Minerva anestesiologica
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Minerva anestesiologica · Oct 2012
The use of social networking to explore knowledge and attitudes toward organ donation in Italy.
Currently, online social media have become increasingly popular and can provide the opportunity to provide and acquire information regarding knowledge and attitudes toward organ donation and transplantation. To evaluate participants' knowledge about organ donation, information sources and donation principles, an on-line survey was distributed through social network in Italy. ⋯ Efforts must be aimed at involving schools and family doctors in education about donation; the use of social networks can represent a way of improving such knowledge.
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Minerva anestesiologica · Oct 2012
Performance of different PEEP valves and helmet outlets at increasing gas flow rates: a bench top study.
Aim of the paper was to assess the performance of different expiratory valves and the resistance of helmet outlet ports at increasing gas flow rates. ⋯ Adjustable PEEP valves are not suggested for continuous-flow CPAP systems as their flow-dependency can lead to pressures higher than expected. Precalibrated and water seal valves exhibit the best performance. Different helmet outlet ports do not significantly affect the pressure generated during helmet CPAP. In order to avoid iatrogenic complications gas flow and pressure delivered during helmet CPAP must always be monitored.
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Minerva anestesiologica · Sep 2012
ReviewNeurophysiological monitoring in adult and pediatric intensive care.
Clinical neurophysiology is both an extension of clinical examination and an integration of neuroimaging. It plays a role in diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Electroencephalography (EEG) and somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) are the most informative neurophysiological tests. ⋯ However differences in interpretation are needed and the issue is whether it is possible to establish an age limit over which the prediction of SEPs is similar to that in adults. There are only a few studies of seizure prevalence in pediatric ICU. The variability of frequency of NCSE in comatose children is high as in adults and, similar to the adult, remains unclear the impact on outcome.
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Minerva anestesiologica · Sep 2012
Multicenter Study Controlled Clinical TrialAdoption and implementation of the original strict glycemic control guideline is feasible and safe in adult critically ill patients.
Three trials of tight glucose control (TGC) found clinical benefit of normalization of blood glucose levels in the intensive care unit (ICU). Implementation of TGC was imperfect in subsequent trials, since attained blood glucose levels (BGLs) never reached the targets as in the original trials of TGC. We investigated whether implementation of the TGC guideline as used in the original trials of TGC is feasible and safe. ⋯ Implementation of the original TGC guideline is feasible and safe. Our study suggests a learning effect over time.