Minerva anestesiologica
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Minerva anestesiologica · Oct 2012
Performance of different PEEP valves and helmet outlets at increasing gas flow rates: a bench top study.
Aim of the paper was to assess the performance of different expiratory valves and the resistance of helmet outlet ports at increasing gas flow rates. ⋯ Adjustable PEEP valves are not suggested for continuous-flow CPAP systems as their flow-dependency can lead to pressures higher than expected. Precalibrated and water seal valves exhibit the best performance. Different helmet outlet ports do not significantly affect the pressure generated during helmet CPAP. In order to avoid iatrogenic complications gas flow and pressure delivered during helmet CPAP must always be monitored.
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Minerva anestesiologica · Oct 2012
Comparative StudyComparison of transpulmonary thermodilution, transthoracic echocardiography and conventional hemodynamic monitoring in neonates and infants after open heart surgery: a preliminary study.
Transpulmonary thermodilution (TPTD) is an increasingly popular method used to monitor the complex hemodynamic changes in critically ill children. The purpose of our study was to examine the relationship between transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) parameters and global hemodynamic variables derived from TPTD and those derived from conventional measurements in infants and neonates undergoing corrective cardiac surgery. ⋯ Both TPTD and TTE may be used in the estimating volumetric preload parameters. The time course of TPTD-derived parameters may have clinical relevance in pediatric critical care practice.
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Minerva anestesiologica · Oct 2012
Neonatal congenital diaphragmatic hernia: respiratory and blood-gas derived indices in choosing surgical timing.
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) still has a high mortality despite advanced assistance techniques. The aim of this study is to verify the validity of five respiratory and blood-gas-derived indices in defining presurgical stabilization: the oxygenation index (OI), the alveolar-arterial O(2) gradient (A-aDO(2)), the arterial-alveolar O(2) tension ratio (a/AO(2)), the arterial pH and the PaCO(2). ⋯ The study confirms the validity of these indices as a guide to the treatment of neonates with CDH, showing a good reliability in identifying presurgical stabilization.