physiological responses clinicians expect from such FBT. In June and October 2014, intensive care and emergency physicians in Australia and New Zealand were asked to participate in an electronic questionnaire of the reported practice and expectations of FBT. ⋯ Substantial variation was demonstrated in the magnitude of expected response within both specialties for each variable. Major variations exist in self-reported FBT practice, both within and between acute specialties, and wide variation can be demonstrated in the expected physiological responses to FBT. International explorations of practice and prospective quantification of the actual physiological response to FBT are warranted.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Nov 2015
The incidence of ocular candidiasis and evaluation of routine opthalmic examination in critically ill patients with candidaemia.
Despite a paucity of data regarding both the incidence of ocular candidiasis and the utility of ophthalmic examination in critically ill patients, routine ophthalmic examination is recommended for critically ill patients with candidaemia. The objectives were to estimate the incidence of ocular candidiasis and evaluate whether ophthalmic examination influenced subsequent management of these patients. We conducted a ten-year retrospective observational study. ⋯ During examination, signs of ocular candidiasis were only present in one (2.9%) patient, who had a risk factor for ocular candidiasis. Based on these findings, the duration of antifungal treatment for this patient was increased. Ocular candidiasis occurs rarely in critically ill patients with candidaemia, but because treatment regimens may be altered when diagnosed, routine ophthalmic examination is still indicated.