British journal of anaesthesia
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Observational Study
Limits of agreement between measures obtained from standard laboratory and the point-of-care device Hemochron Signature Elite(R) during acute haemorrhage.
Rapid diagnosis of coagulopathy in the bleeding patient using point-of-care (POC) devices would be ideal. The Hemochron Signature Elite(®) (HC(®)) is a POC device that determines international normalized ratio (INR) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). The aim of the study was to evaluate the agreement for INR and aPTT between the HC(®) and standard laboratory values in acute haemorrhage. ⋯ The results showed a lack of agreement between the INR-HC(®) and the aPTT-HC(®) measurements and the standard laboratory in the context of acute haemorrhage. The INR-HC(®) showed moderate performance as a decision-making tool to detect coagulopathy in the context of acute haemorrhage.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Dexmedetomidine vs remifentanil intravenous anaesthesia and spontaneous ventilation for airway foreign body removal in children.
To compare the safety and efficacy of dexmedetomidine/propofol (DP)-total i.v. anaesthesia (TIVA) vs remifentanil/propofol (RP)-TIVA, both with spontaneous breathing, during airway foreign body (FB) removal in children. ⋯ Compared with RP-TIVA, DP-TIVA provided more stable respiratory and haemodynamic profiles, but required a longer recovery time. Clinical trial registration China Clinical Research Information Service, ChiCTR-TRC-13003018.
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The concept of rapid delivery of multiple blood products to the bedside of a massively haemorrhaging patient seems to be a logical approach to the management of the massively bleeding patient. However, controversy exists in the use of fixed blood component ratios. Assessing the extent of the coagulopathy through point-of-care testing might provide patients with product administration as needed, and avoid excessive transfusion and its associated complications.
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Comparative Study
Accuracy and precision of the ultrasound cardiac output monitor (USCOM 1A) in pregnancy: comparison with three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography.
Cardiac output (CO) monitoring is helpful in the assessment of critically ill pregnant women, but invasive monitors are often unsuitable for use. We aimed to measure agreement between the non-invasive ultrasound cardiac output monitor (USCOM) and three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (3D-TTE) in pregnant women. ⋯ USCOM has acceptable agreement with 3D-TTE for the measurement of CO in pregnancy. The positive bias of the USCOM, particularly in the FT mode, may be due to the hyperdynamic cardiovascular state in pregnancy. We suggest using the TP mode in this patient population.