Anesthesiology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Crystalloid versus Colloid for Intraoperative Goal-directed Fluid Therapy Using a Closed-loop System: A Randomized, Double-blinded, Controlled Trial in Major Abdominal Surgery.
Closed-loop goal-directed fluid therapy with colloids is associated with lower volume infused and fewer postoperative complications than with crystalloids.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
No Differences in Renal Function between Balanced 6% Hydroxyethyl Starch (130/0.4) and 5% Albumin for Volume Replacement Therapy in Patients Undergoing Cystectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
The use of artificial colloids has declined in critical care, whereas they are still used in perioperative medicine. Little is known about the nephrotoxic potential in noncritically ill patients during routine surgery. The objective of this trial was to evaluate the influences of albumin 5% and balanced hydroxyethyl starch 6% (130/0.4) on renal function and kidney injury. ⋯ With respect to renal function and kidney injury, this study indicates that albumin 5% and balanced hydroxyethyl starch 6% have comparable safety profiles in noncritically ill patients undergoing major surgery.
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Self-initiated non-clinical distractions are common among anaesthesia providers, but were rarely associated with adverse events.
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Cerebral oximetry (cerebral oxygen saturation; ScO2) is used to noninvasively monitor cerebral oxygenation. ScO2 readings are based on the fraction of reduced and oxidized hemoglobin as an indirect estimate of brain tissue oxygenation and assume a static ratio of arterial to venous intracranial blood. Conditions that alter cerebral blood flow, such as acute changes in PaCO2, may decrease accuracy. We assessed the performance of two commercial cerebral oximeters across a range of oxygen concentrations during normocapnia and hypocapnia. ⋯ Changes in PaCO2 affect cerebral oximeter accuracy, and increased bias occurs with hypocapnia. Decreased accuracy may represent an incorrect assumption of a static arterial-venous blood fraction. Understanding cerebral oximetry limitations is especially important in patients at risk for hypoxia-induced brain injury, where PaCO2 may be purposefully altered.
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Assessment of clinical competence is essential for residency programs and should be guided by valid, reliable measurements. We implemented Baker's Z-score system, which produces measures of traditional core competency assessments and clinical performance summative scores. Our goal was to validate use of summative scores and estimate the number of evaluations needed for reliable measures. ⋯ The Baker system produced moderately reliable measures at our institution, suggesting that it may be generalizable to other training programs. Raw absolute scores required few assessment occasions to achieve 90% reliable measurements.