Articles: function.
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Patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) are routinely instructed to avoid performing the Valsalva maneuver for fear of syncope or sudden cardiac death. The mechanism of this action has not been elucidated. We conducted a case-control trial of nine patients with PAH and 15 healthy control subjects to determine if systemic hemodynamic changes during the Valsalva maneuver in these patients invoke greater susceptibility to syncope than healthy control subjects. Metrics commonly employed in autonomic testing were used to assess the degree of autonomic failure. ⋯ Compared with healthy control subjects, patients with PAH are more susceptible to syncope during the Valsalva maneuver because of autonomic dysfunction causing cerebral hypoperfusion. These study patients with PAH exhibited a degree of susceptibility to syncope similar to a spectrum of patients with intermediate autonomic failure who typically experience a SBP drop of 10 to 30 mm Hg with standing.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · May 2016
Case ReportsAcute Epidural Hematoma Formation in Cervical Spine After Interlaminar Epidural Steroid Injection Despite Discontinuation of Clopidogrel.
Perioperative management of patients on anticoagulant therapy prior to interventional pain procedures creates a challenge when balancing the risk of bleeding against thromboembolic events. ⋯ This is the first reported case of hematoma formation immediately following an epidural steroid injection possibly associated with clopidogrel, even though established guidelines on the timing of the discontinuation of clopidogrel prior to the procedure were exceeded. Severe pain appears to be the first symptom of hematoma formation, and therefore immediate diagnostic workup and evacuation of hematoma are essential in preventing neurological damage. It may be advisable to carry out a test specific for clopidogrel such as the P2Y12 to ensure that there is no residual action on platelet aggregation function, particularly in patients who may be slow metabolizers of clopidogrel. Caution is advised prior to administering analgesics with antiplatelet effects such as ketorolac.
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Critical care medicine · May 2016
Multicenter StudyEvaluating Physical Outcomes in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Survivors: Validity, Responsiveness, and Minimal Important Difference of 4-Meter Gait Speed Test.
To examine the reliability, validity, responsiveness, and minimal important difference of the 4-m gait speed test in acute respiratory distress syndrome survivors. ⋯ The 4-m gait speed is a reliable, valid, and responsive measure of physical function in acute respiratory distress syndrome survivors. The estimated minimal important difference will facilitate sample size calculations for clinical studies evaluating the 4-m gait speed test in acute respiratory distress syndrome survivors.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · May 2016
Observational StudyPersistent postsurgical pain after video-assisted thoracic surgery - an observational study.
The risk of persistent postsurgical pain (PPP) and subsequent pain-related functional impairment may potentially be reduced by video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) compared to thoracotomy. The aim of the study was therefore to assess in detail the incidence and consequences on activities of daily living of PPP after VATS. ⋯ The incidence of PPP, nerve damage (based on QST) and pain-related functional impairment following VATS was lower than reported following thoracotomy. No psychological or other factors predicted PPP. These findings call for further large-scale studies to support VATS to decrease PPP.
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Cardiac dysfunction is one of many causes for unsuccessful weaning from mechanical ventilation. Although cardiac dysfunction can be detected via direct measurement of cardiac output during weaning, available methods are not feasible. ⋯ A noninvasive method of monitoring cardiac output can be easily applied while patients are being weaned off of mechanical ventilation.