European journal of anaesthesiology
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The objectives of this study were, firstly, to characterize the inter-patient variability in the dose of propofol required to achieve a bispectral index <70 and 'time to eye opening' following propofol infusion and, secondly, to determine if the pharmacodynamic parameter 'time to achieve bispectral index <70' was influenced by genotype of the sex-linked drug receptor gene GABRE or if pharmacokinetic parameters such as clearance and 'time to eye opening' were influenced by the genotype of the metabolizing enzyme CYP2B6. ⋯ Great inter-patient variability exists in the dose of propofol required to achieve bispectral index <70, apparent systemic propofol clearance and time to eye opening. Common haplotypic differences at the CYP2B6 and GABRE genes do not appear to account for the majority of the observed inter-patient variability.
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Ventilator-associated pneumonia is a nosocomial infection that occurs in patients receiving mechanical ventilation for >48 h. Many aspects of its diagnosis, treatment and management are controversial. We used a postal questionnaire to survey current practice within the UK. ⋯ There is widespread variation in the methods used for the diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia within the UK. The majority of units rely on non-quantitative analysis of tracheal aspirates. This technique has a high percentage of false-positives, and suggests widespread over utilization of antibiotics. However, most agree that antibiotics should be given empirically when there is a clinical suspicion of ventilator-associated pneumonia. The widespread introduction of 'ventilator bundles' appears to have ensured that most units actively take measures to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia.