Anaesthesiology intensive therapy
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Anaesthesiol Intensive Ther · Jan 2015
Non-invasive haemodynamic measurements with Nexfin predict the risk of hypotension following spinal anaesthesia.
Unfavourable circulatory system conditions have been observed in many patients with spinal anaesthesia. The most frequent symptoms include a decrease in blood pressure and, less frequently, bradycardia. The appearance of unfavourable consequences of spinal anaesthesia might be related to the initial status of the patient's circulatory system. The aim of this study was to establish the possibility of predicting unfavourable circulatory consequences (hypotension, bradycardia) following spinal anaesthesia, based on non-invasive haemodynamic assessment with a Nexfin device. ⋯ Nexfin-based non-invasive haemodynamic monitoring might be helpful in the identification of individuals with a high risk of hypotension following spinal blockade.
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Anaesthesiol Intensive Ther · Jan 2015
Prospective assessment of standardized mortality ratio (SMR) as a measure of quality of care in intensive care unit--a single-centre study.
The standardized mortality ratio (SMR) is a recognized indicator of critical care quality. This ratio is used to compare actual hospital mortality of all patients treated in a Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with predicted mortality. The aim of the study was prospective analysis of SMR as a measure of quality of care in single ICU. ⋯ In groups of patients with low and high risk the values of SMR indicated favourable quality of care. Study results should prompt to carry out detailed analysis of the course of treatment of patients at average risk of death. Analysis of the course of treatment and qualification criteria for surgery in patients undergoing elective surgery is also indicated.
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Anaesthesiol Intensive Ther · Jan 2015
The differences between two selected intensive care units located in central and northern Europe - preliminary observation.
The aim of this study was to evaluate possible differences in the functioning of two selected intensive care units in Poland and Finland. The activity of the units was analysed over a period of one year. ⋯ The collected data indicate huge differences in the utilisation of critical care resources. Treatment in Polish ICU is concentrated on much more severely ill patients which might be sometimes accompanied by futility of care. In order to verify and correctly interpret the presented phenomena, further studies are needed.
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Anaesthesiol Intensive Ther · Jan 2015
ReviewHemodynamic monitoring: To calibrate or not to calibrate? Part 2--Non-calibrated techniques.
There is much evidence that fluid overload leads to adverse outcomes in perioperative and critically ill patients. Cardiac output monitoring can help us guiding initial and ongoing fluid resuscitation and can help us to assess whether a patient will be responsive to fluids when hypotensive. In recent years, many sophisticated devices that measure a variety of hemodynamic parameters have evolved on the market. ⋯ Further improvements and more validation data are needed before these techniques can be implemented in common day practice. Moreover, in severely shocked hemodynamic unstable patients, calibrated techniques are to be preferred over those which are uncalibrated. Hence, the new techniques not only need to be accurate, but also need to be precise in order to keep track of changes.