Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · May 2024
Observational StudySerum creatinine is an unreliable marker of renal function in patients undergoing heart transplantation.
Renal dysfunction is a common complication after heart transplantation (Htx). Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) can be assessed by various estimating equations (eGFR). We evaluated the correlation, agreement, and accuracy between eGFR and mGFR and the ability of eGFR to track changes in mGFR early after Htx. ⋯ eGFR underestimated mGFR and the agreement between eGFR and mGFR was low with an unacceptably large between-group error and low accuracy. Furthermore, the ability of eGFR to assess changes in mGFR, postoperatively, was poor. Thus, the use of estimating equations from serum creatinine will not adequately assess renal function early after major heart surgery. To gain adequate information on renal function early after Htx, GFR needs to be measured, not estimated.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · May 2024
Physicians' perceptions of intensive care patients' 1-year prognoses compared to realistic prognoses.
It is unknown whether physicians treating critically ill patients have realistic perceptions of their patients' prognoses. ⋯ Finnish anesthesiologists commonly misestimate the long-term prognoses of ICU patients, more often underestimating than overestimating the likelihood of 1-year survival. More education about critically ill patients' prognoses and better prediction tools are needed.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · May 2024
Prehospital point-of-care ultrasound in ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms-a retrospective cohort study.
Patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) require immediate vascular treatment to survive. The use of prehospital point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) may support clinical assessment, correct diagnosis, appropriate triage and reduce system delay. The aim was to study the process of care and outcome in patients receiving prehospital POCUS versus patients not receiving prehospital POCUS in patients with rAAA, ruptured iliac aneurysm or impending aortic rupture. ⋯ Prehospital POCUS was associated with reduced time to treatment, higher chance of operability and significantly higher 30-day survival in patients with rAAA, ruptured iliac aneurysm or impending rupture of an AAA in this retrospective study. Residual confounding cannot be excluded. This study supports the clinical relevance of prehospital POCUS of the abdominal aorta.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · May 2024
Observational StudyFactors associated with fever after cardiac arrest: A post-hoc analysis of the FINNRESUSCI study.
Fever after cardiac arrest may impact outcome. We aimed to assess the incidence of fever in post-cardiac arrest patients, factors predicting fever and its association with functional outcome in patients treated without targeted temperature management (TTM). ⋯ Half of OHCA patients not treated with TTM developed fever. We found no association between fever and outcome.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · May 2024
How should respiratory depression and loss of airway patency be handled during initiation of palliative sedation?
Loss of airway patency has been reported during initiation of palliative sedation. In present guidelines the loss of airway patency during initiation of palliative sedation is not addressed. Airway patency can be restored by jaw thrust/chin lift or placing the patient in the recovery position. ⋯ Whether to restore airway patency when the airway is obstructed during initiation of palliative sedation will ultimately be based on clinical judgment taking into account both any known patient preferences and relevant clinical information. There are strong arguments favoring both options in this clinical and ethical dilemma. The fact that a clear and universal recommendation cannot be made does not imply indifference regarding what is the clinically and ethically best option for each individual patient.