Current opinion in anaesthesiology
-
Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Apr 2023
ReviewOutcomes in pediatric anesthesia: towards a universal language.
The identification of valid, well defined and relevant outcomes is fundamental to provide a reliable and replicable measure that can be used to improve quality of clinical care and research output. The purpose of this review is to provide an update on what the pediatric anesthesia research community is pursuing on standardized and validated outcomes. ⋯ Clinical outcomes are measurements of changes in health, function or quality of life and they help evaluating quality of care. In order for them to be relevant in quantifying quality improvement, they need to be well defined, standardized and consistent across trials. A great effort from researchers has been made towards the identification of set of outcomes with these features.
-
Do-not-intubate (DNI) orders are more frequently encountered over time. This widespread diffusion of DNI orders make it essential to develop therapeutic strategies matching patient's and his family willingness. The present review sheds light on the therapeutic approaches employed to support respiratory function of patients with DNI orders. ⋯ In dealing with DNI patients, the individualization of treatments is of pivotal importance to respect patient's preferences and improve quality of life at the same time.
-
Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Apr 2023
ReviewPsychiatric sequelae and interventions in critically ill trauma survivors.
Psychiatric disorders following trauma impact functional recovery in trauma survivors and are a significant source of disability. Although research has traditionally focused on the physical sequelae of trauma, more attention is being directed towards the significant morbidity and mortality associated with the psychologic sequelae of trauma. This review evaluates the existing literature. ⋯ There are few interventions that have demonstrated efficacy in managing the psychiatric sequelae of trauma. The development of strategies to guide early identification of at-risk patients and recommend prevention and treatment may improve the care of trauma survivors.
-
Curr Opin Anaesthesiol · Apr 2023
ReviewQuality indicators for anesthesia and perioperative medicine.
Routine monitoring of care quality is fundamental considering the high reported rates of preventable perioperative morbidity and mortality. However, no set of valid and feasible quality indicators is available as the gold standard for comprehensive routine monitoring of the overall quality of perioperative care. The purpose of this review is to describe underlying difficulties, to summarize current trends and initiatives and to outline the perspectives in support of suitable perioperative quality indicators. ⋯ A core set of valid and feasible quality indicators is essential for monitoring perioperative care quality. The development of such a set may benefit from matching evidence-based indicators with feasible standard indicators and from including patients' views.
-
The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and recent global recessions have brought to the forefront of the medical-political discussion the fact that medical resources are finite and have focused a spotlight on fair allocation and prioritization of healthcare resources describe why this review is timely and relevant. ⋯ Models for resource allocation must differentiate between different types of resources, some of which may require early preparation or distribution. Local availability of specific resources, supplies and infrastructure must be taken into consideration during preparation. When planning for long durations of limited resource availability, the limitations of human resilience must also be considered. Preparation also requires information regarding the needs of the specific population at hand (e.g. age distributions, disease prevalence) and societal preferences must be acknowledged within possible limits.