Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthésie
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Observational Study
Bioimpedance-measured volume overload predicts longer duration of mechanical ventilation in intensive care unit patients.
Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a technology that provides a rapid, non-invasive measurement of volume in body compartments and may aid the physician in the assessment of volume status. We sought to investigate the effect of BIA-measured volume status on duration of mechanical ventilation, 28-day mortality, and acute kidney injury requiring renal replacement therapy in a population of medical/surgical patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). ⋯ Bioimpedance-measured ECW/TBW on day 1 of admission to the ICU is associated with time on the ventilator. While this technology may be a useful adjunct to the clinical assessment of volume status, there are technical barriers to its routine use in a general ICU population.
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Hydroxocobalamin, or vitamin B12 (V-B12), is frequently used to treat smoke inhalation and cyanide poisoning. Recent reports have also described its use to treat vasoplegia in cardiac surgery and liver transplantation. This narrative review discusses this "off-label" indication for V-B12, focusing on the potential biochemical mechanisms of its actions. ⋯ Although anecdotal reports utilizing V-B12 for vasoplegia are available, no higher-level evidence exists. Future work is necessary to further understand the dosing, timing, adverse events, and biochemical mechanisms of V-B12 compared with other therapies such as methylene blue.
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Multicenter Study
Simulation-based assessment in anesthesia: an international multicentre validation study.
Simulated clinical events provide a means to evaluate a practitioner's performance in a standardized manner for all candidates that are tested. We sought to provide evidence for the validity of simulation-based assessment tools in simulated pediatric anesthesia emergencies. ⋯ This study supports the validity of our simulation-based anesthesiologist assessment tools in several domains of validity. We also describe some residual challenges regarding the validity of our tools, some notes of caution in terms of the intended consequences of their use, and identify opportunities for further research.
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Although intraoperative anaphylaxis during surgery is a rare event, we describe five patients who experienced perioperative anaphylactic reactions during renal transplantation and were referred for investigation. ⋯ Intraoperative insertion of chlorhexidine-coated central venous catheters can trigger life-threatening anaphylaxis in susceptible patients undergoing renal transplantation.