Journal of perianesthesia nursing : official journal of the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses
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The brown recluse spider is found more commonly in the Southeast and the Central Midwest. Its bite is not common because it is a shy spider that only bites if cornered. A severe bite may necrose a large area that requires skin grafting; systemic reactions rarely occur. This article discusses the brown recluse spider and presents a case study of a patient with two spider bites that did require extensive grafting.
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Perioperative hypothermia remains a common occurrence in the Phase I PACU. Identification of and appropriate intervention for this complication is of prime importance in the prevention of adverse outcomes. This article provides an overview of perioperative hypothermia and offers a summary of the most common methods used to measure body temperature.
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Pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) technology has changed significantly and use has decreased over the last 20 years. Barriers to use include: (a) increased patient risk with placement; (b) ability to measure similar variables via less invasive measures; (c) increased cost; (d) inaccurate measurement leading to misuse of PAC-derived variables; (e) incorrect interpretation and clinical application; and (f) lack of proven benefit for patient management. Advances in technology have allowed for continuous trending of hemodynamic parameters measured via the PAC. ⋯ Much of the data available from the PAC can be obtained via less invasive methods. However, the PAC continues to be useful in specific situations and remains the gold standard for comparison of new technologies. This paper discusses use of the PAC during the past 2 decades and reviews studies affecting its use in clinical practice.