Minerva anestesiologica
-
Minerva anestesiologica · Aug 2011
Case ReportsCoupled plasma filtration-adsorption in Weil's syndrome: case report.
Weil's syndrome is a form of leptospirosis characterized by jaundice, renal failure and hemorrhagic diathesis. Its pathogenesis is related with the invasiveness of leptospires and with the subsequent systemic inflammatory response. Coupled plasma filtration-adsorption (CPFA) is a modality of extracorporeal blood purification in which plasma is separated from the whole blood and directed into a sorbent cartridge. ⋯ Weaning from ventilation was achieved on day 6. Interestingly, diuresis started during the first course of CPFA, with a creatinine clearance of 63 ml/min on day 8 and a normalization of the ratio urinary to plasma osmolality on day 28. The patient was discharged on day 11 and 28 from the Intensive Care Unit and hospital respectively.
-
Minerva anestesiologica · Aug 2011
Interventional lung assist enables lung protective mechanical ventilation in acute respiratory distress syndrome.
The feasibility and safety of a pumpless arteriovenous extracorporeal lung assist system (pECLA) has been demonstrated in previous studies of patients with severe respiratory insufficiency. The aim of this report was to examine whether pECLA is feasible in a center that is new to the technology and to determine the positive and adverse effects associated with its use. ⋯ pECLA is an effective and manageable technique to support gas exchange in ARDS patients. This retrospective case series demonstrates the feasibility of pECLA in a center that did not have prior experience with this technique. pECLA may decrease further lung injury by minimizing the amount of time for which the lung is exposed to high stress and/or strain.
-
Minerva anestesiologica · Jul 2011
Randomized Controlled TrialA liberal preoperative fasting regimen improves patient comfort and satisfaction with anesthesia care in day-stay minor surgery.
The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a single preoperative limited oral intake of a carbohydrate drink could improve perioperative patient comfort and satisfaction with anesthesia care in elective day-stay ophthalmologic surgery. ⋯ Standardized limited oral preoperative fluid intake increases patient comfort and satisfaction with anesthesia care and should be a part of modern day-stay ophthalmologic surgery.
-
Minerva anestesiologica · Jul 2011
ReviewPostoperative delirium and postoperative cognitive dysfunction in the elderly - what are the differences?
Postoperative cognitive impairment is an increasingly common problem as more elderly patients undergo major surgery. Cognitive deficits in the postoperative period cause severe problems and are associated with a marked increase in morbidity and mortality. ⋯ Both have multifactorial pathogenesis but differ in numerous other ways, with delirium being well-defined and acute in onset and postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) being subtler and with longer duration. This review aims to provide an overview of the differences in the diagnosis of the two entities and to illustrate the methodological problems that can be encountered when evaluating cognitive deficits postoperatively.