Intensive care world
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Noninvasive blood pressure (NIBP) is one of the most common vital signs monitored by today's bedside and transport monitors. A variety of NIBP measurement methods has been used in these monitors. ⋯ The measurement accuracy of an NIBP monitor is typically established by clinical evaluation. Generally safe and easy to use, NIBP monitors play a very important role in patient care.
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Intensive care world · Jun 1995
Vascular access in neonates and infants--indications, routes, techniques and devices, complications.
Venous cannulation has been in regular use in neonates since the 1940s. This was at first through the umbilical vein, but the frequency of complications lead to other central and peripheral routes being used for infusion of fluid, nutrients and drugs. Today, peripheral venous access is preferred except for high volume fluid resuscitation, reliable infusion of irritant drugs and long-term parenteral nutrition. ⋯ Distal hypoperfusion may follow arterial cannulation. Modern emergency and intensive care paediatrics is impossible without adequate venous and arterial vascular access. However no other skill for neonatal intensive care causes more anxiety in primary care providers or is more difficult to teach.
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Intensive care world · Mar 1995
A new device for mechanical ventilation of infants and small children.
A new device for use with adult ventilators to allow neonatal and paediatric mechanical ventilation is described. It met International Standards Organisation standards during in vitro evaluation and gave good results when applied in vivo to ten children undergoing elective surgery. The device provided a safe and cost-effective means of delivering mechanical ventilation by an adult ventilator to neonatal and paediatric patients receiving general anaesthesia.
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Intensive care world · Mar 1994
ReviewAdvances in monitoring in intensive care: continuous mixed venous oxygen saturation and right ventricular ejection fraction.
Direct cardiorespiratory measurements and the use of optimum values to guide therapy have been associated with improved survival in a number of conditions causing critical illness. Increasingly sophisticated monitoring that provides more accurate and reproducible assessment of the cardiorespiratory system at the bedside is pivotal to this better outcome. ⋯ We discuss some practical aspects of the use of these measurements and some potential clinical applications. Additionally, some of the studies in which the use of these measurements is increasing our knowledge of the pathophysiology of critical illness and contributing to improved management of critically ill patients, are highlighted.
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The laryngeal mask, provides a totally patent airway when positioned in the hypopharynx with remarkable patient tolerance, even at very light planes of sedation. The major advantages of the laryngeal mask are its ease of insertion, the absence of contact with the vocal cards, and the fact that it frees the hands of the anesthesiologist. Contraindications to its use result from its failure to seal the airway against regurgitation of gastric content. ⋯ In the operating room few complications have been described, and postoperative discomfort is minimal. The laryngeal mask is a device positioned in the hypopharynx which allows separation of the digestive tract from the airway, without violation of either the larynx or the upper oesophageal sphincter. An endotracheal tube, because of its positioning, hinders normal glottic movement and narrows the airway.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)