Minerva anestesiologica
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Minerva anestesiologica · Mar 2014
ReviewMechanical circulatory support for acute heart failure in 2013: an update on available devices, indications and results.
Severe acute heart failure often requires some form of mechanical support to circulation. The use of intraaortic balloon counterpulsation in postinfarction cardiogenic shock - perhaps the most common scenario of this kind - has been recently questioned in the IABP SHOCK trial. ⋯ Moreover, advances in technology and a reducing number of donors are leading to more extended indications to the implantation of ventricular assist devices. Herein, we offer a focused review on recent articles dealing with mechanical support to circulation in acute heart failure, which we found relevant in terms of their possible impact on therapeutic strategies and indication.
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Minerva anestesiologica · Mar 2014
Observational StudyValidation of cardiac output studies from the Mostcare compared to a pulmonary artery catheter in septic patients.
The Mostcare monitor is a non-invasive cardiac output monitor. It has been well validated in cardiac surgical patients but there is limited evidence on its use in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. ⋯ Compared to thermodilution cardiac output, cardiac output studies obtained from the Mostcare monitor have an unacceptably high error rate. The Mostcare monitor demonstrated to be an unreliable monitoring device to measure cardiac output in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock on an intensive care unit.
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We organized a training program for oral fiber optic intubation (FOI) under conscious sedation. The efficacy of the program was evaluated by comparing the performances of experts and novices. ⋯ This study highlights the importance of a structured FOI training program, demonstrating that it is possible to learn to perform FOI proficiently by practicing on dummies.