Journal of clinical monitoring and computing
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J Clin Monit Comput · Aug 2016
Observational StudyThe prevalence of long QT interval in post-operative intensive care unit patients.
The severity of patient illnesses and medication complexity in post-operative critically ill patients increase the risk for a prolonged QT interval. We determined the prevalence of prolonged QTc in surgical intensive care unit (SICU) patients. We performed a prospective cross-sectional study over a 15-month period at a major academic center. ⋯ None of the patients developed a lethal arrhythmia in the ICU. Prolonged QTc is common among post-operative SICU patients (67 %), however lethal arrhythmias are uncommon. The operative experience increases the risk for long QTc.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Aug 2016
Comparative StudyComparison of electrical velocimetry and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging for the non-invasive determination of cardiac output.
A novel algorithm of impedance cardiography referred to as electrical velocimetry (EV) has been introduced for non-invasive determination of cardiac output (CO). Previous validation studies yielded diverging results and no comparison with the non-invasive gold standard cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) has been performed. We therefore aimed to prospectively assess the accuracy and reproducibility of EV compared to CMR. 152 consecutive stable patients undergoing CMR were enrolled. ⋯ Gender, height and increasing CO and SV were associated with increased bias while not affecting reproducibility. Therefore, absolute values should not be used interchangeably in clinical routine. EV yet may find its place for clinical application with further investigation on its trending ability pending.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Aug 2016
Comparative StudyThe comparison of the technical parameters in endotracheal intubation devices: the Cmac, the Vividtrac, the McGrath Mac and the Kingvision.
Currently, there are plenty of videolaryngoscopes that appear on the market. They have different specifications. Some of these features favor the fact that they are more suited for educational purposes of future operators and others can be characterized with an excellent clinical use. ⋯ The C-MAC has a camera with the widest viewing angle (the OX axis-63.1, the axis OY-47.8), which in combination with the largest diagonal size of the display enables the operator to see the details relevant to clinical practice. It has also the strongest lamp intensity of the devices mentioned in this comparison (7800 Lx). In comparison of the clinical use in almost all compared parameters the Cmac D-blade is a winner, although for clinical education purpose we consider the Vividtrac a better device.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Aug 2016
Role of cerebral oxygenation for prediction of hypotension after spinal anesthesia for caesarean section.
To investigate the role of cerebral oxygen saturation (ScO2) for prediction of hypotension after spinal anesthesia for caesarean section. Forty-five parturients undergoing elective caesarean section under spinal anesthesia were selected. Blood pressure, heart rate and pulse oxygen saturation before and after anesthesia were recorded, and the association between changes in ScO2 before and after anesthesia with hypotension after spinal anesthesia was explored. ⋯ The area under the receiver operation characteristic curve was 0.83 for decrease in ScO2 for prediction of hypotension (P < 0.05), and the optimal threshold value was 4.5 %. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 4.5 % decrease in ScO2 for prediction of hypotension were 0.75, 0.78, 0.92 and 0.47, respectively. The decrease in ScO2 after spinal anesthesia is associated with hypotension after spinal anesthesia for cesarean section, and may be a clinically useful predictor.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Aug 2016
Frequency domain analysis of cerebral near infrared spectroscopy signals during application of an impedance threshold device in spontaneously ventilating volunteers.
Currently available near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) devices are unable to discriminate between arterial and venous blood, a potential source of artifact. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that oscillations in NIR signals at the respiratory and cardiac frequency could be attributed to venous and arterial blood, respectively, and thereby isolated. After written informed consent was obtained, a two-wavelength NIRS device was placed over the left frontal cortex in 20 volunteers. ⋯ There were no other significant differences between pulsatile and non-pulsatile algorithms in the estimation of StO2. In 64 % of cases, both the low (ventilator) and high (cardiac) frequency estimates of StO2 were either both larger or both smaller than non-pulsatile StO2, suggesting that they were interrogating the same vascular bed. Frequency domain analysis cannot reliably separate NIRS waveforms into arterial and venous components.