British journal of anaesthesia
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Excellent anaesthetists were identified by anaesthesia nurses as being:
- Organised & focused: structured, responsible, and focused approach to work tasks.
- Good communicators: clear and informative, briefing of team about the plan before induction.
- Respectful of complexity: humble to the complexity of anaesthesia, admitting own fallibility.
- Patient-centred: personal contact with the patient before induction.
- Good situational awareness: fluent in practical work without losing overview.
- Calm and clear in critical situations, being able to change to a strong leading style.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Randomized comparison of closed-loop feedback computer-controlled with manual-controlled infusion of phenylephrine for maintaining arterial pressure during spinal anaesthesia for caesarean delivery.
Closed-loop feedback computer-controlled infusion has not been described for administering phenylephrine to maintain arterial pressure (AP) during spinal anaesthesia for caesarean delivery. We aimed to compare AP control using this automated system with a previously described manual infusion system. ⋯ Within the constraints of the studied algorithms, closed-loop feedback computer-controlled phenylephrine infusion provided better AP control with fewer interventions required compared with manual-controlled infusion.
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Convulsive seizures (CS) occur in ∼1% of the patients after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Recent investigations indicate an up to seven-fold increase in CS in cardiac surgical patients receiving high doses (≥60 mg kg(-1) body weight) of tranexamic acid (TA). ⋯ In open-heart surgery, even moderate TA doses are associated with a doubled rate of CS and in-hospital mortality. Prospective trials are needed to further evaluate the safety profile of TA in cardiac surgery.
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Review Meta Analysis
Efficacy of adding clonidine to intrathecal morphine in acute postoperative pain: meta-analysis.
Intrathecal clonidine slightly improves the analgesic effects of intrathecal morphine, though increases hypotension (harm ratio 1.8).
pearl -
Increased left ventricular mass (LVM) is a well-recognized predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in epidemiological studies, but its impact on mortality after cardiac surgery is poorly defined. We hypothesized that patients with increased LVM index (LVMI) were more likely to have greater 30 day and 1 yr mortality. ⋯ Increased LVMI, but not LV systolic function as measured by the fractional area of contraction (FAC) was identified as a strong independent predictor of perioperative mortality after adult cardiac surgery. The relationship between LVMI and risk of 30 day mortality was nearly linear. Furthermore, decreased FAC, and not LVMI, was a strong independent predictor of 1 yr mortality.