British journal of anaesthesia
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Does the prophylactic administration of magnesium sulphate to patients undergoing thoracotomy prevent postoperative supraventricular arrhythmias? A randomized controlled trial.
Supraventricular arrhythmias (SVA) are common after thoracic surgery and are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. This prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial examined the effects of perioperative magnesium on the development of postoperative SVA. ⋯ Overall, prophylactic magnesium did not reduce the incidence of SVA in patients undergoing thoracotomy. However, it reduced the incidence of SVA in the high-risk cohort of patients undergoing pneumonectomy. (ISRCTN22028180.).
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Candida species are a common cause of nosocomial bloodstream infection. Such infections commonly affect patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) and carry a high mortality. There are published guidelines for the management of fungal infections, but there are no data on the usual management of invasive Candida infections in UK ICUs. ⋯ Management of fungal infections is relatively consistent among responding units. However, recent developments in the field have not yet been incorporated into standard practice. Adherence to published guidelines could be improved, potentially reducing morbidity and mortality from these common infections.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Oral oxycodone offers equivalent analgesia to intravenous patient-controlled analgesia after total hip replacement: a randomized, single-centre, non-blinded, non-inferiority study.
To determine if oral oxycodone (OOXY) could provide equivalent postoperative analgesia and a similar side-effect profile to i.v. patient-controlled morphine in patients undergoing elective primary total hip replacement (THR) under spinal anaesthesia. ⋯ Oral analgesia with OOXY after THR offers non-inferior analgesia to IVPCA and may offer some logistical and cost advantages.
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Recent studies in anaesthesia and intensive care indicate that a team's ability to adapt its coordination activities to changing situational demands is crucial for effective teamwork and thus, safe patient care. This study addresses the relationship between adaptation of team coordination and markers of clinical performance in response to a critical event, particularly regarding which types of coordination activities are used and which team member engages in those coordination activities. ⋯ Our findings support the claim that adaptation of coordination activities is related to improved team performance in healthcare. Moreover, adaptation and its relationship to team performance were found to vary with regard to type of coordination activities and team member.