Journal of clinical monitoring and computing
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J Clin Monit Comput · Dec 2015
The value of Integrated Pulmonary Index (IPI) monitoring during endoscopies in children.
The Integrated Pulmonary Index (IPI) is an algorithm included in commercially available monitors that constitutes a representation of 4 parameters: EtCO2, RR, SpO2 and PR. The IPI index has been validated for adults and children older than 1 year of age. In this study we aimed to study the value of IPI monitoring during pediatric endoscopic procedures. ⋯ No differences were noted between the different procedures. IPI alerted all apnea episodes (58 events, IPI = 1) and hypoxia (26 events, IPI ≤ 3) episodes, whereas pulse oximetry captured only the hypoxia episodes (IPI sensitivity = 1, specificity 0.98, positive predictive value 0.95). Younger patient age, use of propofol alone, higher midazolam doses and presence of anesthetist are all associated with lower IPI levels.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Dec 2015
A Handy EEG Electrode Set for patients suffering from altered mental state.
Although electroencephalography (EEG) is an important diagnostic tool for investigating patients with unexplained altered mental state (AMS), recording of emergency EEG is not a clinical routine. This is mainly due to the cumbersome electrode solutions. A Handy EEG Electrode Set consists of ten EEG, two EOG, two ground and two commutative reference hydrogel-coated silver wire electrodes attached to a thin polyester carrier film. ⋯ In following 12 cases, the sensitivity and specificity for detecting EEG abnormality based on the Handy EEG Electrode Set recordings were 83 and 100 %, respectively. The Handy EEG Electrode Set proved to be easy to use and to provide valuable information for the neurophysiological evaluation of a patient suffering from AMS. However, further studies with larger number of patients are warranted to clarify the true diagnostic accuracy and applicability of this approach.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Dec 2015
An improvised pressure gauge for regional nerve blockade/anesthesia injections: an initial study.
High injection pressure is one of the warning signs of intraneural injection, with animal models suggesting pressures higher than 69 or 176 kPa as high risk, and is normally detected subjectively and inaccurately. We describe a system improvised from common clinical components that uses Boyle's law to objectively measure injection pressure. The objectives of the study were to (1) Validate our improvised pressure gauge (IPG) by comparing the injection pressure as calculated by Boyle's law against the measured pressure and (2) Use the IPG to measure the range of injection pressures by two groups of anesthetic professionals using the "syringe feel" technique. ⋯ Anesthesiologists exceeded the threshold of 69 kPa in 18 of a total of 60 attempts whereas anesthetic assistants exceeded the threshold in 30 attempts out of 60 attempts. Anesthetic assistants exerted a higher overall pressure of 80 kPa compared to 51 kPa for anesthesiologists-this was statistically significant (p = 0.027). Our improvised system is easily and rapidly assembled from common clinical equipment and shows promise as a monitor for inadvertent intraneural injection.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Dec 2015
Accuracy of continuous noninvasive hemoglobin monitoring for the prediction of blood transfusions in trauma patients.
Early detection of hemorrhagic shock is required to facilitate prompt coordination of blood component therapy delivery to the bedside and to expedite performance of lifesaving interventions. Standard physical findings and vital signs are difficult to measure during the acute resuscitation stage, and these measures are often inaccurate until patients deteriorate to a state of decompensated shock. The aim of this study is to examine a severely injured trauma patient population to determine whether a noninvasive SpHb monitor can predict the need for urgent blood transfusion (universal donor or additional urgent blood transfusion) during the first 12 h of trauma patient resuscitation. ⋯ The results demonstrate that SpHb monitoring, accompanied by continuous vital signs data and adjusted for age and sex, has good accuracy for the prediction of need for transfusion; however, as an independent variable, SpHb did not enhance predictive models in comparison to use of features extracted from conventional pulse oximetry. Nor was shock index better than conventional oximetry at discriminating hemorrhaging and prediction of casualties receiving blood. In this population of trauma patients, noninvasive SpHb monitoring, including both trends and absolute values, did not enhance the ability to predict the need for blood transfusion.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Dec 2015
Evaluation of near infrared spectroscopy for detecting the β blocker-induced decrease in cerebral oxygenation during hemodilution in a swine model.
β blockers reduce cerebral oxygenation after acute hemodilution and may contribute to the incidence of stroke when used perioperatively. The goal of the study was to investigate whether cerebral tissue oxygenation using near infrared spectroscopy can detect the β blocker-induced decrease in cerebral oxygenation depending on the severity of hemodilution and/or the dose of β blockers. Animals were anesthetized with 2% isoflurane and randomly assigned to a landiolol or esmolol group. ⋯ Landiolol at 40 µg/kg/min was almost equivalent in potency to 200 µg/kg/min esmolol for decreasing HR before hemodilution. Based on the TOI, short-acting β blockers reduced cerebral oxygenation in a dose-dependent manner during hemodilution, and oxygenation returned to the baseline level after drug infusion was stopped. TOI may be useful for identification of a decrease in cerebral oxygenation for patients receiving β blockade during surgery associated with major bleeding.