Minerva anestesiologica
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Minerva anestesiologica · Nov 2011
Multicenter StudyProspective multicenter study on epidemiology of acute kidney injury in the ICU: a critical care nephrology Italian collaborative effort (NEFROINT).
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is an independent risk factor for mortality in critically ill patients whose epidemiology has been made unclear in the past by the use of different definitions across various studies. The RIFLE consensus definition has provided a unifying definition for AKI leading to large retrospective studies in different countries. The present study is a prospective observational multicenter study designed to prospectively evaluate all incident admissions in 10 Intensive Care Units (ICUs) in Italy and the relevant epidemiology of AKI. ⋯ AKI is indeed a deadly complication for ICU patients where the level of severity correlated with mortality and length of stay. The tool developed for data collection resulted user friendly and easy to implement. Some of its features including a RIFLE class alert system, may help the treating physician to collect systematically AKI data in the ICU and possibly may guide specific decision on the institution of renal replacement therapy.
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Minerva anestesiologica · Nov 2011
Review Comparative StudyCoxibs: is there a benefit when compared to traditional non-selective NSAIDs in postoperative pain management?
A multi-modal approach for the management of postoperative pain has become increasingly popular. Strategies to avoid the use of opioids and thus any opioid analgesic related side-effect is an important part of the expansion of ambulatory surgery. Combining long acting local anesthesia in the wound area and non-opioid analgesics are today a basic concept in management of day care, short stay patients. ⋯ The less pronounced effect on platelet function and subsequent lower risk for impaired hemeostasis makes them, in theory, a preferred option to the non-selective traditional NSAIDs. The benefit versus risk for a more generalized use of Coxibs must, however, be based on a thorough evaluation of the overall benefits and risks for the use of NSAIDs and a further evaluation on whether the specific therapeutic features of the Coxibs provide benefits outweighing their increased cost. This review aims at providing a background and an overview of the benefits versus risks for the use of Coxibs as part of a multimodal postoperative pain management.
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Minerva anestesiologica · Nov 2011
Pain, postdural puncture headache, nausea, and pruritus after cesarean delivery: a survey of prophylaxis and treatment.
The need for a cesarean delivery may interfere negatively with the overall experience of childbirth. Several factors related to anesthesiological management such as postoperative pain and discomfort, nausea and pruritus, and postdural puncture headache (PDPH), may lead to dissatisfaction and have a negative impact on early mobilization and a new mother's ability to care for her newborn baby. Optimal prophylaxis and treatment decrease these complications, increase satisfaction, and prevent chronic pain. This survey determined how prophylaxis and treatment of pain, PDPH, nausea, and pruritus after cesarean section (CS) is managed. ⋯ Apart from conservative treatment of PDPH, prophylaxis and treatment of pain after cesarean delivery, PDPH, nausea, and pruritus varied widely, indicating the need for the qualitative evaluation of overall management.
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Enteral nutrition (EN) is a well established approach to nutritional support in the ICU. Parenteral nutrition (PN) represents an additional safe approach, substituting or complementing EN when its delivery fails completely or partially. This article attempts to summarize the ESPEN guidelines of PN in the ICU based on the available literature, which is often limited due to quality and methodology heterogeneity; the recommendations are therefore largely expressed as expert opinions.
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Minerva anestesiologica · Nov 2011
The use of the Foley Airway Stylet Tool® to guide tracheal intubations through an intubating laryngeal mask airway.
Blind insertion of endotracheal tubes through the intubating laryngeal mask airway (ILMA) is unsuccessful in almost 50% of cases on the first attempt, with an overall success rate of approximately 90%. We used a portable fiber optic device (Foley Airway Stylet Tool® FAST) to detect the reasons for failed intubations and tested its use in facilitating endotracheal tube placement. ⋯ A grade II view or worse indicated misalignment of the ILMA with the glottis. An endotracheal tube inserted blindly through the misaligned ILMA will impinge on and potentially damage laryngeal structures. The use of a portable fiber optic device can help reduce the failure rate of endotracheal intubations by utilizing ILMA in emergent situations.