Current opinion in anaesthesiology
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Evidence is emerging that delirium is associated with both short-term and long-term morbidity and mortality. This review highlights the epidemiology, outcomes, prevention and treatment strategies associated with delirium after cardiac surgery. ⋯ Clinicians in the ICU must recognize the impact of delirium in predicting long-term outcomes for patients. Further research is needed in determining interventions that will be effective in preventing and treating delirium in cardiac surgical setting.
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Bleeding in trauma carries a high mortality and is increased in case of coagulopathy. Our understanding of hemostasis and coagulopathy has improved, leading to a change in the protocols for hemostatic monitoring. This review describes the current state of evidence supporting the use of viscoelastic hemostatic assays to guide trauma resuscitation. ⋯ We are moving toward avoiding coagulopathy by individualized, goal-directed transfusion therapy, using viscoelastic hemostatic assays to guide ongoing resuscitation of actively bleeding patients in a goal-directed manner.
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A large proportion of patients undergoing surgery have coexisting chronic kidney disease, placing them at greater risk of postoperative morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this review is to review the recent developments in how renal function is estimated, how this relates to surgical outcomes, and how this has been applied clinically. ⋯ Improved accuracy in defining kidney disease will aid clinicians in identifying higher risk patients, and aid earlier diagnosis of acute kidney injury. Further research is required, specifically on the implications of kidney disease in noncardiac surgical patients, and how defining renal function before and after surgery can aid in preventive strategies.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Apr 2014
ReviewPredicting postoperative pulmonary complications: implications for outcomes and costs.
This review of progress toward reliable prediction of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) discusses risk assessment against the background of patient management strategies, clinical outcomes, and cost of healthcare. ⋯ PPCs are associated with a higher incidence of life-threatening events and higher costs. Reliable PPC risk-stratification tools are essential for guiding clinical decision-making in the perioperative period. The care team can act on modifiable factors and optimize vigilance over nonmodifiable ones. It would be useful to focus resources on determining whether low-cost preemptive interventions improve outcomes satisfactorily or new strategies need to be developed.
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Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Apr 2014
ReviewPreventing and managing perioperative pulmonary complications following cardiac surgery.
To provide an update of research findings on the mechanisms underlying respiratory complications after cardiac surgery, especially acute respiratory distress syndrome, transfusion-related lung injury and ventilation-associated pneumonia. The article will review some of the preventive and therapeutic measures that can be implemented to reduce these complications, focusing on the use of protective invasive ventilation and postextubation noninvasive ventilation. ⋯ Postoperative pulmonary complications are common, but severe complications are infrequent. Their reduction requires measures to prevent infection and mechanical ventilation-associated lung injury through the use of low tidal volumes and early extubation. Noninvasive ventilation after extubation can be utilized to avoid reintubation and the associated increased morbidity and mortality. However, noninvasive ventilation should be done under rigorous conditions and by following strict criteria.