British journal of anaesthesia
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Comparative Study
Vasoactive-inotropic score and the prediction of morbidity and mortality after cardiac surgery.
The vasoactive-inotropic score (VIS) predicts mortality and morbidity after paediatric cardiac surgery. Here we examined whether VIS also predicted outcome in adults after cardiac surgery, and compared predictive capability between VIS and three widely used scoring systems. ⋯ In adults after cardiac surgery, VISmax predicted a composite of unfavourable outcomes and predicted mortality up to 1 yr after surgery.
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Editorial Comment
Who watches the watchmen and the problem of recursive flea bites.
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A pulmonary hypertensive crisis (PHC) can be a life-threatening condition. We established a PHC model by exposing rats with monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary hypertension to acute hypoxia, and investigated the effects of vasopressin, phenylephrine, and norepinephrine on the PHC. ⋯ In this rat model of a PHC, vasopressin, but not phenylephrine or norepinephrine, resulted in better haemodynamic and vascular recovery.
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Decisions to admit high-risk postoperative patients to critical care may be affected by resource availability. We aimed to quantify adult ICU/high-dependency unit (ICU/HDU) capacity in hospitals from the UK, Australia, and New Zealand (NZ), and to identify and describe additional 'high-acuity' beds capable of managing high-risk patients outside the ICU/HDU environment. ⋯ Postoperative critical care resources differ in the UK, Australia, and NZ. High-acuity beds may have developed to augment the capacity to deliver postoperative critical care.
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Editorial Comment
Dexamethasone and peripheral nerve blocks: back to basic (science).