Minerva anestesiologica
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Minerva anestesiologica · Oct 2016
ReviewThe risk of infusing gelatin? Die-hard misconceptions and forgotten (or ignored) truths.
Fluid therapy is considered a cornerstone of perioperative and critical care medicine. However, the type of fluids used varies widely among different countries. Synthetic colloids may negatively affect coagulation and are potentially nephrotoxic. "Modern" hydroxyethyl starches (HES) were widely used until recently when their association to mortality and renal replacement therapy risk among critically ill patients brought to restriction by the European Medicines Agency in 2013. ⋯ The aim of this contribution is to warn clinicians that gelatins share all potential adverse effects of other synthetic colloids, and are possibly even more nephrotoxic than HES. Moreover, gelatins have no beneficial effects on outcomes as compared with crystalloids (on the contrary, they might even increase mortality), and are also more expensive. Accordingly, a "return" to gelatins should be strongly discouraged.
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Minerva anestesiologica · Oct 2016
Point-of-care-based protocol with first-line therapy with coagulation factor concentrates is associated with decrease allogenic blood transfusion and costs in cardiovascular surgery: an Italian single-center experience.
Transfusion in patients having cardiac surgery has been associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and costs. This analysis assessed the impact of a rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM®)- and functional platelet assessment (Multiplate®)-based protocol for bleeding management on perioperative outcomes and costs in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. ⋯ ROTEM-guided bleeding management in patients undergoing cardiac surgery was cost-effective and associated with an increase of administration of coagulation factor concentrates and a decrease of ICU length of stay.
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Minerva anestesiologica · Oct 2016
Hazards of intubation in the ICU: role of nasal high flow oxygen therapy for preoxygenation and apneic oxygenation to prevent desaturation.
Acute respiratory failure is one the most common motives for intensive care unit admission. Although results from recent studies with high flow nasal oxygen have challenged our current management of these patients, a substantial number of them will require invasive mechanical ventilation and tracheal intubation. Life-threatening hypoxemia is the most frequent complication of these intubations. ⋯ Studies comparing high flow oxygen to noninvasive ventilation are ongoing and will help clarify the indications of each technique. This paper aims to show the evidence on the potential high flow nasal oxygen bears to improve preoxygenation for intubation outside the operating room. A practical algorithm to decide which preoxygenation device to use is proposed.
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Minerva anestesiologica · Oct 2016
Randomized Controlled TrialThe effects of minimal-dose versus low-dose S-ketamine on opioid consumption, hyperalgesia, and postoperative delirium: a triple-blinded, randomized, active- and placebo-controlled clinical trial.
Evidence confirms that perioperative ketamine administration decreases opioid usage. To reduce the risk for potential psychodysleptic side effects, however, ketamine dosing tends to be limited to low-dose regimens. We hypothesized that even lower doses of ketamine would be sufficient, with minimal side effects, when used as a component of multimodal perioperative pain management. ⋯ Our data demonstrate that minimal-dose S-ketamine was comparable to the conventional low-dose regimen in reducing postoperative opioid consumption and hyperalgesia. Postoperative delirium, however, was less frequent with the minimal-dose regimen. We therefore suggest that minimal-dose S-ketamine may be a useful low-risk component of balanced perioperative analgesia.