Journal of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Jun 2008
Comparative StudySex-related differences in outcome after high-risk vascular surgery after the administration of beta-adrenergic-blocking drugs.
Beta-adrenergic-blocking medications may have a cardioprotective effect after high-risk vascular surgery. This effect has been shown primarily in men and has not been independently shown in women. ⋯ In this retrospective analysis, women did not benefit from perioperative beta-blockade. Women at high risk appeared to have a worse outcome because of a higher incidence of CHF.
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Jun 2008
Comparative StudyChanges in intensive care unit performance measures associated with opening a dedicated thoracic surgical progressive care unit.
To determine the effect of the introduction of a specialty-specific progressive care unit (PCU) on the intensive care unit (ICU) to which relatively low-acuity patients had previously been admitted. ⋯ The introduction of a nonintensivist-directed PCU to care for thoracic surgical patients had a significant impact on the parent ICU. Of concern is that outcome and quality measures appeared to worsen and ICU readmission rate increased.