Anaesthesia
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Anaesthesia is a critical and complex process that extends from the pre-operative assessment through to the postoperative management of patients. Handover of responsibility for logistical as opposed to patient-orientated reasons may compromise that process of care. ⋯ This survey of national practice reveals little formalisation of procedure and a spectrum of opinion on the relevance of the key considerations. There is, however, a majority view amongst respondents that national guidelines would be of value and that professional defensibility would be aided by standardisation and documentation of any handover.
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Pressure controlled ventilation, and pressure support for spontaneous breathing are often used in intensive care because coordination of the ventilator with patient efforts can improve comfort and possibly reduce sedation. However we report a series of 10 patients whose efforts did not synchronise with pressure controlled ventilation. ⋯ Better recognition of this condition showed that slow respiratory rates and increased abdominal muscle action during expiration can affect pressure-controlled ventilation and pressure assisted breathing. If the condition is not recognised, treatment for poor synchronisation may delay weaning or be inappropriate.
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Fixed performance venturi devices should provide a predetermined oxygen concentration at an outflow which exceeds an adult's peak resting inspiratory flow rate (approximately 30 l.min(-1)). Campbell's original description mentioned the sensitivity of the venturi device to downstream resistance but gave no further details. This study examined outflow and oxygen concentration from the five standard venturi devices (24-60% O(2)) when downstream pressure increased. ⋯ The outflow at zero downstream pressure for the 24-40% O(2) venturi devices ranged from 40 to 50 l.min(-1) but only 2-3 mmH(2)O was needed to halve this flow and increase oxygen concentration. The 60% O(2) venturi delivered a maximum of only 30 l.min(-1) at zero downstream pressure and flow was reduced further by increasing this pressure. An increase in downstream pressure of only a few mmH(2)O increased oxygen concentration and decreased outflow of all the venturi devices tested, in most to less than normal peak tidal flow in adults.
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Letter Case Reports
One-lung ventilation using the ProSeal laryngeal mask airway.