Anaesthesia and intensive care
-
Anaesth Intensive Care · May 2008
Australian anaesthetists' practice of sedation for gastrointestinal endoscopy in adult patients.
A wide spectrum of practice in sedation for gastrointestinal endoscopy in adult patients is documented overseas, but a current profile of the practice of Australian anaesthetists is unavailable. We therefore surveyed 200 Fellows of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists on the choice of drugs and monitoring, use of analgesic throat spray and prophylactic intravenous fluids and the depth of sedation for gastrointestinal endoscopy. Our response rate was 57% and endoscopy formed a significant part of most respondents' practices. ⋯ However over 20% of patients having gastroscopy or colonoscopy did not have non-invasive blood pressure monitoring. A maximum depth of sedation during which the patient was unresponsive to painful stimulation (commensurate with general anaesthesia) was targeted by 54% of respondents. Significant variations exist in the practice of sedation and monitoring for endoscopy in adult patients by anaesthetists in Australia.
-
Anaesth Intensive Care · May 2008
Letter Case ReportsRemifentanil for supraventricular tachycardia.
-
Anaesth Intensive Care · Mar 2008
Case ReportsA series of five adult cases of respiratory syncytial virus-related acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Respiratory syncytial virus is a common cause of respiratory tract disease in children, predominantly presenting with mild symptoms. We present five cases of respiratory syncytial virus infection of the lower respiratory tract in immunocompromised adults suffering from severe respiratory insufficiency leading to bilateral pneumonia and fulfilling the criteria for acute respiratory distress syndrome. ⋯ Respiratory syncytial virus was implicated as a direct cause of respiratory failure. Respiratory syncytial virus may be an underestimated cause of severe respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome in the immunocompromised adult admitted to the intensive care unit.