Journal of clinical monitoring and computing
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J Clin Monit Comput · Feb 2015
Accuracy of bedside glucometry in critically ill children with peripheral hypoperfusion.
The accuracy of glucose test strip in critically care has been questioned. We investigated the accuracy of glucose test strip in critically ill children. Patients, aged from 1 month to 18 years admitted in pediatric intensive care unit. ⋯ The CBG test strip must be interpreted carefully in critically ill children. A low PI was associated with poor CBG strip accuracy. WBG test strip from arterial blood was more appropriate for glucose monitoring in children with peripheral hypoperfusion.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Feb 2015
Thoracic impedance measures tissue characteristics in the vicinity of the electrodes, not intervening lung water: implications for heart failure monitoring.
The rationale for intrathoracic impedance (Z) detection of worsening heart failure (HF) presupposes that changes in Z reflect changes in pulmonary congestion, but is confounded by poor specificity in clinical trials. We therefore tested the hypothesis that Z is primarily affected by tissue/water content in proximity to electrodes rather than by lung water distribution between electrodes through the use of a new computational model for deriving the near-field impedance contributions from the various electrodes. Six sheep were implanted with a left atrial pressure (LAP) monitor and a cardiac resynchronization therapy device which measured Z from six vectors comprising of five electrodes. ⋯ In contrast, during the simulated formation of device-pocket edema (induced by fluid injection) the near-field impedance of the subcutaneous electrode had an instantaneous response, while the intra-cardiac electrodes had a minimal inconsistent response. This study suggests that the primary contribution to the vector based Z is from the tissue/water in proximity to the individual electrodes. This novel finding may help explain the limited utility of Z for detecting worsening HF.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Feb 2015
Observational StudyThe use of a clinical database in an anesthesia unit: focus on its limits.
Anesthesia information management system (AIMS) can be used a part of quality assurance program to improve patient care, however erroneous or missing data entries may lead to misinterpretation. This study assesses the accuracy of information extracted for six consecutive years from a database linked to an automatic anesthesia record-keeping system. An observational study was conducted on a database linked AIMS system. ⋯ However exhaustivity/completeness of some other variable, such as nausea and vomiting started as low as 50% to reach 20% at 2008. After cross analysing pain and post-operative nausea and vomiting scores with related medication consumption, (morphine and ondansetron) we conclude that missing data was due to omission of a zero score rather than human error. The follow-up of quality assurance program may use data from AIMS provided that missing or erroneous values be mentioned and their impact on calculations accurately analysed.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Feb 2015
Augmentation of motor evoked potentials using multi-train transcranial electrical stimulation in intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring during spinal surgery.
Transcranial motor evoked potentials (TcMEPs) are widely used to monitor motor function during spinal surgery. Improvements in transcranial stimulation techniques and general anesthesia have made it possible to record reliable and reproducible potentials. However, TcMEPs are much smaller in amplitude compared with compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) evoked by maximal peripheral nerve stimulation. ⋯ No adverse events (e.g., seizures, cardiac arrhythmias, scalp burns, accidental injury resulting from patient movement) were observed in any patients. Although several facilitative techniques using central or peripheral stimuli, preceding transcranial electrical stimulation, have been recently employed to augment TcMEPs during surgery, responses are still much smaller than CMAPs. Changing from conventional st-TES to mt-TES has potential to greatly enhance TcMEP responses.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Feb 2015
Fluid responsiveness is about stroke volume, and not pulse pressure Yogi: the power of Doppler fluid management and cardiovascular monitoring.
Fluid infusion is one of the most common critical care interventions, yet approximately 50% of all fluid interventions are unnecessary and potentially harmful. An improved approach to identification of fluid responsiveness is of clinical importance. Currently fluid responsiveness is most frequently identified by blood pressure (BP) measurements or a surrogate. ⋯ This letter reminds clinicians of the physiologic limitations of PPV as a measure of fluid responsiveness, even when combined with physiologic challenges, and recommends the replacement of BP with SV measurements. The combination of accurate Doppler measurement of SV and physiologic challenges, as Dr Pinsky recommends, is a physiologically rational and effective approach to identification of fluid responsiveness with established evidence. The direct monitoring of SV and SV changes has the potential to improve a long standing critical care and anaesthetic conundrum; when to give fluid and when to stop.