Journal of clinical monitoring and computing
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J Clin Monit Comput · Jan 2000
Use of an anesthesia information management system (AIMS) to evaluate the physiologic effects of hypnotic agents used to induce anesthesia.
The aim of this study was to utilize an anesthesia information management system (AIMS) in investigating the effects of hypnotic agents used to induce anesthesia on blood pressure, heart rate and arterial oxygen saturation. The characteristics of these agents, known from previous studies, were compared to the effects documented in this study during routine clinical use. ⋯ The effects of the induction hypnotic agents thiopental, etomidate and propofol on blood pressure and heart rate as documented by an AIMS corresponded to those found in clinical studies. An AIMS with the corresponding documentation, software and database structure is suitable for collecting and evaluating data for dinical investigations.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Jan 2000
Atypical "tails-up" capnograph due to breach in the sampling tube of side-stream capnometer.
An atypical "tails-up" capnograph pattern was noticed in a patient during the use of an accidentally crushed sampling tube with a slit-like hole. We investigated the mechanics involved in the observed capnograph pattern. ⋯ During IPPV, pressure in the breathing circuit is lower during exhalation, thus allowing air to enter through the slit-like hole in the sampling tube causing erroneously low ETCO2 and expiratory sevoflurane. With inspiration, positive pressure in the breathing circuit, transmitted to the sampling tube, prevents air admixture and the upsurge in CO2 is displayed giving the capnograph an atypical "tails-up" appearance. During spontaneous breathing, since pressure in the breathing circuit barely becomes positive during exhalation and is negative during inspiration, air mixes with the sampled gas during both phases and so the capnograph shape was normal but with lower values for ETCO2, insp./exp. sevoflurane, and nitrous oxide levels. If undiagnosed, this defect in the sampling tube can lead to significant errors in the measurement of inspired and expired gas concentrations.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Jan 2000
Evaluation of two new ecological interface approaches for the anesthesia workplace.
Currently, vital parameters are commonly displayed as trends along a timeline. However, clinical decisions are more often based upon concepts, such as the depth of anesthesia, that are derived by combining parameter relationships and additional context information. The current displays do not visualize such concepts and therefore do not optimally support the decision process. A new display should present an ecological interface (EI). The principle of EI design is to visualize all of the information necessary for decision making in one single display. ⋯ The results have shown that appropriately designed EIs may improve the anesthetist's decision making and focus attention on specific problems. Now, the findings have to be tested in future studies by widening the scope using other simulated scenarios and being closer to reality under real conditions in the OR. Eye tracking proved to be a useful method to analyze the anesthetists' decision making and appropriately re-design interfaces.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Jan 2000
An IBM PC-based system for the assessment of cardio-respiratory function using oscillating inert gas forcing signals.
An IBM PC-based real-time data acquisition, monitoring and analysis system was developed for the assessment of cardio-respiratory function, i.e. airway dead space, alveolar volume and pulmonary blood flow, using oscillating inert inspired gas forcing signals. ⋯ A system was developed to deliver, monitor and analyse on-line, and in real-time, output data from the sinusoid forcing technique. The technique was administered using the system in various subjects, and produced favourable predictions.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Jan 2000
Warning devices for prevention of dental injury during laryngoscopy. Preliminary report.
The prototypes of two novel warning devices for protection against dental trauma during direct laryngoscopy are described. Either can be attached to a standard laryngoscope blade (e.g., Macintosh). The basic design is that of a switch that is closed by pressure on the maxillary incisors by the laryngoscope blade.