Journal of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Oct 2023
ReviewInfectious Risk of Arterial Lines: A Narrative Review.
Arterial catheter-related bloodstream infections have been identified as a significant healthcare burden. However, the incidence of arterial catheter-related infections is commonly underestimated in clinical practice, and adherence to CDC-recommended practices is inconsistent. Several categories of interventions have been studied to prevent arterial catheter-related bloodstream infections, which include barrier precautions, cutaneous antisepsis, insertion site selection, dressings, chlorhexidine-impregnated sponges, and the duration of catheter placement with or without catheter replacement. The majority of these studies are limited by small sample sizes and single-center designs, and further randomized trials are needed to update current clinical practice guidelines to reduce the risk of arterial catheter-related infections.
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Oct 2023
ReviewVirtual Reality: The Future of Invasive Procedure Training?
Invasive procedures are associated with adverse events that are both hazardous to patients and expensive to treat. A trainee is expected to perform complex sterile invasive procedures in a dynamic environment under time pressure while maintaining patient safety at the highest standard of care. For mastery in performing an invasive procedure, the automatism of the technical aspects is required, as well as the ability to adapt to patient conditions, anatomic variability, and environmental stressors. ⋯ These scenarios often incorporate haptic feedback for the simulation of physical touch and audio and visual stimuli. In this manuscript, the authors have presented a historical review, the current status, and the potential application of VR simulation training for invasive procedures. They specifically explore a VR training module for central venous access as a prototype for invasive procedure training to describe the advantages and limitations of this evolving technology.
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Oct 2023
Randomized Controlled TrialHemodynamic Safety and Effect of Dexmedetomidine on Superficial Cervical Block Quality for Carotid Endarterectomy: A Prospective Study.
Dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to local anesthetics (LAs) in regional anesthesia has demonstrated a positive effect on the quality of regional blocks, but there are no studies on usage in superficial cervical block (SCB) for carotid endarterectomy (CEA), in which the management of mean arterial pressure is essential. The authors designed a prospective, randomized, double-blinded study to investigate the effects of the addition of dexmedetomidine on the hemodynamic management and quality of SCB. ⋯ The addition of 50 μg of dexmedetomidine to 0.5% levobupivacaine and 2% lidocaine for SCB did not influence the hemodynamics and frequency of adverse effects. The median sensory block duration time showed no statistical difference between the groups, but the quality of analgesia postoperatively was much improved in the study group.