Anaesthesia and intensive care
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Anaesth Intensive Care · May 2015
Observational StudyConsent for labour epidural analgesia: an observational study in a single institution.
There is a wide range of practice amongst obstetric anaesthetists when obtaining consent for women requesting labour epidural analgesia. This is the first prospective observational study recording the number and types of risks mentioned and whether the risk was quantified. Statements of benefits and alternatives to the procedure were also noted. ⋯ There was no difference between consultants and trainees, although consultants showed greater variance. It was uncommon for anaesthetists to state a benefit (21%) or mention an alternative option (21%), but there was usually a quantitative statement of risk (71%). Data showed a deviation from the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists guidelines and these findings may encourage anaesthetists to reflect on their own practice and guide future research.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · May 2015
Observational StudyProtocolised approach to end-of-life care in the ICU-the ICU PALCare Pilot Project.
International literature on end-of-life care in intensive care units (ICUs) supports the use of 'protocol bundles', which is not common practice in our 18-bed adult general ICU in Sydney, New South Wales. We conducted a prospective observational study to identify problems related to end-of-life care practices and to determine whether there was a need to develop protocol bundles. Any ICU patient who had 'withdrawal' of life-sustaining treatment to facilitate a comfortable death was eligible. ⋯ Problems identified related to communication documentation and lack of spiritual/emotional support. To address these problems, targeted measures would be more useful than the adoption of protocol bundles. Alternate models of satisfaction surveys may be needed.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · May 2015
Findings of the first ANZICS conference on the role of intensive care in Rapid Response Teams.
Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) are specialised teams introduced into hospitals to improve the outcomes of deteriorating ward patients. Although Rapid Response Systems (RRSs) were developed by the intensive care unit (ICU) community, there is variability in their delivery, and consultant involvement, supervision and leadership appears to be relatively infrequent. In July 2014, the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society (ANZICS) convened the first conference on the role of intensive care medicine in RRTs in Australia and New Zealand. ⋯ Strategies to prevent patient deterioration in the 'pre-RRT' period were discussed, including education of ward nurses and doctors, as well as an overarching governance structure. The role of the ICU in deteriorating ward patients was debated and an integrated model of acute care presented. This article summarises the findings of the conference and presents recommendations on the role of intensive care medicine in RRTs in Australia and New Zealand.
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Anaesth Intensive Care · May 2015
Predictors of an increased in vitro thrombotic and bleeding tendency in critically ill trauma and non-trauma patients.
Trauma patients are at a high risk of both bleeding and thromboembolism. This study assessed whether conventional coagulation blood tests were reliable predictors of an increased in vitro thrombotic and bleeding tendency of trauma and non-trauma patients. Conventional coagulation blood tests and thromboelastographs of 63 trauma and 63 randomly selected, critically ill non-trauma patients were compared. ⋯ Prolonged International Normalized Ratio (>1.5) and activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (>40 seconds) were, however, not significantly associated with an increased in vitro thrombotic or bleeding tendency. In conclusion, in vitro thrombotic tendency was more common than bleeding tendency in critically ill trauma and non-trauma patients. Platelet counts and fibrinogen concentrations were better predictors of increased in vitro thrombotic and bleeding risks than International Normalized Ratio or activated Partial Thromboplastin Time.