Journal of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Apr 2011
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyA randomized, controlled trial on dexmedetomidine for providing adequate sedation and hemodynamic control for awake, diagnostic transesophageal echocardiography.
Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has become established as a sensitive and accurate diagnostic method for the rapid assessment of myocardial function. It was theorized that dexmedetomidine (Precedex; Hospira, Inc, Lake Forest, IL) might prove to be useful for sedating patients while undergoing TEE. ⋯ The authors concluded that dexmedetomidine appears equivalent in achieving adequate levels of sedation without increasing the rate of respiratory depression or decreasing oxygen saturation compared with standard therapy, and it may be better in achieving desired hemodynamic results.
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Apr 2011
Comparative StudyClostridium difficile-associated disease acquired in the cardiothoracic intensive care unit.
To determine the prevalence, severity, and outcome associated with Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD) acquired while in the cardiothoracic intensive care unit (CTICU). ⋯ C difficile-associated disease rarely is acquired in the CTICU. Approximately one third of patients may experience disease progression, and just over a quarter may die within 30 days of diagnosis. The implementation of recommended severity definitions and treatment algorithms may reduce complication rates and merits prospective evaluation.
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Apr 2011
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyDirect observation of the human microcirculation during cardiopulmonary bypass: effects of pulsatile perfusion.
Possible benefits of pulsatile perfusion during cardiopulmonary bypass often are attributed to enhanced microvascular flow. However, there is no evidence to support this in humans. Therefore, the authors assessed whether pulsatile perfusion alters human microvascular flow. ⋯ Pulsatile perfusion does not alter human microvascular perfusion using standard equipment in routine cardiac surgery. Changes in pulse pressure or energy-equivalent pressure bear no obvious relationship with microcirculatory parameters.
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Apr 2011
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyUtility of a transesophageal echocardiographic simulator as a teaching tool.
This study was designed to test the hypothesis that simulator-based transesophageal echocardiographic training was a more effective method of training anesthesia residents with no prior experience in echocardiography as compared with conventional methods of training (books, articles, and web-based resources). ⋯ The simulator-based teaching model for transesophageal echocardiography is a better method of teaching the basic concepts of transesophageal echocardiography like anatomic correlation, structure identification, and image acquisition.