Acta anaesthesiologica Belgica
-
Acta Anaesthesiol Belg · Jan 2010
Predictors of cardiac responsiveness to fluid therapy after cardiac surgery.
Central venous pressure (CVP) and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) are insensitive preload markers and sometimes misleading. The introduction of the pulse contour method for monitoring of continuous cardiac output enabled the real-time quantification of stroke volume variation (SVV). Studies evaluating the accuracy of this parameter as a measure of preload responsiveness are still limited and conflicting results have been published in cardiac surgical patients. The aim of this study was to reevaluate the predictive value of SVV regarding cardiac responsiveness to fluid therapy and to compare it with the standard preload variables in a clinical setting in the ICU after cardiac surgery. ⋯ SVV as measured with the LiDCO system is a better functional marker of cardiac responsiveness to fluid therapy than the static parameters CVP and PCWP.
-
Acta Anaesthesiol Belg · Jan 2010
Case ReportsSuccessful use of videolaryngoscopy in an adult patient with acute epiglottitis: a case report.
Acute epiglottitis is a potentially life-threatening infection of the supraglottic structures, which can lead to sudden, fatal airway obstruction. Different techniques have been described to facilitate tracheal intubation in acute epiglottitis. We describe the successful intubation, with the help of the videolaryngoscope, of a 60-year-old female with acute epiglottitis. ⋯ Direct laryngoscopy in patients with epiglottitis may be difficult due to the swelling and distortion of the airway. This case report shows that videolaryngoscopy is a good alternative intubation device option in adults with acute epiglottitis. Nevertheless, all other precautions (difficult airway trolley, surgical tracheostomy) need to be ready for immediate use.
-
Acta Anaesthesiol Belg · Jan 2010
Does the KCE restrictive policy for preoperative testing lead to increased postoperative complications rate?
The majority of the industrialized country tries to contain the health care costs. One of the solutions applied was to restrict preoperative routine testing. ⋯ In this study we have not observed an increased complications rate related to this restrictive policy. We conclude that for the population selected, the KCE recommendations for preoperative testing are secure and do not induce an increased postoperative complications rate.
-
Acta Anaesthesiol Belg · Jan 2010
How readers perceive the quality of six anesthesia journals, their editors and reviewers: a European survey.
The aim of the present study was to evaluate six anesthesia journals and academic criteria, required for the editors and reviewers, as perceived by European anesthesiologists submitted to a questionnaire. The six journals were: Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica (AAS), Anesthesia and Analgesia (AN/AN), Anesthesiology (ANESTH), British Journal of Anaesthesia (BJA), Canadian Journal of Anesthesia (CJA) and European Journal of Anaesthesiology (EJA). Anesthesiologists were questioned on number of articles read per issue, preferred category of article and type of subject addressed, usefulness of supplemental issues as well as to score each journal for quality, format and color. ⋯ The overall scores of the estimated required academic background did not differ between editors and reviewers or between the different criteria. In conclusion, the six anesthesia journals demonstrated differences in all the variables included in the questionnaire addressed to their readers. In contrast the academic background criteria for editors and reviewers as scored by the readers did not show any differences.