Journal of clinical anesthesia
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Optimal length and angle of a new lightwand device (Trachlight).
To investigate the effects of angle and length of the Trachlight lightwand and the effect of obesity on transillumination of the neck and difficulty of intubation. ⋯ To increase the success rate of tracheal intubation using the lightwand, the lightwand should be bent in 40 degrees to 60 degrees, with the extrusion of 1 to 2 cm from the tracheal tube. For obese patients with body weight > or = 120% of the standard, the lightwand was not useful.
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Comparative Study
Effect of probe design on accuracy and reliability of pulse oximetry in pediatric patients.
To determine if the traditional band-wrap disposable pulse oximeter probe is more accurate or reliable for oxygen monitoring in children than the reusable clip-type probe. ⋯ The type of probe selected has little effect on accuracy of pulse oximetry in children. After cardiopulmonary bypass, using the Ohmeda band combination may improve the likelihood of obtaining consistent readings and decreasing down time.
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To determine whether anesthesiologists agree with each other when assessing actual malpractice clinical scenarios, whether their assessments comport with the actual malpractice verdicts, and whether they can accurately guess jury verdicts. ⋯ For this sample of homogeneous anesthesiologists who demonstrated high clinical agreement, it appears that the malpractice system may not be able to function on its own terms in adjudicating malpractice claims. Although there was agreement among respondent anesthesiologists, these assessments were in direct opposition to actual verdicts, a significant percentage of cases resulted in disagreements as to the appropriate standard of care, and anesthesiologists could not successfully predict jury verdicts. The malpractice system appears to be operating far from its theoretical ideal if these results could be applied more generally. Thus, in practice, the legal system, which is to provide an optimal level of injury deterrence, may be a poor method to limit patient injury, improve patient safety, and provide compensation to negligently injured patients in the health delivery system.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Reduced resource utilization in patients treated for postoperative nausea and vomiting with dolasetron mesylate. MCPR44 Study Group.
To compare the effect of four different increasing increasing intravenous (i.v.) doses of dolasetron mesylate (12.5 mg, 25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg) versus placebo on resource utilization in patients who experienced and were treated for postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). ⋯ Treatment with dolasetron can significantly decrease the utilization of emesis supplies and other hospital resources, including staff/emesis supplies and patient/bed linens. In addition, patients receiving dolasetron used fewer health care resources in time spent by hospital personnel than patients who were not treated with dolasetron.