Anaesthesiology intensive therapy
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Anaesthesiol Intensive Ther · Jan 2015
Awareness and knowledge of intra-abdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment syndrome: results of an international survey.
Surveys have demonstrated a lack of physician awareness of intra-abdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment syndrome (IAH/ACS) and wide variations in management of these conditions, with many intensive care units (ICUs) reporting that they do not measure intra-abdominal pressure (IAP). We sought to determine the association between publication of the 2006/2007 World Society of the Abdominal Compartment Syndrome (WSACS) Consensus Definitions and Guidelines and IAH/ACS clinical awareness and management. ⋯ This survey showed that although most responding clinicians claim to be familiar with IAH and ACS, knowledge of published consensus definitions, measurement techniques, and clinical management are inadequate.
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Anaesthesiol Intensive Ther · Jan 2015
Does epidural anaesthesia reduce the incidence of postoperative oxygen desaturation episodes in patients undergoing open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair?
Postoperative desaturation can lead to severe hypoxaemia and even tissue hypoxia, followed by cardiological and neurological complications. Opioid usage is the one of the most important risk factors of postoperative desaturation and hypoxemia. Epidural anaesthesia is recommended for vascular surgery for many reasons; the reduction or elimination of opioid doses is one reason. The aims of the study were to evaluate the incidence of desaturation episodes in patients after surgical procedures with abdominal aortic clamping, to determine whether the episodes in question lead to clinical symptoms of hypoxia and to determine whether epidural anaesthesia decreases the incidence of desaturation episodes. ⋯ Epidural anaesthesia did not protect against postoperative desaturation. Though oxygen therapy was used, desaturation was observed in approximately 90% of patients.
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Anaesthesiol Intensive Ther · Jan 2015
Ventilator-associated pneumonia monitoring according to the INICC project at one centre.
Pneumonia is a common complication of hospitalisation in severely ill patients who need mechanical ventilation. The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium programme for the surveillance of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). ⋯ During the reported time span, the incidence of VAP was lower than in the INICC report (2007-2012), but it was tenfold higher than in the NHSN/CDC report (dated 2012). Because of the unchanged VAP level during the 2.5-year observation period, the root cause needs to be determined and action should be taken to resolve this issue.
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Anaesthesiol Intensive Ther · Jan 2015
Epidemiology of new-onset paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in the General Intensive Care Unit population and after discharge from ICU. A retrospective epidemiological study.
Evidence of various cardiac arrhythmias in septic patients has been demonstrated by multiple clinical reports and observations. Most cardiac arrhythmias in sepsis are new-onset and may be related to sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction. We propose to investigate and analyze data of new-onset paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) in a critically ill septic population. ⋯ In the present study we demonstrated no difference in morbidity and mortality rate in-ICU and after discharge between septic patients who had previous AF episodes and patients who had no previous past medical history of any cardiac arrhythmias.
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Anaesthesiol Intensive Ther · Jan 2015
Case ReportsApplication of V-A ECMO therapies for short-term mechanical circulatory support in patients with cardiogenic shock.
The aim of the study was to present our experience with short-term mechanical circulatory support by veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-A ECMO). A series of cases is described involving patients with symptoms of severe cardiogenic shock successfully treated with V-A ECMO. ⋯ The number of cases in which ECMO has been successfully applied in patients with cardiogenic shock and in deep hypothermia is increasingly high; therefore, it seems advisable to elaborate ECMO guidelines to be used in such situations. V-A ECMO is an effective and recognized method of treatment of patients in cardiogenic shock and deep hypothermia.