Journal of clinical monitoring and computing
-
J Clin Monit Comput · Apr 2002
Xenon washout during in-vitro extracorporeal circulation using different oxygenators.
Xenon anesthesia is known to have no adverse influence on myocardial contractility and cardiocirculatory function even in cardiac compromised patients. To make use of this advantages for cardiac surgery patients undergoing extracorporeal circulation (ECC) it must be known if oxygenators are diffusible for xenon in order to avoid losses of the very expensive noble gas. ⋯ Using common oxygenators xenon is eliminated during ECC and lost into the atmosphere. To maintain anesthesia during ECC continuous xenon application would be necessary to compensate these losses. Due to its high price it would be too expensive to continue xenon anesthesia during ECC. Therefore it is not practicable to use the today's oxygenators and ECC equipment in xenon anesthesia.
-
J Clin Monit Comput · Apr 2002
Automated evaluation of functional residual capacity by oxygen washout.
Measurement of functional residual capacity (FRC) is of considerable interest for monitoring ventilated patients in ICUs. However, the lack of instruments that can be used in the clinical setting has so far impeded the routine application of this measurement. It was the aim of our study to evaluate the accuracy and the reproducibility of a simplified oxygen washout technique (FRC[O2]). ⋯ The automated oxygen washout technique is a simple method to measure FRC in the ICU patient.
-
J Clin Monit Comput · Apr 2002
Case ReportsCompartment syndrome of the arm: a complication of noninvasive blood pressure monitoring during thrombolytic therapy for myocardial infarction.
We report a rare case of tricep compartment syndrome caused by a hematoma which resulted from noninvasive blood pressure monitoring (NIBPM) during thrombolytic therapy. Clinicians administering thrombolytic agents should be aware of the risk of bleeding and compartment syndrome at the site of NIBPM. Appropriate preventative measures should be instituted when using automated pneumatic cuffs. An understanding of the pathophysiology and clinical presentation of an arm compartment syndrome will allow for prompt diagnosis and surgical treatment.
-
J Clin Monit Comput · Apr 2002
Performance of a real-time dicrotic notch detection and prediction algorithm in arrhythmic human aortic pressure signals.
A novel algorithm for real-time detection and prediction of the dicrotic notch from aortic pressure waves was evaluated in arrhythmic aortic pressure signals from heart failure patients. A simplified model of the arterial tree was used to calculate real-time aortic flow from aortic pressure. The dicrotic notch was detected at the first negative dip from the calculated flow, prediction of the notch was performed using a percentage of the decreasing flow. ⋯ Prediction of the dicrotic notch was tested at 40%, 20%, and 0% of the decreasing calculated aortic flow. The mean time-delays to the notch were 68 +/- 14 ms, 55 +/- 12 ms, and 43 +/- 8 ms, respectively. Given these small variability, intra-beat prediction of the dicrotic notch may be used for real-time intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation inflation timing.
-
J Clin Monit Comput · Apr 2002
Improving accuracy of the chemiluminescent analyser for measurement of nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide in respired gas.
The aim of this study was to improve the accuracy of the chemiluminescent analyser in the measurement of nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in both dry and humidified gas mixtures containing oxygen (O2) in varying concentrations. This work was performed because initial attempts to determine rate constants for the decay of NO and rates of formation of NO2 were unsuccessful. ⋯ This study indicates that for accurate analysis of NO and NO2 concentrations in airway gases a rigorous calibration of the instrument for the conditions applying in the experiment is mandatory. Once this is achieved the instrument is capable of precise analysis of both gases.