Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthésie
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Fluid resuscitation in the management of early septic shock (FINESS): a randomized controlled feasibility trial.
It is unknown whether fluid resuscitation with colloid or crystalloid in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock is associated with an improvement in clinical outcome. This randomized controlled trial determined the feasibility of conducting a large trial testing resuscitation with pentastarch vs normal saline in early septic shock, powered for a difference in mortality. ⋯ The ability to recruit patients in this pilot randomized controlled trial was below expectations. Blinding of study fluids was adequate, and resuscitation algorithms were acceptable to most physicians. Methods to improve recruitment are required to enhance the feasibility of conducting a multicentre fluid resuscitation trial in early septic shock.
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Multicenter Study
Resuscitating patients with early severe sepsis: a Canadian multicentre observational study.
Fluid resuscitation is a key factor in restoring hemodynamic stability and tissue perfusion in patients with severe sepsis. We sought to examine associations of the quantity and type of fluid administered in the first six hours after identification of severe sepsis and hospital mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) mortality, and organ failure. ⋯ An association between hospital mortality and quantity or type of fluid administered in the first six hours after the diagnosis of severe sepsis was not identifiable. These findings should be considered as hypothesis-generating and warrant confirmation or refutation by randomized controlled trials.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Impact of the opening of a specialized cardiac surgery recovery unit on postoperative outcomes in an academic health sciences centre.
It is controversial as to whether cardiac surgery patients are optimally managed in a mixed medical-surgical intensive care unit (ICU) or in a specialized postoperative unit. We conducted a prospective cohort study in an academic health sciences centre to compare outcomes before and following the opening of a specialized cardiac surgery recovery unit (CSRU) in April 2005. ⋯ A specialized CSRU with a multi-disciplinary consultant model was associated with stable or improved outcomes postoperatively, when compared to a mixed medical- surgical ICU model of cardiac surgical care.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Intravenous nalbuphine 50 microg x kg(-1) is ineffective for opioid-induced pruritus in pediatrics.
This investigation evaluated the efficacy of nalbuphine in treating postoperative opioid-induced pruritus (Pr) in pediatric patients. ⋯ This preliminary report suggests that nalbuphine 50 microg x kg(-1) iv is not effective in treating postoperative opioid-induced pruritus in pediatric patients. The modified CAS score and PrID warrant further investigation.
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Multicenter Study
Potential organ donors referred to Ontario neurosurgical centres.
Eleven hospitals in Ontario are adult neurosurgical centres (ONCs). Patients transferred to ONCs from community hospitals with acute intracranial emergencies often have non-survivable injuries, and may be returned to the referring hospital for end-of-life care. These referring hospitals may not be familiar with neurological determination of death, or organ donation. Our objective was to determine the number of patients with severe brain injuries assessed in ONC emergency departments where progression to brain death may be reasonably expected, and to determine their outcome. ⋯ A significant number of patients transferred to ONCs have an injury with a likelihood of progressing to brain death, but only a small proportion of these patients become organ donors. Emergency department triage, assessment and admission decisions for patients with intracranial catastrophes should consider diagnostic criteria for brain death and recognition of donor potential as part of end-of-life care.