Journal of clinical anesthesia
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Pulse oximeter performance during desaturation and resaturation: a comparison of seven models.
To compare pulse oximeter performance during induced hypoxemia. ⋯ Most models of oximeters tested performed well when hemoglobin oxygen saturation was high, but all were inaccurate when SaO2 was approximately 75%. During induced hypoxemia, there were significant differences in the response times of oximeters tested, with no model demonstrably superior to others in all measures of performance.
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Venous air embolism (VAE) can be a lethal complication of surgical procedures, during which (1) venous pressure at the site of surgery is subatmospheric or (2) gas is forced under pressure into a body cavity. Though classically associated with neurosurgery, VAE is also a potential complication of laparoscopic, pelvic, and orthopedic procedures. It is, therefore, essential for the practicing anesthesiologist to recognize and treat venous air entrainment. An in-depth review of the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, detection, prevention, and treatment of VAE is presented.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Effects of motion, ambient light, and hypoperfusion on pulse oximeter function.
To compare the performance of five pulse oximeters during hypoperfusion, probe motion, and exposure to ambient light interference. ⋯ There are significant differences in the accuracy of commercially available pulse oximeters during nonideal circumstances, with failure rates varying from approximately 5% to 50% depending on the oximeter and source of interference. Furthermore, no single oximeter performed the best under all conditions.
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To determine the volume of air in 1000-ml crystalloid bags before and after connection to an infusion set; and to determine the volume of air that is not eliminated by the air eliminator in the Level 1 fluid warming device (Level 1 Technologies, Inc., Rockland, MA) when air boluses of different volumes enter into the fluid warming set. ⋯ Air must be rigorously eliminated from all fluid containers because of the limited air elimination capability of the Level 1 air eliminator.
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Thrombelastography (TEG), which evaluates the elastic properties of whole blood and provides a global assessment of hemostatic function, is useful in managing peripartum coagulopathy. A case of severe bleeding after vaginal delivery, in which TEG was used successfully to manage hemostatic defects, is presented.