Journal of clinical monitoring
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Radial artery cannulation: a comparison of 15.2- and 4.45-cm catheters.
Eighty-nine patients were studied prospectively to compare the incidence of postdecannulation arterial thrombosis and ischemic complications associated with percutaneous insertion of two different radial artery catheters. Patients scheduled for peripheral vascular surgery were randomized to receive a 15.2-cm (6 in, Argon Medical Corp.) or 4.45-cm (1.75 in, Arrow International, Inc.) 20-gauge, Teflon catheter. Extremity blood flow was evaluated prior to cannulation and again after decannulation with the modified Allen's test, pulse-volume plethysmography, and Doppler ultrasound. ⋯ Of the 8 patients with positive modified Allen's test who underwent radial artery cannulation, one suffered arterial occlusion. Radial artery cannulation with a 15.2-cm catheter was associated with a lower incidence of postdecannulation radial artery thrombosis than cannulation with the 4.45-cm catheter. Radial artery cannulation with longer catheters (greater than 5.0 cm) appears to be a safe practice.
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Review of insurance data indicates that approximately 1.5 claims are paid per 10,000 anesthetic procedures, a conservative estimate of the incidence of preventable serious injury associated with anesthesia. Insurance data permit estimation of the premium cost for the anesthesiologist and hospital, per operating room per year, of $69,429.00. ⋯ We suggest that this premium cost, together with the estimate that 50% of incidents would be avoided, predicts a resultant saving of over $27,000/operating room/year, a savings equal to the entire cost of the enhanced monitoring system in approximately 8 months, or a yearly savings of over five times the annualized expense of the monitoring system. Thus, in addition to the moral imperative to monitor a patient during anesthesia to avoid injury and death, there is an economic incentive to monitor effectively.
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To determine if Robust Sensor Fusion (RSF), a method designed to fuse data from multiple sensors with redundant heart rate information can be used to improve the quality of heart rate data. To determine if the improved estimate of heart rate can reduce the number of false and missed heart rate alarms. ⋯ Redundancy in sensor measurements can be used to improve HR estimation in the clinical setting. Methods like RSF which improve the quality of monitored data and reduce nuisance alarms will enhance the value of patient monitors to clinicians.
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Review
Integration of monitoring for intelligent alarms in anesthesia: neural networks--can they help?
Although there has been a decrease in the number of anesthesia-related critical incidents, there are still opportunities for further improvement. We discuss the potential of integrated monitoring and artificial neural networks as a means of vigilantly watching for patterns in multiple variables to detect incidents and reduce false alarms. ⋯ We present artificial neural networks as an approach that is more suited to the type of multivariable monitoring and pattern recognition required. Along with rule-based artificial intelligence, these now have the potential to help develop innovative monitoring in the operating room.
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To design and implement the logistics of accommodating a large number of participants in individual, hands-on sessions on a full-scale patient simulator during a major scientific meeting or continuing medical education course. ⋯ We have developed a practical and viable method that can be adapted for use at scientific meetings and courses, which improves accessibility of individual, hands-on sessions on full-scale patient simulators to a larger audience than previously attainable. Our method is applicable for continuing medical education courses as well as research purposes in the form of prospective studies during scientific meetings and courses.