Minerva anestesiologica
-
Minerva anestesiologica · Jun 2012
Monitors of the hypnotic component of anesthesia - correlation between bispectral index and cerebral state index.
The current study examines whether analysis of identical EEG data results in a high correlation coefficient of BIS and CSI values during all anesthetic levels and assesses the concordance of both EEG monitors for displaying the level of anesthesia as defined by the manufacturers. ⋯ In contrast to previous studies, our current approach combines the following conditions: analysis on basis of identical underlying EEG data from deep to light anesthesia, no guidance of anesthetic administration by one of the EEG-based monitors, avoidance of simultaneous EEG readings and the use of two different anesthetic regimens. Though the result of EEG analysis during anesthesia is similar with both monitors, CSI performance during propofol anesthesia was superior to sevoflurane anesthesia. Consequently, a lower agreement of classification of anesthetic levels between BIS and CSI was reached with the use of sevoflurane. Thus, CSI calculation seems not to be independent from anesthetic agent.
-
The term "chronic" is often used in daily clinical practice to indicate a type of pain that lasts over time and is accompanied by diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties. The common feeling is that in this category are actually collected many different clinical cases with the unique characteristic that the pain lasts a long time. It follows that treatment failures are common and patients roam from doctor to doctor in search of an effective care program. ⋯ Differences among patients in developing chronic pain can be related to differences in the ability of the brain to continuously adapt its functional and structural organization. It is obvious that the care plan for these complex patients is profoundly different from that needed for patients with pain linked to a chronic disease or stabilized pain mechanisms. The purpose of the present article is to provide a review of the most noteworthy developments in this field and to propose some observations that may help to understand this pain condition and the patients.
-
Critically ill cirrhotic patients are characterized by unique and complicated clinical scenarios related to some characteristic and clear-cut pathophysiological features of their chronic end-stage liver disease that challenge Intensive Care Unit (ICU) physicians with several management problems. This class of patients may require admission to the ICU because of decompensation of their pre-existing liver disease or due to medical problems independent of cirrhosis as pneumonia, trauma or surgery. ⋯ Despite some improvement that was recently reported, patients with decompensated cirrhosis pose to ICU physicians several and, sometimes, dramatic dilemmas in terms of therapeutic strategies and efficacy of the treatments also due to the lack of large specific studies on this particular class of patients. This review will focus on kidney, cardiopulmonary and cerebral complications of severe cirrhosis as well as those related to portal hypertension and their management.
-
Minerva anestesiologica · Jun 2012
Case ReportsLaryngeal tube as airway rescue device from prehospital tracheostomy: a case report.
Airway management is a priority for the critically ill patient. The insertion of a cuffed tracheal tube is the best practice to obtain an airway control; however, it is associated with many practical problems in prehospital trauma care. When this common procedure is not available, it can be substituted by an extraglottic airway. ⋯ Due to the impossibility of endotracheal intubation the patient underwent surgical tracheostomy as suggested by the ear nose throat surgeon consultant. This case suggests that LT could be an important alternative device for airway management in trauma patients after a failed tracheal intubation. LT is a precious tool to achieve good ventilation and oxygenation from the field to the operatory theatre.
-
Minerva anestesiologica · Jun 2012
Case ReportsTreatment with daptomycin for Corynebacterium Jeikeium left-sided prosthetic valve endocarditis.
Prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) is a serious complication with potential fatal consequences, classified as early or late PVE, depending on whether typical symptoms occur within or later than 12 months from surgery. The incidence of early PVE is under 1%, but it carries high morbidity and mortality rates. ⋯ Described is an unusual case report of a 57-year-old man who had early aortic PVE due to Corynebacterium Jeikeium infection complicated by dehiscence of the prosthesis, complete atrio-ventricular block, perforation of the interventricular septum and septic shock. Prompt diagnosis, choice of daptomycin as antibiotic therapy although it has only been approved by the European Medicine Agency (EMEA) for right-sided endocarditis and timely open heart surgery, resulted in a successful outcome.