British journal of anaesthesia
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Arterial pulse pressure and postoperative morbidity in high-risk surgical patients.
Systemic arterial pulse pressure (systolic minus diastolic pressure) ≤53 mm Hg in patients with cardiac failure is correlated with reduced stroke volume and is independently associated with accelerated morbidity and mortality. Given that deconditioned surgical and heart failure patients share similar cardiopulmonary physiology, we examined whether lower pulse pressure is associated with excess morbidity after major surgery. ⋯ ISRCT registry, ISRCTN88456378.
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Patients with severe grades of life-threatening brain injury are commonly characterized as having devastating brain injury (DBI), which we have defined as: 'any neurological condition that is assessed at the time of hospital admission as an immediate threat to life or incompatible with good functional recovery AND where early limitation or withdrawal of therapy is being considered'. The outcome in patients with DBI is often death or severe disability, and as a consequence rapid withdrawal of life sustaining therapies is commonly contemplated or undertaken. However, accurate prognostication in life-threatening brain injury is difficult, particularly at an early stage. ⋯ We have made 12 practical, pragmatic recommendations to help clinicians deliver safe, effective, equitable, and justifiable care within resource constrained healthcare systems. In the situation where patient-centred outcomes are recognized to be unacceptable, regardless of the extent of neurological improvement, then early transition to palliative care is appropriate. These recommendations are intended to apply where the primary pathology is DBI, rather than where DBI has compounded a progressive and irreversible deterioration in other life-threatening comorbidities.
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Management of antiplatelet therapy in patients with coronary stents undergoing noncardiac surgery: association with adverse events.
Perioperative discontinuation of antiplatelet therapy (APT) in patients with coronary stents has been associated with major adverse cardiac events. Our aim was to analyse the perioperative management of APT in such patients and its relationship to the incidence of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) and major bleeding events (MBE) in noncardiac surgery. ⋯ NCT01171612.
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Previous meta-analyses on the anaesthetic management of patients undergoing surgery for hip fracture have focused on randomized trials. Furthermore, heterogeneity in outcome reporting across the studies has made it difficult to inform best practice guidelines for patient care. ⋯ We highlight the need for agreement on outcome definitions and for a minimum core outcome set to be measured and reported in hip fracture studies. This would strengthen the evidence-based approach to delivering optimal care.
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Observational Study
The surgical safety checklist and patient outcomes after surgery: a prospective observational cohort study, systematic review and meta-analysis.
The surgical safety checklist is widely used to improve the quality of perioperative care. However, clinicians continue to debate the clinical effectiveness of this tool. ⋯ Patients exposed to a surgical safety checklist experience better postoperative outcomes, but this could simply reflect wider quality of care in hospitals where checklist use is routine.