Best practice & research. Clinical anaesthesiology
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Delirium and poor sleep quality are common and often co-exist in hospitalised patients. A link between these disorders has been hypothesised but whether this link is a cause-and-effect relationship or simply an association resulting from shared mechanisms is yet to be determined. ⋯ Mechanical ventilation, an important cause of sleep disruption in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, may lead to sleep disruption not only from the discomfort of the endotracheal tube but also as a result of ineffective respiratory efforts and by inducing central apnoea events if not properly adjusted for the patient's physiologic needs. When possible, efforts should be made to optimise the patient-ventilator interaction to minimise sleep disruptions.
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Postoperative delirium (PD) and postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) are two separate syndromes of cognitive decline after major surgery, especially in the elderly. Pathogenesis is multifactorial with some common risk factors, and to reduce the risk, a multimodal approach is necessary. ⋯ Thus, in a series of 225 patients ≥60 years, no cases of PD were seen and the incidence of POCD was reduced by more than 50% at 1 week postoperatively compared to previous studies. In conclusion, the fast-track methodology may reduce the incidence of postoperative cognitive decline after surgery.
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Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol · Jun 2012
Review Comparative StudyPulsatile vs. continuous flow in ventricular assist device therapy.
A left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is an important treatment option for a patient with end-stage heart failure. Both continuous and non-pulsatile devices are available, each with different effects on a patient's physiology. ⋯ Both devices increase survival beyond medical management. Continuous-flow devices are smaller and are associated with less overall morbidity than pulsatile devices.
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Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol · Jun 2012
ReviewAnaesthesia for patients undergoing ventricular assist-device implantation.
In the last 10 years, implantation of ventricular-assist devices has become an interesting option as either bridge-to-transplantation or destination procedure for patients with end-stage congestive heart failure. In the future, the number of ventricular assist device implantations is expected to increase furthermore. In general, this patient cohort is associated with significant co-morbidities, for example, pulmonary hypertension, peripheral vascular disease and renal insufficiency. ⋯ Even minor changes in their haemodynamics and physiological parameters can cause significant morbidity and mortality. Experience in haemodynamic monitoring including echocardiography and pharmacological management (use of inotropes, phosphodiesterase inhibitors and vasopressors) is a requirement. Particularly, the diagnosis and therapy of right-sided heart failure after implantation of left-ventricular assist devices should be addressed.
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Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol · Jun 2012
ReviewCoagulation management in patients undergoing mechanical circulatory support.
The incidence of bleeding and thrombo-embolic complications in patients undergoing mechanical circulatory support therapy remains high and is associated with bad outcomes and increased costs. The need for anticoagulation and anti-platelet therapy varies widely between different pulsatile and non-pulsatile ventricular-assist devices (VADs) and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) systems. Therefore, a unique anticoagulation protocol cannot be recommended. ⋯ Furthermore, coagulation management can be hampered in non-pulsatile VADs by acquired von Willebrand syndrome, and in general by acquired factor XIII deficiency as well as by heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. In addition, POC testing can be used in bleeding patients to guide calculated goal-directed therapy with allogeneic blood products, haemostatic drugs and coagulation factor concentrates to optimise the haemostasis and to minimise transfusion requirements, transfusion-associated adverse events and to avoid thrombo-embolic complications, as well. However, coagulation management in patients undergoing mechanical circulatory support therapy is somehow like navigating between Scylla and Charybdis, and development of protocols based on POC testing seems to be beneficial.