Journal of clinical monitoring and computing
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J Clin Monit Comput · Feb 2015
Observational StudyAccuracy of ultrasound B-lines score and E/Ea ratio to estimate extravascular lung water and its variations in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Extravascular lung water (EVLW) could increase by permeability pulmonary oedema, cardiogenic oedema, or both. Transthoracic echocardiography examination of a patient allows quantifying B-lines, originating from water-thickened interlobular septa, and the E/Ea ratio, related to pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. The aim of our study was to assess the correlation and the trending ability between EVLW measured by transpulmonary thermodilution and the B-lines score or the E/Ea ratio in patients with ARDS. ⋯ A B-lines score≥6 had a sensitivity of 82% and a specificity of 77% to predict EVLW>10 ml/kg, with an AUC equal to 0.86 (0.76-0.93). The gray zone approach identified a range of B-lines between four and seven for which EVLW>10 ml/kg could not be predicted reliably. The correlation between ultrasound B-lines and EVLW was significant, but the B-lines score was not able to track EVLW changes reliably.
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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
Controlled Clinical TrialThe effect of endotracheal tube cuff pressure change during gynecological laparoscopic surgery on postoperative sore throat: a control study.
Postoperative respiratory complications related to endotracheal intubation usually present as cough, sore throat, hoarseness. The aim of the study was to examine the effects of endotracheal tube cuff pressure changes during gynecological laparoscopic surgery on postoperative sore throat rates. Thirty patients who underwent gynecological laparoscopic surgery and 30 patients who underwent laparotomy under general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation were included. ⋯ In both groups, the endotracheal tube cuff pressure and peak airway pressure were significantly correlated (R=0.9431, P<0.01; R=0.8468, P<0.01). Compared to patients who had undergone laparotomy, patients who had undergone laparoscopic surgery showed significantly higher sore throat scores at both 2 and 24 h after surgery (P<0.01). Pneumoperitoneum and Trendelenburg position may increase airway pressure and cuff pressure, resulting in increased incidence of postoperative sore throat.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Feb 2015
Improvements in the application and reporting of advanced Bland-Altman methods of comparison.
Bland and Altman have developed a measure called "limits of agreement" to assess correspondence of two methods of clinical measurement. In many circumstances, comparisons are made using several paired measurements in each individual subject. If such measurements are considered as statistically independent pairs, rather than as sets of measurements from separate individuals, limits of agreement will be too narrow. ⋯ Therefore, we set out to provide a freely available implementation accompanied by a formal description of the more advanced Bland-Altman comparison methods. We validate the implementation using simulated data, and demonstrate the effects caused by failing to take the presence of multiple paired measurements per individual properly into account. We propose a standard format of reporting that would improve analysis and interpretation of comparison studies.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Feb 2015
Observational StudyThe relative trending accuracy of noninvasive continuous hemoglobin monitoring during hemodialysis in critically ill patients.
The pulse CO-Oximeter (Radical-7; Masimo Corp., Irvine, CA) is a multi-wavelength spectrophotometric method for noninvasive continuous monitoring of hemoglobin (SpHb). Because evaluating the relative change in blood volume (ΔBV) is crucial to avoid hypovolemia and hypotension during hemodialysis, it would be of great clinical benefit if ΔBV could be estimated by measurement of SpHb during hemodialysis. The capability of the pulse CO-Oximeter to monitor ΔBV depends on the relative trending accuracy of SpHb. ⋯ Bland-Altman analysis also revealed good agreement between ΔBV(SpHb) and ΔBV(CL-Hct) (bias, -0.77%; precision, 3.41%). Polar plot analysis revealed good relative trending accuracy of SpHb with an angular bias of 4.1° and radial limits of agreement of 24.4° (upper) and -16.2° (lower). The results of the current study indicate that SpHb measurement with the pulse CO-Oximeter has good relative trending accuracy.