Minerva anestesiologica
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Minerva anestesiologica · Oct 2016
ReviewThe risk of infusing gelatin? Die-hard misconceptions and forgotten (or ignored) truths.
Fluid therapy is considered a cornerstone of perioperative and critical care medicine. However, the type of fluids used varies widely among different countries. Synthetic colloids may negatively affect coagulation and are potentially nephrotoxic. "Modern" hydroxyethyl starches (HES) were widely used until recently when their association to mortality and renal replacement therapy risk among critically ill patients brought to restriction by the European Medicines Agency in 2013. ⋯ The aim of this contribution is to warn clinicians that gelatins share all potential adverse effects of other synthetic colloids, and are possibly even more nephrotoxic than HES. Moreover, gelatins have no beneficial effects on outcomes as compared with crystalloids (on the contrary, they might even increase mortality), and are also more expensive. Accordingly, a "return" to gelatins should be strongly discouraged.
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Minerva anestesiologica · Sep 2016
Review Meta AnalysisAcute Kidney Injury (AKI) after cardiac arrest: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical studies.
The prevalence of and the risk factors for acute kidney injury (AKI) after cardiac arrest (CA), and the association of AKI with outcome have not been systematically investigated so far. ⋯ post-arrest AKI has an early onset, occurs in more than 50% of CA patients, and it is associated with increased mortality. Decreased renal function on admission, an initial non-shockable rhythm and both pre-arrest and post-arrest markers of hypoperfusion are associated with increased risk of AKI in this setting.
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Minerva anestesiologica · Sep 2016
Review Meta AnalysisAcute Kidney Injury (AKI) after cardiac arrest: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical studies.
The prevalence of and the risk factors for acute kidney injury (AKI) after cardiac arrest (CA), and the association of AKI with outcome have not been systematically investigated so far. ⋯ post-arrest AKI has an early onset, occurs in more than 50% of CA patients, and it is associated with increased mortality. Decreased renal function on admission, an initial non-shockable rhythm and both pre-arrest and post-arrest markers of hypoperfusion are associated with increased risk of AKI in this setting.
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Minerva anestesiologica · Sep 2016
ReviewRed blood cell transfusion strategies in critically ill patients: lessons from recent randomized clinical studies.
A randomized, multicenter trial conducted in 32 northern European general intensive care units (ICUs) enrolled some patients with septic shock randomly assigned to receive a red blood cell transfusion when the hemoglobin (Hb) level was ≤7 g/dL ("lower threshold"; N.=502) or ≤9 g/dL ("higher threshold"; N.=496) throughout the ICU stay. Patients were excluded if they had an acute coronary syndrome, life-threatening bleeding, acute burn injury, had already been transfused or had previously experienced transfusion-related reactions. The two groups of patients had comparable severity of disease scores and chronic cardiovascular conditions. ⋯ In the higher threshold group, approximately twice as many transfusions were given (3088 vs. 1545 units transfused, P<0.001) as in the lower threshold group. In the lower threshold group, more patients received no RBC transfusion (36% vs. 1.2%, P<0.001) than in the higher threshold group, but there were also more temporary protocol suspensions (5.9 % vs. 2.2%, P=0.004), in particular because of myocardial ischemia (6/488, 1.2% vs. 0/489), life-threatening bleeding (18/488, 3.7% vs. 9/489, 1.8%) and need for higher Hb levels during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy. We discuss how anemia should be managed in patients with sepsis or other critical illness, especially in the context of the potential risks associated with RBC transfusion and data from other recent large randomized trials.
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Minerva anestesiologica · Aug 2016
ReviewNeurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist (NAVA) in children: a systematic review.
Application of mechanical ventilation in spontaneously breathing children remains a challenge for several reasons: mainly, small tidal volumes and high respiratory rates, especially in the presence of leaks, interfere with patient-ventilator synchrony. Leaks also cause unreliable monitoring of respiratory drive and respiratory rate. Furthermore, ventilator adjustment must take into account that infants have strong vagal reflexes, demonstrate central apnea and periodic breathing, with a high variability in breathing pattern. Neurally-adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA) is a mode of ventilation whereby the timing and amount of ventilatory assist is controlled by the patient's neural respiratory drive. Since NAVA uses the diaphragm electrical activity (Edi) as the controller signal, it is possible to deliver synchronized assist, both invasively and non-invasively (NIV-NAVA), to follow the variability in breathing pattern, and to monitor patient respiratory drive, independent of leaks. ⋯ Evidence from a few trials suggests improved comfort, less sedation, and reduced length of stay.