Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Oct 2011
Plasma tau protein in comatose patients after cardiac arrest treated with therapeutic hypothermia.
Neurological outcome after cardiac arrest (CA) is difficult to predict in the acute phase. In this pilot study, we assessed blood levels of tau protein as a prognostic marker for the neurological outcome after 6 months in patients treated with hypothermia after resuscitation from CA. ⋯ Although in a pilot study, a late increase in plasma tau protein seems to be associated with a worse outcome after hypothermia treatment after CA, although more studies are needed.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Oct 2011
Positive end-expiratory pressure-induced changes in end-expiratory lung volume measured by spirometry and electric impedance tomography.
A bedside tool for monitoring changes in end-expiratory lung volume (ΔEELV) would be helpful to set optimal positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) in acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome patients. The hypothesis of this study was that the cumulative difference of the inspiratory and expiratory tidal volumes of the first 10 breaths after a PEEP change accurately reflects the change in lung volume following a PEEP alteration. ⋯ We conclude that spirometric measurements of inspiratory-expiratory tidal volumes agree well with impedance changes monitored by EIT and can be used bedside to estimate PEEP-induced changes in EELV.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Oct 2011
Washout of sevoflurane from the GE Avance and Amingo Carestation anesthetic machines.
Inhalational anesthetics must be removed from anesthetic machines to prevent malignant hyperthermia (MH) in susceptible patients or to treat MH occurring during inhalational general anesthesia. This study examines the sevoflurane washout from the GE Avance and Amingo Carestations™. ⋯ In case of sudden onset of MH, the Avance or Amingo Carestation™ can stay in place, if the fresh gas flow is increased to 10 l/min or more. To prepare these machines for MH-susceptible patients, the ABS™ should be substituted by a laundered component.