Minerva anestesiologica
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Minerva anestesiologica · Mar 2018
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyA new arterial mechanical property indicator reflecting differences in invasive stimulus intensity induced by alteration of remifentanil concentration during laryngoscopy.
Reliable analgesia monitoring is not available for general anaesthesia cases. In 2003, we introduced a method to characterise arterial mechanical properties, which we termed arterial stiffness (K). However, it is unclear whether differences in K actually indicate changes in the intensity of a noxious stimulus. Thus, we examined the relationship between stress intensity and the value of K. ⋯ The value for arterial stiffness (K) non-proportionally changes in response to stimulus intensity; therefore, it has the potential to be used as an indicator of nociceptive stimulation intensity.
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Minerva anestesiologica · Mar 2018
Case ReportsLung ultrasonography and echocardiography in the ICU: a combined and practical approach.
This article describes some practical applications of critical care ultrasonography that are of interest to the frontline intensivist. Instead of presenting a standard state of the art review article, we present 3 typical clinical cases where combined echocardiography, lung ultrasonography, and other ultrasonography techniques were helpful to the critical care team. The manuscript includes a variety figures and video clips that illustrate the utility of critical care ultrasonography in guiding diagnosis and management of the critically ill patient.
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Minerva anestesiologica · Mar 2018
ReviewHeterogenic control groups in randomized, controlled, analgesic trials of total hip- and knee arthroplasty.
Postoperative analgesic interventions are often tested adjunct to basic non-opioid analgesics in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Consequently, treatment in control groups, and possible assay sensitivity, differs between trials. We hypothesized that postoperative opioid requirements and pain intensities vary between different control groups in analgesic trials. ⋯ Analgesic treatment in RCT control groups varies considerably. Control groups receiving various combinations of opioid, NSAID and acetaminophen did not differ consistently in pain and opioid requirements. Pain and opioid requirements were lower in trials administering NSAID as an intervention compared with trials administering NSAID in a control group.