Anaesthesia and intensive care
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Nov 2015
Randomized Controlled TrialEffects of dialysis modality on blood loss, bleeding complications and transfusion requirements in critically ill patients with dialysis-dependent acute renal failure.
Blood loss and bleeding complications may often be observed in critically ill patients on renal replacement therapies (RRT). Here we investigate procedural (i.e. RRT-related) and non-procedural blood loss as well as transfusion requirements in regard to the chosen mode of dialysis (i.e. intermittent haemodialysis [IHD] versus continuous veno-venous haemofiltration [CVVH]). ⋯ In conclusion, procedural and non-procedural blood loss may often be observed in critically ill patients on RRT. In CVVH-treated patients, procedural blood loss was increased but overall transfusion rates remained unchanged. Our data show that IHD and CVVH may be regarded as equivalent approaches in critically ill patients with dialysis-dependent acute renal failure in this regard.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Nov 2015
A survey of educator needs to support the implementation of the intrinsic ANZCA Roles in Practice.
The 'Roles in Practice' framework was introduced into the revised ANZCA curriculum in 2013. We conducted an online survey of Supervisors of Training in Australia and New Zealand to assess understanding of this framework, and teaching and perceived value of the non-scholar intrinsic roles within the framework. One hundred and forty-three survey responses were received (response rate 60.8%). ⋯ The Communicator Role was perceived as being the role for which the development of resources would be most valuable. Respondents overwhelmingly nominated small group teaching as the preferred medium for resource development of all intrinsic roles. Our survey indicates that there is a need to increase both the understanding of the Roles in Practice framework and the teaching resources available in the ANZCA Supervisor of Training community.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Nov 2015
Case ReportsHereditary antithrombin III deficiency and neuraxial anaesthesia.
Antithrombin III (ATIII) deficiency offers unique challenges to the anaesthetist in the perioperative setting due to the inherent thrombophilia, the anticoagulant therapies instituted and replacement of the deficient intrinsic natural anticoagulant. A particular challenge is the use of intrathecal anaesthesia, which requires a safe level of coagulation at the time of subarachnoid puncture. ⋯ The patient sustained no thrombotic or bleeding events. Our experience suggests that ATIII deficiency does not preclude the use of regional anaesthetic techniques so long as there is timely referral to a multidisciplinary perioperative service for anticoagulant management and that ATIII concentrate is used to ensure safe levels of ATIII throughout the perioperative period.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · Nov 2015
Necrotising soft tissue infections: the effect of hyperbaric oxygen on mortality.
In a single-centre, retrospective, case-controlled study of patients attending the Alfred Hospital in Prahran, Victoria, we assessed the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in reducing mortality or morbidity in patients with necrotising fasciitis (NF) over a 13-year period from 2002 to 2014. A total of three hundred and forty-one patients with NF were included in the study, of whom 275 received HBOT and 66 did not. The most commonly involved sites were the perineum (33.7%), lower limb (29.9%) and trunk (18.2%). ⋯ ICU support was required in 248 (72.7%) patients. Independent factors impacting on mortality included HBOT (odds ratio [OR] 0.42 [0.22 to 0.83], P=0.01), increased age (OR 1.06 [1.03 to 1.08], P=0.001) and immunosuppression (OR 2.6 [1.23 to 5.51], P=0.01). Mortality was linked to illness severity at presentation, however when adjusted for severity score and need for intensive care management, HBOT was associated with significant reduction in mortality.