Anaesthesia and intensive care
-
Anaesth Intensive Care · Jul 2008
Anaesthesia trainees' exposure to airway management in an Australian tertiary adult teaching hospital.
The purpose of this study was to estimate the exposure of trainees to airway management techniques in an Australian tertiary adult teaching hospital. Anaesthesia records for all patients over a 20-week period were reviewed and the following data were obtained: the presence of a trainee, the type of airway used, the grade of the laryngoscopic view and the use of non-standard laryngoscopy for intubation. Data was recorded contemporaneously and analysed retrospectively. ⋯ As there is no previous study to determine experience gained by trainees, we are unable to establish whether there has been a decrease in experience, however we believe this is likely. Although competency is difficult to assess, it may be that this data has implications for training, unsupervised practice and rostering. Experience in certain airway skills may need to be supplemented using techniques such as simulation.
-
Anaesth Intensive Care · Jul 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyContinuous infusion of subcutaneous compared to intravenous insulin for tight glycaemic control in medical intensive care unit patients.
The aim of this randomised controlled study was to compare continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion using an insulin pump with the traditional continuous intravenous infusion method for tight glycaemic control. Sixty patients admitted to our University Hospital medical intensive care unit with an initial blood glucose level over 6.1 mmol/l, were enrolled and randomised into two treatment groups: the subcutaneous insulin group received continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion and the intravenous group received insulin by traditional intravenous infusion with infusers. Three patients died in the first 24 hours and were excluded from the final analysis. ⋯ According to Vogelzang's hyperglycaemic index, better glycaemic control was achieved in the subcutaneous insulin group while there was no significant difference in terms of hypoglycaemic events. Daily insulin bolus and infusion requirements were also significantly lower in the subcutaneous insulin group. Despite the small number of patients involved in this study in a medical intensive care unit, strict blood glucose control using a subcutaneous insulin pump was achieved more efficiently than the traditional intravenous infusion method without increasing hypoglycaemic events.
-
Anaesth Intensive Care · Jul 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialThe effect of timing of application of positive end-expiratory pressure on oxygenation during one-lung ventilation.
Many studies have confirmed that applying positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) to the dependent lung during one-lung ventilation (OLV) improves oxygenation. Our purpose was to investigate the best time and level of PEEP application. Thirty patients undergoing thoracic surgery were randomised into three groups. ⋯ When PEEP was set to 10 cmH2O, the airway pressure increased significantly (P <0.05). These findings indicate that PEEP applied at the initial time of OLV improves oxygenation most beneficially. Five cmH2O PEEP may produce this beneficial effect without the increase in airway pressure associated with 10 cmH2O PEEP.
-
Anaesth Intensive Care · Jul 2008
The performance of Dräger Oxylog ventilators at simulated altitude.
Ventilated patients frequently require transport by air in a hypobaric environment. Previous studies have demonstrated significant changes in the performance of ventilators with changes in cabin pressure (altitude) but no studies have been published on the function of modem ventilators at altitude. This experiment set out to evaluate ventilatory parameters (tidal volume and respiratory rate) of three commonly used transport ventilators (the Dräger Oxylog 1000, 2000 and 3000) in a simulated hypobaric environment. ⋯ Tidal volume and respiratory rate remained constant with the Oxylog 3000 over the same range of altitudes. Changes were consistent with each ventilator regardless of oxygen content or lung model. It is important that clinicians involved in critical care transport in a hypobaric environment are aware that individual ventilators perform differently at altitude and that they are aware of the characteristics of the particular ventilator that they are using.