Journal of clinical monitoring and computing
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J Clin Monit Comput · Apr 2019
Randomized Controlled TrialA low dose of three local anesthetic solutions for interscalene blockade tested by thermal quantitative sensory testing: a randomized controlled trial.
This randomized double-blind controlled trial compared the block characteristics of three low-dose local anesthetics at different roots in an ultrasound-guided interscalene block, using thermal quantitative sensory testing for assessing the functioning of cutaneous small nerve fibres. A total of 37 adults scheduled to undergo shoulder arthroscopy were randomized to receive 5 mL of either 0.5% levobupivacaine with and without epinephrine 1/200,000 or 0.75% ropivacaine in a single-shot interscalene block. Thermal quantitative sensory testing was performed in the C4, C5, C6 and C7 dermatomes. ⋯ A decrease in block intensity, with minimal changes in pain detection thresholds, was observed in the roots adjacent to C5, with the lowest block intensity in C7. A clinically relevant shorter duration was found with 0.75% ropivacaine compared to the other groups. Trial registration NCT 02691442.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Apr 2019
Suppression of pupillary unrest by general anesthesia and propofol sedation.
The pupil undergoes irregular oscillations when exposed to light. These oscillations, known as pupillary unrest in ambient light, originate from oscillatory activity within the Edinger-Westphal nucleus in the midbrain. The midbrain and upper pons also contain nuclei known to be very sensitive to the effects of anesthetics that play a central role in maintaining wakefulness. ⋯ Pupillary unrest is caused by oscillatory activity within the midbrain that is affected by the state of wakefulness or by hypnotics directly. Increased sedation and general anesthesia reduce and then abolish pupillary unrest as wakefulness decreases. We speculate that midbrain nuclei responsible for wakefulness and pupillary unrest are either communicating or share a similar sensitivity to the effects of commonly used anesthetics.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Apr 2019
ReviewJournal of Clinical Monitoring and Computing 2017/2018 end of year summary: monitoring-and provocation-of the microcirculation and tissue oxygenation.
The microcirculation is the ultimate goal of hemodynamic optimization in the perioperative and critical care setting. In this fourth end-of-year summary of the Journal of Clinical Monitoring and Computing on this topic, we take a closer look at papers published in the last 2 years that focus on this important aspect. ⋯ Additionally, studies on technical differences between NIRS monitors are summarized, as well as studies investigating the feasibility of NIRS monitoring, mainly in the pediatric patient population. Last but not least, novel monitoring tools allow assessing oxygenation at a (sub)cellular level, and those papers incorporating these techniques are also reviewed here.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Apr 2019
Clinical implementation of electric impedance tomography in the treatment of ARDS: a single centre experience.
To report on our clinical experience using EIT in individualized PEEP titration in ARDS. Using EIT assessment, we optimized PEEP settings in 39 ARDS patients. The EIT PEEP settings were compared with the physicians' PEEP settings and the PEEP settings according to the ARDS network. ⋯ We hypothesize that this can be attributed to the alveolar recruitment during the PEEP trial. EIT based individual PEEP setting appears to be a promising method to optimize PEEP in ARDS patients. The clinical impact, however, remains to be established.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Apr 2019
Assessing the correct inflation of the endotracheal tube cuff: a larger pilot balloon increases the sensitivity of the 'finger-pressure' technique, but it remains poorly reliable in clinical practice.
The pilot balloon palpation (or 'finger-pressure') method is still widely used to assess the endotracheal tube cuff inflation, despite consistent evidence of its poor sensitivity in recognizing cuff overinflation. It was recently speculated that this may be related to the lower wall tension (due to the smaller radius) of the pilot balloon as compared with the cuff, according to Laplace's law. To verify this hypothesis and, secondarily, to assess whether the use of a 'large' pilot balloon (identical to the cuff) increases the reliability of this technique, 62 anesthetists (41 experienced anesthesiologists and 21 residents) were asked to estimate the pressure of a cuff inflated to 88 mmHg into a simulated trachea by feeling both a usual and a modified 'large' pilot balloon. ⋯ Moreover, 89% of participants (85% of experienced anesthesiologists and 95% of residents) believed that pressure was higher in the 'large' balloon than in the normal one. However, only 32% of participants (51% of experienced anesthesiologists and none of residents) recognized slight overinflation (40 mmHg) after feeling the 'large' balloon. The pilot balloon size affects the sensitivity of the 'finger-pressure' technique, but it remains poorly reliable with a larger pilot balloon.