Anaesthesia and intensive care
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Jul 2010
Randomized Controlled TrialGlycaemic fluctuation predicts mortality in critically ill patients.
Growing evidence suggests that glycaemic variability increases diabetic complications. However, the significance of glycaemic variability in critically ill patients remains unclear. We evaluated the predictors of glycaemic fluctuation and its association with critical care outcomes. ⋯ Glycaemic fluctuation was identified as an independent predictor of intensive care unit mortality (odds ratio per mmol 1.08, 95% confidence interval 1.00 to 1.18) and hospital mortality (odds ratio per mmol 1.09, 95% confidence interval 1.02 to 1.17) using multivariate logistic regression analysis. In conclusion, wide glycaemic fluctuation is an independent predictor of mortality in critically ill patients. Whether reducing glycaemic fluctuation would lead to better outcomes needs further evaluation.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Jul 2010
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyEffects of fluid preload (crystalloid or colloid) compared with crystalloid co-load plus ephedrine infusion on hypotension and neonatal outcome during spinal anaesthesia for caesarean delivery.
Preload with crystalloid or colloid solution is widely recommended for the prevention of maternal hypotension during spinal anaesthesia. A combination of simultaneous rapid crystalloid infusion with vasopressor has also been suggested. This study tested the hypothesis that ephedrine infusion with crystalloid loading at spinal anaesthesia would reduce hypotension and alter neonatal outcome compared with fluid preloading. ⋯ The incidence of nausea was significantly different between the crystalloid preload and ephedrine group. Umbilical blood gas analysis and Apgar scores were similar in all groups. A combination of an ephedrine infusion at 1.25 mg.minute(-1) with a crystalloid co-load was more effective than fluid preloading with crystalloid or colloid in the prevention of moderate and severe hypotension.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Jul 2010
A retrospective study to determine whether accessing frequency affects the incidence of microbial colonisation in peripheral arterial catheters.
Peripheral arterial catheters are used for the continuous monitoring of blood pressure and repeated blood sampling in critically ill patients, but can be a source of catheter-related bloodstream infection. A common assumption is that the more frequently an arterial catheter is accessed, the greater the likelihood of contamination and colonisation to occur We sought to determine whether the accessing frequency has an influence on the rate of colonisation in a peripheral arterial catheter A retrospective, unmatched, nested case control study was conducted in our intensive care unit. The intensive care unit charts of 96 arterial catheters from 83 patients were examined to measure the number of times each respective arterial catheter was accessed. ⋯ Arterial catheters which had a high access rate of 8.1 or more times/day (five colonised of 32 patients: hazards ratio 1.69, 95% confidence interval 0.52 to 5.49; P = 0.77), or a medium access rate of 6.7 to 8.0 times/day (six colonised of 32 patients: hazards ratio, 1.35, 95% confidence interval, 0.37 to 4.92: P = 0.65) were not significantly more colonised when compared to arterial catheters which had a low access rate of O to 6.6 times/day (six colonised of 32 patients), adjusted for arterial catheter insertion site and place in hospital where the arterial catheter insertion was performed. We were unable to demonstrate that the accessing frequency of an arterial catheter was a major predisposing factor for the likelihood of colonisation. Other mechanisms other than hub colonisation should be investigated further.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Jul 2010
Anti-emetic dexamethasone and postoperative infection risk: a retrospective cohort study.
Nausea and vomiting are common complications of anaesthesia. Dexamethasone is an effective prophylaxis but is immunosuppressive and may increase postoperative infection risk. This retrospective cohort study examined the association between the administration of a single intraoperative anti-emetic dose of dexamethasone (4 to 8 mg) and postoperative infection in 439 patients undergoing single procedure, non-emergency surgery in a university trauma centre. ⋯ Stepwise, multivariate logistic regression modelling identified significant associations between female gender, symptomatic reflux, respiratory disease and the risk of infection. The adjusted odds ratio for dexamethasone was 0.88 (0.5 to 1.5, P = 0.656). We did not demonstrate an association between anti-emetic doses of dexamethasone and postoperative infection.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Jul 2010
Changes in case-mix and outcomes of critically ill patients in an Australian tertiary intensive care unit.
Critical care service is expensive and the demand for such service is increasing in many developed countries. This study aimed to assess the changes in characteristics of critically ill patients and their effect on long-term outcome. This cohort study utilised linked data between the intensive care unit database and state-wide morbidity and mortality databases. ⋯ Although hospital mortality and median length of intensive care unit and hospital stay remained unchanged, one- and five-year survival had significantly improved with time, after adjusting for age, gender; severity of illness, organ failure, comorbidity, 'new' cancer and diagnostic group. Stratified analyses showed that the improvement in five-year survival was particularly strong among patients admitted after cardiac surgery (P = 0.001). In conclusion, although critical care service is increasingly being provided to patients with a higher severity of acute and chronic illnesses, long-term survival outcome has improved with time suggesting that critical care service may still be cost-effectiveness despite the changes in case-mix.