South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde
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The severity of acute pulmonary hypertension (APHT) in acute respiratory distress syndrome was examined in 20 patients. All patients had significant APHT (mean pressure 40.6 +/- 6.3 mmHg) on admission to the intensive care unit. ⋯ The RV afterload, i.e. pulmonary artery elastance (Ea = stroke volume/peak pulmonary artery pressure), was raised. Stroke volume could not be predicted from Ea or RVSWI alone, but regression analysis indicated that the ratio of RVSWI/Ea (i.e. ventriculo-arterial coupling) could account for 88% of the stroke volume.
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Prospective assessment of the accuracy of three pulse oximeters and two probe sites in darkly pigmented critically ill patients under clinical conditions. ⋯ The accuracy of pulse oximetry is not adversely affected by skin pigmentation, and it remains a useful oxygenation monitoring device in darkly pigmented patients.
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To determine and analyse peri-operative mortality with particular emphasis on avoidable factors, in the hope that this information will lead to an improvement in standards. ⋯ This audit reveals that there were avoidable factors in 51% of peri-operative deaths. It should be possible to reduce the mortality rate by developing preventive measures.