Crit Care Resusc
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Comparative Study
Analysis of performance and predictors of success in the final fellowship examination of the College of Intensive Care Medicine.
To analyse the performance and predictors of success in the final fellowship examination of the College of Intensive Care Medicine (CICM), and to compare the outcomes of international medical graduates (IMGs) attempting the CICM fellowship exam with those of local trainees, defined as those from Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong (ANZ-HK). To compare the performance of IMGs from countries with comparable health care systems (CHS) with those from other countries (non-CHS). ⋯ A significant proportion of candidates appearing for the CICM fellowship examination are IMGs. Pass rates for trainees who have graduated from the ANZ- HK systems have a higher success rate in the fellowship examination. IMGs from a CHS country, or those who completed an ANZ primary have a much higher success rate compared with other IMGs.
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Observational Study
Primary fluid bolus therapy for infectionassociated hypotension in the emergency department.
The physiological changes associated with fluid bolus therapy (FBT) for patients with infection-associated hypotension in the emergency department (ED) are poorly understood. We describe the physiological outcomes of FBT in the first 6 hours (primary FBT) for patients presenting to the ED with infection-associated hypotension. ⋯ Among ED patients admitted to an Australian teaching hospital with infection, hypotension was uncommon. FBT for hypotension was limited in volumes given and failed to achieve a sustained SBP of >100 mmHg in 40% of cases. In contrast, noradrenaline therapy corrected hypotension in all patients who received it.
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Observational Study
Cortisol responses at baseline and after corticotropin in acute aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage: a prospective study.
Measurements of total plasma cortisol (TPC) in the acute phase of aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH) have suggested a high incidence of adrenal insufficiency (AI). ⋯ In the acute phase after aSAH, the FPC increase is fivefold greater than that of TPC. There is discordance between TPC and FPC responses to corticotropin. The prevalence of AI, as assessed by FPC measurements, is negligible. We advocate caution in the assessment of adrenal cortical function using measurements of TPC in this population.
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To investigate the role of coronary driving pressure (CDP) in myocardial microcirculatory blood flow during sepsis. We hypothesised that in septic shock there is an impaired autoregulation of microcirculation, and blood flow is totally dependent on CDP. We analysed the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced shock on myocardial microcirculation, separating subendocardial and epicardial areas. We then studied the effect of CDP increases using noradrenaline (NOR) or metaraminol (Aramine [ARA]) on myocardial microcirculation and function, and we analysed the effect of volume infusion on CDP and myocardial function. ⋯ Myocardial blood flow in the LV subendocardium and the right ventricle decreases in endotoxaemic rats. Increasing CDP improves myocardial blood flow and function. Thus, in endotoxaemia, microcirculatory blood flow is pressure dependent, suggesting that it may be beneficial to treat patients with sepsis using a higher CDP.